I sat at the library desk, surrounded by textbooks and notes, trying to focus. The pressure of exams was building up, but there was something else too-a heavy feeling I couldn’t shake. For the past few days, Gabriel and Andrew had been like shadows, always present, always by my side. No matter how much I tried to distance myself, they found a way to stay close.
It was impossible to ignore the way they had been looking after me. They didn’t ask questions. They didn’t push me to talk. They just… stayed. And maybe that was what I needed more than anything just their presence.
I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to shake off the feeling of being overwhelmed. The textbooks in front of me blurred into one big page of jumbled words, each one more confusing than the last. I sighed, leaning back in my chair, staring at the ceiling for a moment.
“Hey,” Andrew’s voice came from beside me, startling me out of my thoughts. He always had a way of sneaking up on me.
“Hey,” I responded, offering him a small smile as I closed my notebook.
He sat down beside me, nudging me lightly. “You’ve been studying for hours. You need a break.”
I shook my head, feeling guilty. “I can’t afford to take a break, Andrew. Exams are coming, and I still don’t feel prepared.”
He tilted his head, his eyes soft with concern. “You don’t have to do this alone. Gabriel and I are here. We’ll help you. You’re not in this by yourself.”
I nodded, my heart swelling at his words. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed this-just having people who cared. I had been so caught up in my own mess, trying to figure everything out, that I hadn’t stopped to appreciate them.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” I said, finally letting out a breath of relief. “Thank you, Andrew.”
“Anytime,” he said with a grin, his usual playful energy shining through. He stretched his arms above his head, looking around the library. “Now, come on. Let’s go find Gabriel. We need to do something fun to take your mind off all this stress.”
Before I could respond, Gabriel appeared, his expression as calm and collected as ever, but I could see the concern in his eyes. “Are you two done with the study session, or is it just Andrew who’s giving up already?”
Andrew chuckled. “I’m not giving up. I’m just suggesting a break. You’re so serious about everything, man.”
Gabriel raised an eyebrow at Andrew. “You know as well as I do that we don’t have time for breaks.”
Andrew rolled his eyes, but there was no mistaking the soft edge in his voice. “Well, I’m taking one anyway.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, feeling a bit lighter. Their banter, though small and silly, was exactly what I needed. It reminded me of the good things I had in my life, the things I often overlooked.
“Alright, alright,” I said, standing up from my chair. “Let’s go grab something to eat. Maybe I’ll even relax for a minute.”
Gabriel smiled, his usual stern expression softening as he nodded. “Good. You’ve been too tense lately.”
We made our way to the campus cafe, where we all sat down with our coffee cups and snacks. As I glanced around at them, I realized something. The friendship I had with Gabriel and Andrew wasn’t just about study sessions or exams. It was about support. They had been there for me when I needed them the most, even when I didn’t ask for it.
“Elena, you’re really quiet today,” Andrew said, peering at me with a concerned look. “What’s going on?”
I looked at him and then at Gabriel, who was watching me closely as well. My heart raced a little, but I knew I couldn’t keep pretending that everything was fine.
“I guess… I guess I’ve just been thinking too much,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “About everything. Aiden, my father… the pressure of everything.”
Gabriel nodded, his expression softening. “You don’t have to carry all of it on your own, you know. We’re here for you.”
I bit my lip, feeling a strange tightness in my chest. “I know,” I said. “I just… I don’t want to drag you both into my mess. You’re doing so much already, and I don’t want to burden you.”
Andrew gave me a pointed look. “Elena, you’re not a burden. You never have been.”
Gabriel’s voice was quieter, but there was a firmness to it. “Exactly. You’re our friend, Elena. And friends don’t just walk away from each other because things get tough. We’re not going anywhere.”
For the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to let go. I wasn’t alone in this. Gabriel and Andrew were by my side, and they weren’t going to leave. I hadn’t realized how much I needed that until now.
The next few days were a rollercoaster of last-minute studying, group sessions, and endless cups of coffee. Gabriel and Andrew didn’t leave me alone, but in the best possible way. They kept pushing me to stay focused, but also to take care of myself. There were times when I wanted to escape into my own world, but every time I thought about withdrawing, I remembered their words. “We’re not going anywhere.”
It was hard to keep my emotions in check, but I didn’t have to do it alone. I had them, and somehow, that made everything easier.
The exams came and went, each one more nerve-wracking than the last, but every time I looked up, I saw Gabriel and Andrew sitting there, silently cheering me on. And by the end of it, I could see the relief in their eyes, the pride that they had stuck by me through it all.
When the results were finally posted, I saw something I hadn’t expected: We had all done well. Despite everything, we had pulled through together. Gabriel and Andrew had helped me more than I could ever explain. They hadn’t let me fall, not once.
“You did it,” Gabriel said with a rare grin as he clapped me on the back. “I knew you could.”
I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face. “We did it,” I corrected him, glancing at Andrew.
Andrew grinned back. “You’re right. We’re the perfect team.”
The three of us stood there in front of the bulletin board, surrounded by students celebrating their results, but it was in that moment that I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time: peace.
“Best team on campus,” Gabriel said, his tone almost smug.
Andrew laughed, his usual playfulness returning. “We should get t-shirts.”
I shook my head, laughing along with them. “Maybe after we pass the next round of exams.”
For the first time in ages, I felt truly free. And as I stood there, surrounded by Gabriel and Andrew, I knew that no matter what came next, I wasn’t alone.
By the time we walked out of the exam hall, the world felt a little lighter. We were a team now no longer just friends, but something more. We had survived the pressure, the doubts, and the long hours together. And as I glanced at Gabriel and Andrew, I realized that no matter where life took us, we’d always have each other.
The semester exams had ended, but our journey had just begun. And with them by my side, I knew I could face whatever came next.