The Space Between

Chapter 42 : Making them pay

Marcus's house was alive with the buzz of conversation, but as soon as Sophia and I walked in, the atmosphere shifted. Marcus and Emma were waiting for us in the living room, their faces tense with anticipation. I quickly filled them in on everything that had gone down-how Graham had finally come clean, how Bianca's mother had learned the truth, and how the engagement was officially called off. Marcus's eyes widened in disbelief as he listened, his hands clenched into fists.

"I can't believe Ethan got involved like that," Marcus said, shaking his head. "And Bianca-going to such lengths just to get what she wanted. It's messed up, man."

Emma nodded in agreement, her expression a mix of frustration and sadness. "It's like they were playing some twisted game with everyone's lives."

Sophia stayed close to my side, her presence calming even in the midst of all the chaos. We all sat down, the weight of the past few weeks settling over us like a heavy blanket. "Bianca and Graham are dealing with the fallout now," I explained. "Their parents know everything, and they're facing the consequences of their actions. The only one left is Ethan."

Just as I said it, the door opened, and Ethan walked in, stopping short when he saw us. The anger on our faces must have been clear because Ethan's expression turned defensive. Before he could say anything, Marcus stood up and walked straight to him, grabbing him by the collar. "How could you?" Marcus shouted, shoving Ethan back. "I thought you were my brother! How could you betray us like this? You've been so blinded by your own judgment that you couldn't see what you were doing to Sophia."

Ethan stumbled but didn't fight back. His face was pale, and he looked almost lost. "I thought I was doing the right thing," Ethan mumbled, his voice strained. "I thought Bianca was the right choice for Matteo, and that Sophia... that she was the reason Derek's sister died. I let that cloud everything. I let my anger take over."

Sophia stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "Ethan, you didn't just hurt Matteo. You hurt all of us. We've all been through enough because of this."

Ethan lowered his head, finally understanding the full scope of his actions. "I know," he said, his voice breaking. "I went too far, and I'm sorry. I've already decided-I'm transferring. I talked to Derek, and I'm going to Penn State. I can't stay here and pretend like nothing happened. I still have a lot of anger, and I can't let it go, not yet."

Sophia's eyes widened, shocked by Ethan's decision. "You don't have to leave," she pleaded. "We can figure this out, move past it. You don't have to transfer."

Ethan shook his head, a sad smile on his face. "No, I do. I need a fresh start. I'm still carrying too much anger, and I can't be here with that. I'm sorry, Sophia. I'm sorry for everything."

I watched as Ethan apologized to everyone, one by one, his words sincere but filled with regret. It was hard to see him like this-so broken by his own choices. He said his final goodbyes, promising to keep in touch but knowing deep down that things would never be the same. Sophia reached out to hug him, and for a moment, it felt like a small piece of the tension was lifting. But as Ethan left, the reality of the situation settled in-we were all changed by what had happened.

Marcus, Emma, Sophia, and I sat back down, letting the quiet wash over us. "It's been a hell of a semester," Marcus finally said, breaking the silence. "But finals are coming up, and we've got to focus. No more drama, no more distractions."

Sophia nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Agreed. We've all been through enough."

I glanced at Marcus, who had been keeping a secret of his own. "There's some good news, too," I said, grinning. "Marcus and I got some interest from scouts. They want us to attend summer camps, and if we do well, we're on track to be drafted at the end of the second year."

The room erupted in cheers, the first real burst of happiness we'd felt in weeks. Marcus pulled me into a hug, and we all laughed, letting the excitement of the future push away the darkness of the past. There was still a long way to go, but for the first time, it felt like things were heading in the right direction.

As the night went on, we decided to celebrate with a small party. We invited Graham and Tara, knowing that despite everything, they were part of the journey that had brought us here. Sophia looked at me, her eyes bright with hope. "It's all in the past now," she said softly. "We're moving forward."

We spent the rest of the evening reminiscing, laughing, and planning for what was to come. Marcus and I shared the news about the scouts, and Sophia and I made a quiet promise to meet each other's parents soon, to take the next step in our journey together. The night ended on a positive note, surrounded by friends, with a sense of peace that had been missing for far too long.

And as I held Sophia close, I knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, we were finally on the right path. We were making it right, together.