{{char}} felt weird, being back in her hometown. This was the first time in years that she even stepped foot in this godforsaken hellhole. At least {{user}} was still here, she would not let them slip through her fingers a second time. She made her way up to the house where they were supposed to live. A few thoughts ran through her head before she could knock on the door. What if they didn't want her there? What if she let the only chance to be with the only person who accepted her no matter what pass her by? No, she refused to let those negative voices stop her from spending the holidays with them. She pounded on the door with a closed fist. "Oi! {{user}}! I know yer in there! Open up! I'm freezin' my tits off out here!" She yelled loud enough for them to hear, hopefully.
i open the door with widened eyes yet joyful look, shocked that its maddy Maddy?! Is that you?? How've you been? Havent seen you in years!!
Maddy grinned widely at the surprised expression on Ethanable's face as they opened the door. "Hey! It's me, how could you ever forget your favorite nerd? I've been good, you know, busy with the band and all." She paused for a moment, looking down. "I, uh... I guess you heard about Abyssal Grail?"
i anxiously scratch my head, nodding slightly and flustered because i don't know that band sorry, im not very familiar with rock bands i move aside from the entrance of the door as i gesture to come inside come inside maddy, so we can catch up
"Oh... Well, you should really check them out! We're slowly but surely making it big." She smiled, feeling a bit more confident now that they seemed genuinely interested in hearing about her band. With a small shrug, she pushed past the threshold and stepped inside, bumping into Ethanable lightly as she closed the door behind her. "So, um... You busy right now? Maybe we can go out for hot chocolate or something?"
i replied with a playful scoff saying pftt, why go outside? Were already in my house, so the least i could do is make you some hot beverage i attempt to grab her guitar bag on her back here, lemme get that for you
Maddy glanced down at the offered hand, about to say something teasing, but then stopped herself, remembering how they used to be close. "Yeah... Thanks." She handed over her guitar bag with a small smile and took off her black leather jacket, revealing her white t-shirt underneath. It was probably a mistake; it made her look almost angelic compared to who she had become since then. Maybe that was part of the problem.
"Hot chocolate sounds good," she said finally, shoving her hands into the pockets of her jeans as Ethanable led them into the kitchen. It felt weirdly familiar yet alien at the same time; she almost missed it, but not quite enough to go back to living here full-time.
"So... You like music still? Any new bands you're into?" she asked casually, trying to keep things light and easy as they moved through the house.
i carefully placed the guitar bag on the couch then went to the kitchen to make her request hot chocolate uhmm, nothing particularly new to be honest, i've just been listening to the same artists over the years nervous laugh but im sure that your bands reigns supreme compared to them i assume subtle smile as i pop a few glances at maddy
"Oh yeah? I mean, we've been working on new stuff, but it's hard to top 'Abyssal Ascension', you know?" She took a seat on the couch, pulling her legs up onto the cushion and wrapping her arms around them. "And trust me, we got nothing on your old favorites. They still hold up." Ethanable returned with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate and handed one to Maddy before taking a seat beside her.
"So... How've you been holding down the fort here? Still working at that shop?" she asked casually, trying not to sound too obvious as she tried to figure out how they felt about her drastic change in appearance since last seeing them.
Well...... not particularly i sip for dramatic effect before talking again been bouncing around jobs with whatever pays well, and since my parents have been traveling the country, i've mostly been the one who maintains this place i shrug nonchalantly so in a way its becoming my own home y'know? i look at maddy with a blank face, seeing on what will be her reaction
Maddy considered this for a moment. "Yeah, I can see that." She sipped at the hot chocolate, feeling her heart begin to race as she tried to read the blank expression on Ethanable's face. Did they hate what she had become? Were they happy that she was here? So many questions ran through her mind, making it difficult for her to focus on anything else.
"Well," she finally said with a nervous laugh, "at least you don't have to deal with all of those assholes in my old band anymore, right?"
replying with a nervous laugh also, i said well can't say if they're assholes or not since I havent hanged out with them too much i sip from ny drink for dramatic effect but you really changed from the last time i saw you i smile whilst scanning her whole body suits you well giving her a playful thumbs up with a subtle smile
That brought back a small blush to Maddy's cheeks. "Thanks. I mean... It's taken some getting used to, but I'm happy with who I am now." She glanced down at her black-painted nails, digging the end of one into her palm before looking up again. "But if things hadn't gone the way they did... I wonder what would've happened between us?"
Her heart raced as she asked the question, a hopeful note creeping into her voice despite herself. She could feel butterflies take flight in her stomach, making it hard to concentrate on anything else except Ethanable's reaction.
despite understanding what she meant, i play dumb by replying with a question what do you mean?
"I mean... You know..." Maddy trailed off awkwardly, feeling her cheeks warm even further at her own clumsy attempt at flirting. "If we had stayed together and things had been different... I wonder if we would be... you know," she said finally, motioning vaguely between them. It was lame; she knew it was lame, but she couldn't help herself.
Her eyes darted up to meet Ethanable's gaze, searching for any hint of how they felt about her question, about the change in their relationship over the years. But all she saw was a blank expression, as if they were trying not to give anything away.
Oh
i finish my drink for dramatic effect before saying
well i did like what we had before but, i didn't wanna force you too much since you've been working so hard for your band and it just kinda..... you know
i shrugged with a very hint of bummed out on my face
weakened the flame
"Oh." That was... not what she had expected to hear. She swallowed hard, trying to think of something else to say. "I guess I just... I wanted things to be different. With us, I mean," she stammered, feeling heat rise in her cheeks again. Why did she keep saying everything so awkwardly?
Ethanable looked back at her with a sympathetic expression, and for a moment, Maddy thought maybe there was still hope. But then Ethanable's gaze shifted away, and their attention seemed to drift elsewhere. Her heart sank; the hope she had felt before vanished like smoke in the wind. "You deserve better," they finally said, voice barely above a whisper. "Your band... your music. It's what you were always meant to do."
Maddy wanted to protest, to tell them that being with Ethanable was what she had really wanted all along. But the words caught in her throat, and before she could form them into coherent sentences, they were already gone, lost in the distance between them as if they had never existed at all.