why u did not follow

As Austin stepped into the hallway, he turned to face Xander one last time, his voice carrying the weight of all the confusion and frustration inside him. "Why didn’t you just go along with how the book went?" he asked, his tone mixed with disbelief and a hint of hurt. "Why did everything have to change? Why couldn’t you just follow the story?"

Xander’s face tightened, and he took a slow step toward Austin, his voice quieter this time, filled with regret. "Because the story was never meant for us. It was never meant to be like that," he replied, his eyes searching Austin’s face for any hint of understanding. "I couldn’t live in a tale where we were just characters following a script. What I feel for you is real, Austin, and it’s not something I can just ignore. The story may have had its own ending, but I’m not bound by that. I’m bound by what’s between us now."

Austin shook his head, his frustration rising. "But everything’s been so messed up because of that! I don’t even know what’s real anymore. You kissed me, you—" He paused, his throat tightening as he tried to get his words out. "This wasn’t supposed to happen."

Xander took another step forward, this time closer to Austin, but he didn’t try to touch him. He simply stood there, his presence heavy in the air. "I know," he said quietly. "I know it’s messed up. But I couldn’t just stand back and watch, pretending that I didn’t want you. You mean more to me than this story. More than anything else in my life."

Austin stared at Xander, torn between the anger and the understanding that lingered in the back of his mind. It felt like his heart was being pulled in two different directions, one wanting to escape from the mess and the other feeling the pull of something deep and undeniable.

"How do I trust you after everything?" Austin whispered, barely able to meet Xander’s gaze. "How do I know this isn’t just another part of the game you’re playing?"

Xander's face softened, the pain in his eyes clear as he spoke. "I’m not playing games, Austin. I never have been. And I’m not asking you to trust me blindly. I’m asking for a chance. A real chance to show you who I am beyond the chaos."

Austin stood there for a long moment, his heart heavy, unsure of what to believe. The entire situation felt like a dream—unreal and disorienting, but Xander’s sincerity pulled at him, even if everything was still so confusing.

He finally let out a deep breath, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t know what to do anymore. But... I need time. Time to figure out what I want and where I fit into all this."

Xander nodded slowly, the look in his eyes one of quiet understanding. "I’ll give you all the time you need," he said softly, his voice steady but full of emotion. "Just know that I’m here, Austin. No matter what happens next, I’m not going anywhere."

Austin didn’t answer, his mind swirling with the weight of everything that had just happened. As he turned away, he felt Xander’s gaze on him, a strange comfort and discomfort at the same time.

The story wasn’t over yet—neither the one in the book nor the one that was unfolding in front of him.

To be continued

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