Between Us

Chapter 15: Stuck in the Middle

Babe sat on the steps of one of the campus buildings, staring out at the groups of students walking by. The usual hustle and bustle of campus life barely registered with him today. His mind was consumed by a single thought—Billy. And the conversation they still hadn't had.

It had been days since their last heart-to-heart, and while they hadn't exactly left things in a bad place, the weight of everything unsaid lingered between them. Babe's heart was heavy, and for the first time in his life, he felt completely stuck. Stuck between the fear of rejection and the need to be honest.

He sighed, resting his chin on his hand. I can't keep doing this. He had been telling himself that for what felt like weeks, but every time he got close to confessing, something held him back. Maybe it was the fear that everything would change. Maybe it was the worry that Billy would see him differently. Or maybe, deep down, he was afraid that once he said the words, he wouldn't be able to take them back.

What if I'm wrong? What if he doesn't feel the same?

The thought made his chest tighten. He had tried to imagine life without Billy in it, and every time, the idea left him feeling hollow. He couldn't lose him—not as a friend, not as anything. But the longer he kept his feelings hidden, the harder it became to pretend everything was normal.

As he sat there, lost in thought, he didn't even notice Billy approaching until he heard a familiar voice.

"Hey."

Babe blinked, looking up to see Billy standing a few feet away, hands stuffed into his pockets, a casual smile on his face. But there was something else in his eyes—something unreadable.

"Oh, hey," Babe replied, quickly straightening up, his heart immediately picking up its pace. "Didn't see you there."

Billy chuckled, walking over and sitting down next to him on the steps. "You seemed pretty deep in thought."

Babe forced a small laugh. "Yeah, just... thinking about stuff."

They sat in silence for a moment, both of them watching the students go by. Babe could feel the tension building in his chest, the words he had been holding in threatening to spill out, but he wasn't ready—not yet.

Billy glanced over at him, his expression softening. "You okay? You've been kinda quiet lately."

Babe bit his lip, his heart racing. This was it—the moment he had been dreading. He could feel Billy watching him, waiting for an answer, and for the first time, Babe didn't know what to say.

"I'm fine," he lied, though the words felt hollow even to him.

Billy didn't look convinced. "You sure? You've been... different. I can tell something's bothering you."

Babe swallowed hard, his throat tight. He knows. Of course he knows. Billy had always been able to read him better than anyone else.

Babe glanced down at his hands, his fingers trembling slightly. He could feel the walls he had built around himself starting to crack, but the fear of what would happen if they crumbled completely kept him frozen.

"I..." Babe's voice faltered, his throat tightening. He couldn't bring himself to say it. Not yet.

Billy waited patiently, his gaze steady but gentle. Babe could feel the concern radiating off of him, but he could also sense the frustration. Billy didn't like being kept in the dark, and Babe knew it.

"I just... I've been dealing with some stuff," Babe said finally, his voice barely audible. "But I don't really know how to talk about it."

Billy nodded slowly, his expression softening again. "I get that. But you don't have to figure it all out on your own, you know. You can talk to me."

Babe's heart ached at Billy's words. He knew Billy meant them, that he genuinely cared. But that only made things harder. The closer they got, the more Babe feared losing him.

"I don't want to screw things up," Babe whispered, his voice shaking slightly.

Billy frowned, confused. "Screw things up how?"

Babe's chest tightened, the weight of his emotions pressing down on him. This is it. I can't keep running.

Before he could stop himself, the words slipped out.

"I... I don't know how to explain it," Babe said, his voice trembling. "It's just... complicated."

Billy's brow furrowed, and Babe could see the confusion in his eyes. But there was something else there too—something softer, more understanding.

"Complicated how?" Billy asked gently.

Babe swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. This was the moment he had been dreading—the moment when everything would change. But he couldn't keep avoiding it forever. He had to face the truth, even if it terrified him.

"I..." Babe's voice faltered again, but this time, he didn't let the fear stop him. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to look Billy in the eyes.

"I have feelings for you, Billy," Babe whispered, his voice barely audible. "And I've been scared to tell you because I don't want to lose you."

The silence that followed was deafening. Babe could feel his heart racing, his chest tight with anxiety as he waited for Billy's response.

For a moment, Billy just stared at him, his expression unreadable. Babe's mind raced with a million different possibilities—rejection, confusion, maybe even anger—but none of them prepared him for what happened next.

Billy smiled.

It wasn't a big, dramatic smile, but a small, soft one—filled with understanding.

"You're not gonna lose me, Babe," Billy said quietly, his voice steady but warm. "I'm still here. And I'm not going anywhere."

Babe's heart ached with relief, the tension that had been building for weeks finally starting to fade. He hadn't expected this—hadn't expected Billy to be so calm, so understanding. But he should have known better. Billy had always been there for him, even when Babe didn't deserve it.

They sat there in silence for a few moments, the weight of everything finally starting to lift. For the first time in weeks, Babe felt like he could breathe again.