Edge of seventeen

Chapter 70

Elliot wandered aimlessly through the city streets, his mind a haze of despair and confusion. The world around him felt surreal, like he was moving through a bad dream he couldn't wake up from. The pain in his chest was relentless, each heartbeat a reminder of the void Asher had left behind.

He couldn't shake the image of Asher and Keith together, laughing, as if everything was normal. How could Asher just move on like that? How could he leave Elliot to drown in this misery, especially when they had come so far together? The questions echoed in his mind, each one digging deeper into the wound.

Elliot's feet led him to the park where they'd often hung out, talking for hours or just enjoying each other's presence. The bench they used to sit on was empty now, a cruel reminder of the happiness that had once filled this place. He collapsed onto it, burying his face in his hands.

"Why, Ash?" he whispered to himself, his voice trembling. "Why did you do this?"

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the park, Elliot felt a presence beside him. He looked up to see Adrian, his expression full of concern.

"I've been looking for you," Adrian said softly, sitting down next to him. "You've got everyone worried."

Elliot managed a weak smile. "I didn't mean to scare anyone. I just... I needed to get out of my head for a while."

Adrian nodded, understanding. "You're going through a lot right now, Ell. It's okay to feel like this, but you shouldn't be alone."

Elliot looked away, his eyes tracing the outline of the trees in the distance. "I feel like I've lost everything, Adrian. Asher was... he was everything to me, and now he's gone. And it's not just that he's gone, it's that he's with *him*. I don't understand why this is happening."

Adrian reached out, placing a hand on Elliot's shoulder. "It's not your fault, Elliot. You can't control how people act, and you definitely can't control Asher's choices. But you don't have to go through this alone."

Elliot's eyes welled up with tears, but he forced himself to hold them back. "It just hurts so much. I don't know how to make it stop."

Adrian's grip tightened, offering silent support. "You'll get through this, Ell. It's going to take time, but you're stronger than you think. And I'm here for you, whatever you need."

They sat in silence for a while, the weight of everything hanging between them. The world continued to move around them, but for Elliot, time felt like it had stopped. He was stuck in this endless loop of pain and confusion, unable to find a way out.

Finally, Elliot spoke again, his voice barely audible. "Do you think... do you think Asher ever really loved me? Or was I just someone he used to get over Keith?"

Adrian shook his head. "I don't think you were just a rebound, Elliot. I've seen the way Asher looks at you. There's real love there. But whatever's going on with him, it's his issue to deal with. You can't let it destroy you."

Elliot nodded, though he wasn't sure he believed it. The doubt was too strong, the pain too real. But he appreciated Adrian's words, the way he was trying to pull him out of the darkness.

As night fell, the two of them remained on the bench, talking about anything and everything that came to mind. Adrian made Elliot laugh a few times, and for a moment, he felt a glimmer of the person he used to be. But it was fleeting, a brief reprieve before the weight of everything came crashing down again.

---

The next morning, Elliot woke up with a sense of determination he hadn't felt in days. He couldn't keep living like this, drowning in his own misery. He needed to find closure, or at least some kind of understanding. If Asher was really lost to him, then he needed to hear it from Asher's own mouth. He needed to face the truth, no matter how much it hurt.

He decided to go see Asher. They had avoided each other for long enough, and the silence between them was only making things worse. He needed answers, and he needed them now.

When Elliot arrived at the dorm, his heart pounded in his chest. It was hard to walk up those steps, to face the place that had once been filled with so much love and laughter. But he pushed himself forward, knocking on the door with a resolve he wasn't sure he could maintain.

The door opened, and there stood Asher, his face a mix of surprise and something else—guilt, perhaps. Elliot swallowed hard, trying to keep his emotions in check.

"Ell... what are you doing here?" Asher's voice was soft, uncertain.

"I needed to talk to you," Elliot said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I need to know why, Ash. Why did you do this? Why did you leave me for him?"

Asher looked away, his shoulders slumping. "It's not what you think."

"Then tell me what it is," Elliot demanded, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "Because right now, it feels like you just threw everything we had away, and I don't understand why."

Asher hesitated, and for a moment, Elliot thought he might not answer. But then Asher sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Keith... he's dangerous, Elliot. He... he threatened you. He said he'd hurt you if I didn't go back to him. I couldn't risk it. I couldn't let you get hurt because of me."

Elliot felt like the ground had shifted beneath him. "He *threatened* me? Ash, why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to drag you into this," Asher admitted, his voice trembling. "I thought... I thought I could handle it on my own. But now... I don't know what to do."

Elliot's anger melted away, replaced by a fierce protectiveness. "You don't have to handle it alone. We can figure this out together."

Asher shook his head. "You don't understand. Keith... he's not just going to go away. He's dangerous, Ell. I don't want you to get hurt."

Elliot stepped closer, taking Asher's hand in his. "I'm not going anywhere, Ash. Whatever this is, we'll face it together. You don't have to protect me by pushing me away."

Asher looked at him, tears welling up in his eyes. "I'm so sorry, Ell. I never wanted to hurt you."

Elliot squeezed his hand, his voice gentle. "I know. But we need to stop letting fear control us. We need to fight back."

Asher nodded, a small spark of hope returning to his eyes. "You're right. We can't let Keith win. But I'm scared, Ell. I'm scared of what he'll do."

"We'll figure it out," Elliot promised. "But we need to stay together. We're stronger that way."

For the first time in days, Asher smiled—a real, genuine smile. "Thank you, Ell. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Elliot pulled him into a tight embrace, relief flooding through him. It wasn't over—not by a long shot—but at least now they were facing it together. And that gave him the strength to keep going.

As they stood there, holding onto each other, Elliot knew that they had a long road ahead. But no matter what happened, he wasn't going to let Keith or anyone else tear them apart. They would face whatever came their way, and they would come out stronger on the other side.

Because that's what love was supposed to do—it was supposed to make you stronger, even when everything around you was falling apart. And Elliot was determined to hold onto that, no matter what.