Chapter 18: Fire and Ice

The walk home was quieter than usual, but the air between ethan and aria was pregnant with unspoken words. He kept his hands shoved in his pockets and his jaw clenched, and even though their shoulders brushed under the street lamps a few times, neither said anything. Aria threw a few glances his way, trying to figure out what he was thinking. "You didn't need to come with me," Ethan finally said. "I wasn't going to let you take on Ryan alone," replied Aria. "You are dangerous, Ethan." Ethan stopped in his track and turned towards her. "I am also with you, Aria," his words carried weight that took her breath away. "Not with me you aren't," Ethan said, stepping towards her, making her heart race in his warmth. "I know enough," Aria said softly. "I am still here."---Then, At Her House, Aria Stood At The Door. Ethan stands at the railing of the porch, watching her with a look of annoyance and admiration. "You should get some sleep," he told her gently. "And you should stop trying to push me away," she said. Ethan smirked and shook his head. "You're impossible," Aria said. "You're stubborn," he said, stepping closer to her and letting his gaze linger on her lips. "Goodnight, Bennett." Aria felt her pulse quicken as he turned and walked away. What he'd said frustrated her but made her feel giddy too. --- The next day at school, Sophie was waiting for Aria at their locker. "You look... "That's different," Sophie said warily. "Different how?"Give me a minute." Sophie retorted, giving Aria a hard stare. She rolled her eyes like someone who stayed up late having a heart-to-heart with a brooding bad boy. "Sure it wasn't," Sophie teased. "I really wasn't like that," Aria started, but at that moment, Ethan was sauntering down the hall. Their eyes locked for a moment, halting the discussion there and then. You were saying?"Shut up" Aria said, her cheeks turned pink. "Sophie whispered, pushing Aria.----Ethan showed up at Aria's place, later in the evening. He casually leaned up against the doorframe. But the seriousness in his eyes had her heart skipping a beat. "What are you doing here?"I had to see you," he said looking simply at me. Aria raised an eyebrow when he walked up on the porch. "Why?Ethan glanced at the ground then at her before finally speaking. "I cannot get you out of my head." Her breath hitched but she quickly recovered. It looks like you wouldn't admit that. "Yeah, well," Ethan said as he rubbed his neck. "You have a way of messing with my head." Aria smiled faintly, leaning against the porch. Maybe you are easy to mess with. Ethan smirked but the playful tone of the moment didn't last. He moves closer, his hands graze against hers. "You make me crazy Bennett" He says. Aria felt his body close to hers. As Ethan kissed her, the rest of the world faded away. Their kiss was both fiery and tender. Meanwhile, Ryan was locked up in his room, planning the next course of action. "After the whole situation with Ethan, his obsession only deepened. He wanted his control back so bad… He phoned, voice cold." I want you to search for information regarding Ethan Carter. "Nothing is too small." A wretched smile formed on his face when he hung up the phone.