Choosing Each Other

It had taken weeks of slow conversations, hesitant smiles, and careful steps forward, but finally—finally—Blythe and Caesar weren't just fixing things.

They were becoming something new.

Something real.

Something theirs.

---

The shift was subtle at first.

They stopped pretending to just be friends.

Blythe didn't hesitate when Caesar walked beside her anymore. She didn't pull away when their hands accidentally brushed. She didn't look at him like she was waiting for him to disappoint her.

And Caesar?

He made sure she never had a reason to.

He showed up when he said he would.

He remembered the little things, like how she liked her coffee or which days she had art club meetings.

He never made her feel like she had to fight for his attention again.

Because he knew what it felt like to lose her.

And he wasn't about to let that happen twice.

---

It wasn't until a Friday night, under a sky full of stars, that they finally said it.

They had been walking through the neighborhood, talking about nothing and everything, when Blythe suddenly stopped.

Caesar turned to face her, confused. "What?"

She bit her lip, looking unsure. Then she exhaled and met his gaze.

"I need to know something," she said.

His stomach tightened. "Okay."

She hesitated. "If we do this—if we really do this again—you won't walk away this time, right?"

Caesar's heart clenched.

She was scared.

Even now, after everything, she was still afraid of losing him again.

And that?

That was his fault.

So he did the only thing that mattered—

He stepped forward, gently taking her hands in his.

"I swear, Blythe," he murmured, his voice steady. "I'm all in this time."

She searched his face, looking for any sign of doubt, any hesitation.

She didn't find any.

And finally, finally—

She smiled.

Then, without another word, she stood on her toes and kissed him.

Soft. Warm.

Like coming home.

Caesar closed his eyes, sinking into her touch, pulling her closer, holding onto her like she was the most important thing in the world.

Because she was.

And this time?

He wasn't letting go.