I pushed open the door to our dorm, my shoulders slumped and my brain officially fried from the symposium rehearsal. The second I stepped inside, I was hit with the smell of popcorn and the sound of Jiro’s dramatic voice narrating what sounded like a very intense story. 
“And then,” Jiro was saying, his voice rising with every word, “I said, ‘If you think I’m paying for that overpriced latte, you’re out of your mind!’ And the barista just stared at me like I’d insulted her entire family lineage. It was iconic.”
Zianne was sprawled on her bed, clutching a bag of popcorn and laughing so hard she was practically wheezing. “Jiro, you’re a menace. I can’t believe you actually said that.”
“Hey,” I mumbled, dropping my bag by the door and flopping face-first onto my bed. “What’s up?”
“What’s up?!” Zianne repeated, her tone dripping with drama. “What’s up is that you just had your first rehearsal with Professor Hottie and Professor Davies, and you’re acting like it’s no big deal. Spill. Now.”
I groaned into my pillow, my voice muffled. “It was fine. Professor Davies was... strict. As usual. And Ethan was... there. That’s it.”
Jiro snorted, shoving a handful of popcorn into his mouth. “Uh-huh. Sure. Come on, Aria. Details. We need details. Was there tension? Drama? Did Professor Davies try to flirt with Ethan right in front of you? Because let’s be real, that woman has zero chill when it comes to him.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Professor Davies was super strict about everything. Like, I get that she wants me to do well, but it feels like she’s nitpicking every little thing I do. And then Ethan... keeps trying to defend me, which just makes her even more annoyed. It’s... exhausting.”
Jiro raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Wait, so Professor Davies and Professor Ramsey were, like, arguing over you? That’s kind of hot.”
I shot him a glare. “It’s not hot, Jiro. It’s awkward. And stressful. And I just... I don’t know. I feel like I’m in the middle of something I don’t fully understand.”
Zianne frowned, her tone turning serious. “Do you think Professor Davies knows about you and Professor Ramsey? Like, is she onto you guys?”
I hesitated, my stomach twisting into knots. “I don’t know. Maybe? She keeps giving me these weird looks, like she’s trying to figure me out. And the way she talks to Ethan... it’s like she’s trying to assert dominance or something. It’s so weird.”
Jiro snorted, leaning back on his hands. “Oh, she’s definitely onto you. I mean, come on. You and Professor Ramsey aren’t exactly subtle. The way you two look at each other? It’s like something out of a romance novel. If Professor Davies hasn’t figured it out yet, she’s blind.”
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “Ugh, this is such a mess. I just want to focus on the symposium and not have to deal with all this drama.”
Zianne reached over, patting my arm sympathetically. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. You’ll figure it out. And if Professor Davies tries to give you a hard time, just remember... you’ve got Ethan in your corner. And us. We’ve got your back.”
I smiled, feeling a surge of gratitude. “Thanks, guys. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Jiro grinned, his tone lightening. “You’d probably be lost in a sea of unrequited crushes and awkward encounters. But lucky for you, you’ve got us to guide you through the chaos.”
I laughed, though my heart was still heavy. “Yeah, lucky me.”
There was a moment of silence, and then Zianne’s expression turned serious again. “So... have you talked to Aiden yet?”
I froze, my stomach dropping. “Uh... no. Not yet.”
Jiro raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. “Wait, what? You haven’t talked to him since he cold-shouldered you? Aria, that was, like, days ago.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I know, I know. It’s just... every time I try to approach him, he’s either with someone else or he just walks away. It’s like he’s avoiding me.”
Zianne frowned, her tone sympathetic. “That’s rough. But you can’t just keep avoiding him, Aria. You guys need to talk. Clear the air.”
I groaned, flopping back onto my bed. “I know. But what am I supposed to say? ‘Hey, Aiden, sorry I broke your heart, but I’m kind of into my brother's best friend who turned out to be my professor now. No hard feelings, right?’ ”
Jiro chuckled, though there was no real humor in it. “Yeah, that’s not going to go over well. But you’ve got to say something. You can’t just leave him hanging like this.”
I nodded, though my heart was heavy. “Yeah, I know. I just... I don’t know how to fix this.”
Zianne reached over, squeezing my hand. “You’ll figure it out, Aria. Just be honest with him. Tell him how you feel. And if he can’t handle it... well, that’s on him, not you.”
I forced a smile, though I didn’t feel it. “Yeah, I guess. But what if he hates me forever?”
Jiro smirked, his tone lightening. “Then you’ll have more time to focus on your super-secret romance with Professor Hottie. Silver lining, right?”
I rolled my eyes, though I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, sure. Silver lining.”
As much as I tried to push the guilt aside, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d messed everything up. Aiden was one of my closest friends, and now... now it felt like I’d lost him. And the worst part was, I didn’t know how to fix it.
