hidden | ethma

nineteen

"what did you tell her, dolan?" nate snarls at ethan. 

"i haven't told her anything," ethan snaps. "leave her alone, she knows nothing." 

"then why have we seen her with you so much?" levi sneers. 

"i was doing her a favor," ethan replies. 

"alec is wondering about you." nate says. "you didn't show up last night." 

"i couldn't. i was busy." 

"enough excuses. you either show up tomorrow night, or you're out," levi snaps. "get your shit together, or she's in trouble." levi points to me and i widen my eyes. 

"she has nothing to do with this," ethan says. he must be freezing in only his t-shirt. "i barely even know her. leave her out of this." 

"she knows more than you think she does," nate says. 

"what the hell do you mean?" ethan's shoulders tense. 

"she saw you talking to alec last week," nate goes on. "she followed you." 

ethan looks to me and i shrink back against the wall. his gazes burns like fire. 

"it doesn't matter," ethan says, looking back at nate. "leave her alone. she barely knows her way around portland." 

"fine," levi snaps. "but if alec finds out she knows anything, you're both in deep shit." he nods to nate and the two walk away, sending ethan a final glare. they disappear into an alley, leaving only ethan and i. 

i stay against the wall, processing what just happened. my head pounds and my breath falls rapidly. 

ethan stares at the ground a few seconds, the wind blowing harshly. he chews on his lip, as if debating something. 

why did he stand up for me? how did he even know where i was? who are those guys, and what do they want? 

ethan finally snaps up, walking back to his car. "get in." he says coldly. 

i don't argue as i hurry to the passenger side. the warmth from the car engulfs me as i lean back in the leather seats. 

"did they hurt you?" ethan asks as we drive. 

i shake my head no. i know he's mad about me following him the other day, and i can't say i blame him. i would be furious if our roles were reversed. 

"are you all right?" he asks.  

i nod. 

"are you going to talk?" 

i swallow, my throat dry. i don't know what to say to him, i've never experienced an encounter quite like that in my life. 

ethan matches my silence as we drive along the empty streets. my heart pounds loudly, still recovering from former events. 

ethan sighs. "why did you follow me that day?" his voice is oddly calm and contained as he breaks the steady silence.