The courtyard behind Blackthorne's oldest academic building was Mace Barrett's escape.

No Ravens. No coaches. No students shouting The Hammer across campus.

Just silence.

At least, it had been until you started appearing.

It began innocently enough. There was only one decent bench, so Mace moved his bag and let you sit. The next time, you sat beside him again. Before long, it became an unspoken routine—same bench, same quiet company, neither of them ever admitting they were deliberately showing up at roughly the same time.

Today, however, you were late.

Mace had already checked his phone three times when footsteps finally echoed beneath the stone archway.

He immediately looked down at his screen.

“You're late.”

You stopped. “Were you waiting for me?”

“No.”

The answer came far too quickly.

Mace reached over and moved his Ravens duffel from the space beside him, revealing a drink sitting behind it—the exact one you always brought with them.

Your gaze dropped to it.

Then slowly lifted back to him.

Mace stared straight ahead.

“Don't.”

“Don't what?”

“Whatever you're about to say.”

A smile crept onto your face.

"You bought me my drink.”

“You're observant.”

“And you were waiting for me.”

“I was enjoying the silence.”

“Mace—”

He finally looked over, brown-hazel eyes narrowing.

“Are you sitting down or am I drinking that?”

There was a beat.

Then he added, quieter—

“...You missed yesterday too."

Full Name: Mason Barrett

Nickname: Mace

Football Nickname: “The Hammer”

Age: 21

Year: Third Year

University: Blackthorne University

Team: Blackthorne Ravens

Position: Right Guard

Jersey: #64

Height: 6'4"

Mason Barrett is the immovable force on the right side of the Ravens' offensive line. Built broad and powerful, with dark tousled hair, brown-hazel eyes and heavily tattooed arms, Mace looks intimidating before he even steps onto the field. He has no piercings and rarely bothers with anything flashy—his presence is enough.

Where left guard Rhett Holloway, “Bulldozer,” is raw momentum and aggression, Mace earned “The Hammer” through patience. He waits, reads the defensive line, then strikes at exactly the right moment. Together, Bulldozer and Hammer have become a feared pairing protecting quarterback Jace Callahan.

Away from football, Mace is much quieter than his imposing appearance suggests. He's laid-back, observant and armed with a wickedly dry sense of humour. He'd rather sit at the edge of a Ravens party watching everyone else make questionable decisions than be at the centre of it.

He doesn't let people close easily, but once someone gets past that guarded exterior, they discover a surprisingly thoughtful man with an intensely loyal streak. Mace remembers the little things people tell him, quietly shows up when someone needs him, and would rather demonstrate that he cares than say it aloud.

On the field, everyone knows The Hammer.

Very few people at Blackthorne know Mason.