Page 11 of A Little Campfire Blues

This time, when Ezzy’s gaze darted to me, I could see understanding dawning in their eyes.

“You set this up,” Ezzy said, eyes narrowing. “He didn’t know I was going to be here any more than I expected to walk in here and see him.”

“Pretty much.”

Blinking, Ezzy took a moment to process it all, then their lips split into a grin as they turned back towards Axis, who stood there nibbling on his lower lip.

“Thank you,” Ezzy said before hurling themself at Axis, who staggered, anoofescaping him as Ezzy crashed against his chest.

It was the best possible outcome and everything I’d wished for when I’d got them both to agree to come. Axis held Ezzy tight, then one of them sniffled while the other let out a low moan, their sobs starting almost simultaneously as they held on to each other.

“You never deserved what I said,” Axis stammered, voice shaky as I wrapped my arms around them both and held themtight. “I took my frustrations out on you that night, and it was so unfair and such a shitty thing to do that I’ve never been able to forgive myself for it. Please forgive me. It was a dick thing to do. You were just being you. I had no right to tell you that you should try to be different.”

“It doesn’t have to be today, but will you at least tell me why you said it?” Ezzy asked, their voice muffled against his chest.

“Yeah,” Axis murmured, voice choked with emotion. “I owe you that and so much more.”

“Your apology is more than enough right now,” Ezzy stammered. “All I’ve wanted for years was to see you again and know that you were okay.”

“I’m good. A lot has changed; the band broke up, but I’m good doing my own shit. I didn’t like myself very much by the end and wasn’t a big fan of Duce and Rory either.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It needed to happen. Things had spiraled so far out of control that was the only possible outcome.”

“Still sorry. I know how much your music meant to you.”

“It still does, but I learned some real hard lessons about the things that truly mattered in the process.”

“Then I’m glad it wasn’t a bad thing for you, though I know it couldn’t have been easy.”

“Nothing about being away from the two of you has been easy,” Axis admitted as we slowly drew apart.

Cool air hit my cheeks, and I realized I was crying right along with them. None of us stepped back too far, and when I looked down, I noticed that Axis and Ezzy had entwined their fingers together and were still holding on to one another.

“It hasn’t been easy for me either,” Ezzy said. “I’ve missed you guys so much that I’ve only been home a handful of times since I left.”

“I’ve never gone back,” Axis admitted. “Couldn’t, especially after the band broke up. I didn’t need my old man trying to push me into enrolling at the community college or joining him and my brother in that soulless ass repo company.”

Ezzy’s eyes went wide again. “I thought Aiden went pro after college?”

“He did,” Axis explained. “Lasted barely two seasons before he blew out his knee and herniated a few disks in his back. Never got his speed back, so they cut him. He used the money he made to buy into the company and help Dad expand. They’re up to six trucks and a twelve-man crew, plus the folks in the office.”

“Damn.”

“Yeah,” Axis murmured. “Like I said, a lot had changed. Where have you been all this time?”

“Vale,” Ezzy explained. “I ended up getting my master’s and an associate professor position in the theater department, which helped me get the theater director’s position I just took back home. I’ll be teaching at the university too, in their theater arts department.”

“Wait, so you’re going home too?”

“Got everything packed in my trailer outside, not that I had much with how small my old apartment was, so it worked out beautifully.”

“That’s awesome.”

“Yeah, I am pretty thrilled about it myself,” Ezzy admitted. “Just hope I can finish the scripts I’ve been struggling to polish with all the new responsibilities I’ve taken on.”

“You will,” Axis said, giving Ezzy’s hand a little squeeze before finally letting go. “You were always able to accomplish everything you set out to.”

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