Ava Collins is a high school junior who has mastered the art of makeup to conceal her insecurities and present a flawless image to the world. Behind her confident facade lies a girl struggling with self-doubt and a deep-seated fear of being judged f...
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Ava sat on her bed, staring at her phone, the message from Lucas still glowing on the screen. Her thoughts were tangled, a mess of guilt, confusion, and something she didn't want to admit—excitement. She couldn't deny that she felt something when Lucas kissed her, but her heart still tugged toward Ethan.
How did her life get so complicated?
With a sigh, Ava typed a reply to Lucas.
**Ava**: *I'm okay. Just a lot on my mind.*
A few seconds later, Lucas responded.
**Lucas**: *Want to talk about it? I'm here for you, Ava.*
She stared at his message for a long time. She couldn't tell Lucas about the conversation she had with Ethan. It wasn't fair to him or to Ethan to involve them in each other's business. Ava's fingers hovered over her phone's screen before she decided to leave the message unanswered, tossing her phone onto her bed.
The following morning, Ava woke up to the familiar hum of her alarm, but the feeling of dread in her chest was heavier than usual. She had classes with both Ethan and Lucas, and after everything that had happened, she wasn't sure how to face either of them. She knew things with Ethan weren't resolved, and Lucas? He was becoming something else entirely—something she wasn't sure she could handle.
When she arrived at school, she tried to keep her head down, avoiding the usual places she'd see both of them. But fate had other plans. As she walked through the hallway toward her first class, she spotted Lucas leaning against a locker, his eyes locking onto hers the moment she passed.
"Ava!" he called out, jogging over to catch up with her.
She forced a smile, though inside, her heart was racing. "Hey, Lucas," she replied, trying to keep her voice light.
"Are you sure you're okay? You never answered my message last night," Lucas said, concern evident in his voice.
Ava avoided his gaze, feeling the weight of everything she wasn't saying. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... a lot going on."
Lucas studied her for a moment, then nodded. "I get it. But if you need to talk or just need a break, you know where to find me."
Before Ava could respond, she heard another voice from behind her. Ethan. Her heart sank as she turned to see him approaching, his face unreadable.
"Morning, Ava," Ethan said, his tone casual, but his eyes seemed to flicker with something more.
"Hey, Ethan," she replied, trying to keep her cool.
Lucas looked between the two of them, sensing the unspoken tension. His smile faded slightly, and he shoved his hands into his pockets. "Well, I'll see you later, Ava," he said, giving her a nod before walking away.
Ava let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding as Lucas left. The silence between her and Ethan felt heavier than ever.
"Can we talk?" Ethan asked, breaking the silence. "Privately."
Ava hesitated. "Now?"
"Yeah. It won't take long."
Ava glanced around the hallway, then nodded. She followed Ethan toward an empty classroom, her heart beating faster with every step. Once inside, Ethan closed the door, and they stood in the quiet space, the walls feeling closer than they should have.
"I've been thinking," Ethan began, his voice low. "About us. About what we talked about yesterday."
Ava swallowed, her throat dry. "What about it?"
"I don't want to pretend like things are fine when they're not," Ethan said, his eyes searching hers. "I can feel that something's off, and I think I know what it is."
Ava's pulse quickened. Did he know about Lucas? About the kiss?
Ethan took a step closer, his expression serious but gentle. "I know you've been spending time with Lucas," he said slowly, as if testing the waters. "And I can't blame him for wanting to be close to you. But I need to know... do you still have feelings for me? Or are things between us over?"
Ava's heart dropped at his words. She hadn't expected him to confront her like this. She had been trying to sort through her feelings, but now that Ethan was asking her point-blank, she didn't know how to answer.
"I..." Ava began, but the words caught in her throat.
Ethan stepped even closer, his voice softer now, almost pleading. "I need to know, Ava. Because I care about you, and I don't want to keep hoping if there's nothing left for us."
Ava's emotions crashed over her like a wave. She still cared about Ethan—of course she did. But the kiss with Lucas had stirred something in her, something she couldn't ignore. Her feelings were all jumbled, and she didn't know how to make sense of any of it.
"I don't know," Ava finally admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm confused, Ethan. I care about you, but... things are complicated."
Ethan's face fell, the hope in his eyes dimming. He nodded slowly, as if trying to process her words. "I understand," he said quietly. "I just needed to hear it from you."
The silence that followed was thick with tension. Ava wanted to reach out to him, to explain that she wasn't trying to hurt him, but no words felt right.
Finally, Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Take your time, Ava. Figure out what you want. I'll be here... if you want me to be."
With that, he turned and walked out of the classroom, leaving Ava standing alone, the weight of her confusion pressing down on her like never before.
