Beneath The Surface

Chapter 45: Crossroads

Ava had barely slept. The morning light filtered through her curtains, soft but unrelenting, as if urging her to face the reality she had been avoiding for so long. Her mind was a storm of thoughts and emotions, and her chest ached with the weight of what she had to do.

She sat up slowly, rubbing her tired eyes, her body feeling as exhausted as her heart. Everything felt raw—too real. Last night's confrontation with Ethan had left her emotionally drained, and yet, she knew this was far from over. She had to confront the truth, and soon.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, breaking the silence in the room. She hesitated before reaching for it, a part of her dreading what she might find. The screen lit up with a message from Lucas.

*Can we talk?*

Ava's heart sank. Of course, he would reach out now. As if the universe was testing her, forcing her to make a decision she wasn't ready for. But could she really keep putting this off?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard before she finally typed out a quick reply.

*Yeah, I think we need to talk too. Meet me at the park in an hour?*

She hit send and let out a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. She needed clarity, but how could she find it when her heart felt like it was being torn in two? Lucas had always been there for her, always making her feel seen and valued in ways that sometimes took her breath away. But Ethan... Ethan was the one who knew her, really knew her. The connection they shared went so deep it scared her sometimes.

Ava pushed herself off the bed, heading to the bathroom to freshen up. The reflection staring back at her in the mirror was tired and conflicted, her usually vibrant eyes dulled by the weight of her decisions. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to shake the exhaustion from her body.

She was at a crossroads.

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The walk to the park felt longer than usual, every step filled with doubt and second-guessing. Ava's mind raced with all the possible outcomes of this conversation, but none of them felt right. She had no idea how Lucas would react, and that terrified her.

When she reached the park, she spotted Lucas sitting on one of the benches, staring down at his phone. He looked up as she approached, a small, hesitant smile playing on his lips. But there was something in his eyes—something unsure.

"Hey," he greeted her, standing up as she reached him.

"Hey," Ava said, her voice barely above a whisper.

They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of everything unsaid hanging between them. Ava could feel her heart pounding in her chest, the air around them thick with tension.

"I'm glad you came," Lucas finally said, his eyes searching hers.

Ava nodded, trying to find the right words. "I needed to see you," she admitted, her voice shaky. "There's been so much going on, and I... I don't know what to do anymore."

Lucas frowned, stepping closer to her. "Ava, you don't have to carry this alone. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out. Together."

She wanted to believe him, wanted to lean into the comfort he was offering, but something held her back. Ava swallowed hard, fighting the tears that threatened to spill over.

"That's just it, Lucas. I don't know if we can figure it out together," she said, her voice breaking. "I've been so confused about everything—about you, about Ethan... about myself."

Lucas stiffened at Ethan's name, the tension between them growing even thicker. "So, it's about him?" he asked, his voice tight.

Ava shook her head quickly. "It's not just about him. It's about everything. I care about you, Lucas. I really do. But I care about Ethan too, and I can't keep doing this to either of you. It's not fair."

His jaw clenched, and for a moment, he looked away, his expression unreadable. When he finally looked back at her, his voice was low, almost broken. "So, what are you saying, Ava? Are you choosing him?"

Ava's heart ached at the pain in his voice. "I'm saying... I don't know what I want right now. I don't know what's right."

Lucas let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair. "You don't know what you want? After everything, you still don't know?"

She flinched at his words, guilt washing over her. "I wish I had the answers, Lucas. I really do. But I'm still figuring things out."

The hurt in his eyes was palpable, and Ava felt the sharp sting of regret. She hated seeing him like this, hated that her indecision had caused so much pain.

Lucas took a step back, his hands clenched at his sides. "I can't do this, Ava. I can't keep being your second choice."

"That's not what this is!" she protested, tears filling her eyes. "I never meant to hurt you, Lucas."

"Well, you did," he said, his voice harsh. "And now, you need to figure out what you want. Because I'm done waiting around for you to make up your mind."

Ava's chest tightened as she watched Lucas turn and walk away, his figure disappearing into the distance. She stood frozen, her heart shattered.

She was losing both of them, and maybe, just maybe, she was losing herself too.

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