Beneath The Surface

Chapter 47: A World Without Them

The next few days passed in a blur for Ava. School had become a place she dreaded—every hallway, every classroom felt like it was suffocating her. The looks Lucas gave her from across the room, cold and distant, sent a painful ache through her chest. And Ethan... he didn't even look at her anymore.

It was as if a switch had flipped. All the warmth, all the connection she'd shared with them, was gone. And the worst part was that it was her fault.

Sitting at her vanity mirror that evening, Ava picked up her makeup brush but hesitated. The routine that once brought her comfort, that helped her mask her insecurities and face the world, now felt like a chore. She looked at her reflection, searching for something in her eyes that felt familiar.

But all she saw was someone who had pushed away the two people who mattered most. Her face looked flawless as always, but she knew the truth. No amount of makeup could cover up the mess her heart was in.

Sighing, she put the brush down and leaned back in her chair, the weight of loneliness crashing down on her. How had it come to this? How had she ended up hurting the very people who had always been there for her?

A knock on her bedroom door startled her, pulling her from her thoughts. "Come in," she called, her voice shaky.

Her mom peeked inside, a concerned look on her face. "Hey, honey, are you okay?"

Ava forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Her mom walked in and sat on the edge of her bed, watching her carefully. "You don't look fine, Ava. You've been so quiet lately. You know you can talk to me, right?"

Ava bit her lip, her throat tightening. She wanted to tell her mom everything—about Lucas, about Ethan, about the confusion that was tearing her apart—but the words wouldn't come. How could she explain something she didn't even understand herself?

"I'm just tired, that's all," Ava said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her mom reached over and squeezed her hand. "I know high school can be tough, and relationships... they're not easy. But you're strong, Ava. You'll figure it out."

Ava nodded, though she didn't feel strong at all. Her mom gave her a soft smile before standing up and leaving the room, the door clicking shut behind her.

Alone again, Ava turned back to the mirror, her eyes scanning her face. She didn't feel like the person she used to be. Somewhere along the way, she had lost herself in the mess of it all—lost herself in trying to be perfect for everyone else.

Her phone buzzed, and for a moment, her heart leaped, hoping it was Ethan or Lucas. But when she checked, it was just a message from a classmate about homework.

Disappointment settled in, and Ava realized something—this emptiness, this loneliness—was something only she could fix. Lucas and Ethan couldn't save her. No one could, except herself.

She stood up, walking away from the vanity and leaving the makeup untouched. It was time to stop hiding behind the mask she had so carefully crafted. She needed to face herself, flaws and all.

The thought scared her more than anything, but it also felt strangely freeing. For the first time in a long while, Ava felt like maybe—just maybe—she could find herself again.

But she knew it wasn't going to be easy. The road ahead was long and uncertain, and it meant making some hard choices. Choices about who she wanted to be and who she wanted in her life.

With a deep breath, Ava made a silent promise to herself. She would start living for her, not for anyone else.

She didn't know what the future held, but she was ready to face it—alone, if she had to.

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