Let's Get Ethan ✔

Chapter 13

There she was, sitting over at a desk, Rebecca. She was one of Linda's friends, not one Ethan knew particularly well but sort of an acquaintance made.

She had been over at Linda's house while he was there.

Linda had really been trying to make it work, so to speak, between her friends and him. Though they had never really clicked. Linda's friends, much like Linda, were driven. Ethan often wondered if the reason why they weren't trying to become better friends with him was the fact that they knew he wasn't supposed to be with Linda. They thought she was too good, too smart, and too pretty for a guy like Ethan. That didn't stop them from approaching him politely in the hallways though, and predictably, Rebecca was right in his face before he could even get up off the ground. She was all too interested in seeing how her friend's ex ended up sorting books.

"Hey, Ethan!" Rebecca squeaked, her large brown eyes scanning over the shelves instead of at him. He wondered if she was judging his work. The thought couldn't be far from the truth. With girls like Rebecca imperfections were inexcusable.

"Hi, Rebecca," he greeted, his tone in the valley of slightly annoyed to completely charming.

"Wonder how we both ended up at the same school?" Rebecca laughed playfully; the true meaning came across crystal clear to Ethan.

"Right, wonder what you're doing on the second day of school hanging out at the library? How much homework can you be assigned so early in the semester?" Ethan asked, he knew she just wanted to talk about how busy she was. Perhaps that would lead her off his trail. He didn't particularly want to talk about Linda.

"Well, uh, I have a Physics reading, an analysis for my writing professor, and a few quizzes to study for, but I had time, so I thought I'd stop in and check out the library. I remember I used to study in the library with you and Linda. Weird how we meet again, in a library." She tilted her long face in confusion at the coincidence.

Ethan wondered about that; he did remember that they had studied a few times together. Most of his memories with Linda were shut up in a box, compartmentalized in the deepest part of his brain, not to be reminisced on. Though slowly he was remembering how they had hung out more than once.

"Right, funny," Ethan said. Her prim outfit caught his attention as she swayed in the loose-fitting overalls, the blue pastel turtleneck looked almost fitting to her type-A personality. She was covered completely. Her brown hair pulled back into a tight bun. She hadn't switched things up at all, still the prim, proper girl from high school. Ethan wondered if Linda still wore her hair in a ponytail all the time. He stopped himself before he could delve any deeper into thinking about Linda, it wasn't healthy.

"So, it was nice seeing you Ethan, I know you and Linda didn't really end things well—but I suppose it's just cause of different schools, right?"

"Actually, she never told me why we broke up. I'm pretty sure it's because I'm a dumbass, but I guess we will never know. Not that I am not a dumbass, I am, but I am pretty sure that's the reason."

"Well, I don't think you're dumb. Hell, you even got into the same school I did." She paused. It was very obvious she found that fact shameful, as she clenched her teeth. He wasn't that offended, "But that's not the point. To be honest, I don't think Linda even knew why she broke up with you. But hey, it was nice seeing you again."

"Well, see you around, I guess." She ended the conversation, walking back to her things at her desk.

"Yeah, later," Ethan responded.

Ethan felt a little better, but slightly insulted as Rebecca had made it clear she found it humiliating that she ended up going to the same school as he did. If Rebecca didn't even know why they had broken up maybe he wasn't so stupid for not seeing how the relationship didn't work.