Trust in Her Tricks

Chapter 4: Misunderstandings

The following week at Maplewood High was a whirlwind of activities and assignments, with midterms approaching faster than anyone wanted. The usual buzz of the school was tinged with an underlying tension as students scrambled to keep up with their studies. Ethan, never one to panic about tests, still found himself feeling unusually on edge—though it wasn't the looming exams that were bothering him.

His thoughts kept drifting back to Eris. Over the past few days, they had continued to spend time together, their conversations growing deeper and more personal. But as much as he enjoyed being around her, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that he was getting in over his head. The more he got to know Eris, the more he realized how much he liked her—and how much that terrified him.

Eris, on the other hand, was in her usual high spirits, though she noticed Ethan seemed a bit more distant than usual. She wondered if something was bothering him, but every time she tried to ask, he brushed it off with a shrug and a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

One afternoon, during a particularly stressful study session in the library, Eris decided to take a break and look for Ethan. She found him sitting alone in a quiet corner, his head buried in a thick textbook. She approached him with a grin, ready to lighten the mood.

"Hey, Ethan," she greeted him, sliding into the chair across from him. "You look like you could use a break."

Ethan glanced up, surprised but pleased to see her. "Hey, Eris. Yeah, I guess I could use one." He closed the book, leaning back in his chair. "How's studying going for you?"

Eris made a face, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Ugh, don't even get me started. I'm pretty sure I've forgotten everything I've ever learned." She laughed, but then her expression softened as she looked at him more closely. "But seriously, are you okay? You've seemed a little... off lately."

Ethan hesitated, unsure of how to respond. He didn't want to burden Eris with his worries—especially since he wasn't even sure what was really bothering him. "I'm fine," he said finally, forcing a smile. "Just stressed, I guess."

Eris frowned, not entirely convinced. "You sure? You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

Her sincerity caught Ethan off guard, and for a moment, he considered opening up to her. But then the doubts crept in, reminding him of all the reasons he should keep his distance. What if she didn't feel the same way? What if she was just being nice? The thought of losing her friendship if things got awkward was enough to make him clam up.

"Yeah, I'm sure," he replied, trying to sound casual. "Just school stuff. Nothing major."

Eris studied him for a moment longer, then nodded, though she didn't look entirely convinced. "Okay, but don't be a stranger. I'm here if you need me."

They spent the rest of the afternoon in the library, studying and chatting about everything except what was really on their minds. But the unspoken tension lingered between them, a subtle undercurrent that neither of them knew how to address.

The next day, Ethan's unease only grew. He couldn't stop thinking about Eris and the way she looked at him with concern. It made him feel guilty for not being honest with her, but at the same time, he wasn't sure how to even begin that conversation. The idea of admitting his feelings scared him more than anything.

Eris, meanwhile, was starting to feel the strain of Ethan's distance. She knew something was wrong, but every time she tried to get close to him, he seemed to pull back. It was frustrating, and it made her wonder if she'd done something to push him away. The thought that she might have hurt him without realizing it made her heart ache.

During lunch, Eris spotted Ethan sitting alone in the courtyard, his expression distant. She took a deep breath, determined to get to the bottom of whatever was bothering him. As she approached, she called out his name, trying to sound as cheerful as possible.

"Ethan! Mind if I join you?"

Ethan looked up, surprised. He hadn't expected her to seek him out again, especially after he'd been so evasive. "Sure," he said, moving over to make room for her.

Eris sat down beside him, her usual smile in place, but there was a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. "You've been quiet lately," she said, getting straight to the point. "I'm starting to worry about you."

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, Eris. It's not you—it's just... I don't know. I've got a lot on my mind."

"Like what?" Eris pressed gently. "You know I'm here to help, right?"

Ethan looked at her, his heart pounding in his chest. He wanted to tell her everything—to let her know how much he liked her, how much he wanted to be more than just friends. But the fear of rejection, of ruining what they had, held him back.

"It's nothing," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "Really, Eris, I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me."

Eris's smile faltered, and for the first time since they'd started hanging out, she felt a pang of doubt. Was he pushing her away? Or was there something he didn't want to share with her? Either way, it hurt more than she expected.

"Okay," she said quietly, her usual confidence wavering. "If you say so."

The rest of the lunch period passed in awkward silence, with neither of them knowing what to say. When the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, Eris stood up, her usual energy noticeably dimmed. "I'll see you later, Ethan," she said, her voice tinged with sadness.

"Yeah, see you," Ethan replied, watching her walk away with a sinking feeling in his chest.

As he made his way to his next class, Ethan couldn't help but feel like he'd made a mistake. He hadn't meant to hurt Eris, but in trying to protect himself, he'd ended up pushing her away. And now, as he watched her retreating figure, he realized just how much he missed the easy connection they'd had before everything got complicated.

Eris, meanwhile, couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment that lingered long after their conversation. She cared about Ethan—more than she was willing to admit even to herself. But if he didn't trust her enough to open up, what could she do? The thought of losing him as a friend, of not being able to help him, was more painful than she'd anticipated.

As the day dragged on, both Ethan and Eris found themselves lost in their own thoughts, each wondering how to fix the growing rift between them. But with neither of them willing to take the first step, the distance only seemed to grow, leaving them both feeling more alone than ever.