Beneath The Surface

Chapter 26: A Step Toward Clarity

The weekend passed in a blur of avoidance and tension. Ava spent most of her time holed up in her room, dodging her mother's questions about what was wrong. Her phone buzzed constantly—messages from Ethan and even a few from Lucas—but she couldn't bring herself to respond. Every time she thought about it, the knot in her chest tightened, and she felt like she was suffocating under the weight of her emotions.

By Monday morning, Ava had barely slept, but she knew she couldn't avoid her problems forever. School loomed ahead, and so did the inevitable confrontation with Lucas and Ethan. She sat up in bed, staring at her reflection in the mirror, once again debating whether to put on makeup.

For so long, it had been her shield—her way of hiding the parts of herself she didn't want others to see. But after her conversation with Ethan, something had shifted. He had told her to be honest with herself, and maybe that started with showing up as she truly was. After all, if her friends couldn't accept her without the makeup, did they really accept her at all?

Taking a deep breath, Ava decided to go to school without her usual full face of makeup. She applied just a bit of concealer to cover the dark circles under her eyes but left the rest of her face bare. It felt strange—almost like walking into battle without armor. But at the same time, it was freeing.

When she arrived at school, the first thing she noticed was the curious glances from her classmates. Ava had always been known for her flawless makeup, and now, without it, she felt exposed. A few girls whispered as she passed, and she could feel their eyes on her, scrutinizing every imperfection.

Ava kept her head down, focusing on getting through the day. She made it to her locker and was rummaging through her bag when she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"You look different."

She turned around to find Lucas standing there, leaning against the locker next to hers. His gaze was intense, as always, but there was something softer in his expression today.

Ava swallowed, her pulse quickening. "Yeah, I guess I do."

Lucas studied her for a moment, his eyes flicking over her face. "Why no makeup today?"

Ava shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant. "Just didn't feel like it."

Lucas nodded slowly, still watching her closely. "You don't need it, you know. The makeup. You're beautiful without it."

Ava felt her cheeks flush. She hadn't expected that, not from Lucas. He wasn't the type to give compliments easily, and when he did, they were usually sarcastic or teasing.

"Thanks," she mumbled, unsure of what else to say.

Lucas straightened up, his hands slipping into his pockets. "Listen, about the other day... I didn't mean to push you. I just—"

He hesitated, and for a moment, Ava saw a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes.

"I care about you, Ava. A lot. And I know I haven't always been great at showing it, but I need you to know that."

Ava's heart pounded in her chest. She had always known there was something deeper between her and Lucas, something that went beyond the usual teasing and banter. But hearing him say it out loud felt different—it made everything real.

"I care about you too," she admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lucas nodded, his jaw tightening. "I just don't want to lose you. Not to him, not to anyone."

Ava's breath caught in her throat. She knew who Lucas was referring to—Ethan. The tension between the two boys had been simmering for a while, and now it was finally boiling over.

"I don't want to hurt either of you," Ava said softly, her eyes meeting his. "But I can't keep pretending like everything's fine when it's not."

Lucas stepped closer, his gaze intense. "Then don't pretend. Just be honest with me, with yourself. Whatever you decide, I'll respect it. But I need to know where I stand."

Ava's mind raced, torn between her feelings for Lucas and her growing connection with Ethan. She cared deeply about both of them, but she knew she couldn't keep stringing them along. It wasn't fair—not to them and not to herself.

"I don't know what I want yet," she confessed, her voice trembling. "But I promise I'll figure it out."

Lucas studied her for a moment longer before nodding. "Take your time, Ava. Just... don't shut me out."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Ava standing alone by her locker. Her heart was still racing, but for the first time in days, she felt a glimmer of clarity. She didn't have all the answers yet, but at least now, she was one step closer to finding them.