The Space Between Us

Chapter 4: Confessions

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The days after the kiss were a whirlwind for Ethan. He couldn’t get the feel of Aaron’s lips against his out of his mind, nor the soft way Aaron had held him afterward, as if they both needed time to process the intimacy of the moment. Aaron hadn’t brought it up again, which made Ethan both grateful and anxious. He didn’t know what it meant, what had just happened between them. All he knew was that something had shifted, something bigger than he was prepared for.

Aaron was still Aaron—charming, carefree, and always surrounded by people. But now, there was a new layer between them, one that neither of them had dared to touch. They went about their daily routines—study sessions, meals, the occasional hangout with friends—but there was an underlying tension that neither of them knew how to address. Ethan found himself stealing glances at Aaron when he wasn’t looking, his thoughts swirling with questions that didn’t have answers.

One evening, after a long day of classes, Aaron invited Ethan to grab dinner with him at a local café. Ethan had become used to these quiet outings—just the two of them, talking about anything and everything. But tonight, there was something different in Aaron’s eyes, something unreadable.

As they sat across from each other at a small corner booth, the usual easy conversation seemed to be on pause. Ethan couldn’t shake the feeling that Aaron was waiting for something.

Finally, Aaron spoke, his voice quieter than usual. “Ethan,” he began, his tone hesitant. “About the other night… when we kissed…”

Ethan’s heart skipped a beat. He felt his chest tighten, his mouth dry. He didn’t know how to respond, how to explain the mess of emotions he felt in that moment. He could feel his hands shaking under the table, but he forced himself to stay calm.

“Yeah, I… I’ve been thinking about it a lot,” Ethan admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t really know what it means, but it felt real. I didn’t expect it, but I didn’t pull away, either.”

Aaron’s gaze softened, his hand unconsciously reaching across the table, just barely brushing Ethan’s fingers. It was a small gesture, but it made Ethan’s heart race.

“Me neither,” Aaron confessed, his eyes meeting Ethan’s with an honesty that left Ethan breathless. “But it felt right, didn’t it? I’ve been… I’ve been trying to figure this out, Ethan. What this is between us.”

Ethan’s mind was spinning, but he nodded slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. “I’ve never felt this way before. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to feel.”

Aaron leaned back in his seat, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah, I get that. I didn’t expect to feel this way about you either, but… here we are.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of their conversation hung in the air, thick with unspoken feelings. Finally, Aaron broke the silence, his voice low.

“I don’t want to mess this up, Ethan. I don’t want to lose what we have—whatever this is. But I don’t know how to move forward either.”

Ethan’s chest tightened, the vulnerability in Aaron’s voice catching him off guard. He hadn’t expected Aaron to be so open, so unsure of himself. It made Ethan feel like maybe, just maybe, they weren’t so different after all.

“I don’t want to lose this either,” Ethan said, his voice stronger now. “I don’t have all the answers, but… I want to try.”

Aaron’s smile grew, and Ethan felt a warmth flood through him. It wasn’t an answer, not really, but it was something—a step forward, a shared understanding that they were both willing to explore whatever this was, together.

The waiter came by to take their order, and the moment shifted back to normal, but the air between them had changed. It was no longer just two roommates sharing a meal. It was two people, acknowledging the connection between them, and maybe—just maybe—starting to build something more.

Later that night, as they walked back to their dorm, their fingers brushed again, lingering just a little longer than usual. Ethan’s heart skipped as Aaron glanced over at him, his eyes soft with something Ethan couldn’t quite name.

“Thanks for tonight,” Aaron said quietly.

Ethan smiled, his heart still racing. “Yeah… me too.”

It wasn’t much. It wasn’t a declaration, but it was a beginning—a small but significant moment in the space between them. And maybe that was enough for now.

To be continued
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