Smitten.

Sophia spent the next few hours in her dorm, replaying everything that had just happened with Ethan. Or was it Sam? No, it was Ethan, she reminded herself, her thoughts tangled in confusion. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring blankly at the wall, trying to piece together her emotions.

Ivy wasn't back yet, and the room felt eerily quiet. A part of her wanted to reach out to Leah, tell her everything, but another part of her couldn't shake the embarrassment. Had she been too naive? Was she overreacting?

Her phone buzzed, startling her. She glanced at the screen, heart skipping when she saw Ethan's name. Hesitation gnawed at her as she debated whether to open the message or leave it unread.

I'm really sorry about today. Can we talk?

The words stared back at her, but she didn't reply. Instead, she tossed her phone onto the bed, letting it sink into the covers like she wanted to sink into the floor. She needed space to think—space to figure out what this all meant.

Her mind flickered back to Leah's warnings about guys who were too good to be true. She had laughed it off at the time, but now it felt like Leah had been right. Ethan's lie, though seemingly small, had shaken something deep inside her.

Why hadn't he just been honest from the start?

---

Later that evening, Ivy barged into the room without knocking, she brought Sophia's overnight bag from Leah's along with her's.The moment she set her eyes on Sophia she could tell something went wrong.

"Okay, spill," Ivy said, plopping down onto the bed. "You've been MIA since you left for Sam's. What happened?"

Sophia sighed, burying her face in her hands. "I went there thinking everything was fine, and then—boom—he drops the whole 'Sam isn't my real name' bomb."

Ivy's eyebrows shot up. "He what?"

"He told me that 'Sam' was just an alias," Sophia said, her voice tinged with frustration. "His real name is Ethan, and he just—lied about it."

Ivy leaned back, crossing her arms. "That's... weird. Like, really weird."

"I know, right?" Sophia groaned, falling back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. "And now I don't know how to feel. He apologized, but it felt like the whole thing was a lie."

Ivy's smile was soft, almost sad. "Maybe he thought he'd mess it up. Maybe he thought pretending was the only way to keep you close.You just have to figure out what you feel."

The knot in Sophia's chest tightened. Could she forgive him? Or was this a sign she shouldn't ignore?

Her phone buzzed again. This time, she opened it.

Can we meet tomorrow? I really want to explain everything. I owe you that much.

Sophia hesitated, her heart beating in her throat. Then, with shaky fingers, she typed out a reply.

Okay. Tomorrow.

She had made up her mind to hear him out just like Ivy had suggested.

---

The next morning, Ethan stood by the entrance to The Vibe, waiting. The slight chill in the air didn't bother him, but his nerves did. He had replayed yesterday over and over in his head—how he had told her the truth, how she looked at him after. He could still see the shock, the hurt in her eyes.

But it wasn't just that moment that haunted him. No, it was the way she had looked—unaware of her own beauty, oblivious to the way she seemed to captivate the world around her.

And him.

He glanced up just as Sophia appeared, and his breath caught in his throat. She was dressed in a luminous green crop top that complimented her skin, the soft glow of her complexion almost radiant in the morning light. The navy-blue sweatpants, loose yet flattering, made her seem effortlessly cool. But it wasn't just her clothes—it was her.

Her eyes, always bright with curiosity, were now clouded with uncertainty, but Ethan still couldn't tear his gaze away. There was something so uniquely magnetic about her presence, a softness that seemed to draw him in, as if she were the only thing in the world worth noticing.

He could feel his pulse quicken. Every line of her silhouette seemed to etch itself into his mind, every movement graceful and yet unassuming. She wasn't trying to be beautiful—she simply was.

His heart thudded in his chest, each beat a reminder that he had messed up, but even now, he couldn't shake the feeling of being utterly captivated by her. There was something about the way her crop top hugged her body, the slight curve of her waist leading down to her relaxed sweatpants. Her skin seemed to shimmer under the sun, and Ethan found himself completely, hopelessly smitten.

She has no idea, he thought to himself. She doesn't know how beautiful she looks.

Sophia approached, her gaze flickering uncertainly toward him. "Hey," she said, her voice soft.

"Hey," Ethan replied, trying to sound casual, but his voice betrayed the way his heart was pounding.

He had never felt this before. This overwhelming sense of wanting to be closer to someone, yet feeling like he was on the edge of losing her. It terrified him. And yet, every time she looked at him with those wide, innocent eyes, he felt himself falling deeper, completely entranced by her presence.

They stood there for a moment in awkward silence before Ethan broke it, pulling out a small bag from behind him. "I, uh, brought something," he said, holding it out.

Inside, she found her favorite snacks—cookies, chocolate, juice—and a box of grapes, her favorite fruit. It was a small gesture, but it felt significant to him. He wanted to make things right, to show her that he remembered the little things about her, that he cared.

"Peace offering?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, her lips twitching into a faint smile.

"Sort of," Ethan admitted, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "I just want to make things right."

Sophia stared at him for a moment before sitting down at a nearby bench. "Then talk."

Ethan sat beside her, his mind racing as he tried to find the right words. His eyes, however, kept betraying him, flicking back to her every few seconds. The sunlight caught the edges of her hair, making it gleam, and her skin—he couldn't get over how flawless she looked.

"I messed up," he began, his voice thick with regret. "And I don't expect you to forgive me right away, but I need to explain why I did it."

Sophia crossed her arms, her expression guarded. "Then explain."

Ethan swallowed hard. "I used Sam because… I wasn't sure if I was ready to let you see the real me. I've had people judge me before, and I didn't want that with you. I wanted a clean slate."

Sophia's heart tightened, her mind swimming with confusion. Could she believe him? He sounded sincere, but the lie still stung.

"I don't know what to say, Ethan," she whispered, her voice catching. "You lied, and now I don't know if I can trust anything else."

Ethan's eyes softened. "I get that. I know I broke something between us. But I want to try and fix it."

Sophia looked at him, feeling the conflict rise within her. There was so much hurt, but there was also something in his eyes—something that made her want to believe him.

"I need time," she finally said, her voice trembling. "I don't know if I can trust you yet, but I'm willing to see if I can."

Relief washed over Ethan, his face breaking into a soft smile. "That's all I'm asking for."