AMORE O LUSSURIA (LOVE OR LUST)

CHAPTER NINE

(Ava’s POV)

If there was a medal for Most Awkward Wake-Up Ever, Ava would’ve won it that morning.

Her cheeks still burned as she shoved clothes into her bag, avoiding Ethan’s smug gaze. He hadn’t stopped grinning since she woke up basically tucked against his chest like some lovesick i***t.

“Stop looking at me like that,” she hissed.

“Like what?” he asked innocently, zipping his jacket.

“Like I....” she bit her lip, refusing to give him the satisfaction. “Never mind.”

“You mean,” he drawled, leaning against the wall with that infuriating smirk, “like you couldn’t resist me even in your sleep?”

She threw a sock at his face. “I hate you.”

He caught it midair, eyes gleaming. “Princess, at this point I think you just say that when you don’t know how else to deal with your feelings.”

“I’ll show you feelings!” she snapped, stomping past him toward the door.

But when she pushed into the hall, her stomach betrayed her by doing this weird flip. Because the truth she didn’t want to admit was simple: sharing a bed with Ethan had been the first good sleep she’d had all week.

The town had transformed overnight. String lights crisscrossed the streets, paper lanterns bobbed gently in the morning breeze, and colorful stalls lined the sidewalks. The faint smell of roasted corn and spiced cider filled the air, and laughter spilled from every corner.

Ava had to stop herself from gaping like a tourist. “It’s… beautiful.”

Beside her, Ethan shoved his hands into his pockets, watching her with a small smile she almost missed. “Yeah. Not bad.”

“Not bad?” she repeated, giving him a look.

He shrugged. “Seen one festival, seen them all.”

“Wow,” she said dryly. “Do you just make it your mission to ruin nice things?”

“Pretty much.”

Still, his lips twitched when she elbowed him lightly.

“Look who finally dragged themselves out of bed!”

A familiar sing-song voice cut through the crowd. Maya waved dramatically from a stall, her camera already strapped around her neck. She jogged over, eyes immediately scanning between Ava and Ethan like a predator sniffing out weakness.

"Maya what are you doing here" Ava asked "Weren't you paired with James Maslow" she said

"well well well were you too busy all night to check your phone, the professor decided to do the project in this town since it has almost all the cultural heritage we need" she said with a grin then looked at them

“Well, well, well,” Maya grinned, crossing her arms. “Did my two favorite disaster partners survive the night?”

“Barely,” Ava muttered.

Ethan smirked. “She loved every second.”

Ava’s eyes widened. “I...what...NO...”

Maya gasped theatrically. “Don’t tell me… you actually shared the bed?”

“Absolutely not,” Ava snapped.

“Absolutely yes,” Ethan corrected smoothly.

Maya squealed so loudly heads turned. “Oh. My. GOD. Ava, you cuddled with a vampire!”

Ava slapped her hand over her face. “He’s not a vampire...”

“Yet,” Maya said ominously, narrowing her eyes at Ethan.

He leaned down, baring his teeth in a playful half-snarl. “Boo.”

Maya jumped back, clutching her heart like she’d been staked. “YEP. Definitely a vampire.”

Ava groaned. “I cannot do this with you people today.”

But the way Ethan chuckled under his breath told her he absolutely could.

Their professor handed out midterm instructions at the edge of the square: pair off, interview locals, observe festival traditions, document the atmosphere for their anthropology assignment.

Naturally, Ava was stuck with Ethan again.

“Of course,” she muttered. “Because the universe hates me.”

“Or loves me,” he countered. “Depending how you look at it.”

She shot him a glare that would’ve fried anyone else. He just grinned wider.

The day stretched with unexpected chaos. Every time they tried to interview someone, the locals seemed far more interested in teasing them.

“Ohhh, young love!” crooned a woman selling candied apples. “How sweet! Want one for your girlfriend?”

“She’s not...” Ava started.

“Yes,” Ethan interrupted smoothly, dropping cash onto the counter and handing Ava a bright red apple with a wicked smile. “She loves sweets.”

Her jaw dropped. “I...no...I....”

“Bite it,” he said softly, eyes gleaming.

Flustered, she took the tiniest nibble just to shut him up. His grin only widened.

Later, an old man insisted they try the local cider. “First sip has to be shared,” he said with a wink.

Ava sputtered. “That’s....that’s not necessary....”

But before she could protest further, Ethan leaned in, sipping from the same cup without hesitation. “Tradition,” he said casually, as if her entire nervous system wasn’t combusting.

She swore she heard Maya cackling in the distance.

By afternoon, Ava was exhausted. Not from the festival itself, but from constantly defending herself.

“I can’t believe how many people think we’re...ugh...” she broke off, flinging her notebook shut.

“A couple?” Ethan offered.

Her face heated. “Yes! It’s insane.”

“Or,” he said smoothly, leaning close enough that his breath tickled her ear, “maybe we’re just very convincing.”

She shoved him back. “Convincingly annoying.”

But her heart betrayed her by racing anyway.

They ended the evening on the edge of the festival square, watching fireworks light up the small town sky. Ava hugged her jacket tighter around herself as sparks rained down in brilliant colors.

“Not bad,” Ethan murmured beside her.

