Beneath The Surface

Chapter 15: The Unraveling

The next morning, Ava felt like she was walking through a fog. Her mind was still tangled with everything that had happened—the conversation with Ethan, the missed call from Lucas, and the growing pressure to confront her feelings. She barely slept, tossing and turning as her thoughts circled around the two boys in her life.

At school, everything seemed to move in slow motion. The hallway buzzed with the usual chatter, but Ava felt disconnected from it all. She noticed the stares from her classmates, the familiar glances they shot her way. They admired her for her looks—the perfect makeup, the carefully curated appearance. But none of them really knew her, not the real Ava.

As she opened her locker, she felt a presence behind her. She turned around to see Lucas standing there, his expression unreadable.

"Hey, Ava. Can we talk for a minute?" His voice was soft but firm, and she knew this wasn't a casual request.

Ava's stomach tightened, but she nodded, closing her locker. They walked in silence to a quieter corner of the school, near the library, where fewer students lingered. Once they stopped, Lucas turned to face her, his eyes searching hers.

"I know something's been off between us lately," he began, his tone careful. "I just... I feel like you're keeping me at a distance, and I don't know why."

Ava's chest tightened. She had been avoiding this conversation for weeks, terrified of what it might lead to. But now, standing here with Lucas, she couldn't run anymore.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, looking down at the floor. "I didn't mean to push you away."

Lucas sighed, stepping closer. "I care about you, Ava. I care about you a lot. But I feel like you don't trust me enough to let me in. Why won't you show me who you really are?"

His words hit her like a wave. She could feel the lump forming in her throat as she swallowed hard, fighting back the tears threatening to spill.

"I'm scared," Ava admitted, her voice barely audible. "I'm scared that if you see the real me, you won't like what you see."

Lucas's expression softened, and he gently placed a hand on her arm. "Ava, I already see the real you. The makeup, the way you present yourself—it's beautiful, but it's not what makes me care about you. I care about the girl who's thoughtful, funny, and kind. The girl who's strong, even when she doesn't feel like it."

His words cut through her fears like a knife, but still, doubt lingered. Could she really believe him? Could she trust that he wouldn't leave if she let down her guard?

"I want to believe you," Ava said, her voice trembling, "but I don't know how."

Lucas took a step closer, his hand gently cupping her cheek. "Then let me prove it to you. I'm not going anywhere, Ava. I'm here, and I'm staying."

For a moment, the world seemed to stop. Ava's heart raced as she looked up into Lucas's eyes, the sincerity in his gaze pulling her closer. But even as she stood there, on the brink of something real, her thoughts drifted to Ethan. What would happen if she let Lucas in, only to have Ethan sweep her off her feet again?

Before she could say anything, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. Both Ava and Lucas turned to see Ethan approaching, his expression unreadable as his eyes flicked between them.

Ava's heart sank. She was trapped, torn between two boys who wanted different parts of her—and she wasn't sure she could give either of them what they truly needed.

"I... I need some time," Ava stammered, pulling away from Lucas. "I need to figure things out."

Without waiting for a response, she hurried down the hall, leaving both boys standing there, caught in the web of her indecision.