Chapter 9:
The days after their bakery meeting passed in a blur of routine.
Ava and Ethan began seeing each other more often. Sometimes at school, sometimes at the small park near their neighborhood. đ
Ethan was easy to talk to. He laughed at her jokes and noticed things others didn't.
One afternoon, as they walked along a quiet street, Ava noticed him glance at a flower growing near the sidewalk.
"Did you see that?" he asked.
"What? The flower?" she replied.
"Yes. I swear it wasn't there yesterday," he said, frowning.
Ava's heart skipped a beat. đď¸
Coincidence, she told herself. It's just a coincidence.
Later, Ethan helped her carry a stack of books home.
"You're always so careful," he said, handing her a heavy one. "Do you plan everything perfectly, or is it just luck?"
Ava hesitated, forcing a smile.
"Maybe a little of both," she said quietly.
That evening, Ava sat alone in her room, the pencil on her desk.
They're starting to notice small things, she thought.
Ethan⌠he's too curious. I have to be careful.
The next few days, tiny coincidences continued.
Her mother found exactly the right ingredients for dinner.
Her little brother discovered a lost toy under the bed.
Her grandmother woke up feeling stronger than usual.
Every time, Ethan's eyes seemed to linger a little too long.
One afternoon, he asked casually, "Ava⌠do you ever think things just⌠happen to line up perfectly for you?"
She paused, her fingers tightening around the pencil in her pocket.
"I⌠I guess sometimes," she said, keeping her tone light.
But inside, her mind was racing.
If he keeps noticing, it could all unravel.
I can't let him see the pencil.
Still, despite the tension, Ava felt something she hadn't before: trust.
Even with the secret weighing on her, Ethan made her feel⌠safe.
And deep down, she knew one day she would have to tell him.
But not yet.
Not until she understood the power she held in her hands. đď¸
END OF CHAPTER 9