She glanced at him. His sharp features were softened by the glow of the fireworks, and for a dangerous moment, she forgot to breathe.

“Yeah,” she whispered. “Not bad at all.”

He caught her staring. His smirk was gone, replaced by something quieter. Something she couldn’t read.

And before she could ask, Maya popped up out of nowhere, nearly making Ava drop her cider.

“Careful!” Maya said with a mischievous grin. “Wouldn’t want your vampire boyfriend to get thirsty.”

Ava groaned, burying her face in her hands. Ethan just laughed, low and warm, like the night itself.

By the time the fireworks ended, Ava was certain the day couldn’t possibly humiliate her any further.

She was wrong.

The students and faculty had gathered at the far end of the town square, where a massive bonfire crackled in the cool evening air. The flames painted everyone’s faces gold, laughter and music mingling in the night.

Ava hugged her notebook close, trying to blend into the circle of students. She didn’t need more attention. Not after the candied apples, the fox plush, the cider “tradition,” and oh yes the townsfolk treating her and Ethan like some honeymooning couple.

But of course, the second Ethan strolled into the firelight, every head turned.

It was unfair, really. He moved with that irritating confidence, like he owned the ground he walked on. His dark jacket caught the glow of the flames, his smirk already in place. He didn’t need to try he simply was.

And unfortunately, everyone noticed.

Especially one particular girl.

“ohhh she's here" Maya giggled

Ava followed her gaze and froze.

Some girl tall, effortlessly gorgeous, with glossy hair and a smile too sweet to be innocent had practically launched herself at Ethan. She draped herself over him like a designer scarf, her laughter ringing louder than the music.

“Oh my God, Ethan!” the girl cooed, tugging his arm like they’d been best friends forever. “I didn’t think you’d actually show up for this boring little thing.”

Ethan chuckled, low and warm. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

The girl leaned in closer, brushing imaginary lint from his chest. “Still trouble, I see.”

Beside her, Maya smirked. “Ohhh. That’s Kara. Upperclassman. Rumor has it, Ethan and her had a little… thing last semester.”

Ava’s stomach twisted. “A thing?”

“Yep,” Maya said, grinning way too much for Ava’s liking. “And judging by how she’s practically climbing him like a tree, she wants that thing back.”

Ava rolled her eyes hard enough to see the back of her skull. “Gross.”

But her voice cracked on the word.

Because Kara was laughing again, tossing her hair, her hand lingering on Ethan’s arm far too long. And Ethan oh, the infuriating i***t wasn’t pushing her away. In fact, he looked like he was enjoying it.

Ava’s blood boiled.

She hated this. She hated the way her chest felt tight, the way heat crawled up her neck, the way she suddenly couldn’t look away.

Why did she care? Why did it matter?

It didn’t.

It shouldn’t.

“You’re jealous,” Maya sing-songed suddenly, snapping Ava out of her spiraling thoughts.

“What? No!” Ava hissed. “I am not jealous.”

Maya raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Then why are you crushing your notebook"

Ava glanced down sure enough, her knuckles were white, her notebook practically bent in half. She quickly loosened her grip, cheeks flaming.

“I just..he’s..she’s..” Ava sputtered.

Maya patted her arm sympathetically. “Relax. He does this. Ethan’s like… a human bonfire. Everyone flocks to him, even if they get burned.”

“That’s a stupid metaphor.”

“Maybe.” Maya grinned wickedly. “But tell me I’m wrong.”

Ava had no response.

Because at that moment, Kara leaned in and whispered something into Ethan’s ear. He chuckled like she’d just told the funniest joke in the world.

Ava’s chest squeezed painfully.

Her fox plush sat in her lap, staring at her with beady little eyes, and for the first time all night, she wanted to throw it into the fire.

“Relax, princess,” Ethan’s voice suddenly drawled behind her.

Ava stiffened, whirling around. At some point, he’d slipped away from Kara and now stood way too close, firelight dancing in his eyes.

“You look like you’re about to murder someone,” he teased.

“I...no...I was just....” Ava fumbled, clutching the plush tighter. “Taking notes.”

“In your head, maybe.” His smirk widened. “Don’t worry, Kara doesn’t bite.”

Her jaw clenched. “Why would I care if she did?”

“Because,” he murmured, leaning down until only she could hear, “you’re jealous.”

“I am not jealous,” she snapped, glaring up at him.

The corner of his mouth curved higher. “Sure you’re not.”

He sauntered away before she could come up with a comeback, leaving her fuming in the firelight.

Beside her, Maya was practically doubled over laughing. “Oh my God, Ava. You’ve got it so bad.”

“I do not!” Ava insisted again, though her face burned so hot she was surprised the bonfire didn’t dim in comparison.

Maya just grinned knowingly, her camera flashing as she captured Ava’s scowl.

As the night dragged on, the circle grew louder, students passing drinks and telling stories. The professor even got roped into a silly folk dance by the locals. Laughter spilled through the square, but Ava sat stiff, her eyes drawn against her will to Ethan.

Kara still hovered, but now Ethan’s eyes kept flicking elsewhere. Toward Ava.

Their gazes collided once, twice…

And the third time, Ava couldn’t look away.

He smirked, slow and deliberate, as if he knew exactly what kind of chaos he was causing inside her.

And maybe… maybe he did.