Chapter 10 The Way He Looked At Her
1012 Words
After the school festival, things between Lily and Ethan somehow became even more confusing. Not bad confusing. Just the kind that kept Lily awake at night replaying small moments in her head.
Especially the way Ethan had been acting around her lately.
He was more playful now. More comfortable. Sometimes he stood too close without even realizing it. Sometimes he looked at her for too long during conversations and smiled like he knew something she didn’t. And the worst part was that he did all these things so naturally, like he had no idea what it was doing to her.
Monday morning started normally. Lily was arranging books inside her locker when she suddenly heard Ethan’s voice behind her.
“You know you always look serious before class”
Lily turned quickly. “You scared me.”
Ethan laughed softly. “Sorry.”
“You appeared out of nowhere.”
“Maybe you were too distracted to notice me.”
Lily rolled her eyes slightly but couldn’t stop herself from smiling. Ethan noticed immediately.
“There it is,” he said.
“What”
“That smile. You hide it too much.”
Lily looked away quickly after hearing that. Nobody had ever paid attention to her smile before.
Ethan leaned lazily against the locker beside hers while she arranged her books.
“You coming to lunch later”
“Probably.”
“Probably means no.”
“It means maybe.”
Ethan shook his head slowly. “You always do that.”
“Do what”
“Act distant before agreeing to things anyway.”
Lily looked at him for a second. “Maybe I like making people suffer.”
Ethan laughed quietly and stepped a little closer.
“You’re not as quiet as everyone thinks you are.”
His voice sounded softer this time. Closer.
Lily suddenly became very aware of how little space was between them.
Before she could even think properly, Daniel shouted Ethan’s name from down the hallway.
Ethan sighed dramatically. “Saved by the bell.”
“What does that even mean”
He smirked slightly. “Nothing.”
Then he walked away leaving Lily standing there confused and trying very hard not to think too much.
But of course she did.
Later during lunch, Sophie sat beside Lily watching her carefully.
“You look distracted.”
“I’m fine.”
“Mhm.”
Lily looked up from her food. “Why do you always sound like you know something?”
“Because I do know something.”
“And what exactly do you know?”
Sophie smirked. “That Ethan Blake is flirting with you every chance he gets.”
Lily nearly choked on her drink. “He is not.”
“Oh please. At this point even blind people can see it.”
Lily shook her head quickly. “That’s just how he acts.”
“Not with everyone.”
Lily stayed quiet after that because honestly she wasn’t sure anymore.
The thing was Ethan really did act differently around her. He teased her more. Paid attention to little things. Always found excuses to touch her lightly without it looking intentional. A hand on her shoulder while laughing. Fingers brushing hers while passing something. Leaning close while talking even when there was enough space.
And every single time it happened, Lily felt her whole body react before her brain could catch up.
That afternoon they had free period so most students stayed outside near the football field. Sophie and Daniel eventually disappeared somewhere, leaving Lily sitting alone on the bench scrolling through her phone.
A few minutes later Ethan dropped down beside her.
“You look lonely.”
“I’m literally sitting peacefully.”
“Same thing.”
Lily laughed quietly.
For a moment neither of them spoke. The weather was cold but calm, and students’ voices echoed softly around the field.
Then Ethan suddenly looked at her.
Like really looked at her.
Lily noticed immediately.
“What” she asked nervously.
“Nothing.”
“You’re staring.”
“So are you.”
Her heart nearly stopped.
“I’m not.”
“You were,” he said casually.
Lily quickly looked away while Ethan laughed softly beside her.
“You get shy too easily.”
“I do not.”
“You do.”
He sounded way too amused by it.
Lily crossed her arms slightly. “You enjoy embarrassing me.”
“Maybe a little.”
She looked at him again ready to complain, but the words disappeared the moment she noticed how close he was sitting now.
Their shoulders were almost touching.
Ethan noticed her staring and smiled slowly.
“What happened now”
“Nothing,” Lily said quickly.
He kept looking at her for another second before speaking again.
“You know your eyes change colour sometimes.”
Lily blinked in confusion. “What”
“In sunlight,” he explained quietly. “They look lighter.”
Her chest tightened immediately.
Nobody had ever noticed something so small about her before.
She didn’t know what to say.
Ethan seemed completely relaxed after saying it too, like he had no idea how personal it sounded.
“You notice weird things,” Lily finally muttered.
“I notice you,” he replied without thinking.
The moment the words left his mouth, even Ethan looked slightly surprised.
Lily’s heart was beating so loudly she was sure he could hear it.
For the first time since meeting him, silence suddenly felt dangerous.
Ethan looked away first and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “That sounded smoother in my head.”
Lily laughed before she could stop herself.
A real laugh.
The kind that made Ethan smile instantly again.
“There’s the smile I was talking about,” he said softly.
And just like that, Lily knew she was in serious trouble.
Because the more time she spent around Ethan, the harder it became to protect her heart from him.
Especially when he kept flirting without even realizing he was doing it.
- Writer
