CHAPTER 6: THE THING HE DIDN'T SAY
473 Words
Lucas stood at the end of the hallway, his expression unreadable. For a moment, nobody spoke. The atmosphere between the three of us felt strangely tense, as though everyone had walked into a conversation they weren't supposed to hear.
"Am I interrupting something?" Lucas finally asked.
I immediately shook my head. "No."
Unfortunately, my answer came a little too quickly.
Ethan's gaze shifted between us before settling on Lucas. Whatever warmth had existed a few seconds ago disappeared completely.
The change was so sudden that it hurt.
"Miss Carter, congratulations again on your proposal," Ethan said calmly. "I'll see you in class."
Then he walked away.
Just like that.
No hesitation.
No lingering glance.
Nothing.
I watched him leave, confused by the strange disappointment settling in my chest.
"What was that about?" Lucas asked.
I forced a laugh. "Nothing."
The lie sounded weak even to me.
Over the next few days, something changed.
Ethan stopped calling on me during lectures.
He stopped lingering near my desk.
He stopped looking at me the way he used to.
At first, I told myself I was imagining things.
Then I realized I wasn't.
The distance was intentional.
And somehow that hurt farore than it should have.
By Friday, I was completely miserable.
The worst part wasn't the silence.
The worst part was missing something I never should have had in the first place.
One evening after class, I found myself sitting alone in the campus café. Rain tapped softly against the windows while students hurried outside with umbrellas.
I was halfway through my coffee when Lucas dropped into the chair opposite mine.
"You've been weird all week."
I groaned.
"Thank you. That's very helpful."
"I'm serious, Lily."
His smile faded slightly. "Is this about Professor Hayes?"
My heart nearly stopped.
"What?"
Lucas laughed.
"Relax. I'm not blind. Every time he walks into a room, you forget how to act normal."
I stared at him.
Then I stared some more.
"Please tell me you haven't told anyone that."
"Of course not."
I exhaled in relief.
Then Lucas grinned.
"But if it makes you feel better, I don't think you're the only one."
The words hit me instantly.
"What does that mean?"
Before Lucas could answer, movement near the entrance caught my attention.
Ethan.
He had just entered the café.
Rain droplets still clung to his dark coat. His attention shifted across the room.
Then landed on me.
And Lucas.
Sitting together.
Laughing.
Again.
For one brief second, something flashed across Ethan's face.
Pain.
Real pain.
Not jealousy.
Not annoyance.
Pain.
The sight shocked me.
Then, before I could react, a woman entered behind him.
The same woman from his office.
Without hesitation, she slipped her arm through Ethan's.
My smile disappeared immediately.
Ethan looked directly at me.
And this time...
He didn't look away.
TO BE CONTINUED...
- Writer
