Beneath The Surface

Chapter 58: Torn Apart

The days after Ethan walked away were some of the hardest Ava had ever experienced. The guilt gnawed at her constantly, and no matter what she did, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had made everything worse. Ethan didn't try to contact her, and even though she wanted to reach out, a part of her knew it was better to give him space.

At school, things were tense. Ava noticed the small shifts in the way people looked at her, whispered conversations she couldn't quite catch. It wasn't outright bullying, but she felt the judgment. News about her and Ethan had spread, and rumors were beginning to swirl about her connection with Lucas.

She hated the attention. It was like being under a microscope, every part of her life dissected by people who didn't really know her. The makeup she wore every day felt heavier, almost like a mask she couldn't take off. Even though she knew it was just a tool to help her cope, it felt suffocating now.

One day, as she stood in front of her locker, lost in thought, a familiar voice startled her.

"Ava."

She turned, and there was Lucas, leaning casually against the lockers, his expression unreadable. Her heart skipped a beat, the same mix of excitement and anxiety bubbling up. They hadn't spoken since their confrontation in the park, and seeing him now brought back all the confusion she'd been avoiding.

"Hey," she mumbled, closing her locker and hugging her books to her chest like a shield.

Lucas studied her for a moment before speaking. "I heard about you and Ethan."

Ava's stomach churned. Of course, he knew. "Yeah," she replied softly. "It's... complicated."

Lucas nodded, his gaze softening slightly. "You okay?"

Ava bit her lip, unsure of how to answer that. She wasn't okay, but she didn't want to admit it. "I'm managing."

Lucas pushed himself off the lockers and stepped closer, his presence warm and overwhelming. "Look, I'm not here to push you into anything, Ava. I just wanted to see how you're holding up."

She looked up at him, her emotions swirling. There was something about the way Lucas was always there when she felt like everything else was falling apart. It made her feel safe, but at the same time, it complicated everything between them.

"I'm trying to figure things out," she said quietly. "But I don't even know where to start."

Lucas's eyes flickered with understanding. "You don't have to figure it all out right now. Take your time."

Ava's chest tightened. "But what if I never figure it out? What if I hurt both of you in the process?"

Lucas sighed, his voice softening. "That's the thing about life, Ava. Sometimes people get hurt, no matter how much we try to avoid it. But I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

His words hit her like a wave. She wanted to believe him, but the fear of letting him in completely was paralyzing. Everything between them was so intense, so unpredictable. She wasn't sure she could handle that kind of emotional whirlwind, especially with everything going on with Ethan.

Before she could respond, a group of students walked by, glancing at them and whispering. Ava felt the familiar sting of judgment and pulled back, stepping away from Lucas.

"I should get to class," she said quickly, avoiding his gaze.

Lucas frowned but didn't push. "Yeah, okay. But if you ever need to talk... I'm here."

Ava nodded, offering him a small, weak smile before turning and walking away. Her heart pounded as she put distance between them, the weight of her conflicting emotions pressing down on her.

---

Later that afternoon, Ava found herself sitting alone at the park, the same park where she had talked to Ethan. She hadn't planned on coming here, but her feet had carried her there instinctively. She needed a quiet place to think, away from the gossip and the stares.

As she sat on the bench, she replayed everything in her head—the conversations with Ethan, with Lucas, the overwhelming pressure to choose between them. It felt like no matter what she did, she was going to lose someone she cared about.

A soft breeze rustled the leaves above her, and for a moment, Ava closed her eyes, letting the sounds of the park calm her racing thoughts.

But when she opened her eyes, she wasn't alone.

Ethan stood a few feet away, watching her with a mixture of sadness and hesitation. Ava's heart leapt into her throat, her pulse quickening.

"Ethan..." she breathed, unsure of what to say.

He didn't move closer, but the look on his face told her everything. He was still hurting, still trying to make sense of everything that had happened. And as much as she wanted to make things right, she wasn't sure if she could.

"Ava," Ethan said softly, his voice filled with emotion. "I just... I needed to see you. I don't know what this is between us anymore, but I miss you."

Her chest tightened, the weight of his words crashing down on her. She missed him too. But that didn't change the fact that she was still torn between two worlds, two boys who each held a piece of her heart.

"I miss you too, Ethan," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But I don't know how to fix this."

Ethan looked down, his expression pained. "Maybe... maybe we don't have to fix it right away. Maybe we just... take it one day at a time."

Ava swallowed hard, feeling the tears welling up in her eyes. She didn't want to lose him, but she also didn't want to make promises she wasn't sure she could keep.

"I'm trying," she said, her voice breaking. "I'm really trying."

Ethan nodded, and for the first time in days, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "That's all I can ask for."

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