Beneath The Surface

Chapter 55: The Line Between Friendship and Love

Ava woke up feeling more conflicted than ever. The weight of both Lucas and Ethan hung heavy in her mind, and as she stood in front of the mirror that morning, she felt like she was looking at a stranger. Her eyes, once bright with excitement for the day, were now shadowed with exhaustion. Her flawless makeup felt like a mask, hiding the turmoil inside her.

She couldn't avoid them forever. Not Lucas, not Ethan, and not the mess that had become her life. Ava grabbed her phone, fully expecting to see more messages, but there was nothing. The silence felt both relieving and terrifying.

By the time she arrived at school, Ava's nerves were shot. She had skipped breakfast and hardly slept the night before, making her feel like she was walking on eggshells. It wasn't long before she spotted Ethan in the hallway. He looked the same as always, with that warm, reassuring smile that had always made her feel safe. But today, she didn't feel safe. She felt exposed, vulnerable.

Ethan noticed her and walked over, his smile fading slightly as he got closer. "Ava, hey. Are you okay? You didn't respond to my message last night."

Ava bit her lip, trying to hold it together. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just... I've had a lot on my mind lately."

Ethan's eyes softened. He reached out, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "You know you can talk to me, right? I'm here for you, Ava. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together."

His kindness only made her feel worse. Ava wanted to tell him everything—the confusion, the uncertainty, the way her heart felt torn between him and Lucas. But how could she tell him that without hurting him? She could see the affection in his eyes, the hope that she might feel the same way he did. And a part of her did. But another part of her was still trapped in the past, in memories of Lucas that refused to fade.

"I know," Ava whispered, her voice barely audible. "I just... I need some time to think, Ethan."

He nodded, though she could see the concern in his expression. "Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere."

With a small, forced smile, Ava nodded and turned to walk away. But before she could take more than a few steps, she heard a voice that made her heart skip a beat.

"Ava."

She froze, her entire body tensing at the sound of Lucas' voice. Slowly, she turned around to see him standing a few feet away, his eyes locked on hers. There was something different about him today—something softer, almost regretful.

Ethan glanced between them, his brow furrowing. "Lucas," he muttered, his tone guarded.

Lucas didn't respond to Ethan. His focus was entirely on Ava. "Can we talk?"

Ava felt the world closing in on her. This was exactly what she had been trying to avoid. Ethan, Lucas, and her caught in the middle of their complicated history. She could feel Ethan's eyes on her, waiting for her response.

"Now's not really a good time," Ava said, trying to keep her voice steady. She didn't want to make a scene, not here, not in front of everyone.

Lucas' expression tightened. "Ava, please. It's important."

Ethan stepped forward, placing himself subtly between them. "She said it's not a good time."

The tension between the two boys was palpable, and Ava felt like she was suffocating. She hated this. She hated being the reason for their conflict, for the bitterness that seemed to linger between them.

"Stop," Ava said, her voice trembling. "Just... stop. I can't do this right now."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away, her heart racing as she made her way to the nearest bathroom. She locked herself in a stall, her hands shaking as she tried to catch her breath. Tears pricked at her eyes, and she let them fall, the pressure of everything finally becoming too much to bear.

She was tired of pretending that everything was okay. She was tired of the expectations, of trying to be what everyone else needed her to be. For once, she just wanted to figure out what she needed, what she wanted. But with Lucas and Ethan both pulling at her heart, she didn't know if she'd ever be able to figure it out.

As she sat there, the sound of her own quiet sobs echoing in the stall, Ava realized that something had to give. She couldn't keep living in this limbo, torn between the past and the present, between Lucas and Ethan. She needed to make a choice, but the thought of doing so terrified her.

Because no matter what choice she made, someone was going to get hurt.

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