Close As Lovers

Four.

Song: Stuck With You- Huey Lewis & The News 

Wes, Third Year in London

"Wes, lad, are you going to the soccer game with us today?" My roommate, Chad, had asked as he entered our apartment. He threw his soccer ball at the ceiling, catching it easily. "The team wants to see you again. Said something about trying to convince you to join again."

I sighed, focusing on the letter in front of me. "You know I can't rejoin after what I did to my ankle. Plus, I need to focus on my studies and... a couple things from back home."

'Still hung up on that girl from back home? Bro, you know Rebecca is still obsessed with you, right? And she's quite a dime." He slapped my shoulder, smirking. "She's going to be at the game today. Why don't you talk to her again?"

"I don't want to be with her. She's nice and all, but I didn't really want to be with her when I was with her. I don't want to hurt her too." I glanced at the picture of Molly tucked behind the picture of Nova. "I've already hurt my girl enough."

Chad sighed dramatically, leaning over my shoulder to see what I was working on. I tried to shield it, but it was too late. "Is that a letter for the girl? Damn, lad, you're whipped for this one, aren't you?"

I rolled my eyes as I faced him, crossing my arms over my chest. "One day, you're gonna love someone like that too, and only then will you understand, idiot."

Chad chuckled. "Why would I want one when I can have many? The ladies love me and I love them right back."

He winked, and I groaned, rubbing a hand over my face. He grabbed his soccer bag, heading towards the door. "Well, the boys and I are going out for lunch. I'll be back in a little bit if you wanna head to the game with me."

As he left, I faced my desk once again, staring at the unfinished letter. I sighed, grabbing her picture from behind Nova's, running my fingers over it. It was the last picture we took together before I left for London. She had looked happy, so beautiful... and I could only imagine how much more beautiful she had become, but I knew she was no longer happy, and it was all my fault. I promised her nothing would change. I promised her I would be back after two years. And there I was, three years later, not speaking to her and still in London. She probably thought I forgot her existence entirely.

As if that was even possible.

"I miss you, Molls." I mumbled, tracing the outline of her smile, and sighed again before placing the picture back in the frame. I worked on writing the letter again, not even realizing how much time had passed until Chad was walking into the apartment again.

"Man, that pub on 12th street has the best wings in this entire city." He burped loudly, plopping down on my bed. "The game starts in half an hour. You gonna take a break from your love letter and come out?"

I slowly finished writing the line I was working on, and as I stared at the letter, I realized there was only one part left to write. The three words I had been dying to tell her for years, the ones that I could never manage to get out when I should have. I brushed my fingers over the letter, my heart squeezing in my chest as I dropped the pen, and in that moment, I decided I was done wasting time. I needed to tell her I loved her, that I was in love with her and had always been, and I was going to say it to her in person, like she deserved.

"No. I'm not going." I pushed away from the desk and grabbed the duffel bag in my closet, shoving my clothes and the rest of my things into it. Chad stared at me like I had gone insane as I packed everything in my room, and as I folded the letter up and stuffed it into my bag, right beside her and Nova's pictures, I threw the bag over my shoulder and started heading towards the door.

"Woah, Wes, where are you going? You know the school year isn't finished, right?"

"I don't care. I need to see her."

Chad shot up from the bed, confusion evident on his face. "Who, Rebecca? She was planning on coming over, I can call her and--"

I faced Chad, sighing. "Not Rebecca. You know who I'm talking about."

"Then just call her, man. Where are you even going? You don't have all your stuff." 

"Doesn't matter. Everything I need is back home."

Realization finally settled on Chad's face. "What are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying I have a flight that's leaving in thirty minutes, and there's a girl I've been in love with for years that I need to fight for in person." I opened the door, glancing over my shoulder one last time, genuinely smiling for the first time in three years. "Home, man. I'm going home."

***

Molly

The doctor walked out of Wes' room, looking exhausted as the rest of the nurses filed out. He slowly walked to mom and I, mustering up a small smile. "He's stable again. It might've been the dosage of his medicine, seeing as his body was already weak. You can go back in."

Mom smiled, rubbing my shoulder. "Thank you, doctor. We really appreciate everything you're doing for him."

The doctor smiled one last time before walking away, and mom and I walked into Wes' room. He no longer had the breathing tube, but rather just the oxygen plugs in his nostrils. He looked more serene as he laid there, and I sat beside him again, holding his hand tightly.

"His mom and I always said the two of you were in love."

I chuckled, my eyes growing blurry from tears. "We were always so stubborn. Neither of us wanted to see it."

"That's the thing about love, honey." Mom smiled softly. "It doesn't find you until you're =ready to be found." 

Mom left the room, and I sighed, resting my head beside Wes' hand. After everything that had happened that morning, exhaustion weighed heavy on me once again, and I had almost fallen asleep until I felt someone's fingers slowly brush through my hair.

"M-Molls... d-did you know that I-I... love you?"

My head shot up as I stared at Wes, whose eyes were half opened as he weakly smiled. I sobbed, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck, and he slowly wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me as close to him as he could. 

"Wes..." I cried, clutching him tightly. "You're here. I love you too, idiot. Don't scare me like that again."

He chuckled softly, kissing my temple. "You couldn't get rid of me that easily." 

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