fireside

“Mason!” Blair cries, pulling her old friend into a tight embrace. “Oh my gosh! How are you?”

“Blair!” Mason exclaimed back, his face breaking into a large grin. “It’s been forever---I’m awesome, seriously. I started up a beekeeping business, school for becoming an environmental scientist was a bit too much after all, but beekeeping has been going pretty well. Um, yeah---how are you, though? I haven’t talked to you in ages, sorry about that.” 

What’s peace and quiet? I don’t think we have that in my house.

Peace is officially defined as ‘free from disturbance; quiet and tranquility’, which, when I think about it---is completely foreign for you. And quiet is ‘absence of noise; silence; calm’ which again is probably something you’re not used to. I feel like you’d like it though, so if you ever want to try it out I’ll make you my favorite kale and quinoa salad and let you sit in my house while I go to work or something---that sounds really creepy when I think about it?  I promise I don’t mean for it to be.

Harvey laughed warmly. “You know, that’s pretty understandable, space kind of freaks me out which is why I want to work on sending others into space to check it out. I’m pretty content on earth.” Another laugh before beaming like a little kid. “Yeah! It’s been a little cloudy so I haven’t been able to use it for a while but I can’t wait to get it back out again and see what’s going on up there. Your mom’s an engineer? That’s so cool, for a while that’s what I wanted to go into then I went to space camp when I was thirteen and couldn’t go back – well I mean after I graduate I’ll probably end up studying politics but the point is for a while I was really interested in engineering – I mean if we’re being  honest a lot of that is involved in space and astrophysics and engineering actually intertwine a lot more than most people would think.” Harvey let out a small huff upon realizing he was getting all caught up in himself again and smiled for some type of recovery. “Yeah man! Do you need my number and we can work something out?” He asked already searching for a pen. “It was nice, I really wanna try to make one more trip back with friends before school starts. Yeah! I understand that feeling, and there’s always so many new people it’s hard to not get caught up in all the… business of it. But I dunno, I think when the first week or so passes and everyone kinda settles down it’ll be good again.”

“Harvey-Houston, we have a problem?” Mason attempted to joke, his facial features contorting into a mix between pain and embarrassment. “Sorry, that one wasn’t even anywhere near funny.” He wasn’t much of a joker when it came down to it, no, Mason was more the type to be amused by everything everyone else was saying. His head tilted to the side as he listened, his lips forming a grin. “Did you at least see the meteor shower last week? It might not have been as cool without a telescope, but it was still pretty awesome. I had my friends Ethan and Jace over and we stayed out until three... but I guess the peak time was at four, so we missed it. I didn’t find out that the peak was four until the next morning, sadly. Anyways, yeah! When I was younger she taught me a ton about computers, and now I think they’re really cool. They’re probably my favorite thing behind environmental science, and one day I want to try and use them both in a job.” Eyes lit, he nodded his head in agreement. “You’re definitely right, yeah... I think it’s so cool how so many different fields are connected, is that weird? It’s just really awesome if you ask me.” Cheeks flushed, he smiled and nodded his head in affirmation. “Yeah sure, that’d be cool. I’d have you put it in my phone but it’s kinda dead right now, you can just write it on my hand if you want and I’ll text you later or something? Here’s hoping you get to go, though! Summer’s seemed so short this year, if you ask me... I agree, for sure. I love the start of school but I also hate the start of school---it’s confusing.” 

Well Travis did just leave for college the other day; so you could take over his room if you wanted. But I think your parents would miss you too much if you did that. Though you’re always welcome to come over.

Already? Wow, okay, summer’s going by way too fast. It’s official. I’m in! I’ll just call my parents to let them know and we’ll be all good. You’re right, sadly. Except it’s not too sad because I would definitely end up missing them too after a while, and it just wouldn’t work out for anyone. Same for you of course, if you ever want to leave the house. Mine might not be as exciting, but sometimes peace and quiet can be nice right? 

“It’s probably one of my favorite subjects, seriously it’s so cool and to think that there are infinite universes and galaxies and like, even other life? It’s incredible. I got a telescope for my sixteenth birthday and for like a month, I never went out at night just so I could check out the sky, the stars are so cool and there’s so much mythology behind them it’s crazy – it’s like everyone had their own theories on how they were created but instead of it being science it’s magic.. It’s so sick – and oh man, the fact that we’re slowly discovering just how livable other planets are is insane! Except I’m kind of worried that in ten or twenty years we’ll find out that moving to Mars would be easier than living on earth and then we’d all give up on this planet and oh my god this has nothing to do with what we were talking about. I’m so sorry – Anyways.” Harvey ducked his head as his ears turned bright red before smiling again, albeit a bit awkwardly. “Those aren’t too bad, Do you want to come over and we can take a look?” He beamed as he stuffed his hands into his pants pockets, this was what he was good at and it would at least give him something to do. “I went and spent a few week with my cousins down in Wilmington – lots of beach.” Harvey laughed and grinned. “Really? We have chemistry, together. Uh, first I have weights, third AP physics, fourth is world cultures and… I think I’d have to check my schedule again, but there’s a couple more in there.”

