Dodge Mason // Mystery Boy

33

I reach Dodge's doorstep, my hands trembling. He must've been waiting by the door because he opens it as soon as I put my hand up to knock. "Hey," I say with surprise, putting my hand down.

"Hey," he replies simply. We just stand and stare.

"What now?" I break the silence.

"Come inside?" he gestures in. I follow him into the house and his room. I thought the silence between us was already loud, but the silence in his room was deafening. His hand finds mine. I allow his touch to burn my skin and steady the shaking. I refuse to look up at him and face his eyes. I don't know why, but I just don't feel ready. I guess this whole summer has been feeling like that, but unfortunately, there is no time for uncertainty. His other hand traces my arm up to my shoulder. His fingers tease their way to my neck. Then my cheek. His hand holds my face. I am staring at his chest like it means I'm winning whatever war in my head that's between us. He slowly leans in and kisses my forehead, and I don't flinch. How could I? Ever since I met him, all I could do was crave him. He swiftly pulls me in for a hug, and my body reacts before my mind as I reciprocate. Sometimes I forget we're the same age. He feels so small again in this moment. I feel small, too. We let go after an eternity and let the unspoken apologies linger on our skin. He takes my hand once again and leads me to the bed. We sit together, lie together, and fall asleep together.

I wake up to my phone, 1:33 am. I just missed a call from Heather. "Oh shit," I scramble to call her back. Dodge reminds me of his presence by caressing my arm. I look at him as the phone rings, and his stoic presence holds me once more.

"It's Ray and Dodge," she says, panicked.

"Wait, what?" I put the phone on speaker.

"The joust, it's going to be Ray and Dodge." She repeats.

Dodge and I look at each other in disbelief.

--

I wake up in Dodge's bed, but he isn't here. I check my phone, and he clearly let me sleep in. The doorbell rings, and I hesitantly go check who it is. This isn't my house, so I try to find anyone else here before I do. I check the peephole, and it's Diggins. I open the door slowly.

"Diggins?"

"Heather told me I could find you here," he replies. "She told me that you already know, but I have come to deliver the news myself."

"So it really is Ray and Dodge," I say, mostly to myself.

"Yes," he says, handing me a card. "I'll see you tonight," he says, walking away. "Oh, and uh, you know the drill, get rid of that when you're done."

I look at the card and figure out the details of the joust. Tonight. But where is Dodge right now?