Chapter 11: Love No More

Clara had always felt that something was missing. Something that had been there once but had slipped through her fingers, like sand running through an open hand. It wasn't just the end of her relationship with Isaac, , but something deeper. And then there was Etien. Isaacs best friend. The one who had always been there in the background, quietly observing, never saying much, but somehow always there.

Today was one of those days when she couldn't shake off her depressing thoughts. With everything that has passed she finds herself these days often staring into space, daydreaming. Until she gets a text from Etien. He's always been there. As close as he is with Isaac, he somehow always manages to stay indifferent, Clara admired that about him. He protects and keeps everyone company. 

It was after school when she saw him by the entrance, waiting for either Charlie or Isaac, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets. Without thinking, Clara approached him, She wasn't sure why, but the words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them. "Hey, Etien. Do you want to hang out for a bit?"

Etien paused, a brief flicker of hesitation crossing his face. She could see it, even in the fading light of the afternoon. He was cautious, his brow furrowing as though considering the consequences of what he was about to say. Etien and Clara had never been close, the only time they were ever around each other was when Isaac was present. Clara had never quite understood that boundary, that invisible line keeping the left and right from meeting. Clara had always been what people would call 'Stuck up' but today she wanted something new, she wanted to explore a potentially deep friendship.

"I don't know, Clara," he replied, his voice soft but careful, as if choosing his words with precision. "I mean… do you think It'd cause any chaos if the two of us started hanging out."

Clara felt a pang of something unfamiliar—disappointment, maybe. It stung, but she refused to let it show. "You think it would be weird." She said, her tone light, almost teasing.

"N-No-" Etien tried to squeeze out.

"We're both adults. We can figure it out." Clara says laughing slightly.

He studied her for a long moment, the air between them thick with unspoken words. Finally, Etien exhaled, as if deciding that it was just easier to say yes than keep dodging it. "Okay, fine. I'll go with you. But just for a bit."

As they walked in silence toward the nearby park, Clara couldn't help but notice how comfortable the quiet was. It wasn't awkward—at least, not for her—but she could tell that Etien was still grappling with something. She wondered what it was. Was he still worried about Isaac? Or was there something else?

They settled onto a bench by the lake, the last rays of sunlight casting long shadows on the water. The sound of the wind rustling the leaves filled the space between them, and for a while, neither of them spoke. It wasn't until Clara broke the silence that she felt a shift in the atmosphere, as if something had opened up.

"Sooo...how are things?" she asked, her voice thoughtful.

Etien perked up at the sudden question "They're good, they're good-" He repeats. "I actually just introduced Isaac to Oliver. Oliver seemed to take a liking to him but I'm not so sure Isaac likes him too much." 

Clara eyes shot to Etien at the sound of Olivers name "Oliver from the summer?" Clara asked

"Yeah why?" Etien followed up. Clara shook her head and looked back up at the park scenery.

Silence fell back on the conversation, the two of them looking out at the couples and the people walking their pets. "Etien, do you believe in love?" she asked, still staring at the view.

He turned his head to look at her, clearly surprised by the question. It wasn't exactly what he had expected her to say. He felt a heavy pull in his chest—an undeniable magnet of attraction entered his body, even if he didn't fully understand it.

"I don't know," he replied, looking out over the water, trying to choose his words carefully. "I mean, I've seen it. I've seen what it can do to people—good and bad. But... I don't know if I believe in it the way people talk about it, you know? Like... the fairy tale stuff."

Clara laughed softly, her gaze drifting to the sky. "Yeah. I get that. It's not always as simple as people make it sound. But... don't you think sometimes it's worth believing in? Even if it's just a little?"

Etien met her eyes then, his expression softening. He felt something in him shift. Maybe it was the way she said it. Maybe it was the way her eyes seemed to glow in the dimming light. All this time Etien was so afraid of getting close to Clara because he didn't want to hurt Isaac, he was so worried that if what happened between them at the party surfaced into their daily lives then what would happen. Amidst all of this he forgot that Clara probably had these feelings too, and seeing her in such a open state and listening to her views made him feel indescribably warm.

"I don't know," he said again, quieter this time, as if speaking to himself more than to her. "I guess I never really thought about it. Maybe... maybe it's because I've always been afraid of what happens when it goes wrong. I've seen it tear people apart. So I never bothered to give it a chance."

Clara shifted on the bench, her heart swelling with a mixture of empathy and Sadness. "Yeah, I know what that feels like. Love can hurt. But... it can also make you feel like you're flying. It can make you feel like you matter, like you're not alone. Isn't that worth the risk?"

There was a long silence after that, and for a moment, Etien couldn't speak. His chest tightened with emotion, a weight he hadn't expected. He was realizing that the conversation wasn't just about love anymore. It felt as if Clara was talking to herself. 

Clara, sensing the shift in the air, smiled softly. "It's okay if you don't have the answers, Etien. I don't, either. But sometimes, the best moments in life happen when you stop overthinking it."

As they stood up to leave, Clara felt a strange sense of peace. There was something there, something that hadn't been there before, but she wasn't sure what it was. The lingering feeling followed her all the way home, the uncertainty hanging in the air like a whisper.

Etien, on the other hand, found himself walking home with a heaviness in his chest. His thoughts were a jumble. Clara had said something about love that had struck him deeply, and the way she looked at him—there was something in those eyes that he couldn't ignore. The way she had made him feel like maybe... maybe love wasn't as terrifying as he'd always thought. He couldn't stop thinking about it.

On his way home, Etien took a shortcut through a narrow alley, the familiar sound of his footsteps echoing off the brick walls. As he passed by a bench, something caught his eye—a book, half buried in the leaves. He bent down, curiosity piqued, and picked it up. The cover was worn, the title barely visible, but what he could read made him pause: Coming Back for You by Avery Nicholson.

The description on the back of the book intrigued him: A love story of a bad boy and a mysterious girl. when she reveals to him what she loves the most he begins to strive to be that very person while coming to terms with reality.

Etien didn't know why, but something about it felt... personal. Like it spoke to him, to everything he'd just felt during his conversation with Clara. He shoved it into his bag and decided, as he continued his walk home, that he'd read it. Maybe it would help him understand what was going on inside him, this confusing mix of fear and hope and something deeper.

When he finally made it home, he placed the book on his desk, staring at it for a moment before picking it up, feeling a strange sense of anticipation. Maybe, just maybe, it would help him find the answers he hadn't been able to voice.

That afternoon, Clara lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, replaying every word between her and Etien. Was now finally the time to move on, Oliver and Isaac already met. It wasn't until she closed her eyes, her thoughts swirling, that she realized, her life is entering a new chapter.