Rowan sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his phone. The conversation with Oliver still replayed in his mind, over and over again. The weight of the choice Oliver had to make felt just as heavy on Rowan's shoulders.
A knock at his bedroom door pulled him from his thoughts. "Rowan?" Aria's voice was soft, motherly. "Mind if I come in?"
"Yeah, sure." He sat up straighter as Aria stepped inside, a warm smile on her face. She glanced around the room, taking in the scattered papers, the open laptop, and the lingering look of concern on her son's face.
"You've been quiet tonight," she observed, sitting beside him. "Something on your mind?"
Rowan exhaled, rubbing his hands together. "It's Oliver. He might be moving to Bridgeport for a big program. It's his dream, Mom. But if he leaves... I don't know what that means for us."
Aria nodded slowly, placing a hand over his. "It's never easy when life starts pulling people in different directions. But do you want to know what I think?"
Rowan looked at her, waiting.
"If something is meant to last, distance won't break it," she said gently. "You and Oliver have a connection, Rowan. That doesn't just disappear because of a few hundred miles."
Rowan sighed. "I just wish I knew what was the right thing to do. Do I tell him to go and chase his dream? Or do I ask him to stay?"
Aria squeezed his hand. "The right thing is to be honest with him. Tell him how you feel, but don't let fear decide for you. Love, friendship - they're not about holding each other back. They're about supporting each other, even when it's hard."
Rowan processed her words carefully, letting them settle. "I think I need to see him again."
Aria smiled. "Then go. Talk to him. You'll never regret being honest."
Instead of heading straight to Oliver's, Rowan found himself driving downtown, pulling up in front of the grand theater where he had celebrated his teenage birthday. The Appaloosa Grand Theater stood as a beacon of elegance, its towering golden marquee glowing against the evening sky. The entrance, framed by massive art deco pillars, gleamed under the soft golden lights. Rows of neatly manicured hedges lined the walkway, adding to the grandeur of the place. The stained-glass doors, etched with intricate celestial patterns, reflected the city lights, making the entire building look like something out of a dream.
Rowan stepped out of the car and walked toward the entrance, gazing up at the glowing marquee. The city lights shimmered around him, blending with the stars above. He had been surrounded by people that night, feeling unstoppable, like the whole world was ahead of him. Now, standing alone in the quiet of the street, he realized that the future still stretched before him - but this time, it was filled with uncertainty.
Taking a deep breath, he pulled out his phone and scrolled through his messages. Oliver's name stared back at him.
He tapped out a message: "Can we meet?"
The next afternoon, Rowan found himself outside Oliver's house, heart pounding. He had no idea how this conversation would go, but one thing was clear - he couldn't leave things unsaid. He knocked on the door, inhaling deeply as he waited.
When Oliver opened it, surprise flickered across his face before he smirked. "Didn't expect to see you so soon."
Rowan chuckled nervously. "Yeah, well. We need to talk."
Oliver stepped aside, motioning him in. "I'm listening."
Rowan met his gaze, determination settling in. "I don't want you to leave, but I know you need to go. And if you do… I want to figure out how to make this work. I don't want to just let you go and pretend it doesn't matter. Because it does."
Oliver's smirk softened into something more genuine. "I didn't want to leave without knowing where we stood either."
Rowan swallowed. "It's just… I never really thought about what it would be like without you here. I guess I took for granted that you'd always be around."
Oliver leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. "Rowan, this isn't easy for me either. I don't want to leave. But this program? It's everything I've worked for. And I don't want to regret not taking my shot."
Rowan nodded, understanding but still feeling the ache in his chest. "I get it. I do. And I'd never ask you to give that up. But I also don't want to pretend like it's going to be easy watching you leave."
Oliver sighed, stepping closer. "So, are we really gonna try this long-distance thing?"
Rowan hesitated, then grinned. "I think we can. If we want to."
Oliver held his gaze for a long moment before his lips quirked into a smile. "Then let's make it work."
For the first time in days, Rowan felt like he could breathe again. No matter what came next, they would face it together.