there she goes - jschlatt

echoes of confession

the pier was alive with the sounds of laughter and the distant calls of seagulls. sunlight danced on the water, casting shimmering reflections that momentarily caught my attention. yet, no matter how picturesque the scene, I felt the familiar weight of uncertainty pressing down on me.

as we walked along the boardwalk, the salty breeze tousled my hair, but it did little to clear the fog in my mind. the group was animated, chatting and joking, but my thoughts kept drifting back to schlatt and the tangled mess of emotions swirling inside me.

"char, you good?" tucker asked, his voice breaking through my thoughts.

"yeah," I replied, forcing a smile. "just taking it all in."

"right," he said, looking skeptical. "taking in the scenery or taking in your feelings?"
I shot him a glare. "both, I guess."

the group made its way to a small arcade at the edge of the pier. the sound of clinking tokens and excited shouts drew us in like a magnet. as I stepped inside, I was greeted by a wave of nostalgia, memories of carefree days spent playing games with friends. but today felt different—charged with a tension that made my skin prick.

"let's team up for some racing!" ted suggested, his eyes lighting up as he approached the racing game.

"sure, but I warn you, I'm pretty competitive," I said, trying to channel my energy into something fun.

as we started playing, I could feel schlatt's presence nearby. every laugh, every playful jab at my gameplay, sent a thrill through me, but it was quickly followed by that all-too-familiar knot in my stomach. I stole glances at him as he chatted with sierra, who was laughing a little too hard at his jokes.

the game ended, and I leaned back, trying to catch my breath. "okay, I'm done," I said, waving my hands dramatically. "you win this round."

"not bad, char," schlatt said, his smile genuine but slightly teasing. "you might want to work on your driving skills, though."

"you're one to talk," I shot back, trying to keep it light, but the way his eyes sparkled with amusement made my heart race.

"next time, I'll let you win," he replied with a grin, and I felt my cheeks flush.ted interrupted our banter, nudging me playfully. "how about we try the shooting game next? it's a classic."

"sure, let's go!" I said, eager to redirect my focus.

as we moved toward the shooting game, I felt a sudden push of bravery. this was my chance—my moment to talk to schlatt, to figure out where we stood. but as I stood beside him, the moment felt heavier than ever.

"hey, schlatt," I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "can we talk?"

he turned, his expression shifting to curiosity. "sure, what's up?"

my heart raced as I gestured toward a quieter corner of the arcade. "over there?"

"yeah, let's do it." he followed me, and I could feel the eyes of our friends on us, but I pushed that thought aside.

once we were out of earshot, I took a deep breath, my palms clammy against the cool plastic of the arcade machine. "I wanted to talk about last night."

he frowned slightly, crossing his arms. "what about it?"

I hesitated, the words teetering on the edge of my tongue. "I just... I don't know, it felt like there was something between us, and then you were with sierra, and I..."

"you're worried," he said, cutting me off. "about us?"

I nodded, the vulnerability making my stomach churn. "yeah. I guess I just want to know what you're thinking."

schlatt ran a hand through his hair, looking thoughtful. "it's complicated, char."

"is it because of sierra?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

"it's not just that," he replied, his gaze intense. "I don't want to hurt you. I know what you've been through."

my heart raced.  "what do you mean?"

he took a step closer, his expression serious. "I can see the walls you've built. I don't want to be the reason they get torn down."

"you're not a threat, schlatt," I said, my voice firm despite the turmoil inside. "but I need to know if there's a chance for us."

he paused, searching my eyes as if trying to gauge my sincerity. "you really want to know?"

"yes," I whispered, holding my breath.

just then, the laughter and chatter of our friends pulled me back to reality. I could feel the moment slipping away. "maybe we should go back," I said, suddenly unsure. "we're holding up the game."

"char, wait," he said, reaching out to touch my arm. his warmth radiated through me, and I felt that familiar flutter.
"we're not done here."

but before I could respond, a shout came from the group, drawing my attention. "char, come on! we're waiting for you!" it was tucker, waving us over.

schlatt's eyes darkened for a moment, frustration flickering across his face. "we'll talk later, okay?"

"yeah, later," I echoed, my heart heavy with unspoken words.

as we rejoined the group, I felt a sense of loss—like I had just stepped back from the edge of something important. but I also felt a flicker of hope. maybe, just maybe, there would be another chance to dive into the truth.

the rest of the day passed in a blur, filled with laughter, games, and distractions. but beneath it all, the echoes of our conversation lingered, a reminder that I was standing at the precipice of something new and terrifying.

as the sun began to set, casting a warm golden glow over the pier, I couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change. and for the first time in a long time, I found myself ready to face whatever came next.