Dawn
The night before he left, the air felt different.
Not heavy, just full. Like everything important was hovering between words.
We stood at the edge of his driveway, the street quiet except for distant crickets and the low hum of a car passing somewhere far away. Earl's suitcase rested near the door behind him, small but unmistakably real.
He kept fidgeting with the sleeve of his hoodie. I kept pretending my heart wasn't trying to beat its way out of my chest.
"So," I said, breaking the silence, then immediately wishing I'd planned a better opening. "Tomorrow's… early, right?"
He nodded. "Yeah. We leave before sunrise."
A pause.
"I'm glad you came," he added softly.
"Of course I did." I hesitated, then took a breath. A real one. "Earl… can we talk for a second?"
He looked up, attentive instantly. "Okay."
I stepped a little closer, not touching yet. I didn't want to rush this. I wanted him to hear me. To feel safe.
"I've been thinking," I said, words careful but honest. "About us. About everything that's happened. The time we spent together. The dinners. The waiting after practice. Today." I swallowed. "You going away."
His expression softened, but there was a flicker of worry there too. Like he was bracing himself again.
"I don't want to leave things undefined," I continued. "Not because I'm scared but because I'm sure."
That got his full attention.
"Sure?" he repeated quietly.
I nodded. "Yeah. Sure about you."
His breath caught. Just a little.
"I know you're going to be gone for a while," I said. "And I know things might be hard sometimes. But I also know this—" I tapped my chest lightly. "What I feel for you doesn't stop just because there's distance."
I finally reached out then, slow and deliberate, letting my fingers brush his hand. He didn't pull away.
"If you want," I said gently, "I'd like to be more than just… whatever we've been calling this."
He looked at our hands. Then back at me.
"What are you asking?" he whispered.
I smiled, nerves buzzing but steady underneath. "I'm asking if you'd be my boyfriend?"
For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.
Earl's eyes widened not in shock, but in something brighter. Warmer. His cheeks flushed pink, and he let out a soft, breathy laugh like he wasn't sure it was allowed.
"You mean… even while I'm gone?" he asked.
"Especially while you're gone," I said. "We'll take it at your pace. No pressure. No expectations you don't want. I just...." My voice softened. "I want you to know you're not alone. And that I'm choosing you."
His fingers curled around mine, tentative at first, then surer.
"Yes," he said. The word was quiet, but it carried everything. "I'd like that. I really would."
Something in my chest loosened so suddenly I almost laughed.
"Yeah?" I asked, just to be sure.
He nodded, smiling now soft and real, a little emotional. "Yeah."
I didn't pull him into a hug right away. I gave him a second. Let him decide.
Then he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me, careful but sincere. I held him back, warm and steady, resting my chin lightly against his hair.
"I'll wait for you," I murmured. "As your boyfriend."
He smiled against my shoulder. "I'll come back," he said quietly "For you."
When we finally pulled apart, the night didn't feel so uncertain anymore.
Tomorrow would be hard.
But tonight?
Tonight, we were us.