Our wounds began to heal, the scars faded away,
In your love, Joanne, I found my way.
The night air was cool, carrying the scent of freshly cut grass and the faint hum of distant traffic. Paxton sat on the edge of the fountain in the campus courtyard, his gaze fixed on the rippling water. The other ManiacOord members had gone quiet after Joanne's unexpected admission, their hushed murmurs replaced by a tense silence. He could still feel the weight of her words, hanging in the air like an unfinished melody.
Joanne stood a few feet away, her arms crossed over her chest. She looked vulnerable yet defiant, her gaze darting between Paxton and the group. The flicker of uncertainty in her eyes was a mirror to the turmoil he felt inside.
"Well?" she asked, her voice soft but steady. "You don't have to say anything. I just thought you should know."
The others exchanged awkward glances, their presence suddenly feeling intrusive. Emily, always the perceptive one, nudged Ethan gently. "Maybe we should give them a moment."
Ethan hesitated, his protective instincts flaring, but one look at Joanne convinced him otherwise. With a reluctant nod, he motioned for the others to follow him. As the group dispersed, Joanne let out a shaky breath, finally meeting Paxton's gaze.
"I didn't mean to put you on the spot," Joanne said, her voice quieter now. "I just... I needed to be honest with myself. And with you."
Paxton rose from his seat, taking a tentative step toward her. "Joanne, I... I don't even know where to start."
"Start with the truth," she replied, her tone tinged with both hope and fear. "Because that's all I'm asking for. No more confusion, no more Amy. Just you and me, being real with each other."
He nodded, running a hand through his hair as he searched for the right words. "The truth is, I've been a mess. I let my sister's opinions cloud my judgment, and I hurt you because of it. I thought I was doing the right thing by trying to keep everyone happy, but I see now that I was just making things worse."
Joanne tilted her head, studying him intently. "And what about now? Do you still believe everything Amy says?"
Paxton shook his head. "No. I see things more clearly now. She's my sister, and I love her, but I can't let her control my life—or my feelings for you."
Joanne's lips parted slightly, her breath catching at his words. "Feelings for me?" she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes," Paxton said firmly. "Joanne, I've fallen for you too. I think I've known it for a while, but I was too scared to admit it. Scared of what it meant, of what Amy would say, of... messing things up."
Her expression softened, but the guarded look in her eyes didn't entirely fade. "I believe you, Paxton. But trust isn't just about words. It's about actions. And right now, I don't know if I can trust you completely—not after everything that's happened."
Paxton nodded, her words striking a chord. "I get it. I've made mistakes, and I know it'll take time to fix them. But I want to try, Joanne. I want to prove to you that I'm worth trusting."
Joanne studied him for a long moment, her emotions warring behind her eyes. "I want to believe that," she admitted. "But it's hard. Amy's actions... they left scars. She didn't just try to hurt me; she tried to ruin us before we even had a chance."
Paxton's jaw tightened at the mention of his sister. He had spent countless hours replaying Amy's manipulations in his mind, grappling with the damage they had caused. "I won't let her—or anyone else—come between us again," he said with quiet determination. "You have my word."
Joanne smiled faintly, though the shadows of doubt still lingered. "We'll see," she said. "But for now, let's take it one step at a time."
As they rejoined the group, all eyes turned to them, curiosity and anticipation etched on every face. Ethan was the first to speak, his tone clipped but not unkind. "Everything okay?"
Joanne glanced at Paxton, then back at her brother. "We're working on it," she said simply.
Emily, ever the optimist, grinned. "Well, that's a start. And if anyone can figure it out, it's you two."
The others chimed in with similar sentiments, their support heartening but also a reminder of the challenges ahead. Paxton felt a surge of gratitude for the group, their camaraderie a testament to the strength of their shared experiences.
Later that night, Paxton found himself reflecting on Joanne's words as he sat alone in his dorm room. Amy's influence had been a constant in his life, her sharp wit and protective nature often blurring the line between love and control. He couldn't deny the bond they shared, but he also couldn't ignore the damage it had caused.
For the first time, Paxton realized that moving forward with Joanne meant redefining his relationship with Amy. It wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to try—for Joanne's sake, and for his own.
Joanne, meanwhile, lay awake in her own room, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. Paxton's apology had been sincere, and his words had touched her deeply. But the wounds left by Amy's actions weren't easily forgotten, and Joanne knew she couldn't let herself be vulnerable without ensuring her own self-preservation.
Still, there was a flicker of hope in her heart—a tentative belief that maybe, just maybe, they could find their way back to each other. For now, she would take it one day at a time, trusting herself to navigate the uncertain path ahead.
The days that followed were marked by small but significant steps. Paxton made a conscious effort to be more open and honest, while Joanne worked on letting go of the bitterness that had taken root. Their interactions were tentative, filled with both hesitation and promise, but they were moving forward.
In the end, it wasn't about forgetting the past but about learning from it. Together, they began to rebuild their connection, piece by piece, with the understanding that trust, once broken, could only be restored through patience, effort, and unwavering commitment.