Beneath The Surface

Chapter 42: A Silent Heartbreak

Ava sat alone on the bench for what felt like hours, her mind swirling with everything that had just happened. She replayed Ethan's words over and over in her head, the weight of his disappointment settling heavily in her chest. She never imagined it would come to this—Ethan walking away, leaving her feeling more lost than ever.

The silence around her was deafening. All the bustling students had long since gone home, and now, she was left with only her thoughts and the setting sun casting a golden glow over the quiet school grounds.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, snapping her out of her daze. She pulled it out, half expecting it to be Ethan with one last message, but instead, Lucas's name lit up the screen. Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't spoken to him since the night of the party, when everything started spiraling out of control.

She hesitated for a moment before unlocking her phone and opening the message.

**Lucas:** *Hey, can we talk? I've been thinking about you a lot lately, and I need to see you.*

Ava's stomach twisted. Of course, Lucas would reach out now, when everything was already falling apart. She didn't know how to feel—part of her wanted to see him, to hear what he had to say, but another part of her feared how it might complicate things even more. Her feelings for him were real, just like her feelings for Ethan. But what could she possibly say that would make any of this better?

Her fingers hovered over the screen, unsure how to respond.

**Ava:** *I'm not sure if this is a good time...*

She stared at the message for a second before deleting it.

**Ava:** *Okay. I'll meet you.*

Her heart raced as she hit send, already feeling the tension build inside her. She wasn't sure if meeting with Lucas was the right thing to do, but she knew she needed answers—for herself, if nothing else.

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Later that evening, Ava found herself standing outside the café where she had agreed to meet Lucas. Her heart was pounding in her chest, the uncertainty of what was about to happen gnawing at her. Would this conversation bring clarity, or would it only make things worse?

She spotted Lucas through the window, sitting at a small table in the corner, his expression pensive as he stared down at his phone. The sight of him made her heart lurch. He was always so calm, so sure of himself, and yet here he was, waiting for her like a nervous wreck.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door and stepped inside, her footsteps echoing in the nearly empty café. Lucas looked up as she approached, his eyes lighting up when they met hers. He stood up, offering a small, unsure smile.

"Ava," he said softly, his voice filled with emotion.

"Hi, Lucas," she replied, her voice quiet as she took a seat across from him.

They sat in silence for a few moments, the air between them thick with unspoken words. Ava didn't know where to start. What could she even say?

Lucas broke the silence first. "I've been thinking a lot about us, Ava. About everything that's happened."

Her throat tightened. "Me too."

"I don't know how we got here," he continued, his voice low, almost hesitant. "But I can't stop thinking about you. About what we could have."

Ava's heart fluttered, but she quickly pushed the feeling down. This wasn't the time to get swept up in emotions. She needed to stay grounded, to figure out what she really wanted.

"Lucas," she began, "I don't even know what we are anymore. Everything is so confusing, and I don't want to keep leading you on if I can't give you the answer you're looking for."

He frowned, leaning forward slightly. "But what if we're meant to be together? What if this is something real, Ava?"

Her chest tightened. "I don't know," she whispered. "I care about you, Lucas. But I care about Ethan too. And I don't know if I can keep doing this—going back and forth between you two. It's not fair to anyone."

Lucas looked away, his jaw tense. "I get that. But I can't stand the thought of losing you. I don't want to just be the other guy."

Ava's heart ached at his words. She didn't want to hurt him, but she didn't know how to avoid it either. She was stuck in an impossible situation, torn between two people she cared about deeply.

"I don't know what to do," she admitted, her voice breaking. "I'm just so tired of feeling like I'm letting everyone down."

Lucas reached across the table, taking her hand in his. His touch was warm, comforting, and it sent a shiver down her spine.

"You don't have to decide right now," he said softly. "But just know that I'm here. I'm not going anywhere, Ava."

Her heart swelled with emotion, but it was quickly followed by a wave of guilt. She didn't deserve his patience, his kindness. Not when she was still so unsure.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, pulling her hand away.

Lucas looked at her with a pained expression, but he didn't say anything. The silence stretched between them once again, heavy with everything they weren't saying.

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