CHAPTER FOUR-ROOMMATES
2086 Words
Ethan woke up on Saturday morning to the sound of Marcus arguing with someone on the phone.
"No, bro. I'm telling you, that's not my problem."
Ethan opened his eyes.
Marcus was pacing around the room, wearing only shorts.
"Then tell him I'll pay next week."
A pause.
"Next week."
Another pause.
"Bro, stop shouting."
Ethan pulled the blanket over his face.
Marcus glanced at him.
"What?"
Ethan didn't answer.
Marcus continued the conversation.
"No, I'm not borrowing from Ethan."
Ethan uncovered his face.
"Good."
Marcus laughed.
The call ended.
"Morning."
"Morning."
"What was that about?"
"My landlord."
"Already?"
"Apparently I owe him."
"You moved in four days ago."
"I know."
"How do you already owe him?"
Marcus shrugged.
"Talent."
Ethan laughed.
Marcus threw a shirt at him.
"Get up."
"Why?"
"We're going out."
"Where?"
"Campus."
"That's not a place."
"It is when you're broke."
Ethan sat up.
"You're broke too."
"Exactly. That's why we're going together."
---
They spent the morning exploring the quieter parts of campus.
Ethan hadn't realized how beautiful Westbridge was.
There were trees everywhere, small gardens between buildings, a basketball court near the sports complex, and a large fountain in the center of campus.
Marcus stopped at the fountain.
"This is where people come to fall in love."
Ethan laughed.
"You're an idiot."
"I'm serious."
"You've been watching too many movies."
Marcus pointed.
"Look."
Ethan followed his finger.
Amelia was sitting beneath a tree with Sophia.
She was reading.
Marcus grinned.
"I told you."
Ethan ignored him.
"Let's go."
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
Marcus followed, laughing.
They hadn't gone ten steps when Amelia looked up.
"Ethan!"
He stopped.
Marcus whispered, "Your girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend."
"Not yet."
Ethan ignored him.
Amelia walked toward them.
"Where are you going?"
"Nowhere."
She looked at Marcus.
"Hi."
Marcus smiled.
"Marcus."
"Amelia."
He looked at Ethan.
"I suddenly have somewhere to be."
Ethan stared at him.
"Where?"
"Anywhere that isn't here."
He walked away.
Amelia laughed.
"Your friend is funny."
"He's annoying."
"I like him."
"Don't encourage him."
She smiled.
"What are you doing?"
"Reading."
"On Saturday?"
"Some people actually study."
Ethan laughed.
"Are you calling me lazy?"
"I'm not saying anything."
She closed her book.
"Do you want to walk?"
"Sure."
They started walking.
For the next hour, they talked about everything and nothing.
Ethan told her about growing up in a small neighborhood with his mother.
Amelia told him about traveling with her family.
She mentioned expensive hotels and private schools without realizing how different their lives were.
Ethan didn't judge her.
He liked listening to her.
Then they reached the fountain.
Amelia stopped.
"This is my favorite place."
"Why?"
"I used to come here when I was younger."
"You've been here before university?"
"My dad was on the university board years ago."
Ethan nodded.
"That's interesting."
She looked at him.
"What's your favorite place?"
"I don't know."
"You have to have one."
"My mum's kitchen."
Amelia laughed.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously."
"Why?"
"Because whenever I was having a bad day, she'd make something."
"What?"
"Anything."
She smiled.
"Your mother sounds amazing."
"She is."
Amelia looked at him for a moment.
"I'd like to meet her someday."
Ethan's heart skipped.
"Maybe."
She smiled.
"Maybe."
Neither of them knew why the moment suddenly felt different.
They continued walking.
---
That evening, Ethan returned to his room and found Marcus sitting on his bed.
Marcus looked serious.
"What's wrong?"
"I need advice."
Ethan sat down.
"About?"
"Girls."
Ethan laughed.
"You came to the wrong person."
"You've been talking to Amelia all day."
"So?"
"Do you like her?"
Ethan was quiet.
"I don't know."
Marcus nodded.
"That's a yes."
Ethan threw a pillow at him.
"Shut up."
Marcus laughed.
"Just be careful."
"Why?"
"Because girls like Amelia don't usually date guys like us."
Ethan frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"You know what I mean."
"No. I don't."
Marcus sighed.
"Her family is rich."
"So?"
"You're struggling."
Ethan's expression hardened.
"I know."
"I'm not insulting you."
