Tangled Dynamics

The following morning at Maple High was fraught with an undercurrent of tension. The discovery of Samuel's arrival still hung in the air like a dark cloud, but it was Ethan's stormy mood that seemed to steal the spotlight. He had barely said a word to Maya since their awkward exchange in the hallway the day before, and it was clear to anyone paying attention that something was off.

Maya, for her part, couldn't help but notice the shift. Ethan had been distant ever since the moment she'd gotten too close to him, but she knew better than to give it too much thought. After all, they had always been the best of friends. There was no room for anything more… right?

As they sat down at their usual table in the cafeteria, Maya couldn't shake the feeling that something between them had changed. Ethan was staring at his phone, his fingers tapping absentmindedly against the screen, clearly lost in thought.