BETWEEN US

Bella’s POV

The first thing I noticed about the boy was that he looked completely lost.

Not lost-lost.

More like the kind of lost you get when you're standing in a neighborhood you've never been to before, pretending you know exactly where you're going.

I was walking home with a cup of iced tea in one hand and my phone in the other, scrolling through messages from Maya.

Maya: Don't forget we're meeting tomorrow.

Me: I knowww.

Maya: You said that last time.

I smiled at my screen.

“I did not.”

I was still typing when I turned the corner.

And walked straight into someone.

My cup slipped.

The lid popped off.

And the next thing I knew, iced tea was all over the front of a stranger's shirt.

I froze.

He froze.

I slowly looked up.

He was tall, with dark hair that looked like he'd run his fingers through it one too many times. He stared down at his shirt, then at me.

“Oh my God.”

That was all I managed.

“I am so sorry.”

He looked at the stain again.

Then back at me.

For a second, I expected him to get angry.

Instead, he simply sighed.

“It's okay.”

“It's not okay. I just poured an entire drink on you.”

“You didn't pour it.”

“I basically did.”

A tiny smile appeared on his face.

“Basically?”

I stared at him.

Was he actually joking?

“I mean…” I looked at his shirt again. “I'm sorry.”

“You've said that about four times.”

“Because I feel bad.”

“I noticed.”

I laughed awkwardly.

He looked at me for another second, and I suddenly became very aware of how ridiculous I must look—standing there with an empty cup in my hand and my phone still unlocked.

“I'm Bella, by the way.”

He nodded.

“Ethan.”

“Ethan?”

“Yeah.”

I glanced toward the street behind him.

“Are you new around here?”

He nodded again.

“My family just moved in.”

“Oh.”

That explained it.

I pointed vaguely in the direction he'd been walking.

“If you're looking for the houses near the park, you're going the wrong way.”

He looked behind him.

Then at me.

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

I smiled.

“Good thing you met me.”

He gave me a look.

“Good thing?”

“Yes.”

“You spilled a drink on me.”

“And then I saved you from getting lost.”

He actually laughed.

It was quiet, but I heard it.

And for some reason, that made me smile even more.

“See you around, Ethan.”

“Hopefully without the drink next time.”

I gasped.

“That was one time.”

He smiled again before walking away.

I stood there for a moment, watching him disappear down the street.

Then I looked at my empty cup.

“Okay,” I muttered to myself.

“Interesting.”

I had no idea that I would see him again the very next day.

And definitely not in the place I least expected.

Chapter Two

Bella’s POV

The first day of final year always felt different.

Maybe it was because everyone kept reminding us that this was our last year.

Last first day.

Last school year.

Last everything.

I wasn't ready to think about any of that yet.

I walked through the school gate with Maya beside me, listening to her complain about how early we'd had to wake up.

“I still don't understand why school starts this early,” she said.

“Because apparently sleeping is illegal.”

She laughed.

“I knew you'd understand.”

We walked down the hallway with everyone else, stepping around students who had stopped in the middle of the corridor to catch up with their friends.

When we reached our classroom, I went straight to my usual seat at the back.

I liked sitting there.

Not because I was trying to hide.

I just liked being able to see everything happening in front of me.

Maya dropped her bag beside mine.

“I'm sitting here.”

“You always sit there.”

“Exactly.”

I smiled and opened my notebook.

A few minutes later, our teacher walked in.

The room slowly settled down.

“Good morning, class.”

“Good morning, ma.”

She placed her books on the desk and looked around the room.

“I hope everyone had a good holiday.”

There were a few tired responses.

She smiled.

“Since we're beginning a new academic year, we have someone joining us.”

The classroom immediately became a little louder.

A new student?

I looked toward the door.

The teacher called out,

“Come in.”

A boy walked into the classroom.

I didn't know him.

At least, I didn't think I did.

He stood beside the teacher while she introduced him.

“This is Ethan Blackwood. He'll be joining our class this year.”

He gave the class a small nod.

“I'm Ethan. Nice to meet you.”

His voice was calm.

Quiet.

He didn't seem nervous.

He didn't seem excited either.

Just... calm.

The teacher looked around the classroom.

“There is an empty seat at the back. You can sit beside Noah.”

The boy nodded and started walking toward the back.

I looked down at my notebook.

Then, for some reason, I looked up again.

Our eyes met.

Only for a second.

Something about his face seemed familiar.

I frowned slightly.

