Rekindled Flames

Part 7: Breaking Walls Marcus's Perspective

Marcus sat at the edge of his bed, hands resting on his knees, staring at the floor. Elijah was across from him, fidgeting with his phone, eyes not meeting his. The silence felt like it was suffocating them, like there was still so much unspoken between them. Marcus wasn't sure how much longer he could stand it. But the truth was, he wasn't ready to walk away from this again—not after everything that had happened.

The air between them was thick, the kind of tension that had built up for years, and right now, Marcus felt it more than ever. It wasn't just about the project they were supposed to be working on; it was about everything they'd been through, everything they still hadn't fixed.

"So, we gonna keep pretending like nothin' happened, or are we gonna talk about it?" Marcus finally asked, voice rough but steady. He wasn't trying to start a fight. He was just done with the games.

Elijah looked up, his eyes meeting Marcus's for the first time since they'd started this awkward-ass study session. There was something in Elijah's gaze that made Marcus feel exposed, like he could see straight through the walls he'd built up over the years.

"I didn't want to bring it up," Elijah said quietly. "But... I guess we can't keep avoiding it."

Marcus nodded, his jaw tightening. He wanted to get it out, to finally address what had been eating at him for so long. "You didn't have to bring it up. You think I wasn't pissed at you for tryin' to 'save' me? You thought I needed your help like I couldn't handle my own shit?"

Elijah's face tightened, but he didn't back down. "I never said you couldn't handle your own shit, Marcus. I just—I saw you spiraling, and I wanted to help. I wasn't trying to take control of your life. I was trying to keep you from losing everything. But I didn't know how to show you that."

Marcus scoffed, his fists clenching at his sides. "And I didn't need you to 'save' me, Elijah. I didn't need you to be the damn hero. I needed a friend who would back me up when shit went sideways. Not try to fix me like I'm some broken person."

"I wasn't trying to fix you," Elijah shot back, his voice tinged with frustration. "I was just trying to keep you from getting hurt. I don't give a damn about 'saving' you, Marcus. I just wanted to be there for you. But you shut me out."

The words hung in the air between them, and for a moment, neither of them said anything. It was like they were both waiting for the other to take the next step. Marcus didn't know if he should apologize or just keep pushing forward. He'd been hurt, but so had Elijah.

But as he sat there, looking at Elijah, a different kind of feeling started creeping in. It wasn't anger. It wasn't even frustration anymore. It was something deeper, something he didn't want to admit, but couldn't deny.

"I wasn't trying to shut you out," Marcus said finally, his voice softer now. "I just—I didn't know how to deal with it. I didn't know how to let someone in without feelin' like they're gonna pull away when things get real."

Elijah's expression softened, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Marcus saw a flicker of understanding in his eyes. "I get that," Elijah murmured. "I do. But I'm not going anywhere. I just want to make things right. If you'll let me."

Marcus didn't know what to say. For so long, he'd been holding onto the past, convinced that nothing could ever go back to the way it was. But Elijah... Elijah had never given up. And maybe, just maybe, that was the one thing that could pull him out of the mess he'd made of things.

Elijah's Perspective

Elijah's heart pounded in his chest as he listened to Marcus speak. The rawness in Marcus's voice hit him harder than he'd expected. He hadn't realized just how much Marcus had been carrying, just how hurt he was from everything that had happened between them.

He wanted to reach out, to tell Marcus that he understood, but the words felt stuck in his throat. He'd spent so much time trying to be the one who could fix things, but now it felt like Marcus was starting to understand his side, too. It wasn't just about fixing what was broken—it was about both of them, together, healing from everything they'd been through.

"I don't want to keep fighting," Elijah said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm tired of this. Tired of pretending like we're fine when we're not. I just want... I just want us to be real with each other again."

Marcus's eyes flickered toward him, and for a moment, Elijah thought he saw a hint of something in his gaze—a vulnerability that made his heart race. But Marcus didn't say anything. Instead, he leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, his face unreadable.

"Yeah," Marcus said finally, his voice low. "Me too."

The silence between them stretched out again, but this time, it wasn't as heavy. It felt different. It felt like maybe they were finally getting somewhere.

Elijah took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. There was something he needed to say, something that had been gnawing at him since the moment they'd started talking again.

"I've been thinkin' about it," Elijah began, his voice shaky but steady. "And I don't want you to think I'm tryna get back to the way things were. I'm not asking for that. But I can't deny that I miss you, Marcus. I miss us."

Marcus's gaze flickered toward him, and for a second, Elijah thought he might say something—maybe even admit that he felt the same. But Marcus only nodded slowly, his lips tight.

"I miss you too," Marcus said quietly. "More than I thought I would."

Elijah swallowed hard, trying to control the emotions that were bubbling up inside of him. He wasn't sure what this meant, or where things were going, but in that moment, he felt a shift. It wasn't a big one, but it was enough to give him hope.

He leaned forward, looking at Marcus with more intensity now. "Maybe we can start fresh. Maybe we can take it slow. But... I need you to know, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

For the first time in a long time, Marcus's lips twitched, almost like a smile. It wasn't much, but it was enough to make Elijah's heart skip a beat.

"I hear you," Marcus said, his voice gruff. "We'll see where this goes. But I'm not promising anything. I gotta figure some shit out first."

Elijah nodded, a quiet understanding between them. "I get that. But I'm not goin' anywhere either."

And with that, the weight that had been hanging over them for so long felt a little lighter.

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