Let's Get Ethan ✔

Chapter 21

He sat looking at her as she skimmed over the pages in her textbook. He realized he could be doing some homework too and began his dreaded readings. She peeked over at him every once in a while, clearly becoming bored of her studies. It wasn't long until they were both talking to each other again. Ethan looked at his textbook while Stephanie talked.

"Look, I know this doesn't help much now, but I am really sorry for what happened in high school. I was a different person back then." Stephanie's eyes were glued on him.

"Different person? That's impossible," Ethan replied looking up for a second. If she really was a different person her actions needed to show that, the person she was supposed to be now was all forgivable and sweet, why didn't she break up with Lincoln if he's just a jerk? If she really was a different person, she wouldn't be hanging out with Lincoln. All he saw was a less put together version of an evil queen.

"Bad wording, but seriously I am not out to get you anymore. I feel disgusted with myself."

Stephanie didn't bother groveling much longer, instead, she chose to change the subject.

"Are you and Lincoln still fighting?" Stephanie asked.

"He hasn't talked to me at all, but we are not fighting." He knew it was a fight, but he certainly did not want Stephanie to get in the middle of it. Ethan was just trying to coexist in a closet-sized dorm with a two hundred fifty-pound anvil, how hard could it be?

"He didn't seem to like what you did all that much," Stephanie said her tone becoming more casual.

"Not so sure if it's my fault you two like to have sex in my dorm room." The sentence made Stephanie blush. He didn't think he could make a girl like her embarrassed.

"We weren—Oh whatever, believe what you want. Point is, he had no right to threaten you, even if I pissed him off. I am overdramatic, okay? I am a bad girlfriend." Stephanie huffed back in her chair crossing her arms. Her expression-filled eyes focused on her lap.

"No, Stephanie, you're not 'a bad girlfriend.' Why is Lincoln someone you'd hang around with anyway? You say you've changed, but you're still dating guys who clearly aren't right for you," Ethan asked her.

"Look, he's not bad at first. He's charming, sweet even. He tries to make you feel special. It's like he wants to share his feelings. Then his feelings overtake him. Then it's all about him, this is his thing, he wants to do this, it's like, like I don't even exist?" she stated her confusion full force, it was desperate, almost warning.

"I'm sorry." Ethan looked at her, for the first time she was just a person. Not a queen. Not the villain.

"Yeah, and the worst part is I thought I was doing better for myself by dating him instead of the 'bad boy.' I guess I was wrong—sometimes you just can't tell with people, Ethan."

This struck a chord with him. It painted an awfully similar story to how Ethan had initially thought that Stephanie had tricked him. But although she wasn't a different person, she was still trying to make amends.

"Well, what do you want to be instead of 'just some guy's girlfriend?' What's your major?" Ethan asked trying to get the conversation off of Lincoln.

"Bio," Stephanie said, her mouth barely working.

"Pre-med?" Ethan asked.

"I suppose, if I graduate, that is." Stephanie looked up at him again, she was worried.

"Then, you're not 'just a bad girlfriend,' you're a doctor."

Stephanie let out a mocking laugh. "In my dreams!" she said her mouth twitching up.