Where had I seen him before?

Before I could think about it, he walked past and took the seat beside Noah.

Noah immediately leaned toward him and started talking.

Of course.

Noah could probably talk to a wall and somehow become best friends with it.

I smiled to myself and returned to my notebook.

“Bella.”

I looked at Maya.

“What?”

She pointed toward the front.

“Pay attention.”

“I am paying attention.”

“You've been staring into space for the last thirty seconds.”

“I was thinking.”

“Dangerous.”

I laughed quietly.

Our teacher picked up a stack of papers.

“Now, before we continue with today's lesson, I have something important to discuss.”

Everyone became quiet.

“This year is going to require teamwork.”

I sighed.

Maya whispered, “I don't like the sound of that.”

“Me neither.”

Our teacher smiled.

“You'll be working on a two-week class project.”

A few students groaned.

I sat up.

A project?

Already?

The teacher continued explaining the assignment.

I started writing down the instructions, but my eyes wandered toward the back of the classroom once again.

Ethan was listening quietly.

Noah was still talking.

And Ethan...

He was smiling.

I looked away quickly.

For some reason, that tiny smile felt strangely familiar.

But I couldn't figure out why.

Not yet.

Chapter Three

Bella’s POV

I finished copying the last instruction from the board just as our teacher picked up the list of names.

“Now,” she said, “I'm going to give you your project partners.”

A few students immediately started whispering.

Maya leaned toward me.

“Please don't let me get someone annoying.”

I laughed.

“You say that like you aren't annoying.”

She looked offended.

“I am a delight.”

“Sure.”

Our teacher looked down at her list.

“First pair. Daniel and Kamsi.”

Daniel turned around and gave Kamsi a high five.

“Next. David and Sarah.”

Someone at the front groaned.

“Ma, please!”

The class laughed.

Our teacher shook her head.

“No changing partners.”

She continued.

“Michael and Grace.”

“Joshua and Emily.”

“Samuel and Chloe.”

One pair after another.

I watched as people reacted to their names.

Some were excited.

Some looked disappointed.

Some immediately started discussing what topic they should choose.

Maya was still beside me, quietly praying that her name would be called with someone she liked.

I leaned closer.

“Who do you want?”

“Anyone who can actually do work.”

“So... not me?”

She smiled.

“Definitely not you.”

I nudged her shoulder.

Our teacher continued reading.

“Olivia and James.”

“Liam and Rachel.”

Noah and maya

She paused and looked at the next names.

I glanced at the clock.

There weren't many students left.

Maya sat up straight.

“She's almost there.”

“Don't remind me.”

The teacher looked down at the list again.

“Isabella…”

My head lifted.

I waited.

She continued.

“…and Ethan Blackwood.”

For a second, I just stared at her.

Then I slowly turned around.

Ethan was already looking in my direction.

His expression was calm.

Almost amused.

Maya looked at me.

Then at Ethan.

Then back at me.

Her smile grew.

“Oh.”

I immediately pointed at her.

“Don't.”

“I didn't say anything.”

“You were going to.”

She laughed.

I looked toward Ethan again.

He picked up his project paper and stood.

I did the same.

As we walked toward the empty desks our teacher had asked the pairs to use, I caught myself smiling.

I still couldn't figure out why his face had seemed familiar earlier.

But now I knew one thing.

I was going to be spending a lot of time with Ethan Blackwood.

And somehow, I wasn't sure if that was a good thing...

Chapter Four

Ethan’s POV

I sat across from Bella and placed my notebook on the desk.

For a few seconds, neither of us said anything.

She looked at the project paper.

Then at me.

Then back at the paper.

“So…”

I waited.

“What do you think we should do?”

I looked at the instructions again.

“We need to choose a problem that affects young people.”

“Okay.”

She tapped her pen against the desk.

“What problems do young people have?”

I looked at her.

She stared back at me.

Then she laughed.

“Okay, that sounded stupid.”

“It didn't.”

“It did.”

I smiled slightly.

She started listing ideas.

“School pressure. Bullying. Social media. Lack of opportunities…”

She paused.

“There's actually a lot.”

“Yeah.”

She looked at me.

“What do you think?”

I thought for a moment.

“Maybe something students don't usually talk about.”

She tilted her head.

“Like what?”

“Loneliness.”

She became quiet.

Not uncomfortable.

Just thoughtful.

“That could work.”

I nodded.

She wrote it down.

Then she looked at me again.

“You don't talk much, do you?”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Apparently not.”

