Chapter 3

Almost.

She had spent the entire week trying not to think about what everyone was saying.

Whenever someone whispered her name, she pretended not to hear.

Whenever someone mentioned Adrian, she suddenly became interested in whatever was written in her notebook.

And whenever Maya tried to bring up the subject, Lena changed it.

She didn't want to think about it anymore.

Unfortunately, the school had other plans.

"Lena!"

She turned around.

Maya came running toward her.

"What happened?"

Maya grabbed her arm.

"Adrian is looking for you."

Lena's heart immediately jumped.

"Adrian?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I don't know. Jason said he wants to talk to you."

Lena tried to hide her smile.

Maybe he wanted to ask her out.

Maybe yesterday's rumors had made him realize he actually liked her.

Maybe—

"Lena."

Maya's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Don't get your hopes up."

Lena frowned.

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm just curious."

Maya sighed.

"Fine. Just be careful."

Lena nodded.

She followed Maya toward the courtyard.

The place was crowded because students were gathering before the first class.

Then Lena saw him.

Adrian stood in the middle of a group of boys.

He looked relaxed, confident, and completely comfortable.

The moment his eyes landed on Lena, he smiled.

Lena's stomach fluttered.

He raised a hand.

"Lena!"

Several students turned.

Her smile disappeared.

Everyone was looking at her.

She slowly walked toward him.

"Hi."

Adrian smiled.

"Come here."

Lena stopped in front of him.

"What do you want?"

Adrian looked around at his friends.

Then back at her.

"I heard you've been telling people that I like you."

Lena's eyes widened.

"What?"

"I've heard it from several people."

"I never said that."

Jason laughed.

"Come on, Lena. You told him you liked him."

"That's different."

Adrian folded his arms.

"Is it?"

Lena's face became hot.

"I never said you liked me."

Adrian smiled.

"Good."

She stared at him.

"Why?"

"Because I don't."

A few people laughed.

Lena felt her stomach drop.

She looked around.

Everyone was watching.

Maya stepped forward.

"Adrian, that's enough."

He ignored her.

He kept looking at Lena.

"Look, Lena. You're a nice girl."

Lena swallowed.

"But?"

"But I don't like you like that."

She nodded slowly.

"Okay."

She tried to walk away.

Then Jason said,

"Wait! You should at least tell her why."

The boys laughed.

Adrian chuckled.

"Why?"

"Yeah."

Adrian looked at Lena again.

She could feel tears threatening her eyes.

But she refused to cry.

He shrugged.

"Because she's not my type."

More laughter.

Someone whispered,

"Obviously."

Another student laughed.

Lena's chest tightened.

Adrian continued.

"She's just..."

He paused.

His friends waited.

Then he smiled.

"Too much."

Lena stared at him.

"What does that mean?"

Adrian shrugged.

"You know what I mean."

"No, I don't."

"You take up too much space."

The laughter became louder.

Lena's face burned.

Maya immediately stepped between them.

"That's enough!"

Adrian raised his hands.

"Relax. I'm joking."

Lena stared at him.

Joking.

That word again.

She wanted to laugh.

She wanted to pretend it didn't hurt.

Instead, she felt something inside her crack.

She looked at Adrian.

"Is that all?"

He nodded.

"Yeah."

Lena forced a smile.

"Okay."

She turned around.

Maya followed immediately.

They walked away from the crowd.

Lena didn't say anything.

Not one word.

They reached the hallway.

Maya grabbed her hand.

"Lena."

"I'm fine."

"You're not."

"I'm fine."

"Lena—"

"I said I'm fine."

Her voice cracked.

Maya went silent.

Lena quickly looked away.

She didn't want Maya to see the tears forming in her eyes.

She blinked repeatedly.

"I'm going to class."

"Lena..."

"I'm going to class."

She walked away.

Behind her, Ethan had been standing near the staircase.

He had witnessed everything.

He looked toward Adrian.

Adrian was already laughing with his friends.

Ethan shook his head.

Then he followed Lena.

He found her sitting alone inside an empty classroom.

Her head was down on the desk.

She quickly lifted it when she heard footsteps.

"Go away."

Ethan stopped.

"It's me."

She looked at him.

"Oh."

He walked inside.

"I can leave."

Lena wiped her face quickly.

"No."

Ethan sat in the chair across from her.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Lena laughed.

It was a strange, broken laugh.

"I can't believe I actually liked him."

Ethan didn't answer.

"He's so embarrassing."

Still nothing.

Lena looked at him.

"Say something."

"What do you want me to say?"

"I don't know."

Ethan leaned back.

"Then I won't say anything."

That made her smile slightly.

"You are strange."

"I've been told."

Lena looked down.

"I thought he was different."

"He might be."

She looked at him.

"You're defending him?"

"No."

Ethan shook his head.

"I'm saying you don't know him well enough to decide who he is."

Lena sighed.

"Well, now I know enough."

She looked toward the window.

"I feel stupid."

"You aren't."

"I chased a boy who clearly doesn't want me."

"That doesn't make you stupid."

"Then what does it make me?"

Ethan thought for a moment.

"Human."

Lena stared at him.

Then she laughed softly.

"That's a terrible answer."

"It's the only honest one."

She smiled again.

For the first time since the courtyard, her chest felt a little lighter.

The bell rang.

Ethan stood.

"Come on."

"Where?"

"Class."

"I don't want to."

"Neither do I."

Lena smiled.

"Then why are you going?"

"Because unlike you, I actually want to graduate."

She laughed.

"You've got a point."

They walked out together.

Neither of them noticed Adrian watching from the other end of the hallway.

His smile had disappeared.

He wasn't sure why.

He had gotten exactly what he wanted.

Lena understood that he wasn't interested.

So why did seeing her walk away with Ethan bother him?

He pushed the thought aside.

It didn't matter.

At least, that's what he told himself.

Meanwhile, Lena returned to class.

She sat down and opened her notebook.

On the corner of the page was a tiny heart she had drawn around Adrian's initials weeks ago.

She stared at it.

Then slowly crossed it out.

She closed the notebook.

For the first time, she didn't feel like chasing Adrian.

But she wasn't ready to let go yet.

Not completely.

Because somewhere inside her, a tiny voice still whispered:

Maybe he didn't really mean it.

And that tiny hope would be enough to keep her from walking away.

For now.