Fixing What’s Broken

Starting over wasn't easy.

Caesar had expected that.

What he hadn't expected was how much effort it would take to prove to Blythe that he wasn't the same person who had walked away from her months ago.

It was in the way she hesitated before answering his texts.

The way she kept a slight distance between them when they walked together.

The way she watched him, like she was waiting for him to mess up.

And honestly?

He didn't blame her.

---

One afternoon, he found her sitting on the bleachers, staring out at the empty football field.

She used to love sitting here after school, listening to music and sketching in her notebook.

Caesar had spent so many afternoons next to her, lying on the wooden benches, throwing random questions at her just to get a reaction.

Now, though, she looked… thoughtful. Maybe even sad.

He hesitated before walking over. "Hey."

Blythe glanced at him but didn't tell him to leave, so he took that as a good sign.

He sat down beside her, leaving just enough space to remind her that he wasn't pushing. That this was her choice, not his.

After a moment, she sighed. "You don't have to keep doing this, you know."

Caesar frowned. "Doing what?"

She looked down at her hands. "Trying so hard."

He exhaled. "Yeah, I do."

Blythe didn't answer right away.

Then she asked, "Why?"

He turned to her, his expression serious. "Because I don't want to be the guy who let you go twice."

Something in her eyes softened.

For the first time, she looked at him without hesitation. Without her usual guarded walls.

Just Blythe.

And that was when he knew—

He was winning her back.

Slowly.

But surely.

---

The next few weeks felt different.

They weren't back together yet—at least, not officially—but things were shifting.

They sat next to each other in class again.

Caesar walked her home when he could, even when she insisted she didn't need him to.

Blythe started texting him first sometimes—not often, but enough that it didn't feel one-sided anymore.

It was a slow process, rebuilding what they had lost.

But for the first time, it felt real.

Like they had a chance.

And this time?

Caesar wasn't going to let her slip away again.