Chapter 24: Twisted Webs

Ethan barely slept that night. The note Ryan had sent to Aria haunted him, the words replaying in his mind like a taunt. He couldn't shake the image of her trembling hands as she read it, her fear piercing his heart.

But anger overshadowed everything else. Ryan wasn't just pushing boundaries anymore—he had gone far beyond them. Ethan knew he had to act, but he needed a plan, not an impulsive reaction.

The next morning, Ethan called Liam, his best friend, to meet him before school. Liam was the only person Ethan trusted enough to share his growing worries.

"Dude, you're spiraling," Liam said bluntly, leaning against Ethan's car. "This whole thing with Ryan… it's getting dangerous."

"Tell me something I don't know," Ethan muttered, running a hand through his messy hair.

Liam frowned. "Look, I get it. You're pissed, and I would be too. But if you go at him head-on, you're just giving him what he wants. He's baiting you."

"I don't care what he wants," Ethan snapped. "He's messing with Aria. That's all I care about."

Liam sighed. "Then be smart about it. Find out what he's up to before you make a move. You can't protect her if you're suspended—or worse."

Ethan knew Liam was right, but the thought of waiting, of letting Ryan think he was winning, made his blood boil.

---

At school, Aria was quieter than usual. She stayed close to Ethan, her eyes darting nervously around the hallways. Ethan noticed and placed a protective arm around her shoulders.

"Relax," he said softly. "I've got you."

She looked up at him, her expression a mixture of gratitude and worry. "I know, but he's not going to stop, Ethan. I can feel it."

"He'll stop," Ethan said firmly, his voice laced with determination. "I'll make sure of it."

As the day went on, it became clear that Ryan wasn't planning to stay quiet either. He seemed to appear everywhere Aria was, always lingering just long enough to make his presence known. His smirks, his pointed glances—they were calculated, designed to unsettle her.

Ethan's patience wore thin. By lunchtime, he was ready to confront Ryan again, but Aria stopped him.

"You promised me, Ethan," she said, stepping in front of him.

"That was before he started stalking you in plain sight," Ethan growled. "I can't just let him get away with this."

"We'll figure it out," Aria insisted. "But not like this. Please, Ethan."

Her pleading tone softened him, but only slightly. "Fine. But I'm not letting him out of my sight."

---

After school, Ethan and Aria sat in a quiet corner of the library, going through the notebook again. It felt like searching for a needle in a haystack, but Ethan was convinced there was a clue in there—something that would give him an edge over Ryan.

As they flipped through the pages, Aria paused, her brow furrowing. "Wait. Look at this."

Ethan leaned over to see where she was pointing. It was a photo of her walking home, but the background caught his attention. In the corner of the frame, partially hidden behind a tree, was Ryan's car.

"He's been following you," Ethan said, his voice low and dangerous.

"I know," Aria whispered, her fear evident.

Ethan clenched his jaw. "This is it. This is proof. He's not just some harmless creep—he's dangerous."

"What are you going to do?" Aria asked, her voice trembling.

Ethan looked at her, his eyes filled with a fierce protectiveness. "Whatever it takes to stop him."

---

Later that night, Ethan parked his car outside Ryan's house. The lights were off, but Ethan knew he was home. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as he debated his next move.

He had promised Aria he wouldn't do anything reckless, but this wasn't just about him anymore. Ryan was a threat, and Ethan was done playing games.

Finally, he stepped out of the car and walked up to Ryan's door. He knocked loudly, his heart pounding with anger and adrenaline.

The door opened, and Ryan stood there, his smirk as infuriating as ever.

"Ethan," Ryan said, feigning surprise. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Ethan didn't waste time. He grabbed Ryan by the shirt and slammed him against the doorframe.

"You think this is funny?" Ethan growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You think you can keep messing with her and get away with it?"

Ryan chuckled, his calm demeanor infuriating. "Careful, Ethan. You wouldn't want Aria to see this side of you."

Ethan's grip tightened. "Stay away from her. This is your last warning."

Ryan's smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "Or what? You'll hit me? Go ahead, Ethan. Let's see how far you're willing to go."

Ethan's fists itched to strike, but Aria's voice echoed in his mind, stopping him. He released Ryan with a shove, his eyes burning with rage.

"This isn't over," Ethan said before turning and walking away.

As he got into his car and drove off, Ryan watched him with a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"You're right, Ethan," Ryan muttered to himself. "This isn't over."