Monday came, and Ethan found himself in the library, nervously tapping his foot as he waited for Sophia. She arrived a few minutes later, apologizing for being late. As they sat down and started working on algebra, Ethan quickly realized that Sophia was not just beautiful—she was also kind, funny, and surprisingly down-to-earth.
They fell into an easy rhythm, and by the end of the session, Ethan felt more comfortable around her than he ever thought possible. As they packed up, Sophia gave him a warm smile. "You're really good at this, Ethan. Thank you for helping me out."
"It was no problem," he replied, unable to stop himself from smiling back.
As they walked out of the library together, they were suddenly interrupted by a loud, mocking voice. "Well, well, well, what do we have here? The bookworm and the princess?"
Ethan's stomach dropped as he turned to see the source of the voice—Logan Brooks, Ridgewood High's resident bad boy. Logan was everything Ethan wasn't—confident, rebellious, and effortlessly cool. With his dark hair, leather jacket, and devil-may-care attitude, Logan was the kind of guy who could have any girl he wanted. And from the way he was looking at Sophia, it was clear that he had set his sights on her.
"Logan, not now," Sophia sighed, clearly exasperated.
"Why not?" Logan asked, smirking as he stepped closer. "Just curious what a girl like you is doing with a guy like him."
Ethan's face flushed with embarrassment. He opened his mouth to say something, but the words wouldn't come.
"We're just studying, Logan. You know, something you might want to try sometime," Sophia shot back, her tone sharp.
Logan laughed, unfazed by her sarcasm. "Studying? Is that what they're calling it these days?" He looked at Ethan, his eyes narrowing. "Better watch out, Caldwell. Don't want to get in over your head."
Before Ethan could respond, Logan turned on his heel and walked away, leaving a tense silence in his wake.
"Sorry about him," Sophia said, rolling her eyes. "He thinks he owns the place."
Ethan nodded, but inside, he felt a pang of insecurity. How could he possibly compete with someone like Logan?
YOU ARE READING
A Love to Last
RomanceIn this short and heartwarming story, high school senior Ethan navigates the challenges of love, self-discovery, and rivalry as he develops a connection with Sophia, the girl of his dreams. As their relationship deepens, Ethan faces unexpected obsta...
