Whispers of the Past

Chapter 6

Rule #6 - Never Let Your Guard Down

I was walking down the hallway, minding my business, when I spotted Ethan—looking way too cool for his own good. He stood by his locker, talking to Cassie. The way he leaned against it, arms crossed, the casual confidence radiating off him—it was like he owned the place.

As I was about to pass them, Cassie waved me over with that fake sweetness that made my skin crawl. “Hey, Felicita!” she called out, her voice so sickeningly sweet. “Guess what? Ethan and I are back together!”

Ethan glanced at her, then met my eyes. There was no guilt in his gaze—only cool indifference. He gave a small nod, as if to say, “Yep, this is happening.”

“Good for you,” I replied flatly, trying to keep my tone neutral. “You two make quite the pair.”

Cassie shot me a smug smile, clearly feeling like she had won some sort of competition. “Yeah, well, don’t get any ideas. Ethan’s off-limits.”

I didn’t blink. “Cassie, I’m not interested. You might want to take that possessiveness down a notch, though.”

Ethan glanced at me again, and this time, I caught a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “She’s right,” he said, voice smooth, like it was all just a casual remark. “Don’t get too worked up, Cassie. Felicita’s not exactly my type.”

Cassie’s smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. “Well, just so you know, she’s already made a name for herself as the school’s biggest weirdo.”

I didn’t have the patience for her petty jab, so I shrugged. “Yeah, I’ve heard that before.”

Ethan’s posture didn’t shift, but there was a sense of quiet authority in the way he stood. “Cassie, I think you’re reading too much into this. Felicita’s fine, and I’m not interested in your drama.”

The tension hung in the air for a moment, and I could see Cassie’s face twist with frustration. She was used to getting everything she wanted, but Ethan wasn’t having any of it. This was different.

Just as the awkward silence stretched on, a group of guys from the other side of the hall started laughing. They had been watching us for a while, and the way they looked at me, I could tell they were more interested in making things awkward than anything else.

Ethan noticed it too. His eyes narrowed, and his body tensed slightly, but his expression remained calm. He was cool, the type of guy who could get out of any situation without breaking a sweat.

“Ethan,” one of the guys called out, his voice laced with a challenge. “How’s the ‘situation’ going?”

I noticed the shift in Ethan’s demeanor—he wasn’t just some guy who let things slide. He was sharp, and those words seemed to hit him harder than he let on.

Cassie didn’t catch on, though. She giggled, oblivious to the tension. “Ignore them, Ethan. They’re just jealous.”

But Ethan wasn’t so quick to brush it off. “No, I’m not ignoring them,” he said, his tone low but commanding. He turned his attention to the group of guys now watching us, his expression no longer friendly. “You’ve got something to say?”

The guys froze, caught off guard by Ethan’s sudden change in energy. They weren’t expecting this from the guy who was always too cool for drama.

Cassie’s grip on his arm tightened. “Ethan, don’t—”

But Ethan wasn’t listening. His presence was undeniable now. He was the kind of guy who could make the entire hallway fall silent with just one look. The guys scattered, realizing they’d poked the wrong bear.

I stood there, watching him, realizing just how much more complicated this was becoming. Ethan wasn’t just the guy everyone noticed—he was the guy who commanded attention without saying a word.

As the crowd around us dispersed, Cassie pulled Ethan away, but not before she shot me one last venomous glance. I stood frozen for a second, wondering what the hell had just happened.

And then, the worst part hit me.

Rule #6? Officially broken. Ethan had just made it impossible to keep my guard up. There was no going back now.