Trust in Her Tricks

Chapter 11: The New Normal

Ethan leaned back against the rough brick wall of Maplewood High, his hand brushing against Eris's as they sat on the steps, waiting for the lunch bell to ring. It had only been a few days since they'd made things official, but everything felt different now. He was still trying to figure out how to balance being her boyfriend with being her friend. It was harder than he'd expected.

Eris, sitting cross-legged beside him, scrolled through her phone with a casual air. But every so often, she'd glance up at him with that playful smirk he had grown to recognize. It was the same mischievous look she used to give him before pulling off one of her pranks, but now it had a new layer—a softness, something deeper.

"So," Eris began, setting her phone aside and leaning in closer, her voice playful, "are you going to stop acting all awkward around me, or do I need to prank you until you snap out of it?"

Ethan chuckled, though his laugh sounded more nervous than usual. "I'm not acting awkward."

Eris raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "You are, though. It's cute, but also kind of weird."

"Thanks," he muttered, shaking his head. "That's real comforting."

She nudged him gently with her shoulder, her smile warming. "I'm just saying, you don't have to act any different. You're still Ethan. I'm still me. We're just... together now."

He nodded, trying to absorb her words. She made it sound so simple, but his mind kept complicating everything. He couldn't help overthinking the little moments—how to hold her hand without it feeling awkward, whether or not to kiss her when they said goodbye, how to deal with the looks their friends were giving them.

"I know," he finally said, though the hesitation in his voice was clear. "It's just... new. I don't want to mess anything up."

Eris's expression softened, her teasing dropping for a moment as she gave him a look of understanding. "You're not going to mess anything up, Ethan. We'll figure it out together."

He glanced at her, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. Her words, as always, seemed to ease the weight he'd been carrying. There was a certainty in her voice that he couldn't help but trust.

Still, there were parts of him that couldn't let go of the nagging fears from his past. He wanted to be open with her, but the walls he'd built over the years weren't easy to break down.

"So," Eris said, a smirk forming on her lips again, "are you going to take me on a real date, or do I have to plan everything?"

Ethan blinked, caught off guard. "A date?"

"Yeah," she said, rolling her eyes, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You're my boyfriend now. Boyfriends take their girlfriends on dates."

"Right," he muttered, scratching the back of his neck, feeling the familiar rush of nerves. "I'll figure something out."

Eris's grin widened. "Good. I'll even let you pick where we go."

Before Ethan could respond, the lunch bell rang, signaling the end of their brief moment of peace. Eris hopped to her feet, brushing off her jeans before reaching down to grab his hand, pulling him up. He followed her lead, his fingers wrapping around hers. This time, it felt a little more natural, like it was supposed to be that way.

As they walked back inside, Ethan noticed the way their friends cast quick glances their way. It made him a little self-conscious, but Eris, as usual, seemed completely unfazed.

"Let them stare," she whispered as they passed a group of students. "They'll get used to it."

Her confidence made him smile. That was one of the things he loved most about her—how she never seemed to care what people thought. She just lived her life, unapologetically herself.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of classes and casual conversations, but Ethan couldn't stop thinking about how things had changed between them. It wasn't a bad change, but it was new, and new was always a little scary. By the time the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, he felt more relaxed. Eris had a way of calming his nerves, making things that seemed complicated feel simple again.

They walked out of the building together, hands brushing once more before Ethan took the initiative to lace his fingers through hers. Eris glanced up at him, raising an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. Instead, she gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

"So," Eris said, her voice carrying that teasing edge again, "when's this date happening?"

"I'm working on it," Ethan said, his tone more confident this time. "I'll plan something good."

"Good," she replied, a satisfied grin spreading across her face. "I'm holding you to that."

Ethan chuckled, feeling lighter than he had all day. As they walked, a comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the occasional sound of passing cars. The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the streets, and Ethan couldn't help but feel like everything was falling into place.

They reached the park near Eris's house, and she slowed her pace, pulling him toward one of the empty benches. They sat down, side by side, their hands still linked. Ethan felt the warmth of her skin against his, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

"Hey," Eris said softly, turning to look at him. "You're doing good, you know?"

Ethan's heart skipped a beat as he met her gaze. There was something in the way she looked at him—something warm, something real. Without thinking, he leaned in, closing the small distance between them.

Eris didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned in too, meeting him halfway. Their lips brushed lightly at first, tentative, but then the kiss deepened, slow and sweet. Ethan felt his heart race, but for the first time in days, it wasn't from nerves.

When they finally pulled apart, Eris's smile was softer than usual, her teasing replaced with something more genuine. "See?" she said quietly. "Not so awkward after all."

Ethan smiled back, his own heart feeling lighter. "Yeah... not so awkward."

And in that moment, he realized that maybe, just maybe, he could stop worrying so much. Because with Eris by his side, things didn't have to be perfect—they just had to be real.