Through You

Chapter 11 - Annoying messages

Jeanne flopped onto her bed, her heart still light after a wonderful day spent with Thomas, Lynne, and Mattheo. She stared at the ceiling for a moment, a smile lingering on her lips. The laughter echoed in her head, but a slight discomfort began to rise within her. She sat up and grabbed her phone, ready to check the notifications she had set aside.

As soon as she opened the messaging app, she noticed several messages from Ethan. Her heart tightened a little. The first thing she read was: "Hey Jeanne! Hope your day is going well. I was thinking about our history project; have you made any progress on it?"

She sighed and quickly typed a reply. "Hey Ethan, I'm fine. Yes, I've started thinking about it. Why are you texting? Shouldn't you be in class?"

The response came swiftly: "Actually, I had a spat with Daniel. So he left the class, and the teacher said I could talk to you. We've got two hours ahead of us."

Jeanne rolled her eyes, recalling the tension that had existed between Ethan and Daniel. She didn’t like that Daniel had caused trouble, but she was relieved that Ethan could speak freely without that tension. "Okay, in that case, we can exchange ideas. What do you need?"

The messages flowed rapidly. They discussed the project, sharing ideas and suggestions. As the conversation progressed, Ethan seemed increasingly enthusiastic, and Jeanne couldn’t help but feel a bit awkward. Her replies, though polite, were becoming shorter. She knew she wasn’t interested in him, but he seemed not to understand.

"You know, I'm really glad we’re in the same group; you’re super smart and it’ll really help me," he wrote.

Jeanne bit her lip, wondering how to make him understand that she didn’t feel the same way. She simply replied, "Thanks, but I’m sure you’re doing great on your own."

After two hours, their exchanges about the project had slowed considerably. Jeanne finally got up from her bed, her mind still torn between her feelings and the anxiety Ethan caused her. She quickly changed into a beach outfit, feeling a bit lighter.

She decided to join Thomas. When she arrived at the beach, she found him sitting on the sand, legs crossed, gazing at the horizon. Mattheo and Lynne were already there, laughing and playing in the water.

"Jeanne!" shouted Mattheo as soon as he saw her. He ran toward her and hugged her, making her laugh. "You’re finally here! We were waiting for you!"

"Sorry, I was busy," she replied, a smile on her face as she sat down next to Thomas.

Their afternoon passed in a joyful atmosphere filled with laughter, water games, sand battles, and exchanged jokes. Thomas and Jeanne, always in sync, laughed together, sharing knowing glances. But deep in her mind, Jeanne couldn’t shake off thoughts of Ethan. She often checked her phone, expecting a new message, and most of the time, she wasn’t disappointed.

A message from Ethan arrived just as she got up to grab some water. "You know, I think you’re really great. I’d love for us to hang out together sometime."

Jeanne's heart tightened. She knew she had to respond, but she didn’t want to hurt him. So she wrote, "Thank you, but I think it’s best we stay friends for now."

He replied almost immediately, "Of course, but I think you’d make an awesome girlfriend."

The discomfort within her intensified. She turned back to the beach, pretending to focus on the laughter of her friends. Thomas, who was watching her, noticed her silence and gave her a questioning look.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

She nodded, but her smile felt a bit forced. "Yeah, I’m fine. Just… stuff to deal with."

They continued to enjoy the beach, but Jeanne's mind remained torn between Ethan's messages and her rekindled connection with Thomas. As the evening progressed and the sun began to set, she hoped everything would sort itself out soon, but the uncertainty troubled her. She didn’t want to hurt Ethan, but she also knew her feelings for him were not mutual.

The evening continued at Jeanne's, as usual. Laughter and animated discussions echoed in the room. Mattheo and Lynne were comfortably settled on the couch, while Jeanne and Thomas sat on the floor, surrounded by cushions. Jeanne tried to focus on the conversation, but her mind kept wandering to Ethan and his messages.

Thomas, sitting beside her, noticed her worried expression. "Hey, are you okay? You seem a bit distant tonight," he asked, looking at her closely.

Jeanne sighed, taking a moment to choose her words. "It's just... Ethan. He's been sending me messages, and I don't know how to handle it. I feel uncomfortable with all of this," she explained, a bit hesitant.

Thomas furrowed his brow, clearly concerned. "Do you have feelings for him?"

"No, not at all. I'm not attracted to him, and I keep telling him that, but he keeps pushing. I'm starting to worry that he doesn't understand my boundaries," Jeanne replied, running a hand through her hair, showing her agitation.

"Do you want me to talk to him? I can tell him to keep away from you," Thomas offered, a protective tone in his voice.

"No, don't do that! I don't want to create tension. I just want him to understand that I'm not interested. It's complicated, but I'd rather handle it myself," Jeanne assured him, even though the idea of confrontation made her uncomfortable.

Thomas nodded, respecting her wishes, but his expression betrayed his concern. "Alright, but if it gets too heavy, you know I'm here for you. I don't want you to feel bad because of this."

Jeanne smiled at him, grateful. "Thank you, Thomas. That means a lot to me."

The rest of the evening unfolded in a lighter atmosphere. They returned to their usual games, exchanging jokes and smiles. Lynne and Mattheo shared funny stories from their recent classes, and laughter filled the room. Jeanne let herself be swept up in the good mood, but a small part of her remained preoccupied by Ethan's messages.

The lighthearted ambiance helped them forget the tensions of the day. However, when the laughter faded and night began to settle in, the discomfort Jeanne felt resurfaced. She was grateful to have Thomas by her side, but she couldn't escape the reality of Ethan's messages.

Finally, as the evening drew to a close, Jeanne stood up to fetch some glasses. Thomas followed her, taking a sip of his soda. He watched her for a moment before breaking the silence. "Jeanne, if you want, I can stay with you to talk about Ethan's messages. You don't have to feel alone in this."

She looked at him with a glimmer of gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you, Thomas. But for now, I think I'll handle it myself. I'd rather see how it evolves before doing something hasty."

Thomas nodded, understanding her need for autonomy. "Alright. But don't hesitate to let me know if you need me. I'm here," he added with a warm smile.

Jeanne returned his smile, feeling supported. They went back to the living room, joining Mattheo and Lynne, enjoying the last moments of their evening together. Despite the lingering stress in her mind, she felt at ease in the presence of her friends and the connection she shared with Thomas.

As the night came to an end and everyone started to leave, Jeanne felt grateful for this genuine friendship. She knew that no matter what happened with Ethan, she had a solid foundation with Thomas and their friends. It gave her the strength to face the challenges that lay ahead.