CHAPTER FIVE-AN UNEXPECTED FRIENDSHIP
893 Words
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.
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