Mason
I paced around the room, not knowing what to do with myself.
I didn't want my brother to ruin the regional meet for Cody (which I low-key felt was exactly what he planned), but I couldn't stop him without a car. The friendship between me and Cody may or may not be over, but he was still Codykins, and I still loved him and wanted good things for him. I wanted him to win today. I wanted him to go to college on a scholarship, and even the Olympics. Even if I'd be watching from a television screen from now on. Alone. With a cup of biological herbal tea, and a soundtrack of rain in the background for added dramatic effect.
Not that I wanted to watch Cody from a television screen right now, though. I was terrified of seeing or hearing anything from anyone in this train wreck of a situation. So terrified I'd switched off my phone like a coward.
Zoey and Yue were undoubtedly pissed that I made them get up at the crack of dawn, only to ditch them and go home. Noel was a loose cannon like always. And Cody... I needed to talk to him after his competition. I hadn't talked with him directly yet, face to face. Maybe I'd been too rash in my reaction. And Noel rashly reacted to my rashness, and God, I was going get a rash from the stress.
I didn't know what Noel was doing, but it would not be good.
As if Noel heard me think about him, the familiar crackle of an explosive (and probably somewhat defective) exhaustion pipe suddenly sounded outside. I moved to the window, and Noel's car rolled onto the driveway a few seconds later.
He was back far earlier than I'd expected. I don't know if it was a good or bad sign. The key turned in our front door lock, and I ran downstairs.
Noel stepped inside, and casually smiled as if nothing was going on when he saw me. "Oh, hello brother smurfest."
"Don't 'hello brother smurfest' me," I growled at him. "Where did you go? You better not have done anything to Cody because I swear to God I will kill you if you did!"
Noel threw his hands up in a defensive gesture, that same obnoxious casual grin still on his smug face. "Relax smurf boy, he's still in one piece, mentally and physically, and on his way to his big regional meet. Along with Zoey and Yue."
"Zoey and Yue are in the van too?"
"Sure," Noel shrugged, "there was space in the van and they insisted on it. Ditching your support group wasn't very nice you know. Anyway, we should get going too if we want to make it in time."
Noel tried to grab my arm but I stepped out of his reach.
"I'm not going anywhere! Where did you go? Did you see Cody?"
"Sure," Noel grinned as if he'd expected me to refuse. What was he playing at?
"What did you do to him?"
"I think it's much better explained in," Noel checked his watch, "give or take ten minutes from now."
I crossed my arms. "Stop talking in riddles. It's pissing me off."
"I'm sure I can change your mind."
Noel pushed past me and ran two steps up the stairs. He glanced over his shoulder. "Come on dork. Follow me."
I stubbornly stood in the hallway and glared up at him. He hadn't explained anything like I'd asked.
Noel sighed. "I'll explain everything if you just come along. Or rather, everything will be explained by someone who can do it better than I can."
More riddles. I wasn't in the mood for riddles, or Noel's games (putting it softly). Not that my brother ever took my mood into account. He only winked at me and ran further up the stairs.
I wouldn't follow him. He wasn't going to win. He wasn't! I wasn't that curious about what he wanted to show me, or why he was so mysterious about Cody. It was just bait.
I lasted about five seconds before I cursed under my breath and followed him. Darn incessant curiosity. I was weak.
Noel was in his room behind his computer. I wrinkled my nose at the musty smell, dodging piles of dirty clothes and empty glasses mum hadn't picked up yet on the floor. It was unlikely Noel would do it himself. Not until they started producing mould.
"Yes, fine, I'm curious. Stop smiling, damn it," I grumbled at Noel, who's smile only grew wider.
"Have a seat," he said, patting on the chair next to him.
I eyed my brother warily, but sat down. He turned the computer screen so I could see it, and with one glance I realized it was a live stream. A live stream of a swimming pool. The regional championship Cody was going to compete in. My jaw clenched.
"Is this a joke? Because I'm not laughing."
I got up to leave but Noel's hand was instantly on my shoulder, and he pushed me back down on the chair. "Trust me, you want to see this smurf."
The screen promptly changed to some show host/interviewer, and next to him was--
"Great year so far, Cody."
"I can't complain," Cody, in all his shirtless, wet-haired glory smiled at the interviewer on screen.
Noel pushed himself up straight. "I can't handle the awkwardness I'm sure is about to ensue, so I'm just gonna go make some food downstairs. Want a sandwich too?"
"Shh!" I hissed at my brother, making him chuckle as he left the room.
The interviewer flirtatiously played with her hair and smiled at Cody (damn it, why did every fucking woman like him?). "Are you nervous for today?"
"Sure, I do get nervous. I think everyone gets nervous. But it's good to have nerves - to get excited. It helps you perform better."
"Do you have any goals? For this competition or...?"
"I'm hoping to have some new best times. And uh..." Cody suddenly avoided looking at the interviewer and the camera, instead staring at the floor. "I guess one more goal. A bit more of a personal non-swimming kind of goal."
"Really? And what is that?" the interviewer pressed when Cody didn't immediately continue.
"I know a good friend of mine is watching this... my best friend."
Cody suddenly looked straight at the camera. "Mason I know you're watching this from your house. I wish you were here, because I... I, uh, really like you. And I need to talk to you about that."
"Well..." For a split second, the interviewer looked completely thrown off, but she quickly recovered. "I'll be rooting for him to be here! Thank you Cody O'Neill."
The screen flashed again to another swimmer interview, but it barely registered in my mind. I stared straight ahead, unseeing, heart pounding.
Then I ran down the stairs and into the kitchen.
"Ah, there it is," Noel said, casually taking a bite off his sandwich and leaning on the counter.
"You knew and you didn't tell me?" I shoved his chest.
"Hey!" Noel protested, nearly dropping his sandwich as he landed against the kitchen counter. "I've been telling you ever since that game night, if we want to get technical about it."
"I need your car right now!"
"Pff, and now the I quote: 'barrel of rust' is suddenly good enough for your highness?"
"Noel!"
"Fine, but I'm driving. I want to see this."