Lena was late.
Not because she wanted to be.
Okay—maybe a little.
She stood outside the tutoring room, staring at the door like it had personally offended her.
"Two hours," she muttered. "Two whole hours… with him."
She pushed the door open.
And of course—
Ethan Blake was already there.
Sitting comfortably. Relaxed. Like this was his natural habitat.
He didn't even look surprised to see her.
"Took you long enough," he said lazily, flipping a page in his notebook.
Lena dropped her bag onto the table a little harder than necessary. "I have a life."
He raised a brow. "Doing what? Losing arguments?"
She shot him a glare. "Keep talking. I dare you."
His lips twitched, like he was enjoying this way too much.
God, she hated that.
—
The tutor, a tired-looking senior named Maya, sighed as she looked between them.
"I've been warned about you two," she said. "So here's how this is going to work—you'll complete the assignment together. No fighting, no arguing, no—"
"We're not children," Lena cut in.
Ethan leaned back in his chair. "Speak for yourself."
Maya pinched the bridge of her nose. "I already regret this."
She slid a paper across the table.
Lena picked it up—and froze.
"This is a joint paper?" she asked, horrified.
"Yes."
"With him?"
"Yes."
"For a grade?"
Maya gave her a look. "Do you want to pass this class or not?"
Lena slowly turned to Ethan.
He was already watching her.
Calm. Amused. Dangerous.
"Try to keep up, Carter," he said.
Oh, she was going to lose her mind.
—
Thirty minutes in…
"Your structure is terrible," Ethan said.
Lena looked up sharply. "Excuse me?"
"It's all over the place."
"At least I have structure. You're just writing whatever sounds smart."
"It is smart."
"It's arrogant."
"It's correct."
"You're impossible."
"You're dramatic."
They spoke at the exact same time:
"You're the problem."
Silence.
Maya stood up abruptly. "I need coffee. If I come back and you're not working, I'm separating you permanently."
The door shut behind her.
And just like that—
It was just the two of them.
Again.
—
Lena exhaled slowly, rubbing her temple. "This isn't going to work."
Ethan didn't respond immediately.
She glanced up.
He was… watching her.
Not in the usual teasing way.
Something else.
"What?" she snapped.
"You're different when you're not arguing."
Her brows furrowed. "What does that mean?"
"You actually look… tired."
That caught her off guard.
"I'm not tired."
"Sure," he said quietly. "You just keep rereading the same line five times for fun."
Her grip tightened on her pen.
"I'm fine."
Ethan leaned forward slightly, his voice softer now.
"You don't have to pretend."
That annoyed her more than anything.
"I'm not pretending," she said sharply. "Some of us actually have to work hard for our grades. Not everyone has everything handed to them."
The second the words left her mouth—
She knew she hit something.
Ethan went still.
The teasing? Gone.
His jaw tightened slightly, eyes darker now.
"You think that's what this is?" he asked, voice low.
Lena hesitated.
But she didn't back down.
"If the shoe fits."
A pause.
Then—
"Believe whatever you want, Carter."
Cold.
Completely cold.
He leaned back, putting distance between them.
And somehow…
That felt worse than when he was annoying her.
—
Another twenty minutes passed in silence.
Actual silence.
No teasing.
No arguing.
Nothing.
Lena hated it.
"Fine," she muttered. "Your introduction wasn't bad."
Ethan didn't look up. "Wow. I'm honored."
She rolled her eyes. "Don't get used to it."
A small pause.
Then—
"Your argument earlier…" he said, still not looking at her. "It was good."
Lena blinked.
"…Thanks."
Another pause.
Something shifted.
Not softer.
Not friendly.
But… different.
Like they weren't enemies for just a second.
—
Until the door opened again.
And everything went back to normal.
—
Later that evening…
Lena was walking alone across campus, the sky already dark.
She adjusted her bag, quickening her pace.
Something about the path felt… off.
Too quiet.
Too empty.
Footsteps sounded behind her.
Her heart skipped.
She turned—
Three guys.
Not students she recognized.
One of them smirked. "Hey. You're Lena, right?"
Her grip tightened on her bag. "What do you want?"
"Relax," another said, stepping closer. "We just want to talk."
Yeah.
That never meant anything good.
Lena took a step back.
"I'm not interested."
She turned to leave—
A hand grabbed her wrist.
Her heart slammed.
"I said—let go—"
"Didn't you hear her?"
The voice was cold.
Sharp.
Familiar.
The grip on her wrist disappeared instantly.
Lena looked up.
Ethan.
Standing there.
Eyes dark.
Expression unreadable.
Dangerous.
The guys scoffed. "Mind your business."
Ethan stepped forward slowly.
And smiled.
Not his usual teasing smile.
This one?
Was worse.
"You don't want to do this," he said quietly.
Something in his tone made the air shift.
Even Lena felt it.
The guys hesitated.
And then—
One of them muttered, "Whatever," before backing off.
The others followed.
Just like that, they were gone.
—
Silence.
Lena looked at Ethan.
"You followed me?"
"I was walking," he said.
She crossed her arms. "Right."
A pause.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
The question was simple.
But it didn't feel simple.
"I'm fine," she said automatically.
He stepped closer.
Too close.
"You don't look fine."
Her breath caught slightly.
"Stop doing that."
"Doing what?"
"Acting like you care."
A beat.
Ethan held her gaze.
And for once—
He didn't smirk.
"I don't act," he said quietly.
Her heart betrayed her again.
Stupid heart.
Stupid Ethan Blake.
Because for the first time…
Lena wasn't entirely sure she hated him anymore.