FROM FRIENDS TO MORE || Gavi x Pedri

Chapter 14 :: finally together

The crisp autumn air nipped at Gavi's cheeks as he stood before Pedri's house. Months had passed since that fateful night, months filled with regret, self-loathing, and the deafening silence between them. He had tried to reach out, to apologize, but his words always seemed to get stuck in his throat.

He took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. He had to do this. He owed it to himself, to Pedri, to their friendship.

He knocked on the door, his hand trembling slightly. The sound echoed in the quiet street, amplifying his nervousness.

The door opened, revealing Pedri's familiar face. He looked surprised, a flicker of emotion passing through his eyes.

"Gavi?" he said, his voice hesitant.

Gavi swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "Hey, Pedri," he managed to say, his voice barely a whisper. "Can I come in?"

Pedri stepped aside, allowing Gavi to enter. The familiar warmth of Pedri's home enveloped him, a stark contrast to the cold, empty feeling he had carried for so long.

"What are you doing here?" Pedri asked, his voice still laced with uncertainty.

Gavi took a step forward, his gaze meeting Pedri's. "I came to talk," he said, his voice firming slightly. "I know I messed up, I know I hurt you. I'm sorry, Pedri. I was a jerk, and I'm really sorry."

Pedri's eyes softened, a hint of understanding flickering in their depths. "Gavi, it's okay," he said, his voice gentle. "We all make mistakes. But you need to understand, what happened that night... it was a lot for me to process."

Gavi nodded, his heart sinking slightly. He knew he had hurt Pedri deeply, and he understood his hesitation.

"I know," he said, his voice filled with remorse. "I was drunk, I was stupid. I said things I didn't mean, I did things I shouldn't have. I was a mess, and I took it out on you. I'm truly sorry, Pedri."

Pedri looked at him, his gaze searching. "It's not just about that night, Gavi," he said, his voice soft. "It's about everything that happened after. The silence, the distance... it hurt."

Gavi's heart ached. He understood. He had been the one to push Pedri away, to build a wall between them. He had been afraid to face his own guilt, his own shame.

"I know," he said, his voice choked with emotion. "I was scared, Pedri. I was scared of what I had done, scared of what I might lose. I was a coward."

Pedri took a step closer, his hand reaching out to touch Gavi's arm. "It's okay, Gavi," he said, his voice filled with compassion. "We can work through this. But we need to be honest with each other, we need to talk."

Gavi nodded, a glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was ready to fight for their friendship. He was ready to face his demons, to apologize, to heal.

He was ready to start over.

***

The flickering light of the television cast dancing shadows across the room, illuminating the comfortable silence between Gavi and Pedri. They had settled on the couch, nestled close together, a shared blanket draped over their shoulders.

They had been watching a movie on Netflix, a cheesy rom-com that Pedri had insisted on, but even the saccharine sweetness of the plot couldn't distract Gavi from the warmth of Pedri's presence beside him.

The movie's ending rolled, a predictable happy ending that felt strangely poignant in the quiet of the room. Gavi looked over at Pedri, his eyes tracing the lines of Pedri's face, the way his eyelashes fluttered as he drifted off.

He felt a wave of affection wash over him, a feeling that had been absent for so long. He reached out, his hand brushing against Pedri's arm. Pedri stirred, his eyes fluttering open, and Gavi quickly pulled his hand back, his cheeks flushing.

"Sorry," he mumbled, his voice barely audible.

Pedri smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "It's okay," he said, his voice soft. "I was just getting sleepy."

Gavi nodded, his gaze dropping to the floor. He felt a strange pull towards Pedri, an urge to close the space between them, to feel the warmth of his body against his own.

He took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. He reached out again, this time hesitantly placing his hand on Pedri's shoulder. Pedri didn't pull away, his body relaxing against Gavi's touch.

Gavi's hand slowly crept up Pedri's arm, his fingers brushing against the soft fabric of Pedri's shirt. He felt a surge of courage, a desire to bridge the gap that had separated them for so long.

He leaned in, his head resting on Pedri's shoulder. The scent of Pedri's cologne, a familiar comfort, filled his senses. He felt Pedri's arm wrap around his waist, pulling him closer.

Gavi closed his eyes, the warmth of Pedri's embrace washing over him. He felt safe, secure, a sense of peace he hadn't felt in months. He drifted off to sleep, his head nestled against Pedri's shoulder, the gentle rise and fall of Pedri's breath a soothing rhythm in the quiet of the room.

They woke up hours later, the sun streaming through the window, the remnants of the movie forgotten. Gavi opened his eyes, his gaze meeting Pedri's. He felt a blush creep up his cheeks, a mixture of embarrassment and a strange sense of contentment.

Pedri smiled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Good morning," he said, his voice husky with sleep.

Gavi managed a weak smile. "Good morning," he mumbled, his voice still thick with sleep.

They remained silent for a moment, the weight of their shared sleep still lingering between them. Gavi felt a warmth spread through him, a feeling he hadn't felt in a long time. He knew this was just the beginning, but it was a beginning he was finally ready to embrace.