The Space Between Us

Chapter 6: A Tangle of Feelings

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The weeks that followed felt like a dream—like everything was falling into place. Ethan and Aaron’s relationship grew stronger with each passing day. They shared quiet moments in the dorm, whispered jokes between classes, and late-night talks that stretched into the early hours. The air around them was thick with unspoken feelings, but neither of them seemed ready to give those feelings a name. For once, it didn’t matter what they called it. They were content with just being in each other’s presence, letting the connection speak for itself.

But everything started to shift when Aaron’s ex, Mark, showed up on campus.

Ethan didn’t know much about Mark, only that Aaron had mentioned him once or twice—casually, with a hint of discomfort, but never in detail. They’d broken up before Aaron had come to college, and Aaron had made it clear that there was no lingering connection. Or so Ethan thought.

It was a Wednesday when Mark appeared, standing in the cafeteria with his easy smile and confident air, the kind of presence that seemed to demand attention. Ethan was sitting with Aaron, chatting about their classes, when Mark walked in. Their eyes met across the room, and Ethan felt a sudden, inexplicable unease settle in his stomach. He wasn’t the jealous type, but seeing Mark’s easy stride toward their table—his eyes fixed on Aaron—made something tighten in his chest.

Aaron didn’t seem to notice at first, too focused on his food, but when Mark reached their table, Ethan saw the slight shift in Aaron’s posture. He stiffened, a shadow passing across his face.

"Hey, Aaron," Mark said, his voice smooth, confident. "We need to talk."

Ethan’s pulse spiked, but he forced himself to stay still, to keep his expression neutral. He wasn’t sure why, but seeing Mark speak to Aaron like that, with that familiar intimacy, sent a wave of insecurity crashing over him.

Aaron looked at Mark, then glanced at Ethan, his expression uncertain. "Not now, Mark," he said, his voice firm, but there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes that Ethan didn’t miss.

Mark smiled knowingly, undeterred. "You sure? I mean, it’s been a while. Thought maybe you’d want to catch up."

Ethan shifted in his seat, feeling the weight of the tension building in the air. "I think Aaron said not now," Ethan interjected, his voice steady but colder than he intended. He didn’t like this—he didn’t like how easily Mark slipped into their space, into Aaron’s life, as if nothing had changed.

Aaron gave Ethan a quick glance, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. Then, turning back to Mark, he sighed. "Look, I don’t think there’s anything to talk about," Aaron said, his tone softer now, like he was trying to avoid a conflict. "We’ve moved on. We’re both fine."

Mark raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced, but he didn’t press. "Okay, fine," he said, turning to leave. But not without casting one last look at Aaron, his gaze lingering a bit too long for Ethan’s liking. "But we’re not done, Aaron. Not yet."

As Mark walked away, Ethan found himself gripping the edge of the table, his knuckles white. He tried to brush off the feeling, but something inside him stirred—a mix of confusion, frustration, and jealousy. He didn’t even know why he felt that way. It wasn’t like he and Aaron had ever defined what they were, but seeing Mark’s familiarity with Aaron, the ease with which they talked—it felt like a reminder of something Ethan didn’t have, something he wasn’t sure if he ever would.

Aaron was quiet for a moment, staring at the spot where Mark had just been. Then, without looking at Ethan, he said, "I should’ve told you about him. I didn’t think it mattered, but I guess it does."

Ethan’s chest tightened. "It’s not just him," he muttered, more to himself than Aaron. "It’s… it’s everything. I don’t even know what this is between us, Aaron. I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel when someone from your past shows up like that, acting like they have some kind of claim on you."

Aaron’s face softened, his gaze gentle but conflicted. "Ethan, there’s nothing between me and Mark. Nothing that matters. I swear." He paused, his voice quieter now. "But I understand how that must’ve looked. And I’m sorry. I don’t want to hurt you."

Ethan looked away, feeling a lump form in his throat. He wasn’t sure why this was affecting him so much. He wasn’t sure why the thought of Aaron still being tied to someone else felt like a betrayal, even though they hadn’t defined anything. He just… he just didn’t want to lose what they had.

"I don’t know what to say," Ethan whispered, his voice small. "I don’t even know if I should be feeling like this. We haven’t talked about anything. We haven’t said we’re… we’re something. And now I don’t know what to believe."

Aaron’s hand reached out, gently brushing against Ethan’s. "I don’t want to lose this," Aaron said, his voice thick with emotion. "I don’t want to lose you, Ethan. But I understand why you’re upset. This is all new for both of us."

Ethan looked at him, his heart pounding. He wanted to believe Aaron, wanted to trust him completely, but there was still that nagging doubt in the back of his mind.

"I just need some time," Ethan said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I need to figure out what this is. What I want."

Aaron nodded, understanding. "I get it. And I’m not going anywhere."

As they sat there, the weight of the moment heavy between them, Ethan realized that this wasn’t going to be easy. Relationships never were. But he also knew that whatever happened, they would need to face it together—whether they were ready or not.

To be continued

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