“When I was little I wanted to be an astronaut, but then I found out about black holes and that was the end of that... but seriously, astronomy just sounds so cool. I like that yeah, it’s just so big and there are so many possibilities? Anything’s possible when it comes to space, I guess. You have a telescope? Lucky. Telescopes are awesome. I've always liked computers and machines and stuff, my mom’s an engineer---but telescopes are something I haven’t really ever played around with. I want to though? Yeah. No, no! Don’t worry---I really hope that doesn’t happen, because personally, I love Earth. Environmental science is kinda my thing, so feel free to keep going on. I do that all the time anyways, it’s nice to see I’m not the only one...” Mason trailed off, grinning from ear to ear. “Yeah that’d be awesome, uh. I’ll ask my parents? Just let me know when I guess.” He glanced down at his shoes, black converse were today’s choice, as he listened. “I haven’t been to the beach much this summer, I guess I’m more of a lake person anyways but I’m still jealous.” He nodded. “Really? Nice! Back to school always freaks me out because I feel like I’m not going to have anyone I know in any of my classes? But then I’m always fine, even though sometimes I have people who are kinda rude to me.. but usually I have a friend or two, or someone who’ll let me talk to them, so it all evens out in the end.” 

twiabpaianlatfwnogf:

*sees a dog* *gasps loudly*

Then you should come help us wash dishes. Lord knows we’ll have tons more by tomorrow with sev- six of us in the house.

I actually will, don’t test me! I have nothing better to do anyways, I’m trying to escape my homework and my parents---I always forget how big your family is, I’m jealous. It’s huge. At my house... there are way less dishes, but way less people to talk to. Are you sure I can’t just move in? 

Our dishwasher broke… So my mama made me and my sister wash all the dishes by hand; and now my hands are all wrinkly and feel kinda funny.

That happens to us all the time! I thought I was the only one who ever had to wash dishes. I kinda like it, I don’t know why. It’s not my favorite thing in the world, but it’s not that bad. I guess you could say it’s kind of relaxing? Who knows. Wrinkly fingers are funny though.

“I got one in AP lit and then a small optional one from astronomy but I finished that like… a few weeks after school got out last year.” Harvey smiled sheepishly,  not letting on just how pumped he had been to finally read Stephen Hawking’s ‘A Theory Of Everything’. “I don’t know what other classes gave them out – Hey dude it’s alright, I’m sure you’ll be fine, I mean I’ve never heard of a school killing anyone over not finishing up a reading list.” He chuckled weakly at his stupid joke before clearing his throat. “If it makes you feel better I don’t think any of our classes gave one out?” He listened carefully for a second before raising his brow. “Really? For what classes? Do you need any help, or anything? I mean, if you need it – or, want it, I can help you. If you… want… Uh, only a little bit actually – I mean aside from the usual pile, mostly just camps and getting ready for try-outs. Oh yeah? Do you have your schedule?”

“Astronomy’s something I wish I could get into, it just seems so cool---I mean, I like looking at the stars and all but whenever I do I wish I knew the constellations and the theories and all that stuff, but whenever I tell myself I’m going to learn, I get distracted by something else and never get around to it.” Mason shrugged, his head tilted to one side as he listened. “You never know---maybe I’ll be their first victim! Kidding, kidding... that was a joke, I know they’re not actually going to kill me. My parents will just be super mad if I start off the year with bad grades.” The other boy’s optimism caused a smile to reappear on his face. “Thank god, seriously. I um, I have some math? Some chemistry, too, but I think I might have that one under control. I also have a stupid history packet to fill out.” A sigh. “That doesn’t sound too bad though---the camps I mean, school work is the worst. Did you uh, do anything else fun at all this summer? I know some of my classes, like second period chemistry, fourth period U.S. History, and fifth period English. I don’t really remember the rest, though... what about you, though?”

Harvey laughed quietly at the other boy, “Whoa there dude slow down – were you given a list before school got out? I was asking when school started, but how much summer homework do you have?”

Mason’s face fell, his eyes fixating on his shoelaces as he tried to remember if he’d even gotten the list in the first place. It was likely hidden in his room--laying untouched in some forgotten nook or cranny. “We were? I must have lost it... I’m dead, this is it.” He frowned, brows furrowing together. “Oh, that? I have no idea when school starts. Sorry---sometimes it’s before Labor Day, sometimes it’s after; it’s too much for me to try and remember. Summer homework? Loads. A lot of it’s “makeup work” even though I didn’t really miss anything, that’s just what they call it---it’s basically busy work so that I don’t fall behind, I guess. Do you, um, have any summer work? I know they give out a lot for AP classes, but I’m not taking any of those this year. Next year I want to take AP Bio and AP Environmental Science, but I couldn’t fit in either of them.” 

Do people actually realise I don’t get paid to look after their kids? The pool isn’t a day care centre and it never will be so I’d really appreciate it if people stopped dumping their kids off there. 

People just... drop their kids off at the pool? That’s crazy, wow. They don’t even watch them? Or stay with them? How old are these kids? That sounds really dangerous, goodness.