Edge of seventeen

Chapter 15

Asher's pov

It was one of those days where everything felt like it was on repeat—arguments with Elliot, endless school drama, and the constant noise of my own frustrations. I'd had another argument with Elliot that morning, and honestly, it was getting fucking old. It was like we were stuck in this endless loop of hating on each other, and neither of us was making any effort to break free.

I was sitting in the library, trying to focus on some homework, but my mind kept drifting back to the argument. I was sick of it. Sick of the constant bickering and the way every encounter with Elliot felt like an endless pissing contest. Part of me wondered if maybe we'd both been too stubborn, too set in our ways to ever see eye to eye. But another part of me wondered if maybe, just maybe, there was a way out of this shitstorm.

Wyatt strolled in, his usual smirk plastered on his face. "Yo, what's up, man? You look like you're about to snap."

"Yeah, well, maybe I am," I muttered, not really in the mood for his usual banter.

Wyatt took a seat across from me, raising an eyebrow. "You and Elliot still going at it?"

I sighed and rubbed my temples. "Yeah, same old crap. It's like we're locked in this never-ending cycle of arguing and hating each other. I'm fucking exhausted."

"Dude, I get it. But maybe it's time to stop beating a dead horse," Wyatt said, leaning back in his chair. "Have you ever thought about just talking to him? Like, actually having a conversation where you try to understand each other instead of just throwing insults?"

I gave him a look, half-amused and half-annoyed. "And what's that supposed to accomplish? It's not like he's going to suddenly become my best friend or anything."

"I don't know, man. But at this point, doing the same shit over and over is only going to get you more of the same. Maybe it's time to try something different," Wyatt said, shrugging. "Or do you want to keep this shit up forever?"

I grumbled, not thrilled about the idea. "Fine, whatever. I'll think about it. But I'm not making any promises."

Later that afternoon, I was walking down the hallway towards the gym. Practice was about to start, and while I wasn't into soccer, I had other stuff to do—like trying to keep my mind off the endless mess with Elliot. He was out there on the field, kicking the ball around, while I had a different route. I headed toward the bleachers, where I planned to settle in with a book.

As I approached the gym, I saw Elliot coming out of the locker room, his soccer gear making him look like a professional. For a second, I considered just walking away and avoiding him. But then I thought, screw it. Maybe it was time to face the music and see if we could actually talk like adults for once.

"Hey," I said, trying to sound as neutral as possible. "Got a minute?"

Elliot glanced up, his expression a mix of surprise and wariness. "Yeah, sure. What's up?"

I took a deep breath, bracing myself. "Look, I know we've been at each other's throats for a while now. I'm fucking tired of it, and I'm guessing you are too."

Elliot's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Wait, are you actually trying to have a conversation here?"

"Yeah, well, I figured it might be worth a shot," I said, shrugging. "I'm sick of all the bullshit, and I'm tired of this endless cycle of arguing. Maybe we should just try to work this out."

Elliot's expression softened slightly, though he still looked skeptical. "And what exactly do you have in mind? We just sit down and pretend everything's peachy?"

"No," I said, shaking my head. "I'm not saying we have to be best buddies or anything. But maybe if we actually talked things through, we'd stop being such fucking assholes to each other all the time."

Elliot's eyes narrowed, but there was a hint of curiosity in them now. "Alright, I'm listening. But don't think this means we're suddenly going to be pals or whatever."

"Yeah, I get it," I said. "I'm not looking for a bromance here. Just... less of the pointless shit."

We both stood there for a moment, the tension between us dissipating just a little. It wasn't exactly comfortable, but it was a start. For once, we weren't hurling insults at each other, and that felt like a small victory in itself.

"So," Elliot said, breaking the silence, "what do you want to talk about?"

"I don't know, man," I admitted. "Maybe just... why we keep getting on each other's nerves all the time. I mean, it's not like either of us gains anything from it."

Elliot nodded slowly. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I don't know why we keep doing this, but it's exhausting."

"It really is," I agreed. "I'm sick of it, and I'm sure you are too. Maybe we should just agree to disagree on some things and not let it turn into a fucking war zone every time we cross paths."

Elliot smirked a little, a rare sign of amusement. "You know, for once, I don't think that's a terrible idea."

We both stood there, the air between us a bit lighter than before. It wasn't a perfect resolution, but it was a step in the right direction. I could see the possibility of us finding a way to coexist without all the constant hostility.

As I turned to head toward the bleachers, I felt a strange sense of relief. It wasn't the end of our rivalry, but maybe it was the beginning of something different—a chance to break free from the endless cycle of arguing and find a way to get along, or at least tolerate each other.

For now, that was enough. And as I sat down with my book, I couldn't help but feel that maybe, just maybe, things were starting to shift in a more positive direction. It was a small change, but it felt like the beginning of something better.