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Vanessa.
Her bright red hair was hard to miss, even from a distance, cascading over his arm as she leaned in to kiss him. I guess that meant they were officially dating after months of her chasing him.
Adrien didn't even glance my way—not a flicker of concern, not a single look to see if I was okay. He just kept kissing her, completely oblivious while Jace revved the engine and sped off down the street, their laughter fading into the distance.
I sat there on the ground for a moment, staring at the empty road, the gravel digging into my palms. My knees stung, and I could feel tears threatening to spill, but I refused to let them fall.
I was so tired of being a freaking baby.
"Unbelievable," I muttered, my voice shaking more than I wanted it to. "They nearly ran me over, and he couldn't even look up."
I stood up, brushing dirt off my pants and cringing at the small rip near the hem.
Part of me wanted to scream or maybe even throw something—anything to let out the mix of fear and humiliation rising in my chest.
As I was still brushing off my knees, I heard hurried footsteps on the pavement. For a second, I tensed, half-expecting another one of Adrien's friends to come out laughing. But when I looked, it wasn't Jace or Kris.
It was Ethan.
My mind short-circuited for a second. He looked even better than I remembered—taller and tanner, with his blond hair slightly falling into those beautiful blue eyes. Dressed in a black hoodie and jeans, he looked effortless, like he'd just stepped out of a daydream. My stomach did a little flip, totally betraying me.
"Noah?" he said, his voice low and filled with concern. "Are you okay? I saw that car almost hit you."
For a moment, I was speechless. I just stared at him like an idiot, my brain screaming to say something, anything, but my mouth wouldn't cooperate. When he crouched slightly to meet my eyes and offered a hand, I finally snapped out of my daze.
"Oh, um—yeah, I'm fine. Totally fine," I stammered, taking his hand. My voice cracked halfway through, making me want to crawl into a hole and disappear.
Ethan didn't seem convinced. His gaze shifted to my scraped palms and the torn hem of my pants, his jaw tightening. "You don't look fine," he said softly, gently brushing away a smear of dirt from my wrist, causing me to squeak at the contact. "Adrien and his crew are such assholes. I don't understand how they get away with this crap."
I swallowed hard, unsure how to reply. Hearing him talk about Adrien like that warmed me strangely. Most people just laughed off Adrien's behavior, admired him, or pretended not to notice, but Ethan's voice held genuine anger and protectiveness.
This was why I had fallen so hard for him—he was nothing like Adrien and his friends, who seemed to take pleasure in tormenting me. He was a good person; he was perfect.
"I guess people like them always get away with things," I muttered, my voice softer than I meant.
Ethan frowned. "That doesn't make it right," he said, glancing down the road where Adrien's car had gone. "You should be more careful walking home alone. Just text me next time. I'll walk you."
I froze, my cheeks heating up instantly. "O-Oh, that's—uh—you don't have to…"
He smiled, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. "I didn't say I had to. I want to."
Ethan's brows furrowed as he studied me, as if he wasn't sure I could make it home without tripping over nothing. He adjusted the strap of his backpack, that easygoing smile still lingering on his lips.
"Come on, let me walk you home at least," he said, his tone light but earnest. "It's getting late, especially after what just happened—"
"No!" I blurted out a bit too quickly, my voice going up an octave. "I mean—no, it's fine. I can walk myself. Totally fine. Two legs. Still working."
Smooth, Noah. Real smooth.
Ethan blinked, looking a little thrown off by my sudden panic. "You sure? It's no big deal, really. I don't mind—"
I shook my head vigorously, my heart racing. I could feel my face turning crimson. All I could think about was how he knew. Everyone knew, thanks to that horrible pool incident. Ethan definitely remember that I'd once had a massive, embarrassing crush on him, and the last thing I wanted was to seem desperate or pathetic again.
"I-I'm sure!" I stammered, taking a step back. "You probably have, uh, somewhere to be, right? So I'll just—yeah—I'll just go now!"
He tilted his head, a mix of confusion and amusement on his face. "Noah, you don't have to run away—"
Me? Run? Yes...yes, I will.
I was already backing away, gripping my bag like it was a lifeline. "Thanks again, Ethan! For helping me up. And, you know, caring about me. I owe you one! Bye!"
Before he could say anything, I turned and practically sprinted down the sidewalk. My heart felt like it was racing after a marathon. I didn't dare look back, but I could sense his gaze following me, probably wondering what on earth was wrong with me.
Once I turned the corner, I pressed my palms to my burning cheeks and groaned softly under my breath, "Oh my god, Noah. Could you be any more awkward?"
Somewhere behind me, I thought I heard a soft chuckle—Ethan's voice, low and warm, and it only made my stomach twist tighter.
I'd managed to survive almost getting hit by a car, but apparently, surviving a conversation with Ethan Seymour was a whole different challenge.
Ethan was being nice to me as usual even though I was sure he knew about my crush on him but I'm here making it worse by running away.
At this rate, with me running away from guys I found attractive, it'll be a miracle if I ever get to date someone before I graduate highschool.
Gigi was right, I was impossible.