PEACH PIT :: ETHAN DOLAN

ONZE

Ethan sighs to himself, washing dirt off of his hands from the flowers he just planted. The pot now sits in his windowsill, and he smiles when he sees it. It hasn't sprouted yet, obviously, but Forget-Me-Nots bloom quickly, and will soon.

Today, the plan was to do nothing. After almost getting hit by a car last night, and having Grayson, Alondra, and Phoenix freak out, the break was welcome. He told them he needed some alone time, and today he was getting it.

Honestly, the peach needed a break from being squeezed anyway.

Grayson was out with Cameron—they tried to get Ethan to go, but he really needed space today—and his parents were doing something, so it was just Ethan, relaxing. He was planning to sit in his bed and read one of the books Christine left him. He started All the Bright Places last night, and read a few chapters before falling asleep.

Just as he's reaching for the book again, he remembers the tarot cards stashed under his pillow. Curiously, he grabs them.

Ethan isn't quite sure what to do, but he shuffles the cards. As he's shuffling, one falls out, and that feels like a sign. The card that fell was Death Reversed, and it makes him snort but grab the book with meanings nonetheless.

Death, Ethan, really? You're such a cliche. He rolls his eyes and continues reading. Death Reversed—something that should die but won't. A cycle needs to end, you may be delaying change. Inability to move on. It could represent a "blast from the past" that you need to let go, possibly sexual implications. Perhaps a passionate relationship that isn't good for you. Reevaluate relationships as needed.

This can mean you're on the verge of change but are resisting it. You might be reluctant to move on or may not know how to execute the change. You feel stuck in limbo. Death is offering you the opportunity to embrace change. Let yourself release the past and the future will become brighter. Make positive changes and do not let fear stop you from going through this transformation.

"Oh, fuck off," he mutters, slamming the book shut. "It's all bullshit anyway. Sorry, Christine."

Tucking the deck of cards into his side table, he reaches for the book again. Ethan never really believed in anything that couldn't be explained—tarot cards, astrology, ghosts, psychics—he didn't care if someone did believe, but it was never his thing.

He definitely wasn't picking today to take advice from some random card. Even if maybe some of the things related to him, it was all coincidence.

With quiet music playing, Ethan gets almost two more chapters read before his phone ringing interrupts him. He almost ignores it actually, but when he sees it's Alondra, feels compelled to answer. She was supposed to be giving him space today.

"Hey, Alondra. What's up?"

He hears her sniffle first, which is never a good sign. "I'm sorry, I know you said you wanted to be alone today, but..."

"Lonnie, it's okay, spit it out. What's wrong?"

"I just had this fight with my dad, and I'm pissed, and really upset, and I didn't grab my car keys so I've walked halfway to your house already—I just don't wanna be home and honestly, you're the only person I wanna see right now."

"Where are you, exactly?" Ethan asks, already slipping into his shoes before rushing down the stairs. "I'm on my way."

When Ethan's reaching Alondra, she's sitting on the curb in front of some random persons house. Her head is in her hands, and she's obviously trying to hide tears. Along with that, she's still in pj's—just cotton shorts and a tank top, and she's wearing two different flip flops.