The next morning felt heavier than most.
Riven walked into school with his hood pulled low, headphones plugged in but no music playing. He didn't need the distraction — he just needed the shield.
He could already feel it. The stares. The whispers. The half-hidden smirks from classmates who clearly thought they were clever.
"Did you hear him yesterday? Like he suddenly grew a backbone or something."
"Bet he practiced that speech in the mirror a thousand times."
"Or maybe Eli just told him what to say. Poor guy can't think on his own."
Each word was a stone added to the weight pressing against his ribs.
---
The Breaking Point
At his locker, Riven kept his head down, pretending to search for a book he didn't need. His hands trembled, and his jaw ached from how tightly he clenched it.
Why did I think I could do this? Why did I believe for even a second that speaking up wouldn't come back to bite me?
"Hey," Eli's voice cut through the storm. He leaned against the lockers like he always did, casual and grounded, as if the world couldn't shake him. "You okay?"
Riven didn't answer right away. His throat felt tight, words lodged there like splinters.
Eli frowned slightly, lowering his voice. "Talk to me, Riv."
And that — that name spoken so gently — nearly undid him.
"I can't…" Riven muttered, his voice cracking. "I can't keep pretending this doesn't get to me. They're right. I'm pathetic. I—"
But Eli interrupted before the spiral could fully form. His tone was firm but not harsh.
"No. Stop. They're wrong. You're not pathetic, Riven. You're brave. You're real. And you're stronger than anyone who hides behind a whisper."
---
A Step Toward Trust
Riven squeezed his eyes shut. His chest heaved, like he was caught between running and staying. And then, against all his instincts, he leaned against Eli — just for a second. Just long enough to feel his warmth, his steadiness.
Eli didn't move. Didn't tease. Didn't ask for more than Riven was willing to give. He simply stood there, unshakable, letting Riven breathe.
When Riven finally pulled back, his face burned with embarrassment. "Sorry."
But Eli shook his head. "Don't ever apologize for needing someone."
---
The Moment After
For the rest of the day, things didn't magically get better. The whispers didn't stop. The stares didn't fade. But something in Riven had shifted — because now, when he caught someone sneering, his first thought wasn't hide.
It was Eli.
Eli's voice, Eli's hand steady against his, Eli's quiet promise echoing: Don't ever apologize for needing someone.
And for the first time, Riven started to wonder…
maybe needing Eli wasn't weakness.
Maybe it was the beginning of strength.