Ethan's pov
As we walked back toward the dorm, something felt off. It wasn't loud or obvious — just a quiet whisper in the back of my mind that kept pulling my attention toward Lena.
I caught sight of her wrist when she brushed her hair back, and my heart clenched. There it was — a bruise, dark and unmistakable.
"Lena…" I wanted to ask what happened, to make sure she was okay, but the words got stuck.
She quickly pulled her sleeve down, flashing a quick smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
She's hiding something, I realized, and it made my stomach twist.
I wanted to believe it was nothing. That she'd just bumped into a door or tripped somewhere.
But something about her seemed distant, guarded — like there was a wall between us that I couldn't break through.
And maybe, deep down, that scared me.
Because I'd been crushing on Lena for months now. More than a crush, really. She was smart, fierce, and somehow mysterious in the best way.
I'd always thought she was out of my league. But standing here now, watching her pull away just a little, I realized I didn't want to be just her fake boyfriend.
I wanted to be real.
I wanted to be the one she trusted.
But for that to happen, she'd have to let me in.
And right now, it felt like she was running a mile away.