Charlotte's words hang in the air, heavy with finality. I look at her, my heart pounding. Her face is pale, but there's a fierce edge in her eyes—a side of her I haven't seen before.
Ethan takes a step forward, his hand running through his hair in frustration. "Charlotte, I—"
"No," she cuts him off, her voice trembling but resolute. "I'm done with the lies. You've been avoiding me for weeks now, and I've been too blind to see it. I know what's been happening between you and her." She points at me, her gaze full of accusation. "You think I don't notice? I see it. And I'm not going to stand here and let you play me like a fool."
Ethan's face softens, guilt and regret washing over him. "It's not like that, Charlotte. It's… complicated."
Charlotte scoffs, shaking her head. "No, it's not complicated. You just don't have the guts to admit it. You're torn between me and her, and it's not fair to either of us."
I feel a pang of guilt shoot through me. She's right. Ethan has been torn, and I've been caught in the middle of something I never intended. But I can't deny the feelings that have been growing inside me.
"I never wanted this to happen," I whisper, my voice barely audible. "I never wanted to hurt anyone."
Charlotte's eyes narrow at me, her expression hardening. "Save it. I don't care about your excuses. I'm done."
I watch as she turns on her heel and walks away, her steps quick and decisive, like she's made up her mind for good. Ethan stands there, looking at me, his face filled with a mixture of guilt and relief.
"I didn't want it to end like this," he says quietly. "I never wanted to hurt anyone. But I can't keep pretending anymore."
I look at him, my chest tightening. "Ethan, I…"
Before I can finish, he steps closer, his hand reaching out to gently touch my arm. "I know. This is crazy. But I need you to know that I care about you. And I'm not going to pretend that it doesn't matter."
My heart races, my mind spinning in a whirlwind of confusion. What does this mean? Does it mean he's finally made his choice?
"I can't promise you anything right now," he says, his voice steady despite the tension. "But I want to figure this out. I want to see where this goes. If you're willing to give me a chance."
I look into his eyes, and for the first time, I see something real—something that feels like the truth.
I nod slowly, my voice barely a whisper. "I don't know what this is, but I'm willing to find out. I think…" I hesitate, my breath caught in my throat. "I think I feel the same way."
Ethan smiles, a small, tentative smile that makes my heart skip a beat. "Then let's figure it out together."
But before we can say anything else, a loud crash echoes from behind us, and I turn around to see a figure stumbling into the hallway, a dark shape emerging from the shadows.