I was walking across the school grounds, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the campus was alive with the usual hustle and bustle of students rushing to class or lounging on the grass. But I barely noticed any of it. My thoughts were consumed by one thing... Aiden.
I hadn’t spoken to him since the day at the fountain, and the guilt was eating me alive. I knew I needed to clear the air, to explain myself, but every time I tried to approach him, he seemed to vanish into thin air. It was like he was avoiding me, and I couldn’t blame him. I’d hurt him, and now I had to face the consequences.
As I rounded the corner near the science building, I froze. There he was, Aiden. He was walking alone, his head down as if lost in thought. My heart skipped a beat, and I took a step forward, ready to call out to him.
But before I could say anything, a girl appeared out of nowhere, her long hair swaying as she jogged up to Aiden. I recognized her vaguely. She was in one of my classes, maybe? The girl smiled brightly, saying something that made Aiden laugh. And then, to my shock, Aiden casually slung his arm around the girl’s shoulders, pulling her close as they walked toward the building together.
I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. I stood there, frozen, my heart pounding in my chest. Aiden... with someone else? It shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did, but it did. I felt a pang of something I couldn’t quite name. Jealousy? Regret? Guilt? All of the above?
Before I could process what I’d just seen, a voice behind me made me jump.
“Well, well, well,” Zianne said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Looks like someone’s moving on.”
I spun around to see Zianne, Jiro, Troy, and Arkin standing there, their expressions a mix of amusement and concern. Jiro was grinning like he’d just won the lottery, while Troy looked mildly confused. Arkin, on the other hand, looked like he’d rather be anywhere else.
“What are you guys doing here?” I asked, my voice a little too high-pitched.
Zianne smirked, crossing her arms. “We were looking for you. But it looks like we found something way more interesting. Did you see that? Aiden’s got a new... friend.”
I groaned. “Ugh, don’t remind me. I was just about to talk to him, and then... that happened.”
Jiro chuckled, leaning against Troy. “Yeah, well, looks like Aiden’s not exactly waiting around for you, Aria. Can’t say I blame him. You did kind of break his heart.”
I shot him a glare, though there was no real heat behind it. “That’s super helpful.”
Arkin sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Look, Aria, I tried to warn you. After you and Ethan... you know, Aiden started entertaining other girls. I’m not sure if it’s serious or just a rebound thing, but... yeah. He’s not exactly sitting around pining for you.”
I felt a pang of guilt, and I quickly looked away. “I know. And I feel awful. I never meant to hurt him. I just... I didn’t know what to do.”
Zianne rolled her eyes, clearly not buying it. “Oh, please. You knew exactly what to do. You just didn’t want to do it. You were too busy swooning over Professor Hottie to think about Aiden’s feelings.”
I groaned, flopping down on a nearby bench. “Ugh, I know, okay? I messed up. But what am I supposed to do now? He’s clearly moved on.”
Jiro plopped down beside me, his grin widening. “Oh, come on, Aria. You’re not seriously jealous, are you? Because if you are, this just got way more interesting.”
I shot him a glare, though my cheeks were burning. “I’m not jealous. I’m just... confused. And guilty. And... okay, maybe a little jealous. But only because I feel bad!”
Zianne snorted, sitting down on my other side. “Yeah, sure. Keep telling yourself that. But just so you know, Aiden’s not exactly the type to play games. If he’s with that girl, it’s probably because he’s trying to move on. And honestly? Good for him.”
I bury my face in my hands. “I know. I just... I wish I could talk to him. Explain things. Make it right.”
Arkin sighed, leaning against the bench. “Look, Aria, you can’t force him to talk to you. If he’s ready, he’ll come to you. But for now, maybe you should just... give him space. Let him figure things out on his own.”
I nodded, though my heart was still heavy. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I just... I hate this.”
Jiro chuckled, slinging an arm around my shoulders. “Welcome to the world of love triangles, Aria. It’s messy, it’s dramatic, and it’s way more fun when you’re not the one in the middle of it.”
