Shades of Desire

Ivy

I stumbled into my dorm, my heart pounding like it wanted to escape. Mia and Jess were lounging on their beds, laughing and joking around, but the moment they saw me, their smiles vanished.

"Ivy, what's wrong?" Mia asked, worry etched on her face.

"Yeah, you look like you've just seen a ghost," Jess added, sitting up straight.

I didn't know how to answer. "I... I just feel so lost right now," I mumbled, sinking onto my bed.

"Talk to us, please," Mia urged, her eyes filled with concern.

"I told Ethan I spent the night with Jace," I finally blurted out, my voice shaking. "And now... I just feel terrible. I never wanted to hurt him."

Mia's eyes widened, and Jess gasped. "Oh my god, Ivy," Mia whispered, inching closer. "You didn't mean for this to happen."

"I know, but I can't shake off how I feel about Jace. It's just... complicated," I said, wiping away tears.

"Confused is the right word," Jess said gently. "You've been with Ethan, but if Jace is making you question your happiness, it's okay to explore that."

"Yeah," Mia chimed in. "You're not giving up on Ethan. You just need to understand your feelings better."

I nodded, the weight of their words sinking in. "But it feels so wrong. I should have never let it get this far."

"Listen, Ivy," Jess said softly, "it's normal to feel this way. You're figuring out who you are and what you want. Jace brings out something different in you, doesn't he?"

"Yeah, he does," I admitted, looking down. "But I don't want to hurt Ethan either. He's been there for me."

"Maybe you need time to see what's right for you," Mia said, her voice soothing. "Spend some time with Jace. See how it feels. You deserve that chance."

I took a deep breath, their support wrapping around me like a warm blanket. "You really think so?"

"Yes!" Jess said, her enthusiasm lighting up the room. "You need to follow your heart, Ivy. Just take it one step at a time."

"Okay, maybe I should. I don't know what's going to happen, but I need to figure this out," I said, feeling a little lighter.

As I sat there, I realized that maybe exploring my feelings with Jace was what I needed. It didn't mean I didn't care about Ethan; it just meant I was trying to understand myself better. And for once, that felt like the right decision.