Beneath The Surface

Chapter 28: The Weight of a Choice

The weekend arrived, but it did nothing to ease Ava's turmoil. The conversation with Ethan had left her feeling more conflicted than ever, and Lucas hadn't reached out since their last encounter. It was as if both boys were giving her the space to figure things out, but that only made her more anxious. She hated the feeling of being caught between them, knowing that no matter what she did, someone would end up heartbroken.

On Saturday morning, Ava sat at her vanity, staring at her reflection. The face she saw in the mirror wasn't her. The makeup she had applied felt more like a mask today, something to hide behind rather than something that brought her comfort. Her phone buzzed on the table, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a text from her best friend, Emily.

**Emily:** *Hey! Want to hang out today? We could go shopping or something. Might help clear your head.*

Ava sighed. Emily didn't know the full extent of what was happening, but she knew enough to realize that Ava was going through something. Ava was grateful for her support, but even the thought of going out in public made her feel exhausted. She typed out a quick response.

**Ava:** *Thanks, Em. I think I need some time to myself today. I'll let you know if I change my mind.*

She tossed her phone back onto the vanity and leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes. The weight of her indecision was crushing her, and no matter how much she tried to distract herself, it always came back to the same question: Lucas or Ethan?

She liked Ethan's steady presence in her life, his kindness and easy smile. He made her feel safe, like she didn't need to put up a front around him. But Lucas—Lucas stirred something deep within her, something thrilling and dangerous. He challenged her in ways she had never expected, and despite everything, she couldn't ignore the spark between them.

A knock on her bedroom door made Ava jump. She quickly got up and opened it to find her mom standing there, a concerned look on her face.

"Ava, sweetie, you've been in here all morning. Is everything okay?" her mom asked gently.

Ava hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "Not really. I just... I don't know what to do, Mom."

Her mom stepped inside, closing the door behind her. She guided Ava to the bed, sitting down beside her. "Is it about the boys?"

Ava nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. "Yeah. I don't know who to choose, and it's tearing me apart. I care about both of them so much, but I can't be with both. It's not fair to them."

Her mom took a deep breath and put an arm around her. "Honey, I know this feels overwhelming, but you can't rush these kinds of decisions. You need to figure out what your heart really wants."

"That's the problem," Ava muttered. "I don't even know what I want anymore."

Her mom squeezed her shoulder. "It's okay to take your time. You're young, and you don't need to have all the answers right now. But whatever you do, just make sure you're doing it for yourself. Don't let anyone pressure you into making a decision before you're ready."

Ava nodded, but the knot of uncertainty in her stomach didn't go away. Her mom was right, but that didn't make the decision any easier.

The rest of the day passed in a haze, and by the time the evening came, Ava still hadn't come any closer to figuring things out. She sat on her bed, scrolling through her phone, trying to distract herself when a message popped up from Lucas.

**Lucas:** *Can we talk?*

Her heart skipped a beat. She had been avoiding this conversation, knowing that talking to him would only complicate things further. But she couldn't run forever. She needed to confront her feelings, no matter how messy they were.

Ava typed out a quick reply.

**Ava:** *Sure. Where?*

Lucas responded almost instantly.

**Lucas:** *Meet me at the park?*

Ava sighed, standing up from her bed. She grabbed her jacket and headed downstairs, telling her mom she was going out for a bit. The park was just a few blocks away, and as she walked, her mind raced with thoughts of what Lucas might want to say. Part of her was nervous, but another part of her was relieved. Maybe this was the conversation she needed to finally get some clarity.

When she arrived at the park, Lucas was already there, leaning against a tree with his hands shoved into his pockets. He looked up when he saw her, his expression unreadable.

"Hey," he said softly.

"Hey," Ava replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

They stood there for a moment in awkward silence before Lucas finally spoke.

"I've been thinking a lot about us," he began, his voice low. "And I realized that no matter what happens, I want to be honest with you."

Ava's heart pounded in her chest as Lucas stepped closer, his eyes locked on hers. She wasn't sure she was ready for what he was about to say, but there was no turning back now.

"I'm not giving up on you, Ava. No matter how hard this gets."