Shades of Desire

Ivy

I stood outside Ethan's dorm, my heart pounding. I had to face him after everything that happened. With shaky hands, I knocked on the door.

When he opened it, my stomach twisted. Ethan looked tired, and I could see the hurt in his eyes.

"Ivy," he said, his voice low.

"Ethan, can we talk?" I stepped inside, and he shut the door behind us. The silence was heavy, making it hard to breathe.

"I... I'm really sorry for what happened," I finally managed to say, sitting on the edge of his bed.

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated. "You don't have to keep apologizing. You were with Jace. You obviously feel something for him."

"It's complicated," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't mean for it to go that far, but I can't deny what I felt with him."

Ethan's expression hardened. "But what about us, Ivy? What do you feel for me?"

I took a deep breath, the words tumbling out. "I care about you, Ethan. But I also felt this intense connection with Jace. I don't know what to do."

He crossed his arms, his gaze piercing. "You need to figure out what you really want. I thought we had something special."

"I do want you, but I can't ignore this. I'm so confused." I could feel the tears welling up, but I fought them back.

He stepped closer, the tension between us thickening. "I don't want to be the guy who holds you back. If it's Jace who makes you happy, then maybe you should be with him."

"No, Ethan," I protested, my heart aching. "I don't want to lose you. You mean a lot to me."

"Then tell me what you want," he said, his voice low and raw. "You can't just have both. You need to choose."

I looked down, the weight of his words crashing over me. "I wish it were easier. I don't want to hurt you."

"I know," he said softly, his anger dissipating. "But you need to be honest with yourself. If you're happier with him, then I can't stand in your way."

My chest tightened at his words. "Ethan, I'm scared. What if I make the wrong choice?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair again. "Life is about making choices, Ivy. Just know that I'll always care about you, no matter what you decide."

We stood there in silence, the air thick with unspoken feelings. I felt torn between two worlds, and I didn't know how to find my way back.

"Just think about it," he said finally, his voice barely a whisper. "I want you to be happy, even if it's not with me."

"Ethan..." I reached for him, but he took a step back, creating distance between us.

"I need some space," he said, his voice heavy. "Just... figure things out."

With that, he turned away, leaving me standing there, heartbroken and unsure of what to do next.