Between Us

Chapter 21: Clarity and Confession

The sound of distant traffic hummed in the background as Babe and Billy walked side by side, the tension from their earlier confrontation slowly starting to fade. They hadn't spoken much since Billy had reassured him about Prae, but there was a certain comfort in the quiet. It was as though they both knew there was more to say, but neither wanted to rush it.

Babe's heart was still heavy, but it no longer felt like it was dragging him down. Instead, it felt like something he was finally ready to face. After days of uncertainty and self-doubt, he knew he couldn't keep running from his fears—especially not with Billy.

They made their way to a secluded spot on campus, a small garden hidden from the usual bustle of student life. It was quiet here, the perfect place to have the conversation Babe had been avoiding for too long.

Billy gestured to a bench under the shade of a tree, and they both sat down, the weight of the silence settling between them.

Babe glanced over at Billy, his hands nervously twisting together in his lap. "I'm sorry."

Billy looked at him, frowning slightly. "Sorry for what?"

Babe hesitated, unsure how to put everything into words. "For being... like this. For avoiding you, for letting my insecurities get the best of me."

Billy's expression softened, his gaze steady as he leaned back against the bench. "You don't need to apologize for feeling what you feel, Babe."

"But I do," Babe insisted, his voice trembling slightly. "I do need to apologize because it's not fair to you. I've been keeping all this stuff bottled up, and it's not your fault. It's me. I've always been scared that I'm not enough—that you'll realize you can do better."

Billy sighed, turning to face him more fully. "Babe, I need you to hear me when I say this. You're not a placeholder. You're not 'less' than anyone else."

Babe swallowed hard, his throat tight as he listened to Billy's words.

"I get that you've been scared," Billy continued, his voice gentle. "And I know that this whole thing is new for both of us. But I'm not here just because it's convenient. I'm here because I care about you. I want to be here."

Babe looked down at his hands, feeling the knot of emotions rise up in his chest again. "I guess I'm just... I don't know. I see Prae, and I see how easy things are between you two, and I can't help but feel like you'll wake up one day and realize she's a better fit."

Billy reached over, taking Babe's hand in his. The warmth of the touch sent a jolt through Babe, grounding him in the moment.

"Prae's important to me," Billy said, his voice low but firm. "But not in that way. She's family, practically. I can't see her like that, and I never have."

Babe lifted his gaze, meeting Billy's eyes. The sincerity there made his chest tighten in a different way—this time, with something that felt like hope.

"I don't want Prae," Billy continued softly. "I want you."

The words hit Babe like a wave, the tension that had been building for days finally starting to unravel. He had been holding onto his fears for so long, convinced that at any moment, Billy would change his mind. But now, hearing those words—hearing Billy say that he wanted him—it felt like something inside Babe was finally breaking free.

"I'm sorry I didn't say this sooner," Billy added, squeezing Babe's hand. "I should've realized you were feeling insecure about everything, but... I guess I didn't know how to bring it up without making things worse."

Babe shook his head, blinking away the sudden sting of tears. "You didn't do anything wrong. This is on me. I've always struggled with feeling like I'm not enough."

Billy shifted closer, his other hand gently cupping the side of Babe's face. "Hey," he said softly, his thumb brushing against Babe's cheek. "You're more than enough."

The tenderness in Billy's voice, the way his touch was both gentle and sure, sent a shiver through Babe. It wasn't just the words—it was the way Billy looked at him, like he was the only thing that mattered in that moment.

"I don't know how to stop feeling this way," Babe whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "But I want to try. I want to believe you."

Billy smiled, leaning in just slightly, his forehead resting against Babe's. "Then we'll figure it out together. I'm not going anywhere."

Babe closed his eyes, the warmth of Billy's breath mingling with his own as they sat there, close enough to feel each other's heartbeat. The world outside seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in this quiet, intimate space.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Babe allowed himself to breathe.

Billy pulled back slightly, his eyes searching Babe's face with a tenderness that made Babe's heart ache. "You don't have to be perfect, Babe. I don't need you to be anything other than who you are."

Babe's breath hitched, a tear slipping down his cheek as he finally let himself be vulnerable. "I'm so scared of messing this up."

Billy wiped the tear away with his thumb, his gaze never leaving Babe's. "We'll make mistakes. That's part of it. But we'll figure it out."

For a long moment, they stayed like that, their foreheads resting against each other, their hands intertwined. Babe could feel the tension in his chest melting away, replaced by a warmth he hadn't felt in a long time.

He didn't have all the answers, and he knew there would still be moments of doubt. But in this moment, with Billy by his side, he realized that maybe—just maybe—he didn't have to figure everything out alone.

They would figure it out together.