It had stopped raining hours ago, but the air was still heavy with it, the pavement slick beneath their feet. The world moved patiently around them. Harvey shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, though the chill he felt had nothing to do with the cold.

Beside him, Will walked just a little too far away, his jaw tight, eyes fixed straight ahead.

This uncomfortable silence had been haunting them for too long. They had gotten good at pretending it wasn’t there, but sometimes, it snuck up on them, demanding to be confronted.

Harvey exhaled and stopped walking. “Will.”

Will halted a step ahead but didn’t turn around. “Don’t.”

“I didn’t say anything yet.”

“You don’t have to.”

Harvey stared at the back of Will’s head, trying to picture his expression. “So that’s it? We just keep acting? Acting like nothing happened?”

Finally, Will turned, and their eyes met. “What do you want me to do?”

Harvey opened his mouth, but the words caught in his throat.

The rain started again.

Will swallowed and looked away. “We’re not those people. The ones able to risk everything.” His voice was low, unreachable.

Harvey nodded, smiling slightly, though tears burned at his eyes. “Yeah. You’re right. I guess we’re not.”

For a second, it looked like Will might close the space between them. But then he stepped back and started walking again.

Harvey followed close behind.

And just like that, nothing had ever happened.

And nothing ever would.