Against the Edge

Uninvited Interruptions

Ethan parked his car at the campus lot, taking a deep breath before stepping out. His mind was still swirling with thoughts about Miguel, hoping that he was resting and healing. But as he shut his car door, a sudden burst of laughter caught his attention. He looked up to see Mia stepping out of a nearby car, her laughter ringing out as she chatted with a man he didn't recognize. The sight tugged at something deep within him, a discomfort he quickly tried to push aside.

Forcing a smile, Ethan approached them. Mia spotted him, and her smile widened even more. "Ethan!" she greeted, practically bouncing as she waved him over. He noticed her companion was watching her with a fond look, which only made the uncomfortable feeling in his chest grow.

"Mia," Ethan said, his tone a little too polite as he glanced at the guy. He nodded in greeting, trying to sound casual. "And...?"

The guy turned, flashing a polite smile at Ethan. Before Ethan could introduce himself, he extended his hand, saying, "Nice to meet you. Mia's told me a lot about her... circle. I'm Sebastian, Mia's dad's friend's son, but our parents like to imagine us as a little more than that." He chuckled, throwing a light-hearted glance at Mia.

Mia rolled her eyes and laughed. "Oh, please. We're just friends, nothing more. No matter what our parents might hope," she replied with a joking tone, though the firmness in her words made her boundary clear. She nudged Ethan playfully, "I think that's clear enough, don't you?"

Sebastian grinned, raising his eyebrows as if playfully refusing to be deterred. "Hey, you can't blame a guy for trying," he said with a wink.

Ethan forced a chuckle, though a heaviness sat in his chest as he watched the exchange. Just friends, he reminded himself, even as a part of him wished she'd drawn those boundaries with a bit more finality.

Finally, Mia said goodbye to Sebastian, and as they turned toward the campus building, she threw her arm around Ethan's shoulders. Though it was a bit awkward given their height difference, she held her arm there deliberately, glancing back briefly to see Sebastian watching. Ethan's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard. Mia's sudden closeness made him momentarily lose his cool. He tried to hide his confusion, especially when he noticed Sebastian glance back at them, his expression faltering ever so slightly. Ethan's heart raced, was Mia... doing this on purpose?

After they'd entered the building, Mia let go of his shoulder without a word, her usual casual confidence quickly returning. But the silence between them lingered, and Ethan didn't know what to say. He checked his phone, relieved to see a response from Blanca confirming that Miguel had finally shared his story. She'd decided to skip classes with him that day, giving them both time to relax and process things together. Ethan felt a wave of relief, Miguel was in good hands.

Just as he tucked his phone back in his pocket, Mia's voice broke the silence. "So... what about Sarah?"

Ethan looked up, startled. "Sarah?"

Mia raised an eyebrow, her tone casual, but her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "After yesterday's, uh, 'commotion' on the court?" She put air quotes around "commotion," a playful grin on her face. "You know, when she handed you... whatever that was."

Ethan scratched the back of his head, feeling a hint of embarrassment. "Oh, right. That." He glanced away, clearing his throat. "She just... gave me a good luck charm, I guess."

"Mm-hmm," Mia said, drawing out the sound, clearly unimpressed by his vague answer. "Lucky you."

Ethan gave her a sidelong glance, trying to gauge her reaction. "Why do you ask?"

Mia shrugged, her voice light and airy, but her eyes didn't quite match. "Just making sure you're not getting swept off your feet by any random 'good luck' charms." She nudged him with her elbow, her teasing grin breaking through.