His Ex
923 Words
By the time Ava got to school the next morning, she already knew something was wrong.
Again.
She stepped into the hallway and felt it instantly—the stares, the sudden hush as she walked past, the whispering behind hands.
She wanted to disappear.
Zara caught up to her before first period.
“Okay, don’t panic,” Zara said, clearly enjoying herself a little too much, “but everyone thinks you and Ethan had some steamy study session in the library yesterday.”
Ava stopped walking. “What?”
Zara grinned. “It’s all over SnapSpace. Someone saw you two leaving together.”
“We were doing the stupid project!” Ava hissed, clutching her books tightly.
“Well, yeah. But the internet doesn’t care. Rumor has it you’re dating now.”
Ava groaned. “Why does everyone at this school live for drama?”
Zara shrugged. “Because their lives are boring.”
By lunch, the whispers were louder than ever. Ava felt like she was walking through a minefield. People she barely knew were giving her sly looks. Some smiled. Some sneered.
And then came Madison Cross.
Tall. Blonde. Beautiful. Rich. The kind of girl who never walked—she glided.
She stepped in front of Ava just as she was heading to the cafeteria.
“Hey… Ava, right?” Madison said, fake-nice.
Ava blinked. “Yeah.”
Madison tilted her head. “I just think it’s cute how you’re trying to be close with Ethan.”
Ava frowned. “We’re doing a project together.”
“Sure,” Madison said, her smile icy. “You know, he and I used to hang out. A lot. He likes… confident girls. You should be careful not to embarrass yourself.”
Ava’s chest tightened, but she held her ground. “Thanks for the advice. I’ll file it under ‘trash.’”
Madison’s smile vanished. “Just don’t forget your place.”
Then she turned and walked away like a queen dismissing a servant.
Ava stood frozen, her heart pounding in her ears.
She sat with Skye and Zara at lunch, but barely touched her food. Skye noticed.
“You okay?” she asked.
Ava nodded stiffly. “Just tired.”
Zara leaned closer. “You should tell Ethan about Madison.”
“No. I don’t care.”
“You do care,” Zara said. “Which means you like him.”
Ava didn’t answer.
Because maybe—just maybe—Zara was right.
And she hated that.
Sixth period. English class.
They were reading poetry today. Mr. Carter asked for volunteers to analyze a love poem.
Ethan raised his hand.
And, for some reason, Mr. Carter called on Ava too.
“Why don’t you both discuss it together?” he said, like it was a brilliant idea.
Ava didn’t move. “I’d rather not.”
Before she could say more, Madison’s voice rang out. “Maybe Ava just doesn’t understand love poetry. Not all of us read romance books and cry.”
A few students laughed.
Ava’s cheeks burned. Her throat closed up. She opened her mouth to fire back—but nothing came out.
Then Ethan spoke.
“Actually,” he said, standing, “Ava’s got a better brain than half of this class. So maybe try shutting up for once.”
The room went silent.
Even Madison looked shocked.
Ava just stared at him, wide-eyed.
After class, Ava caught up to him by the lockers.
“You didn’t have to say that.”
He shrugged. “I wanted to.”
“Now she’s going to hate me more.”
“She already hated you.”
Ava looked at him. “Why did you really do it?”
He didn’t answer right away.
Then he said, “Because I hate when people think they can talk down to others like that. And because you didn’t deserve it.”
She blinked, surprised.
“Thanks,” she said, softer now.
He smirked. “Don’t get used to it.”
That afternoon, they met at the library again to finish the first half of the project.
They didn’t talk much at first. Just worked, scribbled notes, flipped pages.
But then, out of nowhere, Ethan said, “So… are you always like this?”
Ava looked up. “Like what?”
“Quiet. Angry. Smart. Complicated.”
She laughed. “You just described four different people.”
He smiled. “Maybe. But I kinda like that about you.”
Ava looked away quickly. Her heart was doing somersaults.
She told herself it meant nothing.
It had to.
They stayed late finishing the first section of the project. By the time they packed up, the sun was setting and the halls were nearly empty.
Ethan walked her toward the front doors.
“You walking home?” he asked.
“Yeah. I live, like, five blocks away.”
“I’ll walk with you,” he said simply.
She hesitated, then nodded.
They walked in silence for a while. The wind was cool, and the sky was glowing orange and pink.
“I’m not used to people defending me,” she said quietly.
“You should be,” he replied. “You deserve it.”
Her throat tightened.
This boy, who everyone said was arrogant and heartless, had just shown her more kindness than anyone else at school.
And for a moment, Ava forgot about Madison. About the rumors. About everything.
She just walked beside him, wondering how someone who seemed so wrong for her... could feel so right.
- Writer
