Episode 3
1419 Words
CRACKS IN THE WALLS
Monday arrived, bringing with it the usual humdrum of Northview’s early morning buzz. The hallway was filled with familiar faces, each student either dragging their feet in a sleep-deprived haze or trying too hard to be alert and enthusiastic about the day. Eden wasn’t sure which category she fit into, but she wasn’t in the mood for either.
The weekend had passed in silence. Aiden Cross had kept his distance, and for the first time in months, Eden felt like she could breathe again. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted—something deeper than just his smile or his teasing. There was a weight to their last conversation, one that gnawed at her when the quiet hours of the night stretched too long.
She was getting too used to the idea of him. She had to stop. But part of her—an unsettling part—wondered if that was even possible.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket as she made her way to class.
Jade:
So, has Aiden finally stopped being a flirt, or do I need to teach him how to take a hint?
Eden rolled her eyes and typed back quickly, trying to keep her emotions in check.
Eden:
He’s left me alone. We’re fine.
A few seconds later, her phone vibrated again.
Zoey:
Liar.
Eden smirked, pocketing her phone as she approached her first class of the day. Chemistry. A subject she knew too well, and one that ironically made her mind wander despite her usual concentration on the periodic table.
Aiden was there. Not in her class, but in the hallway just outside. Eden hadn’t expected to see him so soon after their last interaction, but there he was, leaning against the lockers with that damn lazy smirk on his face. She tried not to look. She really did. But something about the way his eyes followed her as she passed caught her off guard.
“Eden,” he called softly.
She hesitated, heart thudding against her ribs. But she couldn’t avoid him forever.
“What do you want?” she asked, turning to face him.
Aiden didn’t answer right away. Instead, he gave her that look—the one that was both calculating and amused. “Just wanted to say... I’m not going to be a jerk anymore.”
She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest. “Define ‘jerk.’”
“You know,” he said, stepping closer. “The whole messing-with-you thing. I’ll lay off for real this time. No more pens, no more jokes.”
Eden swallowed the lump in her throat, unsure of what to make of his sudden change in behavior. She didn’t know if she could trust him—or if it was just another game. But there was something in his gaze that made her hesitate before speaking.
“I don’t need you to be nice,” she said softly. “I just need you to stop acting like I’m a joke.”
Aiden blinked, taken aback by her words. For a moment, she wondered if she had pushed too far, but then his expression softened.
“Alright,” he said, sounding almost sincere. “I can do that.”
And just like that, he was gone, slipping into the sea of students as if nothing had happened. Eden stood frozen for a few moments longer, trying to catch her breath. Her heart raced. That was the longest conversation they’d had without it being some kind of teasing battle, and it left her feeling strangely exposed.
The rest of the day felt like a blur. Eden went through the motions—class, lunch, practice—but Aiden’s words lingered in her mind, rattling her thoughts. Was he being honest? Or was this just another game he’d play until he grew bored?
At lunch, Jade and Zoey were waiting for her at their usual table. Jade had her phone out, probably scrolling through something irrelevant, while Zoey stared at her intently.
“So,” Zoey began, voice full of mischief, “you and Mr. Cross seem to be having... some interesting ‘conversations’ lately.”
Eden set her tray down a little too forcefully. “Nothing to report. We’re just talking.”
Zoey raised an eyebrow. “Just talking? That’s not what he said.”
Jade snorted. “I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what he didn’t say.”
Eden buried her face in her hands. “You guys don’t understand.”
“Try us,” Jade said, dropping her phone onto the table and giving Eden her full attention.
Eden hesitated. She wasn’t ready to explain why she felt so shaken up by Aiden’s sudden shift. But with her friends waiting, and their expressions too expectant to ignore, she relented.
“He’s... different than I thought,” she admitted quietly. “I don’t know why, but... I’m not used to people being nice to me.”
Zoey’s expression softened. “Eden, you deserve nice.”
Eden shook her head. “Not like that. Not from him. He’s just... I don’t know what he wants. One minute, he’s teasing me, and the next, he’s being... normal.” She paused, trying to find the words. “It’s like he’s trying to mess with my head.”
Jade raised an eyebrow. “And you’re... surprised by that?”
Eden looked at her in confusion.
“I mean, the guy’s a walking definition of trouble. He’s probably just bored and trying to make you think you’re special. It’s a game for him.”
Zoey frowned. “Jade, stop. Let her figure this out herself.”
Eden was quiet for a moment, turning her attention to the swirling thoughts inside her mind. She couldn’t ignore the pull she felt toward Aiden. It was magnetic, almost impossible to fight.
But Jade was right. He was trouble.
After school, Eden found herself in the library, trying to catch up on homework. The quiet atmosphere was a relief after the chaos of the hallways, but it didn’t last long. Aiden appeared again, standing near the entrance like he was debating whether to come over or not.
Eden’s heart skipped a beat. She had to admit, she’d missed the banter. Just the simple way he could make her laugh despite herself.
He caught her eye, and this time, he didn’t smile. He just walked over, sitting down beside her with a casual air that made her feel both nervous and strangely at ease.
“I swear, you spend more time here than I do at home,” he remarked, glancing at the stack of books in front of her.
Eden blinked, trying to steady herself. “I like the quiet.”
“Right,” he said, leaning back in the chair. “And I’m here because I figured we could talk. Like... normal people. Without the games.”
She couldn’t help but smirk. “You do have a way of complicating everything.”
Aiden’s lips quirked up, but he didn’t push further. Instead, he started talking about his latest project—something that sounded way too much like an excuse to start a conversation. They talked for a while, and for the first time, it felt real. Eden didn’t feel like she was constantly waiting for a punchline, or worse, some kind of insult.
“I guess I owe you an apology,” Aiden said when there was a lull in the conversation. “For being an idiot.”
Eden met his gaze, surprised. “What do you mean?”
“For pushing you,” he admitted. “I get that you don’t like people invading your space. But I’ve been a little... overbearing. So, sorry.”
She was quiet for a moment, considering his words. “I can’t promise I’ll be easy to deal with, but I’ll try not to bite your head off every time you show up.”
Aiden chuckled. “Deal.”
Over the next few days, things between them continued to shift. They weren’t exactly friends, but the teasing had stopped. There was something more subtle now—something that couldn’t be ignored.
Eden’s feelings were shifting too. She was used to staying in control, staying distant. But Aiden was starting to break through those walls. And every time he did, it terrified her a little more.
But at the same time, it was thrilling.
She wasn’t sure where this was going. She wasn’t even sure she wanted to know.
- Writer
