Between Us

Chapter 2: Unspoken Doubts

The light conversation about Prae lingered in the air, but Babe's smile had already begun to slip. He could still feel Nana's eyes on him, teasing yet knowing, as Billy stood up and stretched. The casual way Billy acted—as if nothing had changed, as if Prae's return meant nothing—made Babe feel ridiculous for even worrying.

"I'll catch up with you later, alright?" Billy said with his usual ease, his eyes already scanning the phone in his hand. "I've got to meet up with Pete. He's been bugging me about playing basketball."

Babe swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded, trying to keep his voice light. "Yeah, sure. Have fun."

Billy waved as he walked off, completely oblivious to the swirling mess of thoughts he left behind. Nana watched him go too, his sharp eyes flicking back to Babe the second Billy was out of earshot.

"You good, babe?" Nana asked, his tone softer now, the teasing edge gone.

Babe let out a long breath and slumped back on the bench. "I don't know," he admitted, eyes following Billy's retreating figure until he disappeared around the corner. "It's like... I don't even know why I care so much."

Nana tilted his head, his expression unusually serious. "Because you're in love with him, you idiot."

Babe laughed, but it was hollow. "Yeah, but it's not like I can just... tell him, you know? He's Billy. He's always been Billy. And now Prae's back, and I—"

"You're spiraling," Nana cut in, waving his hand. "And you're assuming a lot without actually knowing what's going on."

"I'm not spiraling," Babe muttered, even though he knew he was.

Nana sighed, leaning forward on his knees, his voice more gentle this time. "Listen, babe. You can't keep doing this to yourself. If you're not going to tell him how you feel, you need to stop torturing yourself over things that might not even be real. Prae's his friend, sure, but you don't know what's going on in his head. You need to talk to him. Or at least figure out what you want before you drive yourself crazy."

Babe pressed his palms to his face, groaning. "Yeah, easier said than done."

Nana placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it gently. "You're tougher than you think, babe. Just... don't let this eat you alive."

Billy's POV

Pete's voice was loud, echoing in the gym as they wrapped up their game of basketball. Billy wiped the sweat from his brow, catching his breath as Pete rambled on about something he didn't have the energy to follow. His mind was somewhere else.

Babe had been... off today. Subtle things—like the way he kept turning away, avoiding eye contact, or how his usual playful banter seemed half-hearted. It wasn't like Babe to shut down like that. They were always comfortable around each other, but lately, something was different.

"Hey, you listening?" Pete's voice broke through Billy's thoughts as he tossed the basketball aside, clapping a hand on Billy's shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm listening," Billy said, though he wasn't. "What were you saying?"

Pete rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Dude, you've been spaced out all day. What's going on?"

Billy sighed, leaning against the wall of the gym. "It's nothing. Just... Babe's been acting weird lately."

Pete raised an eyebrow. "Weird how?"

"I don't know." Billy ran a hand through his damp hair, trying to put the confusion into words. "He's been distant. Like, he's avoiding me or something."

Pete shrugged, completely unfazed. "Maybe he's just busy. You know how classes are this time of year."

"No, it's not that." Billy frowned, staring at the floor. "It's like... he's there, but not really there. He's distracted, or something. It feels off."

"Well, maybe he's got a crush," Pete said with a grin, nudging Billy in the ribs. "You know how it is when you're crushing on someone. Makes you act all weird."

Billy blinked, caught off guard by the comment. "What? Babe? No way."

Pete shrugged again, picking up the basketball and tossing it into the hoop. "I'm just saying, maybe he's crushing on someone. Maybe he's trying to work it out in his head. People get all weird when they're trying to figure out their feelings."

Billy frowned, the thought settling uncomfortably in his mind. A crush? On who? The idea of Babe liking someone else hadn't even crossed his mind, but now that Pete had said it, it made sense. But... who?

He pushed the thought away, shaking his head. "I don't know, man. Maybe."

Pete grinned, slapping Billy on the back. "Trust me, bro. Whatever it is, it's probably no big deal. Just talk to him."

Back to Babe's POV

Babe sat in the quiet of his apartment, staring blankly at the ceiling. Nana had left a few hours ago, but his words were still rattling around in Babe's head. "You can't keep doing this to yourself."

He knew Nana was right, but that didn't make it any easier.

Prae was back. Billy had spent the afternoon with Pete, and Babe had spent the entire time feeling like a third wheel even when Billy wasn't there. The logical part of his brain told him he was being ridiculous, but the emotional part—the part that was hopelessly in love with Billy—was spiraling out of control.

His phone buzzed on the couch next to him. He grabbed it, heart pounding, expecting a message from Billy.

But it was Nana.

Nana: You okay, babe?

Babe sighed, typing out a quick response.

Babe: Yeah, just thinking.

Nana: About Billy? Or Prae?

Babe hesitated before typing back.

Babe: Both.

There was a pause before Nana replied.

Nana: You need to talk to him, babe. I'm serious.

Babe: I know.

Nana: Do it before it's too late.

Babe stared at the message, his heart heavy. Too late. Those words echoed in his mind. Was he really going to lose Billy to someone else? To Prae? To anyone?

He closed his eyes, the weight of his unspoken feelings pressing down on him. Nana was right. He couldn't keep doing this to himself.

But what if he told Billy and everything changed? What if Billy didn't feel the same way?

Babe wasn't ready to lose him. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

But at the same time, he couldn't keep pretending that everything was okay. He couldn't keep living with this weight on his chest, unable to breathe every time Billy smiled at him, every time Billy touched his shoulder or laughed at something stupid. It was torture, and it was only getting worse.

Maybe tomorrow.

He'd talk to Billy tomorrow.