Beyond The Court

11. Reunion

I sit down next to Kesley on the bed, still feeling the residual anger pumping through me, but it's not as sharp now. Being here with her—it calms me in a way I didn't expect. She's still hugging herself, her hands trembling a little as she stares down at the floor, avoiding my gaze. I want to reach out, to say something that'll fix this, but I don't know where to start.

She called me.

After all this time, she called me.

I take a deep breath, leaning back against the headboard. The tension in the room feels heavy, but I don't want to push her. I don't want to ruin this moment, no matter how fragile it is.

"Are you okay?" I ask quietly, glancing over at her.

She looks up at me, her eyes red from crying, her lip quivering as she nods. "Yeah... I mean, no. Not really. I don't know." She lets out a small, humorless laugh, her fingers playing with the hem of her dress. "I don't know how to feel."

I shift a little, feeling the weight of the words she's not saying. The tension between us is different now—less like the cold distance we've been carrying, and more like something is finally cracking open.

"Kes," I murmur, glancing at her face. She's so quiet, so vulnerable in this moment. I want to protect her from everything, from Aaron, from herself... from the world that's made her feel like she has to hide. But I can't force her to open up.

"You can talk to me. I'm here," I add, my voice barely above a whisper.

She looks up at me, her eyes locking with mine for a long moment. There's something there—something raw, something I haven't seen in her for a long time. But instead of speaking, she just leans forward, her forehead resting against my shoulder. I feel her body shake slightly as she lets out a soft sob.

And I let her.

I wrap my arm around her gently, my hand resting on her back as she cries into my shoulder. I don't say anything. There's nothing I can say that'll make this better, but I know she needs this. She needs to let it out. And I'm not going anywhere.

We stay like that for what feels like forever, just the two of us sitting on the edge of my bed in silence, with only the sound of her quiet sobs filling the space. It feels like we're slipping back into something familiar, something that we lost a long time ago. There's no anger here anymore, no walls between us. Just two people who've been hurting for too long, finally letting themselves be vulnerable.

"Izzi," she finally whispers after a long stretch of silence, her voice small and shaky.

"Yeah?" I say softly, still holding her close.

She pulls back slightly, just enough to look up at me with those eyes that have always been able to undo me. "I'm sorry. For everything. For how we... how I..."

I shake my head, cutting her off. "You don't have to apologize, Kes. Not to me."

"But I do." Her voice cracks again, and she bites her lip, trying to hold back more tears. "I've been running from this—from you—for so long. And I don't even know why anymore."

Her words hit me harder than I expected. I've spent so much time convincing myself that I could move on, that I didn't need her anymore.

But hearing her say it, hearing her acknowledge what we both know... it's like a floodgate opening.

"I ran too," I admit, my voice quiet but steady. "I pushed you away because I didn't know how to deal with it. With us."

Her eyes search mine, and for the first time in what feels like years, we're being honest. No walls, no pretending. Just the truth hanging in the air between us, thick and heavy.

"I don't know if I'm ready," she says softly, her voice barely audible.

I nod slowly. "Me neither."

And that's the truth. There's too much history here, too much pain that hasn't been healed. But standing here, with her so close, I can't deny that I want this. I've wanted this.

Maybe we don't have to figure it all out right now. Maybe we just need to take it one step at a time.

Kesley wipes her eyes, her hands still trembling slightly. "I don't want to lose you again."

"You won't," I reassure her, my voice soft. "We'll figure it out. Together."

She looks up at me, her expression softening, and I can see the tiniest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. It's small, but it's real.

"Izzi?" she asks hesitantly.

"Yeah?"

"Can I... stay? Just for tonight?"

Her question catches me off guard, but I don't hesitate. I nod, standing up and walking to my closet grabbing a pair of shorts she had left and one of my T-shirt's. "Of course you can."

I hand her the clothes and she looks up at me. I can't stop myself I reach down and hold her face in my hand my thumb brushing over the slight red mark still on her face. She relaxes into my hand before signing and standing up. I let her walk past me and into my bathroom. As I wait for her I change into the pair of shorts and tshirt I had set aside before I left. Then I sit down on my bed plugging my phone in before getting under the covers.

I lay back against my head board and watch as she comes out. Practically swimming in my shirt but I can't help but smile. The sight so familiar yet new.

She climbs in next to me, and for a moment, we're both a little unsure. We haven't done this in years—slept next to each other. But as soon as she settles beside me, it feels... right. Comfortable. Like no time has passed at all.

I can feel the warmth of her body against mine as we lie there in the dark, our backs pressed against the headboard. Neither of us says anything for a while, but the silence isn't uncomfortable. It's just... peaceful. Like we're both exactly where we're supposed to be.

After a few minutes, Kesley shifts slightly, turning onto her side to face me. I glance over, and our eyes meet in the dim light of my room.

"Thank you," she whispers, her voice so soft it's almost like she's afraid to say it out loud.

"For what?"

"For being here. For coming when I needed you."

I swallow hard, trying to push down the emotions that are threatening to bubble up again. "I'll always be here for you, Kes. No matter what."

Her hand reaches out tentatively, brushing against mine. It's the smallest touch, but it sends a shockwave through me. I don't pull away. I don't want to. Instead, I let her fingers entwine with mine, holding on to the moment for as long as I can.

We stay like that for a while, our hands clasped together between us, the weight of everything unsaid hanging in the air. It's not perfect. It's not a grand, dramatic reunion. But it's enough. It's real.

Eventually, Kesley lets out a soft sigh, her eyes fluttering closed as she leans her head against my shoulder. Her breath evens out, and I can tell she's finally starting to relax.

I close my eyes, letting myself sink into the feeling of her beside me. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I can breathe. Like maybe, just maybe, we can figure this out.

Together...