"Just friends"

Chapter 4

"I'm here." The words roll of his tongue in such a heartfelt way that my whole body just relaxes.

"You don't have to-"

"No Sophie, I'm here. Whenever you need me."

"Thank you." He slips his hand in mine and pulls me up off the bench.

"So, tell me about you." I say to him.

"Well I'm Ethan Harris. I'm 14 and I live next door to you."

Wait he lives next door? Doesn't that mean Liv is his sister?

"Olivia?" I blurt out.

"She's my sister. How did you know?"

"My brother seems to have a thing for her. They were on FaceTime when I left."

I say the words and he looks like someone has just stabbed him. He looks pained at the thought of his sister and my brother but I can't work out why.

"Oh."

"Are you ok?" I ask him touching his arm.

"I'm fine." He moves away from me and walks on ahead.

"Ethan, tell me." I say, running to catch him up.

"I can't let them date, ok?"

"Why?"

"I think I like someone but if she dates him, I can't have my girl."

"Why not?"

He looks at me and he softens his anger.

"You'll see, soph."

We walk around the field of the park for a while before heading back towards our houses.

"Soph?"

"Yeah?" I say, looking at him.

"Have you ever dated before?"

All these thoughts come flooding back at the sound of those words. And trust me, they're not happy memories.

"Yeah, you?"

"Kind of."

"What do you mean?"

"Well I was only in primary school so I'm not sure." He laughs. "What about you?"

"We broke up 8 months ago."

He stops walking and faces me.

"Can I ask why you broke up?"

I know I probably shouldn't tell him, but I do.

"Here." I take off my jacket to reveal the scar that goes up the inside of my arm.

"He didn't-" Ethan's voice trails off.

"He did."

I shiver and put the jacket back on. Ethan doesn't say anything, he just stares at me.

"I-I just. Wow." Ethan says, his fists are clenched.

"It's ok. Calm down."

"How's this ok? He's scarred you. If I ever meet him, he won't leave alive!" He yells.

I freeze. Why does he care so much? He doesn't know anything. I kind of like that he cares though. It feels safe.

"Trust me, it's over. He's out of my life." I assure him.

"I promise I won't let anything like that happen to you again."

"That's not your responsibility."

"I know but you mean something to me."

How does he know that? We only met this morning.

"We've only just met." I laugh. He looks at me and his face is dead serious.

"I know but there's just something about you." His hand brushes mine and his eyes lighten.

"Meh, I guess you're ok too." I wink.

"Just ok?" He says, raising his eyebrows.

"Yep."

"Wrong answer bup." He slings me over his shoulder and I squeal. I start hitting his back whilst he just laughs and spins around.

"Put me down, you idiot!" I squeal.

"Depends tell me you love me." He laughs.

"I love you, I love you." I giggle. He puts me down and smiles at me.

"I love you too." He says staring into my eyes.