Who would have thought?

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Everest's POV

I wake up the next morning feeling light-headed, but in a good way. Kinda like all of my worries had been lifted off my shoulders. I groan, and eventually get out of bed. Tuesday. Great.

I take a quick shower, get dressed, and put on my glasses for Ethan. I jog downstairs, and yet again, I'm the only one in this god forsaken house. I skip breakfast, and just wait for Hannah. 

Five minutes later, I get a text from Hannah. I step outside and walk to her car. I sit down, put on my seat belt, and look up at Hannah. She looks... worried.

"What's up?" I ask nervously. She stays facing ahead, not looking at me. "Hannah?"

"Lauren came over last night," she blurts out. "She came to see Ethan."

"That doesn't make sense, he was at my place last night."

She seems to fumble with her words. She takes a short breath before shaking her head. "Look, no matter how badly I want to ask about the details, Lauren came over late last night. Like, a half hour after Ethan came home," she says as she studies my face for a reaction.

"It's not like her and Ethan did something, right?" I ask. I even fake a laugh in hopes of her hurrying up and getting to the punch line. Considering the look on her face, this isn't a joking matter.

"They went into his room." I look away from Hannah's face. Her eyes held too much intensity. "Alone," she adds.

It's funny to think that just yesterday we nearly did it right then and there on the living room couch. My stomach hurts and my eyes water. 

We're not even an actual item, I thought. I have no reason to be hurt. It's pathetic and dumb. He's a guy. We said we liked each other, big deal. He loved- no, loves -Lauren.

"Ev, are you okay?" Hannah asks. I turn away from the window and look at her eyes. She reaches out her arm, and rests her hand on my right shoulder.

"Yeah, it's cool. I'll get over it." I shake out of her grasp, and turn back to the window. She remains quiet, but decides against asking any further questions. This is why I love Hannah so much. She gives me space.

She turns on the radio and drives.

We arrive at school sooner than I anticipated. I spot Ethan immediately. He's in his usual spot, joking and messing around with Mason and Cole. That feeling I always get in my stomach whenever I see him, arrives. This time, there's a pang of hurt in my chest. 

Hannah steps out of the car and I follow. We reach the boys. She pats my back and walks to Cole.  Before she gets too far, I stop her. Her gaze slowly goes from my hand on her elbow, to my face. She furrows her eyebrows in confusion.

"I'm gonna go to the Library," I tell her. She just nods and gives me a faint smile, before turning on her heel. 

I walk past Ethan, but he grabs my elbow. That stupid electric current, that I love so much, travels throughout my arm. 

"Ev."

I turn around, but I avoid eye contact. "Oh hi, uh, dude." 

"Where are you going?" he asks. 

"Library. History homework," I say.

"We finished the history homework last night, together," he says as he crosses his arms. I still look everywhere but his eyes. 

"Oh. I should just go see if I completed the assig-" he cuts me off. 

"Are you mad at me?" He asks. I don't reply.