Part 11

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Elliot's POV

I sat at the end of the bar, nursing my third—or was it my fourth?—drink of the night. The dim lighting and low hum of conversations around me provided a welcome distraction from the turmoil inside my head. I swirled the amber liquid in my glass, watching the ice cubes clink against the sides, but it did nothing to drown out the replay of last night's confrontation with Apol.

Just as I was about to take another sip, the door swung open with a loud creak, and a gust of cool night air swept into the bar. I glanced over, not expecting to see anyone familiar. But there he was—no, not TJ or Apol, but someone who I never thought I'd see again.

Jesse. The wild card from my past, the guy who had a knack for turning any night into an unpredictable adventure.

"Elliot!" Jesse's voice boomed as he spotted me, a grin spreading across his face. "Long time no see, man!"

He sauntered over, his leather jacket and messy hair giving him the same roguish charm he had back in the day. Before I could protest, he slid onto the stool next to me and signaled the bartender for a drink.

"Jesse, what the hell are you doing here?" I asked, genuinely baffled. The last time I saw him, he was heading off to some music festival in another state, chasing the next thrill.

"Just passing through, thought I'd grab a drink," he said with a nonchalant shrug. "But more importantly, what's up with you? You look like you've seen better days."

I let out a bitter laugh. "You have no idea, man. It's been a rough night. A rough week, actually."

Jesse raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Oh, do tell. I've got all night."

And so I did. I spilled everything—the fight with Apol, the jealousy over TJ, the breakup. Jesse listened intently, his usual carefree demeanor taking on a surprisingly serious tone.

"I have no idea he's willing to throw everything we had just because of one fight." 

"Sounds like you're in deep, man," he said after I finished. "But you know what? Sitting here, wallowing in it, isn't gonna change a thing."

I knew he was right, but I couldn't help the anger and frustration bubbling up inside me. "What the hell am I supposed to do then?"

Jesse's grin returned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "How about we shake things up a bit? You need to get out of your head. And I know just the place."

The next thing I knew, I left my bike at the bar and headed to Jesse's beat-up old car, tearing down the highway with the windows down and the music blaring. I had no idea where we were headed, but for the first time in days, I felt a spark of excitement.

We ended up at an underground rave, the kind of place where the music is loud, the lights are blinding, and the energy is electric. Jesse led the way, weaving through the crowd with practiced ease. I followed, feeling a strange mix of apprehension and anticipation.

Inside, the bass thumped in my chest, and the crowd moved like a single, pulsing entity. Jesse handed me a drink, and I took it without thinking, letting the music and the atmosphere wash over me.

For a while, I lost myself in the beat, dancing and laughing with strangers. It was chaotic and wild, but it was exactly what I needed. The pain of the breakup was still there, but it felt distant, muffled by the sensory overload.

At some point, I found myself on the rooftop, the cool night air a stark contrast to the heat and noise below. Jesse was there too, leaning against the railing and looking out over the city.

"Feeling better?" he asked, not looking at me.

"Yeah," I admitted. "A bit. This is...different."

"That's the point," Jesse said with a knowing smile. "Sometimes you just need to break out of the routine. Remind yourself there's more to life than the shit that's dragging you down."

I nodded, appreciating the unexpected wisdom in his words. "Thanks, man. I needed this."

He clapped me on the back. "Anytime, Elliot. Anytime. Now let's get back in there and make the most of this night."

We partied until the early hours, the wild energy of the rave a perfect antidote to the sorrow I had been drowning in. As dawn approached, we finally stumbled out, exhausted but lighter somehow.

Jesse gave me a ride back to the bar where I left my bike, and as I got out of the car, he gave me a serious look. "Remember, man. Life's too short to let shit like this keep you down. You've got to keep moving forward."

I nodded, grateful for his unexpected appearance and the wild night that had helped me see things differently. "You're right. Thanks, Jesse."

"Anytime," he said with a grin. "Stay wild, Elliot."

As he drove off, I stood there for a moment, watching the sunrise. I knew I still had a lot to sort out, but for the first time in a while, I felt like I could handle it. Should I fight for Apol? 

Should I continue to pursue him? 

Apol's POV

Waking up the next morning, I felt like I had a boulder sitting on my chest. The sunlight streaming through the window did nothing to lift my spirits. Today was supposed to be a rest day, a break from practice, but all I wanted to do was stay in bed and forget everything.

But I couldn't. I had to keep moving forward.

Dragging myself out of bed, I went through the motions of my morning routine. Brushing my teeth, washing my face, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep and the emotional hangover from the night before. I could hear TJ moving around in the kitchen, the clinking of dishes a small reminder that I wasn't alone.

As I walked into the kitchen, TJ looked up and gave me a small smile. "Morning," he said, handing me a cup of coffee.

"Morning," I mumbled, taking the cup and sitting down at the table. The aroma of the coffee was comforting, but it didn't do much to ease the ache in my chest.

We sat in silence for a while, the only sound the ticking of the clock on the wall. I knew TJ was giving me space, waiting for me to talk if I wanted to. I appreciated that more than I could express.

Finally, I took a deep breath and broke the silence. "I can't stop thinking about everything that happened," I confessed. "It's like a constant loop in my head."

TJ nodded, his expression understanding. "It's going to take time," he said gently. "But you'll get through it."

"I hope so," I replied, staring into my coffee cup. 

I decided to go for a jog and explore Costa Mesa today. It's been a while since I've run around the city, and I could use the distraction. A change of scenery would be refreshing.

As I ran along the coast of the city, I spotted Elliot stepping out of a car. He wasn't wearing his leather jacket anymore, just a tank top and pants. It looked like he had been to a party.

I quickly froze. Should I go past him or should I change my route? Damn it. The only way to the pancake house I know is along this path.

I decided not to look or approach him and just go past him like I don't even know he was there. I'm wearing my earpods anyway, so it's a good alibi for not hearing him if he calls out to me.

What a day. I should be able to focus on my training and matches throughout this league. 

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⏰ Last updated: Jul 25 ⏰

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