She laughed.

“No, seriously. You're really quiet.”

“I listen.”

“That explains it.”

“What?”

“You were listening yesterday when I was talking.”

“I was.”

She smiled.

“Most people stop listening after about five minutes.”

“I didn't.”

She looked down at her notebook.

For some reason, she smiled to herself.

I looked away.

Our teacher announced that we had fifteen minutes to work before the end of the period.

Bella immediately started writing.

“So, Ethan…”

“Hmm?”

“What do you actually like?”

I looked at her.

“Why?”

“Because we're partners now. I should know something about you.”

I thought about it.

“Writing.”

Her eyes lit up.

“Really?”

I nodded.

“What do you write?”

“Different things.”

“Like stories?”

“Sometimes.”

She smiled.

“That makes sense.”

I looked at her.

“What makes sense?”

“You.”

I didn't understand.

She shrugged.

“You seem like someone who has a lot going on in their head.”

I looked down at my notebook.

Maybe she noticed more than I expected.

“And you?” I asked.

“Me?”

“What do you like?”

She smiled immediately.

“Arguing.”

I laughed.

“You're serious?”

“Very.”

She pointed her pen at me.

“I like debates. I like defending people. I like proving my point.”

“So you want to be a lawyer.”

She looked surprised.

“How did you know?”

“You just told me.”

“Oh.”

She laughed.

“Right.”

The bell rang before we could continue.

Everyone began packing their things.

Bella closed her notebook.

“So, tomorrow?”

I nodded.

“Tomorrow.”

She smiled.

“Don't forget.”

“I won't.”

She walked away with Maya.

I watched them leave for a moment before putting my notebook into my bag.

Noah appeared beside me.

“So…”

I looked at him.

He grinned.

“You survived.”

I shook my head.

“Barely.”

He laughed.

“You like her.”

I looked at him.

“What?”

He shrugged.

“Nothing.”

He walked away before I could answer.

I stood there for a second.

Then I followed him out of the classroom.

I wasn't sure why Bella was already so easy to talk to.

Maybe it was because she talked enough for both of us.

Or maybe…

Chapter Five

Bella’s POV

The next day, I got to school earlier than usual.

Not because I suddenly loved waking up early.

I just didn't want to rush through the project.

At least, that's what I told myself.

I walked into the classroom and found Maya already sitting at her desk.

She looked up.

“You're early.”

“I know.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to finish the project.”

“Hmm.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

I dropped my bag beside my chair.

“Stop looking at me like that.”

She smiled.

“I didn't say anything.”

Before I could answer, the bell rang.

A few minutes later, Ethan walked into the classroom with Noah.

Noah was talking about something.

Ethan was listening, as usual.

When Ethan reached his seat, he looked toward me.

“Morning.”

I smiled.

“Morning.”

Maya looked between us.

I ignored her.

Our teacher began the lesson, and I tried to concentrate.

But when the teacher announced that we could continue working on our projects during the last period, I immediately looked at Ethan.

He was already looking at me.

“You're ready?” he asked.

“Always.”

He smiled.

“Good.”

When the last period finally came, Ethan brought his notebook over to my desk.

We spread our papers across the table.

“So,” I said, “we agreed on loneliness.”

“Yeah.”

“We need to find out why students feel lonely.”

Ethan nodded.

“And possible ways to help.”

I wrote that down.

“What if we ask students?”

He looked at me.

“Ask them what?”

“What makes them feel lonely.”

“That could give us actual answers instead of guessing.”

I smiled.

“Exactly.”

We decided to make a short list of questions and ask some students during break.

For the next few minutes, we worked quietly.

It was strange.

I was usually the person who couldn't sit quietly for more than five minutes.

But with Ethan, silence didn't feel awkward.

I glanced at him.

He was writing something in his notebook.

“You write a lot.”

He looked up.

“You noticed?”

“You're always writing.”

He closed the notebook slightly.

“It's nothing.”

“Now I definitely want to know.”

He laughed.

“You're curious.”

“Very.”

He shook his head.

“Maybe I'll show you someday.”

I smiled.

“I'll remember that.”

The bell rang for break.

I stood up.

“Come on.”

“Where?”

“We have questions to ask.”

He looked at me for a second.

Then picked up his notebook.

“Okay.”

We walked out of the classroom together.

For the first time since I'd met him, I noticed something.

Walking beside Ethan didn't feel strange anymore.

It felt normal.

And somehow , that fell important