I playfully shove him off. “You're not helping.”
Zianne smirked, leaning back on her hands. “Well, look on the bright side. At least you’ve got Professor Hottie to keep you company. And if Aiden’s moved on, maybe it’s for the best. You can focus on your super-secret romance with Ethan without feeling guilty.”
I rolled my eyes, though I couldn’t help but smile. “Yeah, I guess. But it still sucks.”
Arkin nodded, his expression softening. “Yeah, it does. But you’ll get through it. And who knows? Maybe Aiden will come around. Or maybe he won’t. Either way, you’ve got us. And we’re not going anywhere.”
I felt a surge of gratitude, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Thanks, guys. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Jiro grinned, standing up and pulling me to my feet. “Alright, enough moping. Let’s go get some food. I’m starving, and I’m pretty sure Troy owes me a coffee.”
Troy raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Oh, do I?”
Jiro smirked, slinging an arm around Troy’s shoulders. “Yep. And you’re paying. Let’s go.”
As we walked toward the campus café, I couldn’t help but glance back at the science building, my heart still heavy. I knew Arkin was right. I had to give Aiden space. But that didn’t make it any easier.
———
I sat in the library, my fingers nervously tapping against the edge of my laptop. The screen was blank, my thoughts too scattered to focus on the essay I was supposed to be writing. My phone lay beside me, the screen dark and silent. I had sent Aiden another message earlier, asking if we could talk, but there was still no response. My stomach twisted with guilt and frustration. I couldn’t keep avoiding this. I had to fix things.
I glanced out the library window, the sunlight streaming in and casting long shadows across the floor. And then as if the universe started acting, I saw him. He was walking across the courtyard and his hands shoved into his pockets. Beside him was another girl, different from the one I’d seen earlier. This girl was laughing, her hand brushing Aiden’s arm as they walked. My heart sank.
“No,” I muttered under my breath, pushing my chair back and standing up. I couldn’t let this go on. I had to talk to him, even if it meant confronting him in front of someone else.
I hurried out of the library, my heart pounding as I crossed the courtyard. Aiden and the girl were almost at the edge of the quad when I called out, my voice trembling slightly.
“Aiden! Wait!”
He froze, his shoulders tensing. Slowly, he turned around, his expression unreadable. The girl beside him looked confused, glancing between Aiden and me.
“Aria,” Aiden said, his voice flat. “What do you want?”
I stopped a few feet away, my breath coming in short, uneven bursts. “Can we talk? Please? Just for a minute.”
Aiden’s jaw tightened, and he shook his head. “Not now. I’m busy.”
“Aiden, please,” I said, my voice breaking. “I just... I need to explain. I need to—”
“Aria,” he interrupted, his tone sharp. “I said I’m busy. Whatever you have to say, it can wait.”
I felt like I’d been slapped. Aiden had never spoken to me like that before. He’d always been kind, patient, understanding. But now... now he looked at me like I was a stranger.
The girl beside him glanced at Aiden, her brow furrowed. “Is everything okay?”
Aiden didn’t look at her. Instead, he grabbed her hand and started walking away, pulling her with him. “Come on. Let’s go.”
I stood there, frozen, as they walked away. My chest felt tight, my vision blurring with unshed tears. I couldn’t believe this was happening. Aiden, my friend, the guy who had always been there for me, was walking away like I meant nothing to him.
I turned and hurried back toward the library, my steps quick and unsteady. I just wanted to disappear, to hide somewhere no one could see me fall apart. But as I pushed through the library doors, I collided with someone, stumbling back a step.
“Whoa, easy there,” a familiar voice said, steadying me with a hand on my arm. I looked up to see Ethan standing there, his brow furrowed with concern. “Aria? Are you okay?”
I blinked, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill over. “I’m fine,” I said quickly, my voice shaky. “I just... I need to go.”
Ethan didn’t let go of my arm. His gaze softened as he studied my face. “You’re not fine. What happened?”
