Desired by All andA He Threw Away 63

“its already handled.” 

her frown deepens. “whats that supposed to mean?” 

“just that you dont need to worry.” i sip my water slow measured. “im fixing things.” 

she stares at me for a long moment something uneasy flickering behind her eyes.she doesnt press but i can tell she wants to.thats how it starts the doubt the hesitation.its the space i live in. 

the tension eases inch by inch. The conversation drifts.she mentions how quiet her life’s been how shes stopped checking her phone every five minutes. i let my tone soften pull her toward the nostalgia she doesnt even realize she misses. 

“remember the studio apartment on Fairfax?” I ask. “The one with the broken heater?” 

her mouth twitches. ” the one where you made me ramen at 3 a.m. because we couldnt sleep.” 

“And burned it.” 

She laughs–quick, startled. The sound hits something deep in my chest. For a moment, it almost feels like before. 

“That was the night you told me you wanted to make a song about us,” she says quietly. 

“I still have it,” I lie.she looks up, startled. 

“its unfinished,” i add. “Like we were.” 

the words are bait wrapped in sincerity.she takes them the way i want her to cautious but curious.her fingers loosen around her cup. 

“Dylan…” she begins but stops. 

i lean back, let my expression turn soft. “I miss who we were, Ella. Before all the noise. Before everyone had something to say about us.” 

she looks out the window.the sun has dipped low spilling gold across the sidewalk.her reflection glows faintly in the glass. 

“i dont know if that version of us still exists,” she murmurs. 

“Maybe it does,” I say, “you just forgot how to see it.” 

the café hums around us spoons clinking milk steaming someone laughing across the room.but here at this small table time slows. shes not smiling but shes not walking away either, 

i stand first leave a few bills under the saucer. ” thanks for hearing me out.” 

she nods slow uncertain. 

“take care of yourself,” i add letting my voice lower into something that sounds like goodbye but isnt. 

1/2 

+25 Bonus 

when I turn to leave I catch her reflection in the glass door still sitting there still watching me the hook is set. 

outside the city air smells like rain on pavement.I pull my phone from my pocket and open her profile. Her last post is weeks old. The silence between us has been public too. I wonder how long it will take before she breaks it. 

It doesnt take long. 

by the time I reach my car my phone buzzes. A notification. Then another. 

When I open it, I almost laugh. 

There it is our picture her hand on my chest my arm wrapped around her waist both of us smiling like the world used to belong to us. 

the caption: We’re fine. 

the comments are already flooding in–hearts fire emojis gossip accounts tagging each other like sharks circling blood.screenshots will be everywhere within the hour. 

i lean against the hood of my car scrolling through the chaos.the corner of my mouth curves. 

Got her. 

the night wind moves through the street carrying the sound of a siren somewhere distant.the café door opens behind me laughter spilling out before fading again. 

i slip my phone back into my pocket and let out a slow breath.the game’s not over.it never is.people like me dont disappear we adapt. 

and Ella sweet trusting Ella just reminded the world im still worth talking about. 

i start the car, the headlights cutting through the dark.my reflection flashes in the rearview mirror eyes sharp lips curled into a smile that doesnt reach them. 

“welcome back,” i whisper watching the notifications keep climbing. 

the laughter that leaves my throat isnt loud.its low quiet and certain the kind that comes from knowing you have already won. 

and as the city lights blur past i laugh again.because Ella’s right where i want her.