i think it's love | ethma

ten

Ethan and Grayson's eighteenth birthday comes and goes. There's chocolate cake that night and Ethan is tipsy from earlier in the evening but he's quite good at not letting it show. Grayson and Ethan give each other a homemade card, Sophia and Dayton give them a video game. Emma gives Grayson a hug and Ethan a punch in the stomach because when they're alone in the kitchen he asks conversationally if she's still fucking Sydney. It's an uneventful birthday.

The day comes and goes.

But he doesn't leave.

-

Graduation for seniors at their high school is eventful, to say the least. Ethan puts his hat on top of his brother's head and they both grin; Emma makes accidental eye contact with him over Grayson's brown hair and she immediately walks away towards where Sydney is standing, talking to one of her teachers.

She wraps her arms around Sydney's waist from behind when the teacher walks away. "Congratulations, babe." She kisses her cheek.

Sydney stills and then, to Emma's surprise, removes her hands from around her waist. "Emma, we need to talk."

"What?" Emma asks, confused at the coldness in her tone, the way she's shut off her expression as she turns around.

"I'm going to college across the country in a few weeks," Sydney says, "And we won't see each other. You realize that, right?"

Emma swallows. She doesn't like where this is going. "Well, yeah," she replies, heart thundering. "But I didn't think that was such a big deal, we'll still be able to text and Face Time and visit sometimes and—"

Sydney cuts her off. "I think we should end things."

"End things?" Emma echoes, feeling her heart plummet. "Break up? Syd, why?" And here she'd been thinking things had been going so well.

"Long distance relationships don't work," Sydney says in monotone, folding her arms. She looks really pretty today, brown hair shining in the sun, eyes cloaked in black eye shadow. "It would be better for both of us if we just...cut it off."

Emma's already shaking her head. "So that's it? After everything, you're done? I don't get any say in this? Do you even care what I think?" Her words rise in volume, with a tint of hysteria. This can't be happening.

Sydney observes the tears pooling in Emma eyes in what seems an almost clinical way. But Emma knows her. She sees the thin line of her girlfriend's mouth. The tightening around her eyes, the tensing in her shoulders.

"I care about you. Continuing our relationship would only serve to hurt both of us. I'm doing this for you," Sydney says, and then: "I'm sorry, Emma," is how Sydney parts, uttering the words softly and turning to walk away, back to her family. Leaving Emma in the dust, standing alone in the grass between Sydney's family and her own.

-

It's late August, and Ethan moves out. Emma wouldn't even know that at all, but she's running down the stairs to meet Will at the door when she bumps into his chest, reminiscent of many years ago.

He glares at her, and she notices he's carrying a box tucked under his arm. "What's that?" she asks curiously, forgetting to glare back.

His hand tightens on the edge of the box. "I'm leaving."

She looks up at him, and it's like her heart catches in her throat. "You're— leaving?" she squeaks. "Where?"

He stares at her for a good moment, and Emma thinks he might just be debating whether to tell her or not. Then: "I'm starting at Ark University this fall." It's a testament to how little they've spoken to each other the past few months that she doesn't know that.

Her brow furrows. "But that's not far—"

"I wanted to stay close to Gray," he interrupts. "But I also thought it was time to leave." His words hold too many accusations, too much hurt, too many unanswered questions.

She answers one right there, crossing her arms. "You know, it would be a lot easier if you just stayed— "

"I don't care," he interrupts, voice frosty.

She recoils at the hardness in his eyes. "Well, I don't care either," she replies, and it sounds empty even to her. "Go. I'm glad."

And she watches him go, brushing past her out the door past a confused looking Will and to his truck, where she can see a pile of boxes growing. She feels her heart sinking inexplicably as she watches him set down the box.

When did things get like this?

double chapter today because im not gonna be updating for a while ://