I've Fallen For you

Some feelings begin before we even realize they're there.

Mikaela Reyes never believed that someone could become important without actually doing anything.
There was no dramatic first meeting.
No accidental collision in the hallway.
No cheesy moment where their eyes met across a crowded room and everything suddenly became slow.Nothing like that happened. Ethan Navarro simply existed. But. somehow, Mikaela started noticing him.At first, it was only small things.
The way he always carried his bag on one shoulder.The way he rarely talked unless someone spoke to him first.
The way he would sit quietly during school programs while everyone else was making noise.The way he looked completely uninterested in almost everything. And especially the way he seemed to leave whenever Mikaela came near. At first, she thought it was coincidence.Then it happened again.
And again.Until eventually, Mikaela couldn't ignore it anymore.Does he actually avoid me? She didn't know.
And Ethan wasn't exactly the type to explain himself.If Mikaela greeted him, he'd answer with a short nod.If she asked him something, he'd respond politely before finding an excuse to leave.If they happened to be in the same hallway, he'd suddenly remember somewhere he needed to be.It was strange.Almost annoying.So Mikaela decided she didn't care.At least, that was what she told herself.She had more important things to think about.

Graduation.
College.
Exams.
Requirements.
Her future.

Ethan Navarro wasn't supposed to become part of any of that.But feelings didn't exactly ask for permission.
And Mikaela was about to learn that sometimes the person who tries hardest to stay away from you is the person who is fighting the hardest to stay close.
Because Ethan had a secret.
He wasn't avoiding Mikaela because he disliked her.He was avoiding her because he liked her. And the more he tried to hide it...the harder it became to keep his distance.