third person's pov :
ethan watches from afar as nova tugs the strings of her yellow sweatshirt and stuffs her head into the hoodie, pouting as it soon unravels.
"this hoodie is shit." she murmurs under her breath, anger laced in her words
ethan just chuckles at her words, shaking his head slightly while taking sips of his root beer.
"i'm going to sleep. it's cold as balls out here." grayson says, wrapping his fluffy blanket around his shoulders
as he passes nova, he gives her a small smile and pecks her forehead.
"talk to him tonight, ok?" he whispers into her ear, before walking off to the sliding doors that separates their backyard and the house
she bits her lips anxiously at his words but lifts her head to meet ethan's eyes. he gives her a small and reassuring smile, turning his head to stare at the bright fire.
"it's really nice tonight, hm?" ethan asks, breaking the silence
nova nods her head at his words and brings her knees to her chest, trying to provide any way of warmth for her body.
ethan chuckles at her poor attempt and he pats the log he's sitting on, in an attempt to call her over.
she obliges and sets herself carefully on the log, ethan wrapping a beige blanket over their shoulders.
hesitantly, he wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her into his warm body.
her breath gets caught in her throat as a smile plasters onto her face. she feels blood rush to her cheeks but she lifts her hands to her cheeks, squishing them to try and get rid of the red tint that paints them.
ethan looks down at her silly actions and his raspy laugh fills her ears, making her smile in an instant. although, she still doesn't look up, knowing their too close than usual.
"i have to tell you something." ethan whispers, making nova's heart drop
"what is it?" she asks, hearing the soothing sounds of the crinkling noises from the fire in front of them
"well... i'm leaving soon. i got a huge job offer. i get to travel around the world and write and work with a bunch of people... it doesn't sound that special coming from my lips but i promise you, they're past collab's are fucking insane nova. i-i mean if i showed you what they've worked on, you'd be flipping your shit right now!" ethan laughs and tightens his grip on nova
tears fill her eyes but she pushes her own thoughts out of her head once she hears how excited and happy ethan is.
"that's fucking amazing to hear, e. when are you leaving?"
"n-next week. that's why i want you to stay longer. i don't know when i'm coming back." he murmurs, setting his chin on top of her head
—
"push me one more time, you'll get a fucking pillow to your face dolan." perla says, as she stares at grayson in anger
"i got here first." he says
"stop acting five." perla shoots back
grayson's jaw drops and as he's about to spit back another insult, perla points through the sliding doors and points to nova's distraught state.
grayson quickly frowns as sees nova's quivering lips and his hand latches onto the cold knob.
"she's gonna fucking cry, perla! we have to go out there and get her out of there!"
"what do you want me to do, gray? they both chose the wrong time to tell each other how they feel. plus, they have to do this on their own."
he sighs and nods letting go of the cold knob, walking up the stairs quietly as perla trails behind him.
—
"i don't even know what to say, ethan. i'm so happy for you, i mean i really am."
"you are?" ethan asks, a breath of relief leaving his lips
"of course, are you kidding me? you've always loved to write and finally someone realizes how talented you are."
ethan smiles at her kind words and holds her hand in his, intertwining their fingers slowly.
"i just don't want to leave you this time."
"don't think of it as leaving. think of it as a... 'i'll see you soon.'"
