Between Us

Chapter 13: The Walk Home

The late afternoon sun casts a soft, golden glow over the campus as Babe and Billy left the library, walking side by side. Neither of them said much at first, but the silence between them wasn't heavy or awkward. It was tentative, filled with a sense of new understanding, as if they were both aware that something between them had shifted, but neither wanted to push it too far just yet.

Babe stuffed his hands into his pockets, glancing over at Billy as they made their way toward his apartment. The conversation in the library had left him feeling both relieved and anxious—relieved that Billy hadn't pushed him too hard, but anxious because he knew this was just the beginning. He couldn't keep hiding forever, and if he didn't open up soon, the distance between them would grow again.

Billy walked with his hands in his pockets too, his gaze steady but calm as they made their way through the quiet campus. There was a new kind of warmth in his presence, something softer, more protective. Babe could feel it, and it made his heart race.

"You okay?" Billy asked quietly, breaking the silence.

Babe nodded, though his thoughts were racing. "Yeah, I'm good. Just... thinking."

Billy gave a small smile. "About?"

Babe hesitated. He could feel his guard slipping, the walls he had built around his heart starting to crumble. But even now, with Billy so close, he was scared. Scared that once the words were out, everything would change.

"About us," Babe admitted softly, his voice barely audible.

Billy's expression softened, and for a moment, it looked like he was going to say something, but instead, he nodded. "I've been thinking about us too."

Babe's heart skipped a beat, but before he could respond, Billy added, "I know things have been weird lately, but... I don't want that to keep happening. I want us to be okay."

Babe swallowed hard, his throat tight with emotion. "Me too."

They walked in silence for a few more moments, the sounds of their footsteps on the pavement the only thing filling the quiet. Babe could feel the tension between them—the kind of tension that wasn't uncomfortable, but was instead charged with something unspoken, something that could change everything if it was acknowledged.

As they approached Babe's apartment, Billy slowed his pace, glancing over at him with a hesitant look. "You sure you're okay?"

Babe bit his lip, feeling his heart pounding in his chest. This was his chance. This was the moment he could finally let his guard down, finally tell Billy everything he had been holding back.

But the words wouldn't come.

Instead, he nodded again, forcing a small smile. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Billy studied him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Babe could tell he didn't believe him, but Billy didn't push. Instead, he gave a small, understanding nod and said, "Okay."

They reached Babe's door, and for a second, neither of them moved. The air between them felt heavy with the weight of everything they hadn't said.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" Billy asked, his voice quiet but hopeful.

Babe nodded again, his hand resting on the door handle. "Yeah. Tomorrow."

Billy lingered for a moment longer, as if he wanted to say something else, but instead, he gave Babe a small, reassuring smile before turning to walk away.

Babe watched him go, his heart aching with the words he hadn't been able to say. He wanted to call out to him, to tell him to come back, to tell him everything that had been eating him alive for weeks.

But he couldn't. Not yet.

With a heavy sigh, Babe opened the door and stepped inside, feeling both relieved and frustrated at the same time. He was making progress—he knew that much—but the fear of what would happen if he fully let his guard down still held him back.