Heart of Glass// Ethan Dolan✅

Chapter 7

The rest of the day is as fun as ever, aside from the fact that Ethan is bluntly ignoring me. He's not even trying to hide it. Grayson notices and at one point approaches me and asks if he should talk to him. This time, I decide that even talking to him about it might make it worse, if that's even possible.

Unfortunately, there comes a time that we have to leave.

"Come on guys, my mom is going to get pissed," Aaron complains as we are all lugging everything back to the car. Grayson and Ethan are struggling to carry the ice chest up the hill while I'm carrying everyone's bags.

"It's not like you're helping the process go any faster," Grayson huffs, having to adjust the ice chest. "It's not like this thing is fifty pounds or that poor Care is holding all of our bags."

Aaron rolls his eyes and actually decides to help me carry some of the bags. What a shocker! Now that I realize it, I'm grateful Grayson parked the car close enough so we wouldn't have to walk so far after we were done with today.

Instead of Grayson driving back, Aaron does that instead, with Ethan still having shotgun and Grayson and me in the back. Ten minutes in and Ethan is already passed out.

"What happened after we left?" Grayson whispers to me. Aaron seems to be really concentrated on driving, so maybe he won't eavesdrop on our conversation.

"I asked him why he didn't like me," I tell Grayson. "Then he kind of went deeper than I expected with his explanation. He told me that he thinks I'm going to end up hurting you. Has something happened to him before? Because to me, it sounded like he had to put this wall up after something happened."

Grayson hesitates to answer. "I can't tell you that," he whispers. "It really is something personal, and he doesn't like talking about it so he probably wouldn't appreciate me telling you what happened. Sorry, Cara."

"It's fine," I say, looking out the window. Soon enough, I'm asleep.

When my eyes open again, it's to my dismay that Aaron is blasting that stupid Little Einstein's song. I groan and start waving my hand aimlessly at the front of the vehicle to try and get Aaron to shut up.

"I understand that Grayson is a comfortable dude, but we're back the frozen yogurt place," Aaron tells me with a slight smirk on his face. I am confused at what he's saying until I realize that I'm lying on Grayson. You go, Cara! I immediately dart myself up. How have Ethan and Grayson not waken up yet? This song is annoyingly loud.

"Thanks for the ride. I had lots of fun today," I shout because you couldn't hear me otherwise. I grab my bag and get out of the car. Aaron zooms away. I walk my way over to my car to find a note sitting on my windshield.

Stop hanging out with the Dolan twins if you know what's best for you.

I look around, eyeing everyone to see if anyone looks suspicious. Not a single one. I look back down at the note. Why would someone do this, and more importantly, who? I crumple up the note and throw it into my bag.

As soon as I get home, I find that door has been locked. That's strange... my mom never locks the door when she's home. At least, she doesn't until it's dark outside. I fish my house key out of my bag to open the door. As soon as I do, I see a horrendous sight.

"Mom!" I exclaim. That was supposed to come out calmer than it did. I couldn't help it: my mom was making out with Officer Dave in our living room!

My mom immediately pulls away, trying to situate herself on the couch accordingly, as if what I just saw didn't happen. God, I wish that didn't happen.

"Oh, hi sweetie. Did you have a good day?" she chuckles nervously, attempting to fix her hair. I look over at Officer Dave who keeps looking at the ground, trying to avoid my eye contact. Isn't it supposed to be me that gets caught making out with a guy? Gosh, Mom, stick to the status quo.