Reunion

A/N Ok so this morning All For You came on my Deezer and I had a bit of a premonition about The Way Home and decided to write something. Then they came out with the trailer for S2 and omg how did I know? That's like the third thing I've predicted this week, I don't even know, maybe I'm psychic or something. Anyways, trying to break the cycle of never writing a single thing in November. This is kinda inspired by the trailer. 21/11/23.

Port Haven, New Brunswick 2024

Kat and Elliot sat beside each other in the loft, legs swinging as their hands dared to touch. Kat looked up from staring at the dusty floor, he was already looking back at her. "Do you-"

"I was just-" they both started to say at the same time. Kat laughed, her lips pressing together as she watched him try and form words. "Do you...?" He asked, swiftly changing the subject from what he was about to say.

"Do you want to go back to the party?" It was a little white lie, so it didn't matter. But she could swear he could see through it. The corner of his mouth tightened and he sat up straighter, taking in a sigh.

"Maybe we should, Alice might start wondering where we are." He said, trying to provide himself with a reason why they weren't alone anymore. How did they even get up here? Because this was their place, that's why.

"Oh I don't think so. She barely notices when I'm there usually," Kat replied, hanging her head again. She hadn't realised how true that was until she spoke the words aloud. In truth her and Alice were closer than they had been, but after her split from Elliot. Alice was giving her space, though she had no idea why.

"I still think about it." Elliot said bluntly, like he just had to get it off his chest. In truth he hadn't meant to say anything at all, their friendship had been blooming slowly into a new stage and it was fine. Now he was blowing it by talking.

"About what?"

"About what I said, about how I broke it off. I didn't want to hurt you, Kat." He was speaking softly, the words just falling from his mouth. A few months of unresolved tension hanging in the air between them, stirring up again as she met his eyes.

"I know," she said like she understood what he'd meant now. All that time alone, and yet having to see him everyday. Was this what it was like for him all that time with Brady? She felt like she was going to burst, how had he kept it so secret for so long? It didn't matter now, so she moved her hand over his and squeezed lightly, his skin warming up at her touch.

"But I mean it, Kat you still mean so much to me. I wouldn't be who I am without you," he spilled out. It was too much, and he needed to stop it. She didn't need all his extra apologies. He had to learn to stand up for himself.

"I know," Kat repeated, not looking directly at him, slightly avoiding his eyeline. She was thinking about all the words he was saying and how none of them really meant anything.

"Kat," he said seriously, he was leaning towards her. He was telling himself not to think about it, not to look at her lips. If he did that he wouldn't be able to pull himself away. He moved his hand away and she retreated a little. "I-I-" He stumbled out, not knowing what the end of his sentence was going to be. She looked at him, tongued-tied too. Two idiots sitting next to each other, hoping the other would make a move so they wouldn't have to sit through the agony of overthinking.

"El," she whispered softly. He didn't have time to take off his glasses before their lips met. His eyes closing as she turned her head, her hand cupping his face. They kissed for a while, breathing each other in. But when it was over, Kat rested her forehead against his and smiled quietly. "This isn't what you want," the words graced his lips too.

"Kat, it's exactly what I want. But I'm not sure if it's good for us." The part he left out was the part where he couldn't trust her. Not completely, not enough for them to be together. How was he meant to when she was so stuck in the past?

Her smile faded and she pulled away from him, "it's fine El, really." But it really wasn't fine. Kat knew she was going to have to find a way to move on, but when he was right there in front of her, his stubbled jaw and the smell of his laundry detergent. He must use the same one his parents did because he smells the same as he did in high school. She couldn't detach herself from him, even then. Brady made it easier, but her mind often strayed to where Elliot had ended up. Seeing him again just brought it all back, the physicality of him. "It's okay," she said to reassure herself more than anything, wiping her eyes as she left him sitting alone in the loft. It was time she got back to the party anyway.

Elliot dropped his head into his hands as soon as Kat left. It felt like he was screwing everything up, but he had to go with his gut. Even just for a while. Maybe Kat would still be waiting for him. He wanted to run after her but he knew he shouldn't. Head over heart. Sensible over spontaneous. Kat wasn't sensible, so he had to be.