there she goes - jschlatt

new beginnings

the weeks passed in a blur of laughter, late-night drives, and quiet moments shared with schlatt. each day felt like a new adventure, our connection growing stronger as we navigated the uncharted territory of our relationship. I'd never felt so at ease with someone, and the more time we spent together, the more I realized how much I had wanted this—how much I had wanted him.

it was a crisp Saturday afternoon when I received a text from schlatt: | "want to meet me at the café later? I've got something to talk about." my heart raced at the thought of seeing him, but curiosity tugged at me. I couldn't shake the feeling that something important was on his mind.

as I made my way to the café, I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. the atmosphere was warm and inviting, with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. I spotted schlatt sitting at a corner table, his expression thoughtful as he fiddled with his cup.

"hey," I said, sliding into the chair across from him. "what's up?"

"hey," he replied, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that made my heart flutter. "I wanted to talk about everything that's been going on."

"everything? you mean us?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"yeah," he said, his gaze unwavering. "I know things got complicated with sierra, and I want to make sure we're on the same page."

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach at the mention of her name. "I'm not going to lie, it's been tough," I admitted. "I never wanted to come between you two, but... I really care about you, schlatt."

"I care about you too, char," he said, leaning in closer. "and I don't want to hide it anymore. sierra and I are done. it's been over for a while now, but I didn't want to rush into anything with you until I figured it out."

the relief that washed over me was almost overwhelming. "you mean it?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

"absolutely," he replied, a small smile creeping onto his lips. "you're the one I want to be with. it's you I want to figure things out with."

I felt a weight lift from my shoulders, and I couldn't help but smile back. "then let's do this. together."

just as I thought everything was falling into place, the café door swung open, and sierra stepped inside. my heart sank at the sight of her, the memories of the fallout fresh in my mind. she spotted us almost immediately, and I could see the tension in her posture.

"schlatt," she called, making her way over to our table. I exchanged a quick glance with him, gauging his reaction.

"sierra," he said, keeping his tone neutral.

"we need to talk," she said, her expression unreadable as she stood before us.

"about what?" I asked, my protective instincts kicking in.

"about us," she replied, her gaze flickering between us. "about what happened."

"what do you want, sierra?" schlatt asked, his voice firm but calm.

"I want to apologize," she said, her tone softer now. "for everything. I messed up, and I didn't mean to hurt you, or char. I just... I got lost in everything."

schlatt's expression didn't change, but I could see a flicker of hurt in his eyes. "that doesn't change what happened," he said, his voice steady.

"I know," she replied, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "but I want to make things right, even if it's just for us to move on."

the air was thick with tension as I watched the exchange, unsure of what to do. I didn't want to get in the way of their conversation, but I also couldn't ignore the way schlatt was looking at her, the remnants of their past still clinging to the surface.

"it's not that simple, sierra," he said finally. "you broke my trust, and that's something I can't just overlook."

"I understand that, but I've changed," she insisted, her voice rising slightly. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry, and I hope we can both move forward."

schlatt was silent for a moment, weighing her words. I could see the conflict in his eyes, and I felt a surge of protectiveness for him. he had been hurt, and I didn't want him to reopen old wounds for the sake of closure.

"thank you for the apology," he said finally, his tone firm. "but I think it's best if we go our separate ways."

sierra's expression fell, and for a moment, I felt a pang of sympathy. "I understand," she said quietly. "I just hope you find happiness, both of you."

as she turned to leave, I felt a mix of emotions—relief, sadness, and a sense of closure. I watched her walk away, realizing that this chapter was finally coming to a close for all of us.

"you okay?" I asked schlatt softly, turning my attention back to him.

"yeah," he replied, his eyes searching mine. "it's just... a lot to process."

"we don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," I offered.

"no, I want to," he said, his gaze steady. "I just want you to know that you're what matters to me now. I don't want to go back to the way things were."

I reached across the table and took his hand in mine, feeling a rush of warmth spread through me. "then let's focus on what's ahead," I said, a smile breaking through the tension. "together."

"together," he echoed, squeezing my hand gently.

we spent the rest of the afternoon talking, laughing, and making plans for the future. it felt like a new beginning—a fresh start where we could write our own story, free from the shadows of the past. as the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold, I couldn't help but feel a sense of hope wash over me.

we walked out of the café hand in hand, ready to embrace whatever came next, together.