Trust in Her Tricks

Chapter 9: Mixed Signals

The days following the Halloween party were a whirlwind for Ethan. He couldn't stop replaying the dance with Eris in his mind, each smile and laugh echoing like a favorite song stuck in his head. Every time they passed in the hallways of Maplewood High, Ethan felt his heart quicken, and his hand would twitch with the desire to reach out. But each time he was about to say something, Lucas was already there—hovering by Eris's side, effortlessly slipping into the conversation.

Ethan tried not to let it bother him, but it was hard. Especially when Lucas seemed to have an uncanny ability to be around Eris at just the right moments. Whether it was during lunch, before homeroom, or after their literature class, there was Lucas, always with a friendly smile and a joke that made Eris laugh.

It didn't help that Eris seemed to enjoy Lucas's company. When she talked to him, she was animated and bright, more open and relaxed than Ethan had ever seen her. But then, there were times when she would look at Ethan with that familiar sparkle in her eyes, and he'd feel a rush of hope, only for it to be dashed by another teasing comment or prank.

One afternoon, Ethan found himself lingering outside the school library, hoping for a moment alone with Eris. He knew she would be there—she always stopped by the library on Tuesdays to return her books. Sure enough, he saw her inside, at the far end of the room, her head bent over a table. Taking a deep breath, he walked in.

"Hey, Shenhe," he called softly, trying to keep his voice light.

Eris looked up, surprised, and then broke into a warm smile. "Oh, Xiao! I mean, Ethan," she corrected herself, laughing a little. "What's up?"

"I... uh, I just wanted to see how you were doing," he stammered, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "You know, after the party and all."

Eris's eyes softened. "I'm doing great! That party was so much fun. And you—your Xiao costume was seriously the best. I still can't believe you went all out like that."

Ethan grinned, feeling a little more confident. "Well, I had to impress you somehow."

She giggled and leaned back in her chair, looking at him with a curious expression. "You know, Ethan, you always do things like that. Surprise me, I mean. It's... kind of nice."

His heart skipped a beat. "Really? Because... well, I was wondering if maybe you'd want to... I don't know, hang out sometime? Just the two of us?"

Eris hesitated for a moment, and Ethan felt his stomach twist into knots. But then she smiled again, though a bit more guarded this time. "I'd like that... I think," she said slowly. "But... can I be honest?"

"Of course," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

She sighed softly, glancing down at her hands. "It's just... I don't know how I feel right now. About everything, I mean. About you, and Lucas, and... I just don't want anyone to get hurt, you know?"

Ethan nodded, trying to mask the sinking feeling in his chest. "Yeah, I get it. I don't want that either."

Eris gave him a small smile. "Maybe we can just... take things slow? Figure it out as we go?"

"Yeah," Ethan agreed, forcing a smile. "Slow is good."

But as they continued to chat, Ethan couldn't help but notice the way Eris glanced at the door every few moments, almost like she was expecting someone. And when Lucas finally appeared, leaning casually against the doorway with that easygoing smile, she lit up in a way that made Ethan's heart ache.

"Hey, Eris! Ethan," Lucas greeted, nodding at them both. "Hope I'm not interrupting."

Eris shook her head. "Not at all, Lucas. I was just talking with Ethan."

Lucas gave a friendly grin. "Cool. Mind if I join you guys?"

Ethan bit back his frustration and nodded, though he felt anything but cool. "Sure, why not?"

As Lucas slid into the seat beside Eris, effortlessly picking up the conversation, Ethan felt a wave of uncertainty wash over him. He tried to join in, to keep up, but his mind was elsewhere. For the first time, he wondered if taking things slow might not be the best idea after all.

He needed to show Eris that he was serious about her, that he was more than just the goofy guy who dressed up as her favorite game character. But how? And with Lucas always around, how could he make his feelings clear without pushing her away?

Ethan watched as Eris laughed at something Lucas said, her eyes bright and happy. For now, all he could do was wait and hope that, somehow, things would turn in his favor.