I shook my head, trying to pull away. “It’s nothing. Really. I just... I need to—”
“Aria,” he said, his voice firm but gentle. “Talk to me.”
I hesitated, my resolve crumbling under the weight of his concern. “It’s Aiden,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “I tried to talk to him, but he... he brushed me off. He was with another girl, and he just... walked away. Like I didn’t even matter.”
Ethan’s expression darkened, and he let out a slow breath. “I see.”
I looked up at him, my eyes pleading. “I didn’t mean to hurt him, Ethan. I never wanted this. I just... I didn’t know what to do.”
Ethan reached up, gently brushing a tear from my cheek. “Hey, it’s okay. You didn’t do anything wrong. Aiden’s hurt, and he’s lashing out. But that’s not on you.”
I shook my head, my voice trembling. “But it is. I should’ve talked to him sooner. I should’ve been honest with him from the start. Instead, I just... I made everything worse.”
Ethan sighed, his hand still resting lightly on my arm. “Aria, you can’t control how other people react. All you can do is be honest with yourself. And you were. You told Aiden how you felt... or, at least, how you didn’t feel. That’s not easy, but it was the right thing to do.”
I looked up at him, my heart aching. “But what if I ruined everything? What if he never forgives me?”
Ethan’s gaze softened, and he stepped closer, his voice low and steady. “Then that’s his choice. But you can’t keep blaming yourself for something that’s out of your control. You deserve to be happy, Aria. And if Aiden can’t see that, then... maybe it’s time to let him go.”
I felt a fresh wave of tears welling up, and I quickly wiped them away. “I just... I hate this. I hate feeling like I’ve lost him.”
Ethan reached out, gently tilting my chin up so I was looking at him. “You haven’t lost him. Not really. He’s hurt, and he’s trying to protect himself. But that doesn’t mean he’s gone forever. Give him time. And in the meantime... focus on you. On what makes you happy.”
I stared up at him, my heart pounding. “And what if what makes me happy is... complicated?”
Ethan’s lips curved into a small smile, as if he knows that I was talking about us. “I told you, we’ll figure it out. Together.”
My breath caught, and for a moment, I forgot about Aiden, about the guilt, about everything except the way Ethan was looking at me. Like I was the only thing that mattered.
“Ethan... I—”
But before I could finish, he leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to my forehead. My eyes fluttered shut, and I felt a rush of warmth spread through me. It was sweet, tender, and everything I didn’t know I needed.
When he pulled back, I opened my eyes to find him smiling down at me, his expression soft. “One step at a time, remember?”
I nodded, my heart still racing. “One step at a time.”
———
I slumped back into my chair at the library desk, my laptop glaring at me with its blank document. The cursor blinked mockingly, as if daring me to type something or anything. But how could I focus on this essay when my mind was a tangled mess of emotions?
Ethan pulled up a chair beside me, his presence instantly grounding me. He leaned back casually, his arm draped over the back of my chair, his fingers brushing my shoulder ever so slightly. It was a small gesture, but it sent a shiver down my spine. I tried to ignore it, but my traitorous heart skipped a beat.
“Alright,” Ethan said, his tone light but encouraging. “Let’s get this essay done. What’s the topic?”
I groaned, letting my head fall onto the desk. “It’s about the role of unreliable narrators in classic literature. But I can’t think of anything. My brain is mush.”
Ethan chuckled, reaching over to tug gently on a strand of my hair. “Mush, huh? Well, let’s un-mush it. Start with the basics. What’s an example of an unreliable narrator?”
I lifted my head, squinting at him. “Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye. He’s constantly lying to himself and the reader.”
Ethan nodded, his lips curving into that infuriatingly charming smile. “Exactly. So, start there. Talk about how unreliable narrators force readers to question the truth and engage more deeply with the story. You’ve got this, Aria.”
I sighed, typing a few words onto the screen. “Yeah, yeah. Easy for you to say. You’re, like, a literature genius. I’m just... me.”
