PEACH :: ETHAN DOLAN

DOUZE

triggering content warning

Ethan stares at Alondra in the hallway, smiling softly. It hurt to see her, but at the same time, it was comforting to know that she hadn't completely disappeared.

She was standing with Scott and Izzy, laughing, and the sound of it was so familiar. He missed it, but was glad to hear it even if she wasn't with him. But when she looked up and saw him watching, her smile faltered.

Izzy didn't notice, but Scott did, and his eyes followed her gaze straight to Ethan. And then he walked over, despite her protesting and smacking him on the arm.

Alondra did not follow, instead she walked the other way with Izzy. Lunch had just finished, so he assumed they were going to class and avoiding whatever was about to happen.

"Ethan? Can I talk to you?" Scott hums, leaning against the locker.

"No," he huffs, turning around. The halls are quickly emptying now as the bell rings, but Scott stops him from going. "What do you want, bro?"

Crossing his arms, he waits until the last few students are gone. They're both officially late now, neither caring. "I know you and A were close, but when she asks for space you gotta give it to her. Staring at her from afar is a little creepy."

Ethan shoves him back, eyes turning to slits. "Mind your fucking business, alright?"

"Dude, I'm not trying to argue about this. She's having a tough time as it is, and you're making her uncomfortable. Just try and back off a little," Scott doesn't wait for a response, walking through the empty hall toward his class.

Sighing, Ethan lets his head hit the locker. He was making Alondra uncomfortable?

That was the last thing he wanted to do. He wanted his best friend back, but not by upsetting her.

He didn't quite get why it was upsetting to her, but it's not like he could ask. It was a slap to the face, hearing that. It seemed like there was no hope for getting her back in his life.

Shaking his head, Ethan walks toward the bathroom to splash some cold water on his face. And contemplates skipping again

As he opens the door, the first thing he hears is gagging and retching.

Furrowing his brows, he stays quiet in the doorway. Call him suspicious, but he had a bad gut feeling-and it wasn't just a reaction to someone else throwing up.

The toilet flushes once, and then a few seconds later again. It's quiet for a moment, only small sniffles heard, and then Phoenix steps out of the stall.

"Ethan?" She gasps, turning back around. "W-why are you in here?"

"This is the boys bathroom... why are you?" He asks, slowly approaching. Her shoulders slumping, she faces him for a brief second before walking over to the sink. Her fingers shine against the fluorescent lights before she quickly puts them under the water to wash them. "Why were you throwing up?"

She doesn't look up, wiping her tear-stained cheeks with her arm. "I'm sick again."

She did look it, if you looked carefully, but that wasn't unusual if he thought about it. Her cheeks were sunken, her lips chapped. Hair thrown up, dark eye bags and skin lacking any color, again. Despite the weather being warm enough for shorts again, she was wearing leggings and a hoodie, again.

But Ethan didn't believe her. He could've walked out right then and just took her word for it, and not have to look at her, the girl who cheated on him, but he didn't believe a goddamn thing she said.