The Distance Between Us

Eddie hadn't slept in days.

Every time he closed his eyes, the same image played over and over in his mind—Vic's hand wrapped around Maya's, his grip possessive, her expression unreadable. It was seared into his brain, looping like a cruel reminder of something he didn't want to believe.

He told himself it didn't matter. That Maya Carter was exactly what Zeke had warned him about—a player, a girl who toyed with hearts just for the thrill of it. But no matter how hard he tried to push it away, the thought gnawed at him, burrowing under his skin.

"Dude, you're overthinking it," Zeke had told him just the other day, leaning against his locker. "Maya's hot. That's why you're stuck on her. You don't actually like her, man. It's just attraction messing with your head."

Eddie had scoffed, shaking his head. "It's not just that."

"Then what is it? You think she's serious about you?" Zeke let out a dry laugh. "Maya gets bored easily. She plays with guys, makes them think they're special, then moves on when something more entertaining comes along."

Eddie clenched his jaw. He didn't want to believe that. But the image of her with Vic—her ex, the guy who had cheated on her—was enough to make doubt settle deep in his gut.

So, he did the only thing that made sense. He stayed away.

For weeks, he avoided her. Every time he saw her in the hallways, he turned the other way. If she was in the library, he'd pack up his books and leave. Even at lunch, he changed where he sat, making sure he was nowhere near her.

But Maya wasn't the type to be ignored.

Today, she finally cornered him.

Eddie had just left the library, turning down an empty hallway when he spotted her coming straight toward him. His first instinct was to walk the other way, but she was faster.

"Eddie!" Her voice was firm, demanding.

He gritted his teeth, pretending not to hear, but then—thud.

A sharp yelp made him spin around.

Maya was on the ground, her hand gripping her ankle, brows furrowed in pain.

Eddie's heart jumped. Was she hurt?

His instincts took over before his brain could stop him. He rushed to her side, crouching down. "What happened?"

She winced. "I think I sprained my ankle."

Eddie hesitated. He wanted to believe this was some kind of act—another trick to pull him back in. But the way she clutched her leg, her face twisting in discomfort, made it impossible for him to ignore.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Can you stand?"

She tried, biting her lip, but let out a soft whimper as soon as she put weight on her foot.

Eddie cursed under his breath. "Come on, I'll take you home."

Maya gave him a small smile, letting him help her up. As he guided her to his car, his arm wrapped around her for support, she felt the warmth of his touch. It was different from the way other guys touched her—Eddie wasn't possessive, wasn't controlling. He cared.

And she liked that way too much.

She let herself lean into him a little more, just enough to feel the tension in his muscles as he kept a firm hold on her.

When they reached his car, Eddie opened the door for her. "Get in," he murmured.

Maya slid inside, watching him as he walked around to the driver's side. There was something different about him today—he wasn't just cold; he was conflicted.

The drive was quiet, but not comfortable. The air between them was thick with things unsaid. Maya stole a glance at him, noting the way his grip tightened on the wheel, how his jaw was set in frustration.

"You've been avoiding me," she finally said.

Eddie kept his eyes on the road. "Yeah."

Her chest tightened. "Why?"

Eddie let out a humorless laugh. "Come on, Maya. Don't act like you don't know."

She frowned. "If I knew, I wouldn't be asking."

His knuckles went white against the steering wheel. "I saw you with Vic."

Maya's stomach dropped.

Eddie turned to her then, just for a second, his green eyes burning with something raw. "Tell me, Maya. Was it fun? Playing with me while still running back to him?"

Her lips parted, stunned. "It wasn't like that."

"Then what was it?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the tension.

Maya opened her mouth, but the words got stuck. Because she didn't know how to explain it.

Vic was a mistake. A reminder of who she used to be. But Eddie? He was everything else.

Before she could speak, Eddie pulled up in front of her house. He exhaled, his shoulders sagging as he looked away. "Just… stay away from me, Maya."

Her heart twisted painfully. "Eddie—"

He didn't let her finish. He got out, walked over to her side, and opened the door. She expected him to help her again, but he didn't. He just stood there, waiting for her to get out on her own.

That hurt more than anything.

Slowly, Maya stepped out. She hesitated, looking at him, hoping for something—anything—that would tell her this wasn't over.

But Eddie was already back in his car. Already putting up his walls.

She watched as he drove away, her chest aching.

That night, Maya called Sally and Luna, curling up in bed as she replayed everything in her head.

"He hates me," she whispered.

Luna sighed. "No, he doesn't."

"Then why is he acting like this?"

Sally hesitated. "Because he's scared."

Maya frowned. "Scared of what?"

"Of you," Sally said. "Of what you do to him."

Maya swallowed hard, gripping the blanket. She didn't know what to do.

For the first time, she was the one chasing.

And she was terrified of losing.

The next morning, Eddie was walking through the halls, trying to get his mind off the night before when he spotted him.

Vic.

Vic leaned against the lockers, a smug grin playing on his lips. He watched Eddie approach, his eyes narrowing as if he knew something Eddie didn't.

"Eddie," Vic said coolly, his voice smooth but dripping with arrogance. "I've been meaning to talk to you."

Eddie's heart sank. He knew where this was going.

"I think it's time we had a little chat about Maya," Vic continued, pushing himself off the lockers and stepping closer to Eddie. "You've been spending a lot of time with her, and I don't think you understand what you're getting yourself into."

Eddie's jaw clenched. "I don't want any trouble, Vic. Stay out of it."

Vic's grin only grew. "Oh, I'm not the one who's going to cause trouble, Eddie. Maya is. You see, she doesn't care about you. Not in the way you think. You're just a distraction—a way to get back at me."

Eddie froze. "What are you talking about?"

"Maya's been using you," Vic said, his voice dropping into a mockingly calm tone. "She's not interested in you, man. She's just trying to make me jealous. She wants revenge because I cheated on her. She doesn't care about you."

Eddie's stomach churned. He wanted to punch Vic, but something in his chest told him that there was more truth to Vic's words than he wanted to admit.

"She loves me, Eddie," Vic said, his voice now quiet and dangerous. "And you? You're just a pawn in her game. Stay away from her, or you'll regret it."

Eddie could feel his hands shaking as he turned and walked away. Vic's words echoed in his head, rattling him. Maya had used him. She didn't care about him.

But deep down, Eddie couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this. There had to be.

And now, he was more confused than ever.