"It sounds like you are."
"I'm trying to protect you."
Ethan stood.
"I don't need protection."
Marcus looked at him.
"I know."
A silence settled between them.
Then Marcus smiled.
"Just don't fall too hard."
Ethan looked away.
He didn't answer.
Because somewhere inside him, he knew it might already be too late.
---
# CHAPTER FIVE
## AN UNEXPECTED FRIENDSHIP
Monday came quickly.
Ethan arrived early for class.
He chose a seat near the window.
A few minutes later, Amelia walked in.
She looked around the room.
Her eyes found Ethan.
She smiled.
Then she sat beside him.
"Morning."
"Morning."
She placed her bag down.
"You didn't save me a seat."
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you hated people taking your seat."
She laughed.
"Maybe I changed my mind."
He smiled.
Their lecturer entered.
The class began.
Halfway through, Amelia leaned toward him.
"You finished the assignment?"
"Almost."
"Can I see yours?"
Ethan looked at her.
"You want to copy?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"I want to compare."
"That's what people say before copying."
She smiled.
"Please."
He handed her his notebook.
She looked through it.
"Your handwriting is terrible."
"Give it back."
She laughed.
"No."
"Ethan?"
Their lecturer suddenly looked toward them.
Both froze.
"Are you two having a private meeting?"
The class laughed.
Ethan shook his head.
"No, sir."
"Then pay attention."
"Yes, sir."
Amelia covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Ethan whispered:
"This is your fault."
She whispered back:
"Definitely."
---
After class, they walked to the cafeteria.
Amelia ordered food.
Ethan stood behind her.
She noticed he wasn't ordering anything.
"You aren't eating?"
"I'm not hungry."
She stared at him.
"You've been saying that all week."
"I'm fine."
She looked at the menu.
Then ordered another meal.
She handed it to him.
"Eat."
Ethan frowned.
"No."
"Why?"
"I can buy my own."
"I know."
"Then—"
"I bought it because I wanted to."
Ethan stared at her.
"I don't need charity."
Her expression softened.
"It's not charity."
He looked away.
She lowered her voice.
"Ethan, I'm not trying to embarrass you."
"I'm not embarrassed."
"You are."
He didn't respond.
She pushed the plate toward him.
"Just eat."
After a moment, he did.
She smiled.
"Good."
He laughed.
"You are bossy."
"I know."
---
Their friendship grew almost without either of them noticing.
They began studying together.
They walked to class together.
They texted at night.
Sometimes they spoke for hours.
Sometimes they said nothing important at all.
Amelia: Are you awake?
Ethan: Unfortunately.
Amelia: I'm bored.
Ethan: That's not my problem.
Amelia: It is now.
He would smile at his phone.
She became part of his routine.
And he became part of hers.
Sophia noticed first.
One afternoon, she confronted Amelia.
"You like him."
Amelia looked up.
"Who?"
"Ethan."
"No."
Sophia laughed.
"You're terrible at lying."
"I'm not lying."
"You talk about him every day."
"I do not."
"You do."
Amelia rolled her eyes.
"He's my friend."
Sophia leaned closer.
"That's how it starts."
Amelia smiled.
"Maybe."
---
Ethan was experiencing the same problem.
Marcus wasn't letting him breathe.
One night, Ethan was texting Amelia when Marcus walked past.
"You smile differently when you're talking to her."
Ethan locked his phone.
"No, I don't."
"You do."
"Go to sleep."
Marcus laughed.
"You're falling."
Ethan shook his head.
"I'm not."
But after Marcus went to bed, Ethan unlocked his phone.
A message was waiting.
Amelia: Goodnight, Ethan ❤️
He stared at it.
Then smiled.
Ethan: Goodnight, Amelia.
He almost added a heart.
He stopped.
Deleted the message.
Typed again.
Ethan: Sleep well.
He sent it.
Then he lay back.
For some reason, he couldn't stop smiling.
---
The following Friday, something unexpected happened.
Ethan was walking toward the library when he saw Amelia sitting alone.
She looked upset.
He approached.
"Hey."
She looked up.
"Hi."
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
He sat beside her.
"That's the third time you've said that."
She smiled weakly.
"My parents are fighting."
Ethan became quiet.
"About what?"
"Me."
"Why?"
"My father thinks I'm spending too much time with you."
Ethan sighed.
"Again?"
She nodded.
"What did he say?"
"He said you're a distraction."
Ethan looked down.
