The space between us

Chapter Three — The Things We Don't Say

Three weeks into their project, Amara had developed a problem.

She was getting used to Ethan.

Not in the way Nia thought.

At least, that was what Amara kept telling herself.

She wasn't falling for him.

She wasn't waiting for his messages.

She wasn't checking the cafeteria whenever she entered to see if he was there.

And she definitely wasn't smiling whenever his name appeared on her phone.

She was simply becoming comfortable with him.

There was a difference.

At least, she hoped there was.

On Thursday morning, Amara walked into the cafeteria and immediately spotted Ethan sitting at their usual table.

He looked up when he saw her.

His face brightened slightly.

"Morning."

"Morning."

She placed her bag beside him.

"You've been here long?"

"About twenty minutes."

"Why?"

He shrugged.

"I like this table."

Amara looked around.

There were at least ten empty tables.

"You like this particular table?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

He looked at her.

"It's quiet."

She narrowed her eyes.

"You're lying."

A small smile appeared on his face.

"Maybe."

Amara sat down.

"You could have just said you wanted to sit with me."

"I could have."

"But you didn't."

"I wasn't sure you'd believe me."

She smiled.

"I wouldn't."

They were interrupted by Marcus, who dropped into the chair beside Ethan.

"Look who it is."

Amara looked at him.

"Hi, Marcus."

Marcus grinned.

"She knows my name."

"I've heard it enough."

"From Ethan?"

Ethan sighed.

"Marcus."

"What?"

"Go away."

Marcus laughed.

"I was only asking."

Amara looked between them.

"You two are strange."

"We've been friends since we were children," Marcus explained. "He's always been like this."

"Like what?"

"Quiet. Serious. Annoyingly responsible."

Ethan rolled his eyes.

"Ignore him."

Marcus leaned toward Amara.

"He's also terrible at expressing his feelings."

Ethan gave him a warning look.

"Marcus."

"Okay, okay."

Marcus stood.

"I'll leave you two alone."

Amara watched him walk away.

Then she looked at Ethan.

"Is he always like that?"

"Unfortunately."

She laughed.

"You two are close."

"He's like a brother."

The way Ethan said it made Amara smile.

"That's nice."

"Yeah."

For a moment, he looked thoughtful.

Then his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

His expression changed.

Amara noticed immediately.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

The same answer.

Again.

But this time, she didn't believe him.

He stood.

"I have to take this."

"Okay."

He walked away.

Amara watched him answer the call near the entrance.

His voice was too low for her to hear.

But his body language told her enough.

His shoulders had stiffened.

His free hand had curled into a fist.

Whatever the call was about, Ethan wasn't happy.

A few minutes later, he returned.

"Everything okay?" she asked.

"Yeah."

"You sure?"

He hesitated.

Then nodded.

"Yeah."

She didn't push.

But she noticed he didn't smile again for the rest of breakfast.

That afternoon, Amara was studying in the library when Chloe Anderson approached her.

"Can I talk to you?"

Amara looked up.

"Sure."

Chloe pulled out the chair opposite her.

"I wanted to ask about Ethan."

Amara's fingers stopped moving.

"What about him?"

"Our project."

Amara relaxed slightly.

"Oh."

Chloe smiled.

"He's been spending a lot of time with you."

Amara frowned.

"We're project partners."

"I know."

"So?"

Chloe looked toward the entrance.

"It's just... Ethan doesn't usually spend this much time with people."

Amara wasn't sure what to say.

"Maybe we're just getting along."

"Maybe."

There was something strange about Chloe's tone.

Amara closed her notebook.

"Is there something you want to tell me?"

Chloe looked at her.

Then she smiled.

"Not really."

She stood.

"Anyway, good luck with the project."

"Thanks."

Chloe walked away.

Amara watched her go.

She couldn't explain why the conversation bothered her.

It shouldn't.

Chloe had said nothing particularly rude.

But the feeling remained.

A warning she couldn't quite understand.

That evening, Ethan texted her.

Ethan: Are you free tomorrow?

Amara stared at the message.

She typed.

Amara: For the project?

Three dots appeared.

Ethan: Not exactly.

Her heart skipped.

She stared at the screen.

Then another message arrived.

Ethan: I need your opinion about something.

Amara smiled.

Amara: Sure. What is it?

Ethan: I'll tell you tomorrow.

She frowned.

Amara: That's annoying.

Ethan: I know.

Amara: You're becoming annoying.

Ethan: Becoming?

She laughed.

Amara: Goodnight, Ethan.

Ethan: Goodnight, Amara.

She placed the phone beside her.

For several seconds, she stared at the ceiling.

Why did a simple conversation with him make her feel this way?

She didn't know.

And she wasn't ready to find out.

The next afternoon, Ethan was waiting outside the library.

"Hey."

Amara walked toward him.

"Hi."

"You came."

"You asked me to."

"I wasn't sure you would."

"Why?"

He shrugged.

"You're difficult to predict."

She laughed.

"You're one to talk."

They began walking across campus.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

"That's suspicious."

"You'll survive."

They eventually stopped outside a small café near the university.

Amara looked at him.

"You brought me here?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I wanted to ask you something."

They sat near the window.

Ethan looked unusually nervous.

Amara had never seen him like that.

"What?"

He took a breath.

"My father wants me to transfer."

Amara's smile disappeared.

"What?"

"To another university."

"Why?"

"Family reasons."

She didn't know what to say.

"Are you going?"

"I don't know."

"When would you know?"

"Soon."

Amara looked down.

For some reason, the thought of Ethan leaving bothered her more than it should have.

"But your project..."

"We can finish it."

"That's not what I meant."

He looked at her.

"I know."

Silence settled between them.

Amara finally asked, "Do you want to leave?"

Ethan looked through the window.

"No."

The answer was quiet.

"But sometimes what we want isn't the same as what we're expected to do."

Amara understood that feeling.

She had experienced it before.

"Then don't let them decide for you."

He looked at her.

"You make it sound easy."

"It isn't."

"Then why say it?"

"Because someone should."

Ethan smiled faintly.

"You're different."

"Different how?"

"You don't treat me differently because of my family."

Amara shrugged.

"Why would I?"

"Most people do."

She looked at him.

"Maybe they see your father's money."

"And you?"

"I see you."

The words escaped before she could stop them.

Silence.

Ethan's eyes remained on hers.

Neither of them moved.

Amara suddenly realized how the sentence sounded.

She looked down quickly.

"I mean... I see you as a person."

"I know."

His voice was softer now.

"That's what I meant."

Their eyes met again.

For a moment, the world around them seemed to disappear.

Then Ethan's phone rang.

He looked at the screen.

His expression immediately hardened.

His father.

He declined the call.

Amara noticed.

"You should answer."

"I don't want to."

"Maybe you should."

He looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because whatever happens, you should at least hear what he has to say."

Ethan sighed.

"You sound like Marcus."

"That's insulting."

He laughed.

The tension finally broke.

"You're right," he said.

"Of course I am."

He answered the call.

Amara looked out the window while he spoke.

She didn't listen.

It wasn't her business.

But when Ethan finally ended the call, she could tell from his expression that something had changed.

"What happened?"

He shook his head.

"He wants me home this weekend."

"Are you going?"

"I have to."

She nodded.

"Okay."

"I'll be back Monday."

She looked at him.

"Good."

He smiled.

"Good?"

Amara realized what she had said.

"I mean... for the project."

"Of course."

His smile told her he didn't believe her.

Neither did she.

And for the first time, Amara wondered whether the space between them was becoming smaller.

Much smaller than she was ready to admit.