Beneath The Surface

Chapter 46: The Breaking Point

Ava sat alone on the park bench, staring blankly at the path Lucas had just walked down. Her hands trembled as she wiped away the few tears that had slipped down her cheeks. The words he'd said echoed in her mind, sharp and cutting.

*I can't keep being your second choice.*

His frustration, his anger—it all made sense. How long had she been leading him on? How long had she kept him in limbo, unable to give him what he truly wanted? Ava had tried to do the right thing, tried to make sense of her own heart, but now, she wasn't sure she had made the right decisions at all.

She glanced down at her phone, wondering if Ethan would text her again after last night. She hadn't been able to respond, hadn't been able to process what he had said. She felt like she was caught in a whirlwind, pulled between the two most important people in her life. The weight of it was crushing her.

The park, once her place of peace, felt suffocating now. The cool breeze didn't calm her racing heart, and the chirping birds seemed distant and hollow. Ava needed to clear her head, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling that everything was unraveling.

Her phone buzzed, jolting her back to reality. She hesitated before checking it, her stomach flipping when she saw Ethan's name.

*I know it's complicated, Ava. But I can't just sit back anymore. Can we meet up? I need to know where we stand.*

She let out a shaky breath. He deserved an answer, just like Lucas had. She couldn't keep stringing both of them along, hoping that time would fix everything. Ava typed out a quick response.

*Yeah, we need to talk. Meet me at the coffee shop?*

It was the same place they'd always gone when they wanted to talk—somewhere familiar, where they could figure things out. But now, it felt different. It felt like a turning point.

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The coffee shop was quiet when Ava arrived, the faint sound of indie music playing in the background. She sat down at their usual table near the window, her eyes scanning the street outside for any sign of Ethan. She fidgeted with her phone, her nerves on edge.

It wasn't long before she spotted him. Ethan walked through the door, his eyes immediately locking onto hers. His face was unreadable, but there was an intensity in his gaze that made Ava's heart race.

He slid into the chair across from her, his expression softening slightly as he took in the sight of her. "Thanks for meeting me," he said quietly.

Ava nodded, unsure where to begin. The weight of what she had to say felt heavier than ever, but she knew it was time. "Ethan, I..." she started, her voice catching in her throat. "I don't know how to say this without hurting you."

He leaned forward, his eyes searching hers. "Just say it, Ava. I need to know where we stand."

She swallowed hard, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. "I care about you so much, Ethan. You've always been there for me, and we have this connection that's so strong, but..." She trailed off, her voice faltering.

"But what?" Ethan asked, his voice tight with anticipation.

"I don't know if I'm ready to be with you. Or with anyone. Everything feels so confusing right now, and I feel like I'm losing control of my own life." Her hands twisted together in her lap, her heart hammering in her chest.

Ethan was silent for a moment, his jaw clenched. "So, you're saying it's not about me? It's about you?"

Ava bit her lip, nodding slowly. "I'm sorry, Ethan. I just... I need to figure things out on my own. I don't want to hurt you, but I don't want to drag you along if I'm not ready."

He exhaled sharply, his frustration clear. "I don't know how to feel right now, Ava. You've been going back and forth between me and Lucas, and now you're saying you're not ready for either of us?"

Ava's eyes filled with tears, but she fought to keep them from falling. "I never meant for things to get this complicated. I care about both of you, but I can't make a choice when I don't even know who I am right now."

Ethan shook his head, leaning back in his chair. "I thought we had something real, Ava. I thought you felt it too."

"I do," Ava whispered, her voice barely audible. "But I can't give you what you need right now."

There was a long pause as they both sat in silence, the weight of everything unsaid hanging between them. Finally, Ethan spoke, his voice strained. "I need some time, Ava. To figure out if I can keep waiting for you or if I need to move on."

Ava's heart broke at his words, but she knew he was right. She had to let him go, at least for now. "I understand," she said softly.

Ethan stood up, his eyes lingering on her for a moment before he turned and walked away, leaving Ava alone once again.

As she watched him leave, the realization hit her. She was losing both of them. And in the process, she was losing herself too.

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