Heart of Glass// Ethan Dolan✅

Chapter 19

When it gets chilly outside in Florida, we usually go inside. Here in New Jersey, however, they put out a whole bunch of wood onto a burn pile and light a huge fire. Then people gather around and sit for hours talking about a whole bunch of random things.

"Are you ready for this?" Hannah asks, looking through the sliding the door to the Dolan's back yard.

Grayson and Ethan have a whole bunch of wood stacked in a nice pattern in a fire pit. The stack is just now being lighted, and it's such a soothing sight.

"I don't know," I sigh. "I have a feeling something bad is going to happen, and I'm not ready for that. Not yet."

"Hey ladies," Aaron shouts from behind us, wrapping an arm around either of us. "Did you know that secrets don't make friends and friends don't make secrets?"

"We're friends?" I gasp jokingly.

"That really hurt Cara," Aaron pretends to sob into Hannah's shoulder. She looks so livid and I'm trying not to die from the cuteness overload. "Oh, and I think they are done with the fire now."

Sure enough, when we both look outside, the fire roars a few feet off of the ground, illuminating the area surrounding it. Aaron opens the door for us, not because he's being a gentleman, but because he likes the crap out of Hannah. I'm starting to believe that Grayson is going to win that bet.

"Hey you," Grayson grins when he sees me. I give him a small smile, but then I look over at Ethan. Bad move. It's like every time we even glance over at the other, we're kicking each other in the throat.

Honestly, I might like getting kicked in the throat more; it'd hurt a lot less.

Hannah, sensing my pain, decides to help me out a little bit. "So what do you even do at bonfires, anyways? Like, tell ghost stories?"

The guys all look back and forth between each other and burst into laughter.

"Sometimes, we just sit here in silence. It's really peaceful," Grayson answers.

"You watch too many movies," Aaron jokes. "Bonfires are nothing like they are depicted in the movies. At least, not here in New Jersey. Here in New Jersey, we, as Grayson said, sometimes just sit and relax."

"So we're just going to sit here and say nothing?" Hannah asks.

"Just do whatever feels right. It's not like it's formal or anything," Aaron laughs. "Hey Ethan, you're a little quiet over there, aren't you?"

Ethan says nothing as he just stares blankly at Aaron.

"You too, Cara. Why aren't you telling us all about Hannah or something?" Aaron asks. I look in desperate need towards Hannah.

"She's just admiring how dumb you look," Grayson comments and I start to laugh.

"Yeah, what he said," I giggle. Aaron frowns but doesn't say anything.

"Hey, I'm going to go get some Gatorade. Anyone else want any?" Grayson asks. Everyone basically.

"Actually, where's your restroom?" Hannah asks, getting up to follow him inside. "Cara decided that it would be a good idea to fill me up with water before we came here."

"I need to get a jacket," Ethan mumbles.

Secretly, I think to myself how bad Ethan doesn't want to get caught alone with me. We might end up doing the same thing we did the last time we were alone. That, or he just hates me again.

Somehow, Aaron and I are the only ones left.

"So how has you're day been?" I ask him warmly.

"I want to tell you something, but you have to promise me that you won't get mad no matter what. Promise?" Aaron asks. I raise an eyebrow but promise nonetheless. "Okay, so I've been paying attention to you and Gray over the past few months because I have nothing better to do and I've noticed that things look... too easy for you guys."