Monday arrived with the familiar buzz of Gianna's phone alarm dragging her out of a fitful sleep. She lay in bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling, the echo of a restless night still heavy in her mind. Her thoughts had been a tangled mess of Ethan, martial arts, and the quiet feeling of change that seemed to be creeping into her life, inch by inch.
With a sigh, she forced herself out of bed, dressed quickly, and headed to school, the rhythm of the morning routine pulling her along like a tide she couldn't fight. But the nagging sense of unease followed her, gnawing at the edges of her thoughts.
At school, everything felt the same—yet different. Mia greeted her as usual, her bright energy pulling Gianna out of her head, even if just for a moment. They joked about the latest drama happening in their grade, the usual petty gossip that felt so far removed from Gianna's reality.
But there was an undercurrent of tension within her that even Mia's chatter couldn't erase. It was as if the world around her was moving forward, unchanged, while something inside her was shifting. She found herself zoning out in class, her mind wandering as the teachers droned on. She barely registered the noise of the other students until Mia elbowed her during lunch.
"You okay? You've been off all day," Mia said, her voice low, concern evident in her eyes.
Gianna pushed her food around on her tray, not meeting her friend's gaze. "I'm fine. Just... thinking."
Mia raised an eyebrow. "About what?"
"Everything, I guess." Gianna shrugged, not sure how to explain the jumble of emotions inside her. "Things just feel different lately."
"Different how?" Mia asked, leaning in, clearly intrigued.
Gianna hesitated. She didn't even know how to put it into words. "I don't know. Like something's changing, but I don't know what. It's probably nothing."
Mia gave her a skeptical look but didn't press. "Well, whatever it is, I'm here. You know that, right?"
Gianna smiled faintly, grateful for Mia's unwavering support. "Yeah, I know."
After school, Gianna went straight to her part-time job at the bakery. The comforting scent of flour and sugar welcomed her as she stepped inside. It was the usual routine—checking orders, prepping dough, organizing the display. The work was repetitive but soothing, a welcome distraction from the storm brewing in her thoughts.
The afternoon passed in a blur until Gianna looked up and saw a familiar face walk through the door. Ethan.
Her heart skipped a beat, a confusing mix of relief and anxiety flooding her chest. She hadn't seen much of him lately, and things between them felt more distant than ever. But seeing him now, standing there as if nothing had changed, only reminded her of how much she'd been overthinking.
"Hey," Ethan said, walking up to the counter with that charming smile she had fallen for months ago.
"Hey," Gianna replied, her voice quieter than she intended. She glanced around, hoping Mrs. Thompson wouldn't mind the distraction. "What are you doing here?"
"I thought I'd surprise you," he said with a grin. "I missed seeing you."
Gianna's stomach twisted, the words feeling both familiar and foreign. She forced a smile, trying to ignore the little voice in her head that told her not to fall for the easy charm again. "Well, here I am," she said, gesturing around the bakery.
Ethan leaned on the counter, his eyes sweeping over her. "You wanna grab dinner after your shift? We haven't hung out in a while."
Gianna paused, the unease bubbling up again. Ethan's words sounded genuine, but there was something off about the timing, something that didn't sit right with her. Still, she couldn't bring herself to say no. "Yeah, sure. I get off in an hour."
Ethan's smile widened. "Great. I'll pick you up then."
As he walked out, Gianna couldn't shake the feeling that this was just another fleeting moment in a relationship that was slowly unraveling. She pushed the thought aside, focusing back on her work.
The dinner with Ethan was as awkward as it was familiar. They went to the same diner they used to frequent, sat in the same booth by the window, but the conversation didn't flow the way it used to. It felt forced, like they were both trying to hold on to something that was slipping away.
Ethan talked about his classes, his friends, the same mundane things that used to feel so comfortable. But now, Gianna found it hard to care. Her mind kept drifting, her thoughts circling around the distance between them.
Halfway through the meal, Ethan's phone buzzed, and she noticed the quick glance he gave it before shoving it back into his pocket. It was a small gesture, but one that made her stomach drop.
"Who was that?" she asked, keeping her voice casual.
Ethan looked up, startled for a moment, then smiled, a little too quickly. "Just a friend. Nothing important."
Gianna nodded, but the tension in her chest tightened. The same nagging doubts she'd been pushing away for weeks now clawed their way back to the surface. She wanted to believe him, to trust that everything was fine. But deep down, she knew better.
After dinner, Ethan dropped her off at home with a quick kiss on the cheek, promising they'd hang out more this week. But as Gianna watched him drive away, she couldn't shake the feeling that whatever they had, whatever they were, was slipping further out of reach.
Later that night, Gianna sat by her window, her thoughts churning. The day had been filled with the usual routine—school, work, Ethan—but none of it felt normal anymore. She felt like she was watching her life from the outside, unable to control the direction it was heading.
As she gazed out at the city, the lights twinkling in the distance, a quiet resolve began to settle over her. She didn't know what was coming, but she knew she couldn't keep going like this—living in a haze, letting everything pass by without taking control.