His saving grace

33

Noah's pov (as usual please forgive any spelling grammar and/or word choice errors I really do try while editing and tysm for reading❤️)
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Another year later
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It's Christmas break and I'm so excited. Granted I still don't know what I want to do as a job after college yet but I'm trying to figure it out. Pax is coming home for Christmas tonight and I'm so excited. He did end up going to Stanford and is now coming home for winter break. So far we have FaceTimed every few days he could and I finished my finals for my winter semester a week ago.

There was a knock on the door and I open it revealing my boyfriend but a different version of him

"Are you alright" I ask taking his coat once he gets in the door

"No" he says seriously and I frown

"Can we talk. Please" he says and I nod going to the couch in the living room with him not too far behind.

"What's wrong Pax" I say grabbing ahold of his hand and rubbing my thumb over his knuckles

"I hate it at Stanford" he said

"Why what happened"

"Everything Noah. I just can't. My grades are good but barely compared to their standards and the guys on the swim team are asshole. Just everything is making me miserable and sometime I just fucking feel like jumping off of my dorm balcony" he says rapidly while looking down.

I know he said that he wasn't feeling the best there but he never told me he felt this badly. I wish he would have told me sooner

"First off breathe" I instruct him and watch as he takes a few long deep breaths to calm down

"So why don't you come home" I say taking his other hand and he looks up at me.

"I-I don't want to be considered a failure" he say

"Did you finish your winter semester" he nodded

"Did you take your tests" he nodded again

"Then you're not a failure. You just don't have to do something if it's not for you. If you feel going back isn't the right option then don't. You can't keep pushing yourself to unhappiness if it's going to kill you" I say and immediately latch around him hugging his mid section while Pax just sighs and rests his head on my shoulder

"Thank you. I needed that" he said

"Let's not worry ok. You have a few weeks off and we can take that time for you. It doesn't matter what people say as long as this choice is right for you" I tell him honestly and he nods

"I think I want to stay here. Maybe I could go to the college here with you. Being at Stanford made me realize something too" I look at him inquisitively

"I don't love swimming as much as I did a year ago." I nod and hug him

"Let's worry about this later ok. Christmas is in a few days and then after we can figure things out later ok" he nodded and melted against me relaxing.
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Paxton's POV
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College has been hard. Even harder than I was expecting but Noah got me through the toughest days. Especially when the swim team captain was an asshole.

I place my face into the crook of Noah's neck as we lay in his bed together. So much has changed in my life recently, but the one thing that has stayed the most consistent is Noah.

This afternoon made me realize that I don't have to kill myself figuratively speaking when it comes to my life after high school.

I know my family has always been super supportive of my decisions and me but they want me to be able to make them on what I feel is best, while with Noah we can talk about it and make it best for the both of us.

"Mmm" he whines when I start nuzzling his neck a little too roughly

"Sleep" he complains and I chuckle kissing his neck and getting comfy without bothering him too much

Now I don't know what the future holds but I know that as long as I'm with Noah everything is going to be ok somehow.

The end