Beneath the Bully's Gaze

9

The gym had cleared out, leaving behind the remnants of laughter and shouts echoing against the walls. Mira sat on the bleachers, still catching her breath from the intense basketball game. Despite her initial nervousness, she had enjoyed herself—if only for a moment. But now, as the crowd thinned, an unsettling feeling settled in her stomach.

Ethan had played the game hard, his competitive spirit shining through. But Mira knew he hadn't just been playing; he had been watching her closely. Even now, she could feel his eyes on her, lurking just outside the gym doors as he spoke with a few of his friends.

"Hey, Mira!" one of her classmates called out, jolting her from her thoughts. "You were great out there! Did you see how you dodged that last pass?"

"Yeah, thanks!" she replied, forcing a smile. But her thoughts were elsewhere.

Ethan's presence loomed large in her mind. Why was he so infuriatingly handsome? And why did he have to be so mean? Just then, she caught a glimpse of him as he made his way over, his swagger undeniable.

"What's the matter, Mira? You look like you just saw a ghost," he teased, his voice dripping with mockery.

"Nothing." she shot back, her heart racing. She hated that he could make her feel so small yet so alive all at once.

He leaned closer, the air thickening between them. "You know, you were kind of cute out there," he said, his tone shifting, almost playful. "But don't let it go to your head. You'll always be the poor girl in the end."

Mira felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. "I'm not expecting anything from you," she retorted, trying to sound tougher than she felt.

"Really? Because it looks like you are," Ethan smirked, his eyes narrowing playfully. "I mean, just look at you. You think I'd want to kiss a girl like you?"

The way he said it sent a rush of conflicting emotions through her. Part of her wanted to retort, to stand up to his arrogance. But another part, a much deeper part, craved his attention, no matter how cruelly it was delivered.

"Why would you even care?" she shot back, feigning indifference even as her heart raced.

Ethan took a step closer, closing the gap between them. "Because, Mira, you're cute when you're angry. But you're also a bit delusional if you think I'd ever kiss you," he said, his voice lowering as he leaned in, the challenge in his gaze making her pulse quicken.

He moved even closer, and for a moment, the world around them faded. The gym was silent, and all she could focus on was the intensity of his stare. Mira's breath hitched, her body betraying her with a mix of fear and longing.

Just as she thought he might actually lean in, Ethan pulled back, a smirk playing on his lips. "You're expecting too much, don't you think?" he taunted, the lightness of his tone contrasting sharply with the intensity of the moment. "You really think a guy like me would want to be with a girl like you? You're just a toy to me."

Mira's heart sank, the cruel reality of his words hitting her like a punch to the gut. "I'm not a toy, Ethan," she managed to say, her voice trembling despite her efforts to sound confident.

"Whatever you say," he replied nonchalantly, clearly enjoying the power he held over her. "But just remember, I don't do relationships. Especially not with poor girls who think they can make me feel something."

He took a step back, leaving her reeling with a mix of emotions. Anger, hurt, and something that felt suspiciously like disappointment swirled inside her. "You're insufferable," she spat, wanting nothing more than to wipe that smirk off his face.

"Maybe, but I know you love the attention," he shot back, his voice casual, but the edge of arrogance was still there.

Mira glared at him, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. "I don't need your attention," she lied, her voice wavering slightly.

"Sure, whatever you say," Ethan replied with a shrug, turning to walk away. But he paused, glancing back over his shoulder with a bemused expression. "Just don't expect me to change for you, Mira. You're not that special."

As he walked away, Mira felt a whirlwind of emotions surge through her—frustration, humiliation, and an undeniable longing that she couldn't quite place. Deep down, she knew she should hate him for how he treated her, for the way he toyed with her feelings. But instead, all she felt was confusion.

"Why does he have to be so complicated?" she whispered to herself, feeling the sting of his words long after he had left.

And as she sat there on the bleachers, the gym emptying around her, she couldn't shake the feeling that Ethan was more than just a bully. There was something lurking beneath his cold, arrogant exterior that made her heart ache for answers.