———
The next day, I walked into the faculty lounge for another symposium rehearsal, my stomach in knots. The air felt heavier than usual, like a storm was brewing just beneath the surface. Ethan was already there, sitting at the table with his laptop open, his brow furrowed as he typed something. He looked up when I walked in, and for a split second, his expression softened, his lips curving into that familiar, reassuring smile. But then, just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by something... distant. Something off.
"Hey," I said, forcing a smile as I set my bag down. 
"Oh, hey." Ethan replied, though it sounded forced. "
His tone made me uneasy. He sounded... different. Like he was holding something back. I wanted to ask him if everything was okay, but before I could, the door swung open, and Professor Davies walked in, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.
"Good morning," she said, her tone brisk but not as sharp as yesterday. She set her bag down on the table and glanced at me, her expression surprisingly neutral. "Aria, let's pick up where we left off. I want to hear your analysis of the unreliable narrator in The Catcher in the Rye again. And this time, try to connect it to modern media. Show me why this matters."
I blinked, caught off guard by her slightly friendlier tone. "Uh, okay. Sure."
I launched into my analysis, trying to ignore the tension in the room. Ethan was sitting across from me, his gaze fixed on his laptop, but I could tell he wasn't really paying attention to whatever was on the screen. His jaw was tight, his shoulders tense, like he was carrying the weight of the world on them. Every now and then, he'd glance at me, his eyes soft but fleeting, like he was afraid to look at me for too long.
Professor Davies, on the other hand, was... different. She was still strict, still demanding, but there was a strange calmness to her today. She didn't interrupt me as much, and when she did, her feedback was more constructive than critical. It was almost like she was... trying. Trying to be nicer, trying to be supportive. But every time Ethan spoke, her gaze would flicker to him, sharp and calculating, like she was watching him, waiting for something.
"Good," Professor Davies said when I finished my analysis. "Much better. Your pacing is still a little off, but your analysis is solid. Just remember to connect it back to the bigger picture. Why does this matter? Why should the audience care?"
I nodded, though my mind was only half on her feedback. The other half was on Ethan, on the way he was acting, on the way he kept glancing at me like he wanted to say something but couldn't. It was driving me crazy.
"Ethan," Professor Davies said suddenly, her tone light but with an edge that made my stomach twist. "What do you think? Does Aria's analysis hold up?"
Ethan looked up, his expression unreadable. "Yeah, it's good. She's got a strong understanding of the material. I think she'll do great at the symposium."
Professor Davies nodded, her lips curving into a small smile. "I agree. Aria, you've made a lot of progress. Keep it up, and you'll be ready in no time."
I forced a smile, though my heart was pounding. "Thanks, Professor Davies."
The rest of the rehearsal passed in a blur. Professor Davies was less strict, more encouraging, but the tension in the room only seemed to grow. Every time Ethan spoke, his voice was calm, steady, but there was something in his tone that made my chest ache. Something distant, something... final.
And then there were the glances. Every time I looked up, I caught Professor Davies watching Ethan, her gaze sharp and piercing, like she was trying to read his mind. And every time Ethan looked at me, his eyes were soft, full of something I couldn't quite name, but it made my heart race all the same.
By the time the rehearsal ended, I felt like I'd been put through the wringer. My head was spinning, my heart pounding, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Something big.
"Alright," Professor Davies said, gathering her things. "That's enough for today. Aria, keep practicing. And Ethan..." She paused, her gaze lingering on him for a moment too long. "I'll see you later."
Ethan nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yeah. See you later."
As Professor Davies walked out of the lounge, I turned to Ethan, my stomach in knots. "Ethan, is everything okay? You seem... off today."
He hesitated, his gaze flickering to the door, then back to me. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... a lot on my mind."
I frowned, stepping closer. "You can talk to me, you know. Whatever it is, I'm here."
Ethan's expression softened, and for a moment, I thought he was going to say something. But then he shook his head, his smile tight. "It's nothing, Aria. Don't worry about it."
I wanted to push, to demand that he tell me what was going on, but before I could, he reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair out of my face. His touch was warm, familiar, but there was something in his eyes that made my chest ache.
"You're going to do great at the symposium," he said, his voice soft but firm. "I believe in you."
I felt my cheeks heat up, and I quickly looked away. "Thanks, Ethan. That means a lot."
He nodded, his gaze lingering on mine for a moment longer before he stepped back, his expression unreadable. "I should get going. I've got a meeting with Professor Davies."
I blinked, caught off guard. "Oh. Okay. I'll see you later, then?"
Ethan hesitated, his jaw tightening. "Yeah. See you later."
As he walked out of the lounge, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Something big. And whatever it was, it was tearing him apart.
I just hoped I could figure it out before it was too late.