Chapter 4 Cracks Beneath the Surface
655 Words
Ethan Hayes
Ethan didn’t usually care about people.
That sounded worse than it actually was.
He cared about his teammates.
His younger brother.
Swimming.
That was enough.
Everything else?
Temporary.
Which was why Lena Carter confused him so much.
Because somehow, despite the constant arguments and insults, she kept getting stuck in his head.
Especially after yesterday.
Especially after she’d looked at him while he caught her.
Like she forgot how much she hated him for a second.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
“You’re staring again,” Noah said.
Ethan blinked. “What?”
His teammate smirked from across the cafeteria table. “At Lena.”
Ethan immediately looked away from where Lena sat with her volleyball team.
“She’s hard to ignore.”
“Right,” Noah said sarcastically. “That’s definitely the reason.”
Ethan ignored him.
Across the cafeteria, Lena laughed softly at something her teammate said.
It caught him off guard.
Because she almost never laughed around him.
Around him, she was all sharp edges and cold stares.
But like this?
Relaxed.
Smiling.
Beautiful.
Ethan frowned slightly.
Dangerous thought.
Very dangerous thought.
Before he could stop himself, his eyes drifted toward her again.
And unfortunately—
Lena caught him staring.
Her expression immediately sharpened.
She mouthed:
What?
Ethan smirked slowly and raised his drink toward her mockingly.
She rolled her eyes.
But the corners of her mouth twitched slightly before she looked away.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Later that evening, Ethan headed toward the sports complex for extra swim training.
The building was mostly empty, lights dimmed while rain hit softly against the windows outside.
Perfect.
Swimming was the only thing that quieted his mind completely.
No expectations.
No pressure.
No pretending.
Just water.
Ethan pulled his hoodie off carefully—
then winced sharply.
Pain shot through his shoulder instantly.
He grabbed the locker beside him tightly.
“Damn it.”
The injury was getting worse again.
The doctors had warned him months ago that pushing too hard could permanently damage the muscles.
But stopping wasn’t an option.
Because swimming wasn’t just a sport anymore.
It was his future.
His scholarship.
His escape.
Without it—
he had nothing.
Ethan reached into his bag for painkillers just as footsteps echoed nearby.
He froze instantly.
Lena stood near the locker room entrance holding volleyball equipment.
Both of them stared at each other.
Then her eyes dropped toward the pills in his hand.
The atmosphere shifted immediately.
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“Don’t.”
Lena frowned slightly. “Don’t what?”
“Look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you suddenly pity me.”
Something softened in her expression anyway.
And somehow that felt worse.
“I don’t pity you,” she said quietly.
“Good.”
Silence stretched between them.
Rain thundered harder outside.
Lena slowly stepped closer.
“You’re injured.”
“Observant.”
“Does Coach know?”
“No.”
“You should tell him.”
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“And risk losing nationals? Yeah, great idea.”
Lena crossed her arms. “You could seriously hurt yourself.”
“You think I don’t know that?”
The frustration in his voice surprised even him.
Lena went quiet.
Then softer—
“Why are you pushing yourself this hard?”
Ethan looked away immediately.
Because that question was dangerous too.
“No reason.”
“That’s obviously a lie.”
“You ask too many questions.”
“And you avoid answering all of them.”
He stepped closer suddenly.
Not aggressively.
Just enough to make her heartbeat visibly stumble.
“You always this interested in me, Carter?”
Lena held his gaze carefully.
“Maybe I’m trying to figure you out.”
For the first time in a long time—
Ethan didn’t know what to say.
Because no one had ever really tried before.
And honestly?
That scared him more than the injury ever could.
- Writer
