Trust in Her Tricks

Chapter 10: A Heart Laid Bare

The crisp autumn air brushed gently against the back of Ethan's neck as he stood beneath the oak tree where he and Eris always met during lunch. The brilliant hues of red, orange, and yellow in the school courtyard painted the perfect backdrop for what he was about to do. Yet, despite the beauty around him, his nerves were a tangled mess. He wiped his palms against his jeans for the third time, trying to get rid of the sweat. This moment had been building for weeks, but now that it was here, he wasn't sure if he was ready.

Eris was already sitting there, her nose buried in a book, completely unaware of the emotional storm raging inside Ethan. Her brown hair was loose today, cascading in soft waves around her shoulders, and she wore that slight, mischievous smile that made his heart stutter every time he saw it. He knew she didn't realize just how much she affected him—how much her presence had come to mean to him.

Ethan drew a deep breath and made his way over to her. As he approached, Eris glanced up from her book, her eyes bright with recognition. "Hey, Ethan," she said casually, offering him a quick smile before turning back to her reading. "You okay? You look... stressed or something."

He chuckled nervously. "Yeah, I guess I am. I, uh, need to talk to you. It's important."

At the tone of his voice, Eris closed her book and raised an eyebrow. Her usual playful smirk softened into a more thoughtful expression. "Oh? Important how?"

Ethan hesitated, suddenly feeling a lump form in his throat. He sat down beside her, the cool breeze tugging at his hoodie. "It's about... us."

Eris blinked, surprise flashing in her eyes, and for the first time, Ethan saw uncertainty creep into her expression. "Us?" she repeated slowly, as though trying to piece together what he was about to say.

He nodded, his heart racing faster with each passing second. "I've been thinking a lot lately... about you. About how much I... like you." The words spilled out, and Ethan quickly looked away, feeling his cheeks heat up. "I know we're close, and I didn't want to mess things up, but I can't pretend anymore."

There was a brief, tense silence, and Ethan risked a glance at Eris. Her face had softened, her usual playful demeanor replaced by something much more serious. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, clearly processing what he'd just said.

"I... I didn't know you felt that way," she finally whispered. "I mean, I guess I kinda suspected it, but..."

Ethan felt his chest tighten. He had to push through—he had to know how she felt. "Eris, I'm asking if you'd go out with me. If you feel the same way, or if... if I'm just imagining things."

Eris looked away, her gaze drifting toward the ground, and for a moment, Ethan's heart sank. But then she spoke again, her voice soft but steady. "I do like you, Ethan. I really do. I've been confused about my own feelings for a while now, but... I think I've been afraid. Afraid of ruining what we have, afraid of how complicated things might get."

Ethan's pulse quickened, and a wave of relief washed over him, but there was more he needed to say—something deeper, something that had been gnawing at him for as long as he could remember. "Eris, there's something else you need to know."

Eris turned back to him, her eyes searching his face, concern flickering in her expression. "What is it?"

He swallowed hard, feeling the familiar weight of his past resurface. "The reason I've always had trouble with this kind of stuff... with relationships... It's because of my family."

She stayed quiet, giving him the space to continue, and he took a shaky breath before speaking again. "My dad... he left us when I was a kid. He cheated on my mom, broke our family apart, and ever since then, I've had this fear that anyone I care about will end up hurting me like that. I know it sounds stupid, but it messed me up. It's why I've always kept people at a distance."

Eris's expression softened, and she reached out to gently place her hand over his. The warmth of her touch grounded him, giving him the courage to keep going. "I'm scared of getting close to anyone," Ethan admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to get hurt again. But with you... I don't want to push you away. Not anymore."

Eris squeezed his hand gently, her eyes full of understanding. "Ethan, that's not stupid at all," she said softly. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that. But you're not your dad, and neither am I. I'm not going to hurt you."

Her words were like a balm to the open wound in his heart, and for the first time in a long while, he felt the weight of his trust issues begin to lift.

Ethan met her gaze, feeling more vulnerable than he ever had before. "So, does that mean... you'll give us a chance?"

Eris smiled, that familiar mischievous glint returning to her eyes as she leaned back slightly. "Well, I guess I could let you take me out sometime. But don't expect me to go easy on you just because we're dating now," she teased, nudging him playfully.

Ethan laughed, a genuine sound that bubbled up from deep within him. The tension, the fear, the doubt—it all melted away in that moment. Eris had always had that effect on him, but now, with everything out in the open, it felt even more powerful.

"I wouldn't want it any other way," he replied, his heart full as he looked at her, knowing that this—being with her—was exactly what he wanted.