Chapter 21: Shadows of Danger

The following morning, Aria woke up with Ethan lingering in her thoughts. His intensity, his protectiveness—everything about him made her feel simultaneously frustrated and safe. But something about the way he spoke of Ryan unsettled her.

At school, Ethan was waiting near the lockers. His dark, piercing gaze immediately locked on Aria as she walked in. She tried to ignore the butterflies in her stomach as she approached him.

"Good morning, Bennett," he greeted, his voice smoother than usual.

"You don't have to wait for me every morning," she said, trying to sound unaffected.

Ethan smirked, leaning closer. "What if I want to?"

Before she could reply, Ryan appeared at the end of the hallway, his eyes narrowing as he watched their exchange. Ethan noticed him instantly, his expression darkening.

"Stay close today," Ethan muttered, his protective edge unmistakable.

"I'm not a damsel in distress, Ethan," Aria replied, though a part of her appreciated his concern.

"You might not be," he said, his voice dropping, "but that doesn't mean you're safe."

Ryan spent the day weaving his web. His subtle manipulation started with Aria's friends, casually dropping hints to make them question Ethan's intentions.

"He's got a temper," Ryan told Sophie in a hushed tone during lunch. "You've seen how he gets around her. Don't you think it's… obsessive?"

Sophie frowned, her loyalty to Aria wavering. "Ethan's protective. That's different."

Ryan leaned back with a smirk. "Protective, possessive… where's the line? Just look out for her, okay?"

Meanwhile, Ryan's messages to Aria became increasingly frequent. Each one was carefully worded to appear harmless, yet laced with implications that Ethan might not be the person she thought he was.

That afternoon, Ethan and Aria found themselves alone in the library. The quiet atmosphere only heightened the tension between them.

"Ryan's been talking to Sophie," Aria said, her voice low but firm.

Ethan's jaw clenched. "What did he say?"

"Just… things. Trying to make me doubt you."

Ethan stepped closer, his dark eyes blazing. "And do you?"

Aria held her ground, meeting his intense gaze. "No. But I don't need you fighting all my battles, Ethan."

"I'm not going to stand by and let him manipulate you," Ethan said, his voice rough with emotion.

"You're not my bodyguard," Aria shot back.

"No," he said, his voice softening, "but I care about you, Aria. More than I should."

Her breath hitched as the weight of his words sank in. The space between them seemed to vanish as Ethan leaned in, his hand brushing her cheek.

"Do you care about me?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Aria's heart pounded. She wanted to deny it, to keep her guard up, but the truth slipped out before she could stop it. "Yes."

Ethan's lips claimed hers in a kiss that was both tender and possessive, leaving no room for doubt about his feelings. Aria melted into him, her hands gripping his shirt as the world faded away.

From a distance, Ryan watched the two through the library's glass door. His jaw tightened, his hands balling into fists. This wasn't over.

"Enjoy it while it lasts," he muttered, a dangerous glint in his eyes.