A Growing Rift
Bella
The day after the argument, I still couldn’t bring myself to talk to Ethan. Frustration boiled beneath the surface, and at school, I barely acknowledged him.
We sat next to each other in class, but the silence between us was suffocating. It felt like there was an invisible wall keeping us miles apart. I refused to look at him, and for once, he didn’t try to make things right.
During the break, Ethan hesitated, then finally said, “Bella, want to go to the cafeteria?” His voice was soft, almost hesitant.
I ignored him, grabbing my bag and walking out of the room without a word. I needed space, somewhere to clear my head.
I wandered over to the bench near the basketball court, a quiet spot where I often went when I wanted to be alone. The breeze felt cool against my
