Ethan’s conversation with his mother keeps echoing through Mason’s mind, her words to her son replaying in his head over and over. Every time he thinks of the way Ethan’s voice broke trying to tell his mom he cared Mason feels a wave of heartbreak crash over him. Mason wasn’t necessarily a friend to Ethan, an acquaintance sure, but Ethan didn’t trust him like a friend. So what was he supposed to do? If Mason were to tell the boy he overheard their conversation it would end up embarrassing him, but he couldn’t continue to participate in the competition knowing Ethan was hurting. Once again Mason feels an odd sense of protection over the boy, the feeling has started to become more natural as they see each other more and more at school and the studio. Katie makes comments about Ethan constantly throughout their lessons, angering Mason, giving Katie more ammunition to tease him about. But why? Mason hasn’t made a new friend since grade school, perhaps he’s just forgotten what it feels like to want to be friends with somebody. Friends protect friends, right? 

When he walked away the curly haired boy left for the dressing rooms, leaving Mason standing alone. The minutes have ticked by slowly but Mason hasn’t moved from his spot, trying to decide what to do about the situation he’s found himself in the middle of. A voice in his mind is telling him that this issue is none of his business, but another overwhelming part of him is saying that he can’t let Ethan leave crying without doing something. The more time that passes the stronger Mason’s anger towards Ethan’s Mother grows, how could she treat her son like that? She blamed the boy for her divorce and threw his performance in his face, Mason knows all too well the feeling of having your dancing criticized so harshly, especially when you thought you did so well. It felt awful.

Suddenly deciding to talk to Ethan, Mason feels his feet moving beneath him, he’ll have to think of something to say to the boy on the walk there. A newfound determination in his heart causes him to walk quickly, easily weaving in and out of the crowds of people, blocking out the flurry of commotion from all around him. The door to the dressing rooms comes into view all too soon, Mason is going to have to wing it during his conversation with Ethan. Last time they spoke Ethan had started to cry, Mason couldn’t leave him alone like that but he now found himself lost for words that could possibly make Ethan feel better. He hoped Ethan wouldn't feel uncomfortable when Mason talked to him, in all the time since Nationals Mason would have loved if somebody had reached out to him, noticed how obviously different he seemed, put in an effort. He would do for Ethan what nobody did for him.

Finally reaching the dressing rooms Mason takes in a deep breath, as the brunette reaches his arm out to grab the brass knob on the door a vice-like grip closes around his wrist, whirling him around. Katie stands before him, a mixture of anger and sadness portrayed across her features. Their previous altercation had completely slipped from his mind, dealing with her was the absolute last thing he wanted to do right now. If Ethan changed out of his outfit already the window for talking to him was quickly closing, he had to get in there as fast as possible. 

‘What the hell was that about back there, Mason? How could you just leave me like that? Everyone heard what you said to me!” She whisper yells, looking around to make sure nobody sees the supposedly happy couple arguing. 

Their last interaction ended with Mason yelling at her, calling her a bad partner. A slight pang of guilt hits his heart but he forces it down, Katie has spent the last few weeks criticising every move he makes and it’s becoming unacceptable. He never wants anyone to have their feelings hurt but for once in his life he has to put his own emotions first, he cannot let this girl strip down whatever little portion of his self esteem that he has left bit by bit.

“Can we talk about this later? I need to talk to Ethan, it’s important,” he explains in a rushed tone, trying to wriggle out of her grip. As soon as the words leave his mouth Mason knows he’s said too much.

“Look, I don’t know what weird protection you feel over that freak but it ends here. I’m your partner, not him,” over the previous weeks Katie would continuously make comments about the other boy, resulting in Mason telling her to back off. He should have known she would eventually throw it back in his face, Katie wasn’t the kind of person you could show vulnerability to.

“What are you even talking about, Katie?” He scoffs, suddenly feeling defensive, “I never said he was my partner…”

“Well you sure act like it! You’re always so concerned about his feelings and his performances. Well what about me?”

