The Space Between Us

Chapter 9: Unspoken Words

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The days after their heart-to-heart in the library were filled with an uncomfortable yet familiar tension. Aaron and Ethan still spent time together—walking to class, grabbing meals, talking in the quiet of their dorm room—but something was different. Neither of them had said anything more about the kiss, or what it meant. It was like they were pretending it hadn’t happened, but it was always lingering between them.

Ethan found himself constantly second-guessing his actions. He was hyper-aware of every small movement Aaron made—whether it was the way his hand brushed against his when they walked side by side, or the fleeting glances Aaron gave him that made his heart race. But every time Ethan opened his mouth to ask what they were, to put a name to the feelings between them, the words got stuck in his throat.

It wasn’t that Aaron was avoiding him—if anything, Aaron seemed more determined than ever to be present in Ethan’s life. But there was an unspoken understanding that neither of them was ready to dive deeper, to confront what was hanging in the air. And that, to Ethan, was terrifying.

It was late Thursday night, and Ethan was sitting on his bed, staring at his laptop, pretending to read for an upcoming exam. His mind, however, was far from the textbook in front of him. Instead, it kept circling back to the same question: What are we?

He heard the familiar sound of Aaron’s voice from across the room, and his heart skipped. He didn’t have to look up to know Aaron was there, sitting on his bed, staring at his phone. Ethan could feel Aaron’s presence, the way it filled the room in a way that was both comforting and overwhelming.

“You good?” Aaron’s voice broke through his thoughts.

Ethan glanced up, his lips pressing into a tight line. He didn’t know if he was good, if he was anything but confused and frustrated.

“I’m fine,” Ethan replied, trying to sound casual, but the words felt hollow.

Aaron didn’t respond immediately, but Ethan could sense that something was on his mind. They had been quiet for a while now, both of them dancing around the truth of what was between them.

Finally, Aaron put his phone down, his gaze locking with Ethan’s. “We need to talk.”

Ethan’s stomach twisted. Here it is.

“I don’t want to push you into anything you’re not ready for,” Aaron started, his voice steady but with an underlying edge of vulnerability. “But I can’t keep pretending like everything is okay between us when... well, when I feel like it’s not.”

Ethan looked away, his fingers tightening around the edge of his laptop. “What do you mean?” His voice was quieter than he intended, a hint of uncertainty leaking into his words.

Aaron shifted, leaning forward, his eyes searching Ethan’s face as though trying to find the right words. “I’m not good at this whole... emotional thing,” Aaron admitted with a nervous laugh. “But I can’t help the way I feel about you, Ethan. I can’t pretend that I’m not thinking about you all the time. And honestly, I don’t know what you want or where you stand, but I can’t keep dancing around it.”

Ethan’s heart hammered in his chest as he absorbed Aaron’s words. The confession hung in the air, raw and unrefined. It made his own feelings surge to the surface, but still, he didn’t know how to respond. He didn’t know how to articulate the mess of emotions that swirled inside him.

“I...” Ethan started, his voice thick with hesitation. “I don’t know how I feel. I mean, I care about you, but I don’t know if I’m ready for this. For whatever this is.”

Aaron nodded, a look of understanding crossing his face. “I get it,” he said softly, but there was a quiet disappointment behind his words. “I just... I don’t want you to pull away from me, Ethan. Not because of me. Not because of any stupid doubts or past baggage.”

Ethan looked up at him then, finally meeting Aaron’s eyes fully. “I’m not pulling away,” he said, his voice more firm now. “I just don’t know how to make sense of everything. I didn’t expect any of this... with you.”

Aaron smiled a little, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I didn’t expect it either. But I’m here. And I want to be here. If you want me to.”

The words hit Ethan like a wave, and for the first time in days, he felt a weight lift from his chest. He wasn’t sure what this was—what they were—but hearing Aaron’s honesty, his rawness, made Ethan realize something important: maybe, just maybe, they could figure it out together.

Without thinking, Ethan slid off his bed and walked over to Aaron, who was watching him with those wide, expectant eyes. He reached out, placing a hand gently on Aaron’s shoulder, his thumb brushing the fabric of his shirt. The moment felt fragile, like something was about to shift, something that couldn’t be undone.

“I’m scared,” Ethan whispered, the words coming out in a breath. “But I don’t want to be scared anymore.”

Aaron’s eyes softened as he took Ethan’s hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “We don’t have to have it all figured out right now. But I’m not going anywhere.”

Ethan swallowed hard, his pulse quickening as Aaron leaned in, their faces inches apart. “I’m still figuring it out,” Ethan muttered, almost as if to himself. “But I don’t want to be alone in this.”

Aaron’s lips pressed against his, the kiss slow at first, testing, tentative. But as it deepened, it became more than just an exploration—it became a promise, a silent agreement between them that whatever was happening, whatever was to come, they would face it together.

When they pulled apart, their foreheads resting against each other, neither of them said anything. They didn’t need to. The kiss had said everything they couldn’t put into words.

And for the first time in weeks, Ethan felt like maybe, just maybe, he could let go of his fears. Because in that moment, with Aaron’s warm breath mingling with his own, everything felt like it was finally falling into place.

To be continued

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