Let's Get Ethan ✔

Chapter 28

He touched the door to his room and breathed deeply. He knocked twice, "Come in, loser," called a voice behind the door, but it wasn't Lincoln, it was a female voice. He stepped in to see Stephanie sitting on Lincoln's bed, her eyebrows up expectantly. How in the world . . . ?

"What are you doing here?" Ethan asked, while being about as puzzled as he could be. His tone was one of accusation, did she just break in? No, that's stupid.

He remembered the "loser" comment too, "And how'd you know it was me?"

"Lincoln is trying to get me back, so he let me chill here, and also, Lincoln wouldn't knock," Stephanie said nonchalantly. It was all Ethan could do to keep a straight face, she was just too ridiculous right now for him to even pick up his thoughts and organize them.

Though she was right about Lincoln not knocking, the same courtesies Ethan had offered to his roommate were not reciprocated. 

"You've gotta be kidding me. No, get out," he snapped.

Ethan went over and grabbed her hand, pulling her off Lincoln's bed.

"No!" She attempted to sit back on Lincoln's bed, practically pulling Ethan down on top of her, but he tugged her upright again.

"What do you mean? You are staying here now?"

"Well, no, it's just that I am having a disagreement with my roommate . . . "

Ethan looked at her with suspicion, "So, you thought it was best to stay in your awful ex's room?"

"Well, he's awful to you too. And you're still alive, so I just figured I'd be safe."

Ethan let go of her hand and she plopped back down on his roommate's bed.

"You have a superiority complex the size of Texas," Ethan said expressing his distaste for her tenacity.

"O-o-oh, Ethan, I think someone is looking for you . . . " she teased.

Ethan turned around to see a figure entering, there he was, Lincoln.

"Hey, dude!" he greeted loudly. He looked quite possessive as he stared between Ethan and Stephanie, calculating how furious he should be at the moment. Ethan guessed that he was currently at an eleven, so Ethan further increased his distance from Stephanie, and went to his side of the room. Lincoln walked in to sit on his bed.

"Oh, hi, Lincoln. Just chatting with Ethan. He was telling me what a great guy you are, good to have as a roommate. I'm impressed," Stephanie said.

"Is that right? Ethan, do you think that?" he began taking off his shoes and laid down relaxing. Ethan was now glued to the side of his bed. He had to reach to the back of his mind for a compliment.

"I-I, I was simply telling her, uh, what a great boyfriend you were for letting her stay in our dorm," Ethan lied.

"Hmm, this girl doesn't think so." Lincoln motioned toward Stephanie but did not look at her.

Was he seriously playing matchmaker right now?

"Ha, ha, well I think I should be going. Uh, text you later," Stephanie said to Lincoln. Since Lincoln couldn't see her face, she looked at Ethan, teeth clenched and mouthing "sorry." At least she knew that she had said the wrong thing.

Ethan wanted to give her a scowl back but since Lincoln was staring at him, he kept a neutral expression before sitting on his bed. Making faces at Stephanie would not get him into Lincoln's good graces. Ethan had to wonder if Lincoln had those.

Stephanie rushed out of the dorm then leaving Ethan to fend for himself.

Lincoln sat on the edge of his bed, feet on the ground, making himself face Ethan. His broad shoulders looked gigantic when he wasn't happy. Ethan wanted to let loose the breath he was holding in, but tension kept building. His face was turning purple.