"Just friends"

Chapter 13

Ethan's POV:

The words sting as I hear them come out my mouth.

"Yeah, Just friends." Sophie smiles. Ugh.

"Whatever." Josh laughs and turns away. I look at Sophie but she won't let her eyes meet mine.

I guess I understand why though. It's all so weird.

I leave tutor and head to my first lesson. Sophie leaves without saying a word to me and just walks to music alone.
I head to science but can't concentrate. There's too much going on.

"Earth to Ethan?" Mia jabs a pen into my side, trying to get my attention. I glare at her and she laughs.

"Look, I want to get the work done. Stop daydreaming." She whines.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Something's obviously bothering you."

"I've just got a lot going on." I mean technically that isn't a lie. I have mock exams to prepare for, cycling competitions and Sophie. I have Sophie.

"Sophie?" Mia says, snapping me back to reality. Shit, did I say all that out loud?

"What?"

"I didn't know you two were together?"

"We're not."

"Oh, sorry."

"Why? What have you heard?" I ramble.

"Nothing. You just seem close."

"Nah, we are just friends." And there's those words again. Don't get me wrong, I know we can't tell people but it wouldn't be so bad if our siblings weren't dating. It makes everything more awkward. If they weren't together and we wanted to date in secret, everything would be more relaxed. This whole thing makes me tense.

The bell rings and I walk to Maths with Mia. She hands me a bit of paper before walking into her classroom. I slip it into my pocket, forgetting to read what's on it and walk into my own classroom.
I sit down next to Sophie and tap her shoulder. She spins round and smiles.

"How was science?" She smirks, knowing it's my least favourite subject.
"Meh. How was music?"

"Stressful. I need to have my original song written and recorded by tomorrow."

"I didn't know you wrote songs?"

"Yeah, well they're not very good and I can't sing but I need a good grade."

"I'm sure that's a lie. I bet you're great." I smile at her. She tells me all the time how much she loves music, I just never realised she was this into it.

"Honestly, I'm not." She blushes.

"I'll be the judge of that." I smirk at her and turn my head to listen to the teacher.
I can feel her tense up as she realised what I'd just said. I want to hear her sing.