Ethan leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You’re not ‘just’ anything, Aria. You’re smart, you’re insightful, and you’ve got a unique perspective. Trust me, this essay is going to be amazing.”
My cheeks burned, and I quickly looked back at my laptop. “Flattery will get you nowhere, Professor Ramsey.”
Ethan grinned, leaning back in his chair. “Oh, I don’t know about that. I think it’s working pretty well so far.”
I rolled my eyes, though I couldn’t suppress a smile. I started typing, the words flowing more easily now that Ethan was there to cheer me on. For a while, the only sounds in the library were the soft tapping of my keyboard and the occasional rustle of pages turning.
But then, as if the universe had decided to throw another curveball my way, Professor Davies appeared out of nowhere, her heels clicking sharply against the library floor. She was wearing a sleek black dress, her hair perfectly styled, and her smile as bright as ever. And, of course, she was completely oblivious to the fact that Ethan and I were secretly dating or whatever this thing that is happening between us.
“Aria!” she called out, her voice carrying through the quiet library. “There you are. I’ve been looking for you.”
I froze, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. “Uh... hi, Professor. What’s up?”
She stopped at our table, her gaze flicking between me and Ethan. “I wanted to ask if you’ve made up your mind about presenting your research paper at the university’s Literature Symposium. It’s only a few weeks away, and I need to finalize the schedule.”
I blinked, caught off guard. “Oh, uh... I haven’t really thought about it.”
Professor Davies raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Aria, your research paper was one of the best I’ve seen this semester. You’d be perfect for the symposium. And it’s a great opportunity to showcase your work.”
I hesitated, glancing at Ethan for support. He gave me an encouraging nod, his expression soft.
“You should do it,” he said, his tone light but firm. “You’ve got a lot to say, and people need to hear it.”
Professor Davies gaze lingered on Ethan for a moment too long, her smile turning a little too bright. “Ethan’s right, you know,” she said, her voice smooth and playful. “You’ve got a real talent, Aria. And having someone like Ethan in your corner certainly doesn’t hurt.” She tilted her head, her eyes flicking to him. “You’re always so supportive, Ethan. It’s... admirable.”
Ethan chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “You know me, Claire. Just doing my part.”
She laughed, a little too warmly, and I felt my stomach twist. Was she... flirting with him? Right in front of me? I shot Ethan a sideways glance, but he seemed completely unfazed, his attention still on me.
I cleared my throat, trying to steer the conversation back to the symposium. “So, uh, Professor Davies... if I do this, what exactly would I need to prepare?”
She finally turned her attention back to me, though her smile still seemed a little too bright. “Oh, don’t worry, Aria. Ethan and I will guide you through everything. You’ll have plenty of time to practice.”
Ethan nodded, his grin widening. “Absolutely. And I'll be there also to cheer you on. Right in front and center, ready to give you a standing ovation.”
Professor Davies leaned in closer, her tone playful. “So, what do you say? Are you in?”
I hesitated, my mind racing. The thought of standing in front of a room full of people, presenting my research paper, was terrifying. But at the same time, it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
“Alright,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll do it.”
She clapped her hands, clearly thrilled. “Excellent! I’ll add you to the schedule. And don’t worry, Aria. You’re going to do great.” She then turned to Ethan. "And I'll see you later at the meeting, Professor Ramsey." There was a hint of flirting the way Professor Davies says Ethan's title.
Ethan who was oblivious about it, just nod.
As Professor Davies walked away, Ethan leaned in closer, his lips brushing against my ear. “See? Told you you could do it.”
I felt my cheeks heat up, and I quickly looked away. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t let it go to your head.”
Ethan chuckled, his breath warm against my skin. “Too late.”
I rolled my eyes, though my heart was racing. I turned back to my laptop, trying to focus on my essay, but it was impossible with Ethan sitting so close. His presence was distracting in the best possible way, and I couldn’t help but smile as I typed.
The symposium was still a few weeks away, and I had a lot of work to do, but with Ethan by my side, I knew I could handle it. One step at a time.