"Maybe you should listen to him."
Amelia stared at him.
"What?"
"I don't want to cause problems for you."
"You aren't."
"I don't want your family to hate you because of me."
She shook her head.
"That's not your decision."
"Ethan—"
"No."
She looked at him.
"I choose who I spend time with."
He smiled.
"Okay."
She smiled too.
"Okay."
Neither of them knew it, but that conversation was the first time Amelia chose Ethan over her family's expectations.
And it wouldn't be the last.
---
# CHAPTER SIX
## THE ASSIGNMENT
Their lecturer made the announcement on Monday morning.
"For your first major assessment, you'll be working in pairs."
The entire class erupted.
Ethan looked at Marcus.
Marcus immediately shook his head.
"No."
"You don't even know the pairs."
"I know enough."
The lecturer began reading names.
"Ethan Cole."
Ethan sat upright.
"Amelia James."
The room suddenly seemed much louder.
Amelia turned around.
Their eyes met.
She smiled.
Marcus leaned toward Ethan.
"You're finished."
Ethan laughed.
The lecturer continued reading.
The assignment required them to research a social issue, conduct interviews, and present their findings in two weeks.
After class, Amelia walked beside Ethan.
"We're partners."
"Apparently."
"You're happy?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
She smiled.
"Good."
They decided to meet that afternoon in the library.
At 4 p.m., Ethan arrived first.
He opened his laptop.
Five minutes later, Amelia appeared carrying two drinks.
"I brought you something."
Ethan looked at the cup.
"Coffee?"
"Yes."
"You know I don't like coffee."
She smiled.
"I know."
He laughed.
"Then why did you buy it?"
"Because I wanted to see your reaction."
"You're evil."
"I know."
She sat opposite him.
They worked for almost three hours.
For once, neither of them got distracted.
Their research was going well.
Until Amelia noticed something.
"Ethan."
"Yeah?"
"Why is your laptop so old?"
He looked at it.
"It works."
"The screen is cracked."
"I know."
"When did it happen?"
"Last year."
"Why haven't you replaced it?"
He shrugged.
"Money."
She became quiet.
Ethan noticed.
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Feel sorry for me."
"I'm not."
"You are."
She looked at him.
"I just wish you would let people help you."
"I'm not good at that."
"Why?"
"Because I've spent most of my life figuring things out myself."
She nodded.
"I understand."
"No, you don't."
She didn't get angry.
Instead, she smiled.
"Then teach me."
Ethan looked at her.
"What?"
"Teach me how to understand."
For a moment, he couldn't answer.
"You're strange."
"So are you."
He smiled.
"Fair."
---
They finished the assignment around 7 p.m.
When they stepped outside, it had started raining.
Amelia looked at the sky.
"Oh no."
"What?"
"I didn't bring an umbrella."
Ethan pulled his from his bag.
"You can use mine."
"What about you?"
"I'll manage."
She shook her head.
"We can share."
They stood beneath the small umbrella together.
It wasn't big enough.
Their shoulders touched.
Neither moved away.
The rain grew heavier.
Amelia looked up at him.
"You're quiet."
"I'm thinking."
"About?"
"You."
She smiled.
"Me?"
"Yeah."
"What are you thinking?"
Ethan hesitated.
Then shook his head.
"Nothing."
She laughed.
"Liar."
They continued walking.
Neither realized how close they had become.
When they reached Amelia's hostel, she stopped.
"Thank you."
"For the umbrella?"
"For today."
Ethan smiled.
"Anytime."
She looked at him.
"Ethan?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad I met you."
His heart beat faster.
"I'm glad too."
She stepped closer and hugged him.
It was brief.
But Ethan felt it long after she pulled away.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
He watched her disappear inside.
Then he started walking back to his hostel.
He didn't notice the black car parked across the road.
He didn't notice the man sitting inside.
But someone had been watching them.
Daniel lowered his phone.
On the screen was a photograph.
Ethan and Amelia beneath the umbrella.
Daniel stared at it.
His jaw tightened.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
"Hello?"
A man's voice came through.
"Your father wants to see you tomorrow."
Daniel looked toward the hostel.
"Why?"
"He heard about the boy."
Daniel's expression changed.
"What boy?"
"You know exactly who."
The call ended.
Daniel looked back at Ethan.
For the first time, he realized this was no longer about jealousy.
His family was getting involved.
And when powerful families decided someone wasn't welcome, they rarely asked twice.
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