📖 CHAPTER FOUR
Ethan's POV
Three days after
Spiraling is quiet.
It looks like showing up to class but not listening.
Like rereading the same line of code until it blurs.
Like avoiding the girl who sees too much.
Avery noticed immediately.
She always did.
"You've been dodging me," she said after class, keeping pace beside me.
"I've been busy."
"You walked past me yesterday."
"I didn't see you."
She stopped walking.
I kept going.
Mistake.
Avery's POV
Oh.
He wanted to run?
Fine.
I jogged ahead and stepped directly in his path.
"Say it," I said.
"Say what?"
"Whatever lie you're using today."
Students passed us. Someone wolf-whistled. Jordan waved from across the quad like this was free entertainment.
"You don't get to disappear," I snapped. "Not after opening up like that."
His jaw tightened. "I told you I ruin things."
"And I told you," I shot back, "that you don't get to decide that alone!"
Silence.
Then he laughed.
A short, broken sound.
"See?" he said. "This. This is why I pull away."
That did it.
Ethan
She was angry.
Not loud — focused.
"I am not your tragedy pit stop," she said. "You don't get to crash into me and leave without explanation."
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
"I joke because things end," she continued. "You shut down because you think everything will."
Her voice cracked. "But don't punish me for caring."
I felt like I was drowning.
Avery
We stood there, breathing hard.
Then Jordan shouted, "KISS OR FIGHT, PLEASE!"
I burst out laughing despite myself.
Ethan groaned. "I hate him."
"Everyone does," I said. "He's a gift."
I stepped closer.
Lowered my voice.
"You don't ruin things," I said. "You're just scared."
He didn't deny it.
Ethan
I was scared.
Of loving her.
Of losing her.
Of graduating and starting over.
"I don't know how to do this," I admitted.
Avery reached up and cupped my face.
"Good," she said softly. "Neither do I."
And then she kissed me.
The Kiss
It wasn't perfect.
Our noses bumped. She laughed into my mouth.
But then it slowed.
Her hands slid into my hoodie. Mine found her waist.
Everything quieted.
For once, my mind stopped running.
When we pulled back, her forehead rested against mine.
"Wow," she breathed. "You're real."
"So are you," I replied.
Avery
He smiled.
A real one.
I froze.
"Oh no," I said. "You're cute."
He rolled his eyes. "Don't ruin this."
"Too late." We both laughed then went yo class together