Hacker

Chapter 27 - Ethan

I just visited Taylor, and I am actually laughing so hard. On one point, I told her my crush, and squealed about it like a fifteen year old girl, and then Daniel hugged her! It was amazing! The sweetest, yet funniest thing ever. I immediately go to text Lucas. No, I haven't told him everything. All he knows is.. Everything. About Daniel, and that I have a female friend in the hospital. I just told him that she got attacked. He took that answer.

♡Lucas★

Hey I visited Taylor
and guess what!! Daniel
HUGGED her!!
It was crazy

Fr??

Yes!!

I need to meet your
friends ASAP

When summer starts
you
can :)

Okay ❤️

Oh my goodness.. He sent a heart! He's never done that before!! I feel like squealing again!! Does he like me?? Oo! I hope so! God, I act like a little teenage girl. I need to calm the hell down. Jesus.

I put my phone down and look around my room. I should shower. School is tomorrow, and it's almost seven pm.

I walk into school, and find Daniel in our usual spot. "Hey, D!" I greet him. He's on his phone. Again. I frown. "D-Daniel?"
He finally looks up. "Huh? Oh, hey, E. Listen, I gotta go today. Lexi just texted me, and said she needs to find her way around here. She got enrolled."
"Who's Lexi?"
"That girl."
"Oh. At the end of the school year?? And next year is our senior year! Why?" I know I may seem like I'm digging into him about this girl, but goodness. I want my Daniel time too! I've known him longer!

Daniel sighs. "Listen, I'll explain later."
And that's all he says before he leaves. I feel a lump in my throat, and my chest is bubbling. I swallow hard, and close my eyes, gritting my teeth. I debate on if I should call Lucas. He'd make me feel better. He would- he'd tell me a joke, and hug me tightly. Daniel used to do that, I know, but- ever since we've found Taylor, and- even before this Lexi girl appeared, he's been.. Distancing himself. From.. Me.
I'm lost in my thoughts when the bell rings, and I head off to English class.

I walk into English, only to find out that today, school is starting to prepare us for our finals!! Ugh!

Science was even worse, because not only do we still have to study over everything all over again, Daniel won't even talk to me! This is the only class we share together! Well, other than lunch, but still!!
As the teacher is writing stuff down on the board, I elbow him. "D!" I whisper. He flicks his eyes to me. I frown. "Why are you avoiding me?" I ask. Daniel sighs. "I'll tell you later.." He grumbles, before ignoring me again. This time the tears spill, and I look away from him, putting my head on my hand, and staring at the board, praying nobody sees me.

At lunch, I'm sitting at our table. Alone. I keep looking for Daniel, not wanting to eat my food without him. I wanna criticize it with him!
Soon, I find him walking to me! Yes! But- wait, no! Who's that?! She has long brown hair, and is wearing a big hoodie, and jeans. She has on glasses, and she has a lip piercing.

Daniel and the mystery girl sit down beside me, Daniel in the middle. They turn to me. "Ethan," Daniel begins. "This is Lexi."
My heart drops. Lexi smiles at me. I hate it. She's so kind, and I'm thinking awful thoughts. "Hi Ethan!" She greets me, kindly. Her voice is angelic!! No!!
I put on the best smile I can, knowing how strained I probably look. "Oh..! Pleased to meet you.." I say, my voice going everywhere. Lexi looks at me confused, before giggling. Daniel gives me a dirty look, and my heart cracks. They immediately go to talking about me. Nothing bad, all good things, all good things. But it hurts. If you want to know about me ask me! I'm right here!! Grumbling, I pick at my food, all appetite lost. I put up my tray, and listen to music for the rest of the hour I have in lunch.

I've been trying for so long, to sing you the right song.

"Yeah, Ethan is kinda stupid at times, but it's okay! Right E?"
"Right."

I wonder if you feel- the kind of pain that rips your insides out. That's something I know all about, shocking ain't it?

"Ethan! Are you listening to Five Night's at Freddy's music??" Lexi asks me, laughing. "That's for kids!!"

*beat, beat, beat, beat* I can't fix you.

"Ethan still likes all the kiddle stuff." Daniel explains to her, grinning.
You do too, Daniel. We play it together. You scream too. Sometimes louder than me.

I can feel my heart breaking, mistakes I've been making, I'm running out of patience to pretend.

I look at the clock. It's almost time to go.  I look back to Lexi and Daniel. They're watching Tik Tok together.

Is it because I can't be her? Made your mistakes and made me hurt I can't fix you.

This song hits hard. I'm crying.

You might make everyone happy but you're- dead inside just like me..

The song goes along. The bell rings just as it ends. I grab my bag and rush to my next class. Home Ec.

After school, I'm waiting for Lucas to pick me up. We have work together, and he said he'd do it. My mom was grateful.
Daniel and Lexi walk out together. She gets in the passenger of his truck. They drive off. I frown. He didn't even ask me if I needed a ride either.

Lucas pulls up. I've never seen his vehicle. It's blue. A small one. I don't know my vehicles, so I don't know what type of car it is. A car.
He greets me, smiling. "Hey!! Don't worry, I told Lillian I'd be picking you up, so we'll both be a bit late." He explains. I smile. "Thanks."
I get into his car. He looks to me, smirking. "Was Daniel jealous?" He asks, knowing how protective Daniel can get. I told him about that, too.
I frown, tears threatening me again. Lucas notices, and puts his hand on my shoulder. "What's wrong?? Did he hurt you? Has he ever hurt you before?" He's questioning me. I grit my teeth. "Daniel would NEVER hurt me!! You don't know shit!" I snap. I then gasp, and start crying, apologizing till I can barley breathe. We haven't moved from the school parking lot. Lucas is hugging me, my face buried in his neck. I'm blushing furiously, even though I'm bawling my eyes out. He's rubbing my back, trying to hush me. I'm sobbing, and stuttering, trying to explain to him what's been going on.
"I'm s-so sorry!!! I jus- he- fff-gets, an- he left m-me al-n!! I dnt l-ke him, but I don't w-wa-wan-want him r-ripped from me ei-eitherrr!! And that BITCH-" I growl. "Lexi, she-she's stealing- him-him-him!!! He keeps- her!!"
I can't breathe, and my face is going purple. Lucas pulls me off of him, and takes my tear-streaked face in his hands. "Ethan! You can't breathe. Breathe, Ethan, breathe!!" He keeps telling me to breathe, and I'm trying. I finally get a large breath in. I exhale. Lucas pulls his hands away, and finally starts the car. I can feel everywhere he's touched me.

"So," He starts, speeding down the road to get to the café. "If I got you right, Daniel is paying no attention to you, and is focusing on that Lexi girl, and you don't like him, but don't want him ripped from you."
Well, he summed it up better than I did. I nod. "Yeah."
Lucas smiles. "I'm good at understanding people when they're crying."
I smile too, before stopping. "But.. It's just.." I sigh, not knowing how to word anything. Lucas then takes his hand off the wheel, and does something fantastic. He gives my thigh a tiny squeeze!! I immediately go redder than Lillian's hair, and look away. Luckily, Lucas only keeps his eyes on the road.
"Why? Does he like her?"
"Yes." I grunt, crossing my arms, jealously eating me up again. Lucas frowns, taking a turn.
"Have you thought that maybe he's trying to get her to like him back?"
I'm silent. Lucas senses my unease, and comes up with an idea. "Here, tomorrow evening. Since we're off work, wanna hang out with me?" He asks. My eyes light up, but then I remember. "I- I can't.. I gotta visit Taylor."
"Well, when visiting hours are over I can pick you up?"
I'm silent for a small moment, before smiling. "Sure."