Eli's POV
The rooftop had changed.
Or maybe he had.
Eli ran his fingers across the chipped concrete wall where he and Riven had first talked about constellations. The sky was clear tonight, for once—stars scattered like secrets.
Everything felt quieter. Too quiet.
Riven hadn't texted since that night.
That night.
Where lips had met under the rain and no promises were made—but something heavier than love was exchanged: honesty.
Eli let the silence stretch. He had grown used to waiting, but this time, it didn't ache like before.
Because something had changed. He wasn't holding his breath anymore. He had learned to exhale.
He closed his eyes.
And just then—
A quiet thud behind him.
Boots. Familiar. Soft.
He didn't have to turn.
"Hey," Riven said.
Eli didn't move, only whispered, "You came."
"I didn't know if I should."
"I didn't know if I'd wait."
They stood in silence again. This time, it was warm.
---
Riven's POV
He had rehearsed this moment too many times.
The apology. The explanation. The words that never seemed enough.
But standing in front of Eli now—face tilted toward the stars, eyelashes catching light like fragile glass—Riven knew none of those speeches mattered.
"I read the letter," Eli said suddenly.
Riven blinked.
"I—what?"
"The one you left in my sketchbook," Eli said, his voice steady but soft. "You didn't hide it as well as you thought."
Riven's throat went dry. "You weren't supposed to—"
"I know," Eli said. "But I'm glad I did."
And that's when Riven broke.
Not in a loud, dramatic way—but in the quiet crumbling of someone who had been strong for far too long. His legs gave out, and he sank beside Eli on the cold concrete. His hand trembled as he reached out.
Eli took it.
"I meant every word," Riven said. "But I'm tired of meaning things in silence. I want to say them while you're here. While you're looking at me."
Eli's lips quirked into a soft smile. "Then say them."
Riven looked into his eyes.
"I want to stay."
---
Eli's POV
It wasn't perfect. It wasn't grand.
But it was real.
Two boys, sitting on a rooftop, holding hands with scraped hearts and hopeful eyes.
Eli leaned his head on Riven's shoulder. The city buzzed quietly below them, unaware that two worlds were shifting above it.
"I don't need you to be perfect," Eli said.
"I won't be."
"I don't need forever."
"But I want to try."
They didn't kiss.
They didn't cry.
They just sat there — pressed side by side like twin constellations that had finally aligned, even if just for one clear night.
And maybe that was enough.
For now.
---