Chapter 13

**Chapter 13 – A Study in Contradictions: Lines Crossed**

Bella had always loved the quiet of her room, but today it felt different.

Two textbooks were open on her reading table. Two sets of notes. Two pens. Two people.

One of them was Ethan Carter.

She had no idea how this happened. One minute she was quietly working on the biology project alone during her free period; the next, her teacher had paired her with him after he showed up late and claimed he "worked better with quiet people."

A lie. Obviously. But she hadn't fought it—not when the teacher asked her in front of the entire class, and not even when Ethan sent her a smug smile across the lab bench.

And now, he was sitting across from her in her room.

---

"You're seriously organized," Ethan said as he flipped through her notebook. "I didn't think anyone actually used color codes for cell reproduction."

Bella took the notebook gently from him. "I like clarity."

"You're full of surprises."

She didn't respond. Not because she didn't want to, but because she didn't know how. Ethan had a way of saying things that made her want to curl inward—and yet, at the same time, she felt strangely seen.

"Don't look so tense," he added with a grin. "I promise I can be serious when I want to."

"I'll believe it when I see it," she muttered.

His smirk faded slightly, replaced by a more thoughtful look. "Fair enough."

---

They worked quietly for a while. He wasn't terrible. He actually read the instructions. He asked real questions. He even took notes—messy, slightly chaotic notes, but still notes.

Bella found herself stealing glances at him. The boy who had always seemed like the center of attention and who always had a girl on his arm was now completely immersed in a diagram of a mitochondrion.

This wasn't the Ethan she expected.

And maybe that was the problem.

---

Later that evening, Bella was sprawled across her bed on a call with Sarah, Alex, and Emily.

"He came over to your house?" Alex gasped. "And he behaved?"

"Like an actual human being," Bella said slowly. "He… did the work."

Emily laughed. "So what, now he's Ethan the Enlightened?"

"I'm serious," Bella insisted. "He didn't flirt. He didn't make jokes. He was just... normal."

Sarah was quiet for a moment. Then, in her soft but firm voice, she said, "That's part of it, Bells."

Bella frowned. "Part of what?"

"The act," Sarah said. "He's changing gears. Slowing down. Playing the long game. That's how he gets girls who are different."

"I'm not different," Bella whispered.

"Yes, you are," Emily said immediately. "You're you. That's why he's intrigued."

"And that's why we're scared," Sarah added gently.

Bella fell silent. She didn't know what was worse—the idea that Ethan was faking everything or the thought that he wasn't, and she was still starting to like him anyway.

The next day at school started out like any other—until it didn't.

Bella walked through the crowded hallway toward her locker when the trouble began. Rachel and her group were lounging nearby, loud as usual, their laughter echoing through the corridor.

Bella avoided looking at them; she didn't want to create another scene. She just wanted to grab her notebook and make it to art class.

But Rachel had other plans.

"Look who's pretending to be someone now," Rachel sneered, stepping into Bella's path. "Ethan's charity case."

Bella froze.

A few nearby students slowed down, watching. Whispers began to circulate.

"I told you to stay away from him," Rachel continued, her voice rising. "But you're just too pathetic to understand simple warnings, aren't you?"

Bella's fingers tightened around her book, but she said nothing. Her heart pounded in her ears. Confrontations had never been her strong suit.

Then, someone stepped in front of her.

Ethan.

He hadn't come from the other end of the hallway, nor had he shouted her name. He was just… there, his posture calm, but his tone icy.

"That's enough," he said.

Rachel blinked in surprise. "What?"

Ethan's eyes remained locked on Bella. "If you ever speak to her like that again, I swear I won't even pretend to be nice about it."

The hallway fell silent.

Bella felt the entire student body watching her. Her cheeks burned, but for once, it wasn't shame; it was shock. Pure, stunned shock.

Rachel laughed, attempting to brush it off. "You're seriously defending her now?"

Ethan's jaw clenched. "She's worth more than you'll ever be if you keep acting like this."

That stung. Rachel's face twisted with disbelief, but Ethan didn't give her a chance to retaliate. He turned to Bella and, without saying a word, gently took her by the arm and guided her away.

---

They didn't speak until they reached the staircase near the art wing. Bella pulled her arm away.

"You didn't have to do that," she said softly.

"I did," he replied, his tone still serious. "She was out of line."

Bella looked at him, trying to read his expression. "People were watching."

"I don't care."

That made her heart tighten a little.

"You just gave them more to talk about," she murmured, stepping back.

He leaned against the wall, running a hand through his hair. "Let them talk. I'm tired of pretending I don't see how she treats you."

Bella didn't know what to say. Her thoughts were tangled, but one thing stood clear.

This… didn't feel like a game.