ere, if you

ce; it was Ethan, the tall, handsome boy she had been sec

kay," she

r. Ethan took his seat, flashing her a small smile before turning his attention to the

into the classroom with a scowl on his face, his eyes searched the room until t

ng his backpack onto the floor with a loud thud, causing Li

aid, nodding in

d shortly, his ton

th curiosity. There was defi

is aura pulled her in and she did not know why. But she was

k t

ul. She looked back a few times and they ended up making eye contact, which she was always the first one to br

r things before making her way out of the classroom. She

her at the spot, "the smoothie girl,"

ing nervous under

around Ethan," Mark said,

er eyebrows; she hadn'

leane

ring class." Lily's eyes widened

aught, and she knew it, I mean obviously,

oser. Her eyes widened and the scent of his cologne intensified, giving her an unfamili

h

g her stunned. Her heart drubbed, trying to make sense of what he

ring what Mark had meant by "He's trouble." Was Ethan really so

while she was in art. As their free periods weren't the same, she had nothing to do during her fr

s so immersed in the music that she didn't realize anyone was in the room until she finished playing and h

was Ethan. She immediately rec

ht Ethan's attention. He looked up

d replied shyly

dboard paper as if he didn't want anyone to know what he

n held up his book, swinging

ded to start a conversation. "What

k you the s

.

when I heard the sound of a pi

d, unsure of w

dn't even notice me," E

ocused," Lily said, let

ching the keys randomly, producing a noisy s

you p

ectly at Lily's eyes. "Why?

hy and nervous

e space he had left on the bench, ind

er

than noticed, "Why?

ah

rom him on the small bench, but she was not comfortable. Ethan realiz

l bench. Her heart pounded in her chest mercilessly. The universe was on her side today

nly she felt. "Place your fingers like this," she sai

usly would make her more nervous than she already was. Ethan placed his finge

laced his fingers on

hem on the piano. Then she took his other hand and placed it on the right keys. Lily was now holding b

rough her. His eyes were so blue, so captivating. He chuckled, "Yo

ezed Ethan's as butterflies filled her stomach. Immediately she realized that she had been holding onto him fo

ght she was cute, "You're done?" he aske

er hands on Ethan's again as she

an's hands were now locked in hers. She tried to steal a glance at him, but their eyes met yet again, and

id, his lips tipping off to a smirk as h

ng she had just finished playing, but so much better. H

nued to pla

een so sure that he was a beginner, but now

ed," Lily spluttered,

ed to teach me. I never said I didn't know how to

didn't know the keys and all,"

would teach someone, and you're surpri

y had never been good at teaching, and

ow," Ethan said, p

o

ether had come to an end. "Yeah, me too," she said, l

he didn't want this moment to end, but she knew it had to. He opened the

foolish. "Oh no, uhm... thank you

ily reassuringly. She felt her heart

ere in awe as they saw Lily and Ethan walking out of the music room together. Sarah and

Sarah smiled b

n pointed in the hallway and nod

side to see if anyone else was there. "Are you sure nothing

Were you guys alone in th

he second. "Yes, we were alone," she s

hat happened? How is he? What

!" Emily

at. "Nothing happened. We

ooks, but Lily didn't want to think

she said, rolling her eyes at them, hiding the

s," Lily said, trying

ad filled with the images of the way Ethan looked at her. Was ther

the Economics classroom. She watched them exchange a few gestures, wondering what kind of friend

Ethan and Mark. There was obviously something off between them. Perhaps it was the way Mark looked at Ethan wit

fternoon she finall

thing to do at home, so why rush? As she walked home alone, a car suddenly pulled up be

side, making her even more uneasy. Despite living in a safe neighborhood, the hor

n. Her fear turned to confusion as she heard her name. Her heart stopped beating for a second, h

?" An unrecognized