Chapter 1
The Confrontation
The apartment was unusually quiet that evening. The hum of the fridge filled the silence as Daphne sat at the kitchen table scrolling absently through her phone. She could feel Ethan's mood pressing into the room like a storm about to break. He'd barely said a word since dinner, and she hated the way his silence made her chest tighten.
Without warning, Ethan slammed the fridge door shut. The sound cracked through the stillness, making Daphne flinch.
"So, you're really gonna act like nothing's going on between you and Noah?" His voice was sharp, like glass breaking.
Daphne blinked, caught off guard. "What are you talking about? He's your friend, Ethan. Don't twist it."
Ethan stepped closer, eyes burning. "I'm not twisting anything. I see the way he looks at you. I see the way you let him look at you. And you don't stop him."
Her heart skipped. She crossed her arms, putting on the only armor she had — defiance. "He's just playful. That's how Noah is with everyone. You're overreacting."
Ethan laughed bitterly, the sound hollow. "Overreacting? Daphne, he's not just playful. He wants you. And you… you don't exactly push him away."
Heat rushed to her face. She shot back, "What do you want me to do, Ethan? Slam the door in his face? He's your friend. If you have a problem, talk to him, not me."
Ethan's jaw tightened. His voice dropped low, dangerous. "No. The problem isn't just him. It's you. You've got Daniel at another school, you've got Noah hanging around, and—" His voice cracked as he clenched his fists. "—and then there's us."
The words hung heavy between them. Daphne's pulse quickened. She hadn't expected him to say it out loud.
"Ethan…" she whispered, guilt pressing down on her chest.
"Don't 'Ethan' me." He cut her off, his voice raw. "Do you even know what you're doing? Or do you just like keeping all of us orbiting around you?"
"That's not fair!" Her voice broke, louder now, fueled by anger and shame. "I never asked for this. I never asked you to feel this way, or Noah, or anyone. I'm just trying to figure out my life—"
Ethan stepped back, shaking his head. His laugh was humorless, bitter. "Yeah, well… while you're figuring it out, you're tearing people apart. Including me."
Silence crashed over the kitchen. Daphne stared at him, throat tight, the words she wanted to say trapped somewhere she couldn't reach. Ethan turned away, shoulders tense, and walked out of the room, leaving her to the crushing weight of everything unspoken.