Beneath The Surface

Chapter 40: Caught in Between

The next morning, Ava woke up with puffy eyes and a heavy heart. The café meeting with Ethan replayed in her mind, every word echoing in her thoughts like a weight she couldn't shake off. She had hurt him, and now it felt like everything was falling apart.

She glanced at her phone, half-hoping to see a message from Ethan, but there was nothing. No texts, no missed calls—just silence. It was his way of telling her he needed space, but it stung nonetheless. Ava sighed, pulling the covers up over her head and wishing she could just disappear for a while.

But hiding wouldn't solve anything. She knew that much. With a groan, she threw the blanket off and sat up, rubbing her eyes. Today was just another day at school, but it felt heavier now. Lucas would be there, and she didn't know how to face him after everything that had happened with Ethan. They both deserved answers, but she was nowhere near ready to give them.

She took her time getting ready, carefully applying makeup to cover the evidence of her sleepless night. As she stared into the mirror, she couldn't help but feel the disconnect between her reflection and how she felt inside. She looked put together, confident, but beneath the surface, she was falling apart.

When she finally arrived at school, Ava felt a knot form in her stomach. Every hallway, every classroom, felt suffocating, and she wished she could just vanish. But there was no escaping this. She had to face it all sooner or later.

"Ava!"

She turned around at the sound of her name. Lucas was walking toward her, his usual easy smile lighting up his face. But as he got closer, Ava noticed something in his eyes—something more serious, like he was searching for answers, too.

"Hey," he greeted her, leaning against the lockers. "You okay? You seem... distant."

Ava forced a smile, trying to act normal, but inside, her heart raced. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired."

Lucas raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Is this about Ethan?"

She froze. She hadn't expected him to bring up Ethan so directly. Her mind scrambled for a response, but before she could speak, Lucas sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"I saw him leave the café yesterday," Lucas continued, his voice softer. "I didn't want to pry, but I'm guessing something happened between you two."

Ava's throat tightened, and she looked down at the floor, unable to meet his gaze. "It's... complicated."

"I get it." Lucas's voice was gentle, understanding, and that only made it harder. "But you know, whatever's going on between you and Ethan, it doesn't change how I feel about you."

His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Ava looked up, meeting his gaze, and saw the sincerity in his eyes. This was exactly what she had been afraid of—the deeper she got into this, the more tangled it became. She cared about Lucas, but Ethan was still in her heart, too, and that made everything feel impossible.

"I don't want to hurt anyone," Ava whispered, her voice shaky. "But I feel like no matter what I do, someone's going to get hurt."

Lucas stepped closer, his hand gently resting on her shoulder. "You don't have to figure it all out right now, Ava. Just... take your time. I'll be here, no matter what."

Ava felt a rush of emotions—gratitude, confusion, guilt. She didn't deserve Lucas's patience, and she didn't deserve Ethan's loyalty either. But here they were, both of them waiting for her to make a choice she wasn't ready to make.

As the school day wore on, Ava found herself slipping further into her thoughts. Classes felt like a blur, and every glance from Lucas or the empty seat where Ethan usually sat was a reminder of the chaos swirling inside her.

By the time the final bell rang, she was exhausted—emotionally, mentally. She grabbed her things and made her way outside, hoping to slip away unnoticed. But as she rounded the corner of the school building, she saw Ethan leaning against the wall, waiting for her.

Her heart skipped a beat. He looked just as tired as she felt, and the sight of him standing there, his hands in his pockets, made everything feel even more complicated.

"Ava," he called out, his voice low but steady.

She stopped in her tracks, unsure of what to say. There was so much between them, so many unspoken words and unresolved feelings. But now, standing there in the afternoon light, it felt like the moment of truth had arrived.

Ethan stepped closer, his eyes searching hers. "We need to talk."

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