Babyyy_Juice

"EVERYTHING I NEVER SAID"is a slow-burn, emotional romance about love, loss, and second chances. Ethan Hayes and Riley Carter were inseparable—neighbors, childhood best friends, practically family. But when Ethan confessed his love in their first year of high school, Riley didn’t feel the same. They drifted apart, and months later, Ethan’s father died. Riley never showed up, and Ethan never forgave her. Two years later, Riley regrets everything, but Ethan has built walls too high to break. As old wounds resurface and fate forces them together, can they mend what was broken—or are some distances impossible to cross?

EVERYTHING I NEVER SAID

Chapter 4: Some Things Never Change

Ethan should have seen it coming.

If there was one thing predictable about high school, it was that the past never stayed buried.

The next morning, he walked into school late, as usual. He kept his hood up, earbuds in, head down—just another ghost moving through the halls. People barely noticed him anymore, which was exactly how he liked it.

But then, just as he reached his locker, he heard her voice.

His fingers clenched into fists before he even turned around.

And when he did, he wished he hadn't.

She was standing at the other end of the hall, laughing at something her boyfriend—Jason Calloway—whispered in her ear.

Of course, she was dating Jason. Captain of the basketball team. Mr. Perfect Hair. The guy who had everything handed to him.

The kind of guy who fit in Riley's world.

The kind of guy Ethan never was.

Jason leaned closer, wrapping an arm around Riley's waist, completely at ease. He said something else, and she threw her head back, laughing like she hadn't spent the night crying after seeing Ethan.

And just like that, every stupid, pathetic part of him that still cared shriveled up and died.

Because maybe it had only been his life that stopped when she left.

Maybe she had never really lost anything at all.

He didn't realize she had seen him.

But now, she was looking right at him—expression unreadable, lips parted slightly like she wasn't sure what to say.

Like she had expected him to disappear again.

Ethan kept his face blank. He pulled out his AirPods, shoving them in his pocket, and met her gaze with all the detached indifference he could muster.

The way her expression faltered for a fraction of a second? It should have made him feel better.

Jason frowned, his grip on Riley tightening slightly, like he'd only just noticed the tension.

They had gone to school together since kindergarten, and Jason Calloway still had no idea who he was.

Then he turned, walking away before Riley could say another word.

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE