Beneath The Surface

Chapter 49: Crossing Lines

Ava couldn't shake the emptiness that Lucas had left behind. No matter how much she tried to focus on school, on herself, or even on her makeup skills, everything felt hollow. She missed Lucas. More than she had thought she would.

But there was something else gnawing at her—something that had always been in the background but was now starting to become impossible to ignore.

Ethan.

Since Lucas had pulled away, Ava found herself noticing Ethan more. Maybe it was because he was still there—still present in her life, despite all the chaos. He didn't ask her to be anything but herself. Ethan never judged her, even when she felt at her worst.

Ava didn't know how to feel about it all, but there was no denying that she felt something for him. And she was starting to think he felt something too.

That afternoon, as Ava walked out of class, she found Ethan leaning against the lockers, waiting for her. His easy smile lit up his face as he looked her way, and despite her conflicted feelings, she couldn't help but smile back.

"Hey," Ethan said, pushing off the lockers and walking up to her. "You heading home?"

Ava nodded. "Yeah. You?"

"Yeah, but I figured I'd walk you to your car. If that's cool?"

"Of course," Ava replied, grateful for the company.

The two of them strolled through the hallway together, and though it felt natural, there was an underlying tension in the air. Ava had always known Ethan was attractive—his sharp jawline, his tousled hair, his laid-back charm—but now, with Lucas gone, everything felt different.

As they reached the parking lot, Ethan hesitated. He turned toward her, rubbing the back of his neck, looking uncertain for the first time.

"Ava... Can I ask you something?"

She raised an eyebrow, sensing the seriousness in his tone. "Sure."

"I know things have been rough for you lately. And I know Lucas leaving hit you hard." He paused, his gaze searching hers. "But I've gotta be honest... I care about you. More than just as a friend."

Ava's heart skipped a beat. She had known this was coming. Maybe she had been waiting for it.

"Ethan..." she began, but the words caught in her throat.

He stepped closer, his eyes soft but intense, and reached out to take her hand. "Look, I know you've been through a lot. I'm not trying to rush anything. But I need you to know how I feel. I don't want to keep pretending like there's nothing between us."

Ava's head spun with emotions. She had relied on Ethan so much recently, and now here he was, offering her more. Offering her something real. Something she didn't even know if she was ready for.

"I don't want to hurt you," she said softly, barely able to meet his eyes.

Ethan's grip on her hand tightened, not in a forceful way, but in a way that said he wasn't going to let go. "You won't. I'm not Lucas, Ava. I'm not going to leave you."

His words cut deep, and she couldn't help but feel the sting of his implication. Lucas had left, and Ethan was still here. Ethan wasn't leaving.

Without thinking, Ava stepped closer, and before she could second-guess herself, their lips met. It was slow at first, tentative, but then all the bottled-up emotions spilled over, and the kiss deepened. She felt the heat between them, the desire she hadn't even realized had been building for weeks.

But as the moment intensified, Ava's mind screamed at her to stop. This was too soon. It was too much. She pulled back suddenly, breaking the kiss, and stared at Ethan, her heart racing.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, stepping back. "I just... I can't."

Ethan's expression softened, and he nodded, understanding in his eyes. "It's okay, Ava. I get it. You need time."

She swallowed hard, grateful that he didn't push. "I'm just so confused."

"Hey," Ethan said gently, reaching out to touch her shoulder. "You don't have to figure everything out right now. I'll wait. As long as it takes."

Ava's chest tightened at his words. He was being so patient, so kind, and yet, it only made her feel more conflicted. She wasn't sure if she was ready to open up again, not after everything with Lucas.

"Thank you," she said quietly, offering him a small smile. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah," he replied, his hand slipping away from her shoulder. "Tomorrow."

As Ava watched him walk away, her thoughts churned with uncertainty. Her feelings for Ethan were real—she knew that much—but she still couldn't shake the guilt that clung to her. The truth was, part of her still wasn't over Lucas, and she didn't know how to reconcile that with everything happening with Ethan.

Ava stood by her car, staring at the sky, as the weight of her tangled emotions threatened to overwhelm her.

This wasn't going to be easy.

---