Beneath The Surface

Chapter 56: The Unspoken Words

Ava spent the rest of the day avoiding Lucas and Ethan. She couldn't handle another confrontation, not after the emotional rollercoaster of the morning. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, and no amount of focus could drown out the echoing voices of her heart and mind.

In class, she stared at her notebook, pretending to take notes while her mind replayed the moment between Lucas, Ethan, and herself in the hallway. Ethan's protective stance, Lucas' pleading eyes—it all swirled together, suffocating her.

*How did things get so complicated?* she wondered, her pen tapping anxiously against the paper.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Ava gathered her things slowly, hoping to avoid any chance encounters with either of the boys. As she walked down the hallway, her eyes remained fixed on the floor, but she could feel the stares and whispers from her classmates.

"Did you see them in the hallway? It's like a love triangle drama..."

"Poor Ava, she's caught between them."

The comments stung, reinforcing the weight of her situation. But there was no escape, no simple way out.

Ava's phone buzzed in her pocket as she left the school building. She glanced down, heart pounding when she saw a message from Ethan.

**Ethan:** *Hey, I know today was tough, but I'm here if you want to talk. Whenever you're ready.*

A wave of guilt washed over her. Ethan had always been there, always patient and kind. He deserved honesty, but she wasn't sure if she was ready to give it to him. Not when her feelings were still so muddled.

But before she could even begin crafting a response, another notification popped up on her screen. This time, it was from Lucas.

**Lucas:** *Can we talk tonight? Please? I need to explain...*

Ava let out a shaky breath. Both of them were reaching out, trying to mend what was broken between them. But she wasn't sure if she could handle talking to either of them. Not yet.

She walked home slowly, the autumn air crisp against her skin. As the sun began to set, casting golden hues over the neighborhood, Ava tried to make sense of the turmoil inside her. For so long, she had used makeup as her armor, a way to hide her insecurities and protect herself from the judgment of others. But no amount of makeup could hide what was happening now.

When she reached her front door, she hesitated. She didn't want to go inside just yet. It felt like the walls were closing in on her, and the familiar space of her room would only remind her of the choices she didn't want to face.

Instead, Ava turned and made her way to the park nearby. It was quiet, with only a few people scattered about, enjoying the evening. She found a bench near the pond and sat down, watching as the water reflected the colors of the sunset.

*Why can't I just figure this out?*

Her phone buzzed again, but this time, she ignored it. She needed a break from all the noise—both external and internal. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to focus on the sound of the water lapping gently against the shore.

It wasn't long before she heard footsteps approaching. Ava's heart skipped a beat, and she opened her eyes to see Lucas standing a few feet away, hands in his pockets, looking hesitant.

"I didn't mean to bother you," he said softly. "But I saw you here and... I just wanted to talk."

Ava didn't say anything at first, her eyes searching his face for answers to questions she hadn't asked. She could see the regret in his expression, the weight of his own mistakes hanging over him just as heavily as her own.

Lucas took a tentative step closer. "I know I've messed up. I know I hurt you, and I don't expect you to forgive me right away. But I need you to know that I never stopped caring about you, Ava. Not for a second."

His words hit her like a wave, and Ava felt her defenses crumbling. She had been trying so hard to keep everything together, to protect herself from more heartache, but Lucas' vulnerability disarmed her.

She looked down, her fingers twisting together nervously. "Lucas, I... I don't know what to do. I don't know how to feel anymore. Everything's so confusing."

Lucas sat down beside her, leaving enough space between them to show that he wasn't trying to push her. "You don't have to have all the answers right now. I just want you to know that I'm here. And I'm not giving up on us, whatever that might mean."

Ava turned to him, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I'm scared, Lucas. I don't want to hurt anyone."

Lucas reached out, gently taking her hand in his. "I know. But sometimes... you have to hurt a little to figure out what's really in your heart."

They sat in silence for a while, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. Ava didn't know what would happen next, but for the first time in a long while, she didn't feel entirely alone.

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