Beneath The Surface

Chapter 13: Cracks Beneath the Surface

Ava stood in front of the mirror, carefully applying her makeup. The familiar routine had become a ritual, one she clung to even tighter as the days wore on. She traced the contour of her face, adding the finishing touches of foundation, eyeliner, and lipstick. With every stroke, she felt a layer of her insecurities melt away, hidden behind the flawless mask she'd crafted.

But something felt different today.

She had spent the entire weekend replaying her conversation with Lucas. His words echoed in her mind: *"I want to know the real you, Ava. Why won't you let me in?"* His frustration had been palpable, and she couldn't shake the sinking feeling in her stomach. She wanted to let him in—more than anything—but the fear of him seeing her without the makeup, without her protection, was too overwhelming.

As she stared at her reflection, her phone buzzed on the counter. A message from Ethan.

**Ethan**: *Can we talk? I've been thinking about you.*

Her heart raced as she read the message. It had been weeks since they last spoke, and the sudden resurgence of his attention made her head spin. She had been yearning for this for so long—Ethan, the one she thought would never look her way again, was reaching out. But why now? Why, after so much distance?

Confusion settled in as she typed back a quick reply, agreeing to meet him later. She wasn't sure if it was a good idea, but something inside her needed closure, or maybe, it was validation. The kind she'd always craved from him.

---

Later that evening, Ava found herself sitting across from Ethan at their usual coffee shop. The atmosphere felt oddly intimate, even though nothing had been said yet. She kept her eyes on her coffee cup, swirling the contents as the silence stretched between them.

"I've missed you," Ethan said, breaking the tension.

Ava's breath hitched at his words. He looked different, more mature, as if time had forced him to grow in ways she hadn't anticipated. She glanced up at him, her heart torn between the thrill of his attention and the guilt she felt about Lucas.

"I... I wasn't sure if I'd hear from you again," Ava admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan leaned in closer. "I'm sorry for how I treated you before. I didn't realize what I had until you weren't there anymore."

His words struck deep, igniting a spark of hope in Ava's chest, but also a wave of doubt. Was this what she wanted? After everything with Lucas, could she really fall back into the same patterns with Ethan?

Ava hesitated, feeling the cracks beneath the surface of her perfect facade begin to widen. The choices ahead of her were far from clear, and for the first time in a long while, she wasn't sure which direction to take.