Chapter Eleven —Between Us
1466 Words
The sound of the school bell echoed through the hallway as students rushed toward their classrooms.
Amara stood beside her locker, trying to fit her books inside while talking to one of her friends.
“Have you seen Ethan today?” her friend asked.
Amara paused.
“No.”
“He was in the library when I came this morning.”
Amara smiled slightly.
“Of course he was.”
There was something different about Ethan lately.
Not his feelings.
Not the way he looked at her.
Not even the way he smiled whenever she walked into a room.
It was his schedule.
Ethan had started preparing seriously for his promotional examination. The exam was important because it would determine the next stage of his education and bring him closer to college.
And Ethan was determined to do well.
He had always been intelligent, but now he was taking his studies more seriously than ever.
Extra lessons.
Library sessions.
Practice questions.
Long hours of reading.
Sometimes, Amara would text him and not receive a reply for hours.
Sometimes, she would check her phone at night and realize he hadn’t been online at all.
At first, she didn’t understand it.
Then she reminded herself that Ethan wasn’t ignoring her.
He was simply busy.
Her phone vibrated.
She quickly picked it up.
Ethan: Good morning, beautiful. Sorry I didn’t reply last night. I was studying until I fell asleep.
Amara smiled.
Amara: Good morning. It’s okay. How are you?
A few seconds later, another message came.
Ethan: Tired. But I’ll survive 😂.
She laughed.
Amara: You better. I still need you.
There was a short pause before his reply appeared.
Ethan: And I need you too.
Amara stared at the screen for a moment, smiling to herself.
Even when he was busy, Ethan still found little ways to remind her that she mattered.
Later that afternoon, Amara found him outside the library.
He was sitting alone with several books spread across the table.
His forehead was slightly wrinkled as he concentrated on a question.
“Ethan.”
He looked up.
The tired expression on his face immediately changed.
“Amara.”
She smiled and walked over.
“You look stressed.”
“I am stressed.”
She sat beside him.
“What’s the question?”
Ethan turned the notebook toward her.
“Don’t laugh.”
She looked at it.
“I won’t.”
“You already look like you’re about to.”
“I promise I’m not.”
She tried to understand the question, but after a few seconds, she looked at him.
“I actually don’t know either.”
Ethan laughed.
“See?”
“Don’t laugh at me!”
“I thought you were going to help me.”
“I came to support you emotionally.”
He shook his head, laughing.
“You’re useless.”
Amara playfully pushed his shoulder.
“Excuse me?”
He smiled.
“I’m joking.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
They just sat there together.
Amara looked at him.
“You’ve really been working hard.”
“I have to.”
“You’re going to do well.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
Ethan smiled.
“That’s why I like having you around.”
Amara’s cheeks warmed.
“You better.”
He reached across the table and gently held her hand.
“I’ve missed you.”
She looked at their hands.
“You see me almost every day.”
“That’s not the same.”
“How?”
“Because lately, I see you, but I don’t get enough time with you.”
Amara smiled softly.
“I’ve missed you too.”
For a few minutes, they forgot about books and exams.
They talked quietly, laughed, and caught up on everything they’d missed during the week.
Eventually, Ethan checked the time.
“I have to go back to studying.”
Amara nodded.
“I know.”
He looked at her.
“You’re not upset?”
“No.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, Ethan.”
She smiled.
“I know this exam is important to you.”
He squeezed her hand.
“Thank you for understanding.”
Before she left, Ethan leaned closer and gave her a quick, gentle kiss.
Amara smiled when they pulled apart.
“Now go and study.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She laughed as she walked away.
Days passed.
Ethan’s schedule became even busier.
There were days when Amara barely heard from him.
She would send him a message in the afternoon.
No reply.
She would check again in the evening.
Still nothing.
Sometimes she would feel a little sad.
She missed their long conversations.
She missed the random calls.
She missed hearing about his day.
But whenever Ethan finally came online, he always explained.
And Amara could see the exhaustion in his messages.
One night, her phone suddenly rang.
“Hello?”
“Hi.”
She immediately recognized his voice.
“Ethan!”
He laughed.
“Why do you sound so excited?”
“Because I haven’t heard your voice properly in days.”
“I know.”
There was silence for a moment.
Then Ethan said, “I’m sorry.”
Amara’s voice softened.
“You don’t have to apologize.”
“I feel like I’ve barely been there.”
“You’re trying to prepare for your future.”
“But you’re important too.”
“I know.”
She smiled.
“I just miss you sometimes.”
“I miss you every day.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Amara lay back on her bed, smiling.
“Tell me about your day.”
Ethan began talking.
He told her about the practice test he’d taken, the difficult questions, the teacher who had given them extra work, and how tired he was.
Amara listened.
She didn’t interrupt.
She simply let him talk.
After a while, Ethan became quiet.
“Are you still there?”
“Yes.”
“I thought you slept.”
“No. I’m listening.”
He smiled.
“That’s another thing I love about you.”
“What?”
“You actually listen.”
Amara’s heart fluttered.
“I love you too.”
“I love you more.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
They both laughed.
For the first time in days, it felt like nothing had changed between them.
They were still Amara and Ethan.
Still teasing each other.
Still laughing.
Still finding comfort in one another.
Still in love.
A few weeks later, Ethan’s promotional exam was getting closer.
He was spending almost every free moment studying.
Amara decided to surprise him.
After school, she waited outside the library with a small bag.
When Ethan finally came out, he looked exhausted.
He stopped when he saw her.
“What are you doing here?”
“I brought you something.”
She handed him the bag.
He opened it and smiled when he saw the snacks and a small handwritten note.
“Amara…”
“Don’t make it emotional.”
He laughed.
“You did this for me?”
“Of course.”
He looked at the note again.
“You really believe I’m going to pass?”
“I don’t just believe it.”
She looked him in the eyes.
“I know you will.”
Ethan smiled.
He gently pulled her into a hug.
“Thank you.”
Amara hugged him back.
“You’re welcome.”
When they pulled away, Ethan looked at her for a moment.
“I promise when this exam is over, I’m taking you somewhere.”
“Where?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“Ethan!”
He laughed.
“I’m not telling you.”
“You’re annoying.”
“And you love me.”
She smiled.
“Unfortunately.”
“Unfortunately?”
“Very unfortunately.”
He laughed and gave her another quick kiss before picking up his books.
“Okay. I have to go.”
“Go and study.”
He started walking away, then turned around.
“I love you!”
Amara laughed.
“I love you too!”
As Ethan disappeared down the hallway, Amara watched him go.
She knew things were changing.
Soon, he would finish school.
Soon, college would come.
Soon, their lives would become even busier.
But maybe growing up didn’t mean losing each other.
Maybe it meant learning how to love each other through every new chapter.
And for now, Amara was willing to learn.
Because no matter how busy Ethan became…
No matter how many nights they couldn’t talk…
No matter how many days they had to miss each other…
Their love was still there.
Quiet.
Steady.
And stronger than either of them realized.
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