“Are you actually jealous of Ethan?” Mason laughs, causing Katie to look around again, shooting Mason a glare made of daggers, “I barely even know him!”

“Sure, Mason,” she laughs bitterly, “keep telling yourself that while you’re trying to get in his pants. Everyone can tell that’s what you want anyways.”

Katie’s words send a dagger of ice into his heart. His breathing is hitched as he stares at her with wide eyes and an open mouth, the smirk on Katie’s face proves she knows she struck a nerve. How could she say something like that to him? What is she implying? Mason is not gay. The strange pull he’s felt towards the boy since they met couldn’t be attraction, right? She only said that because she's upset and it would be an obvious insult, that had to be why. Feeling dizzy Mason casts a nervous glance behind him to the dressing room door, as if mentioning Ethan’s name will somehow have made him materialize.  

“I don’t want to be your partner anymore,” Mason speaks quietly, trying not to let his temper boil over.

Katie finally lets go of his wrist, shock and hurt evident on her face. “What?” she scoffs.

“I don’t want to be partners anymore,” he says louder, his voice harsh.

“You can’t be serious!”

“After placements I’ll tell Mr. Burkley myself.” 

Not for the first time that day Mason turns his back on Katie, leaving her alone. As he walks further and further from the dressing rooms Katie’s words play in his head. Everyone can tell. Everyone can tell. Everyone can tell.  What did she mean? Mason was not interested in Ethan. At all. I’m not gay, he tells himself, not that there’s anything wrong with being a boy who likes boys, he just doesn’t. Even knowing this about himself Mason can’t fathom seeing Ethan right now, his mind is too scattered at the moment. Aimlessly wandering Mason eventually finds himself sitting in a folding chair, watching the judges go over their scores from across the room. 

His mind feels blank yet heavy, today did not go at all the way he planned. He got in a fight with Katie, saw Ethan get in a fight with his Mom, made Ethan cry, dumped Katie and got accused of being… How did this go so downhill so fast? 

The time passes as Mason sits, feeling like he’s watching the people around him from a million miles away. He isn’t sure why what Katie said affected him this way but something inside him feels terrified. Out of the corner of his eye the boy catches those familiar curls, turning his head away Mason waits for Ethan to walk by before he steals a glance. A couple hundred feet away Mason can see Ethan speaking quickly to his Mom, looking just as broken as before. Tearing his eyes away from the two, Mason realizes can’t emotionally handle anything else involving the other boy that day, his mind is too cloudy to say anything comforting to him now, even if he wanted to. He will avoid Ethan until the competition is over. 

A voice over the speakers above startles Mason into reality, tearing him from confusing thoughts. The person making the announcements delivers a five minute warning to when they will be declaring the top dancers in each division. Inhaling slowly Mason can only hope Katie or Mr. Burkley don’t come sit near him during the announcements, he needs time to feel normal again. 

-

Mason and Katie placed third place overall in the Youth Latin division, after Mr. Burkley ran up to him to offer congratulations Mason had to break the news to him. Needless to say their instructor was less than thrilled; Mason felt his heart sink into his stomach as Mr. Burkley began quietly lecturing him, if he didn’t feel horrible enough before he now felt like a complete failure. He tried to explain to Mr. Burkley that Katie was making his career harder than it needed to be but he wasn’t listening. In the end he told Mason they would discuss it next time they’re in the studio. As he was listening to Mr. Burkley’s words Mason caught the announcements for the Solo Waltz division, Ethan came in fourth place. A small piece of Mason’s heart ached when he thought of what his Mother’s response would be.

That evening when Mason arrives home he avoids all of his parents questions about the competition. Excusing himself early from dinner he tiredly climbs up the stairs to his bedroom. As soon as he shuts the door behind him Mason collapses onto his mattress; he falls asleep that night with thoughts of Katie, Mr. Burkley and most of all, Ethan.