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 11: Accidents and Other Inconveniences

(Ethan's POV – Forced Proximity & Unavoidable Tension)

That was the only explanation for why, out of everyone in this godforsaken school, Ethan Hayes was currently standing outside the gym, waiting to be assigned a volunteer partner for the upcoming school fundraiser.

He hadn't signed up. He hadn't even thought about signing up.

But Mr. Alder, their English teacher, thought differently.

"Come on, Ethan," Alder had said, smug as hell. "Show a little school spirit."

And now? Now he was standing in the hallway, waiting for hell to unfold.

He shoved his hands in his pockets, leaning against the wall, willing the universe to have mercy.

Because five seconds later, he heard her voice.

He closed his eyes. Fought the immediate urge to groan.

And then, very, very slowly, he turned.

Holding the same goddamn volunteer assignment slip he was.

Noah, who was standing beside him, took one look at Ethan's face and immediately started laughing.

"This," Noah said, wiping away an imaginary tear, "is the best day of my life."

Riley wanted to die.

Out of everyone she could have been paired with—everyone—it had to be Ethan again.

Not Jason. Not Chloe. Not some random sophomore.

He was not pleased.

Which, fair. She wasn't thrilled either.

Noah, however, was having the time of his life.

"I don't know what you did to piss off the universe," he told Ethan, still grinning, "but man, it must've been big."

Ethan shot him a murderous look. "Go away."

Instead, he clapped Ethan on the back, looking at Riley. "Try not to fall back in love with him, okay? He's emotionally constipated and terrible at expressing feelings."

Ethan actually looked like he might commit a felony.

Riley snorted. She didn't mean to. It just… happened.

And when she looked back at Ethan, she swore she saw something flicker in his eyes.

Something almost like nostalgia.

And all that was left was the boy who refused to let her in.

She sighed. This was going to be a long week.

ACCIDENTS AND OTHER INCONVENIENCES