"Just friends"

Chapter 8

He cries as the words leave his mouth. I guess he really meant it when he said he'd never hurt me.

I pull away from his arms and look dead in his eyes. He blushes and wipes his tears from his eyes. I'm not going to lie, he's giving me butterflies.

"Sophie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout or make you feel threatened." He says, breaking the silence.

"You didn't mean to. I guess some things are just sensitive to think or talk about."

Everything falls quiet once again as we walk back towards the houses. Ethan's hand brushes mine and as it does, I wish he'd grab it. I shouldn't want him to but I can't help it. He's just something else.

"Sophie?" My name runs off his tongue as if it were the name of a goddess. He's looking at me with his piercing green eyes and I can't help but to stare back at him. He says my name again and I realise I've been staring for a solid few minutes.

"Oh, yeah?"

"About what I said earlier. I kind of need you." He trails off, fiddling with the hem of his jumper like he always does when he's nervous.

"Need me?" I ask, puzzled as to what that could possibly mean.

"I want to just hold you, call you mine. I don't know what this is, but when I'm with you I just feel so-" He stops and glances behind him.

We see Liv and George walk towards us. They're holding hands and just look so happy. Part of me wishes it was me and Ethan but I'm snapped back to reality by George shouting my name.

"Sophie! I see you've met Ethan?" George asks, glancing in Ethan's direction.

"Err, yeah. Where are you going?"

"Just to get some food. Do you and Ethan want to come with?"

"No! I mean no thank you." Ethan blurts. I look at him and he just smirks.

"Right. Well I'll see you later." George says as he and Liv walk off.

"Care to explain?" I turn to Ethan and laugh. Ethan blushes and just hands me a bit of paper. Before I can ask what it is, he's walked off down the street.

"Ethan?" I call after him.

"Call me when you know what you want. I can't be around you when you're not mine. It hurts. I know it's weird but as far as anyone else is concerned, we are just friends." He says before walking off again.

I look down at the bit of paper in my hand and sigh. He's the boy that could change everything. I know he could. I just know.