The restaurant was dimly lit, casting soft shadows across the booths and tables. Gianna took a sip of water as she glanced around, watching other couples chatting, laughing, and enjoying their evening. Across from her, Ethan was telling a story, his voice animated, but her mind kept drifting, pulled back to thoughts of Adrian and the sudden tension surrounding him.
"…and so that's when I realized the whole thing was a setup," Ethan said, chuckling as he finished his story.
Gianna blinked, catching up, and forced a small laugh. "Wow, sounds intense," she replied, her smile faltering under his gaze.
Ethan set down his drink and leaned forward, studying her face. "You're quiet tonight, G. Everything okay?"
"Oh, yeah," she said quickly, avoiding his eyes. "Just a lot on my mind, I guess. School, work… you know."
He nodded, though his expression showed a hint of something darker—jealousy, maybe, or worry. "And Adrian?"
She looked up, surprised. "What about him?"
Ethan shrugged, trying to keep his tone casual, though his clenched jaw betrayed him. "I mean, you two seem pretty tight these days. Kind of funny how we used to spend all our free time together, but now… well, it feels different."
The words stung a bit. She hadn't intended for things to change so much, but Ethan had been distant too, caught up in his own world. And when she met Adrian, it felt like someone finally saw her, really saw her. She didn't want to feel guilty for that.
"We're just friends, Ethan," she said carefully. "It's not like I planned for things to be this way."
Ethan sighed, sitting back and running a hand through his hair. "I know, I know. I guess I just… miss you. Miss us."
She softened, reaching across the table to take his hand. "I miss us too. I really do. Maybe we just got caught up in everything else and forgot to make time for each other."
A small smile returned to his face as he squeezed her hand. "Maybe we can change that."
They finished their meal in a more relaxed mood, their conversation shifting to familiar topics—old memories, funny stories, and shared experiences. For a moment, it felt like old times, the tension melting away as they reconnected. But despite her efforts, Gianna couldn't shake the feeling that something was different. She wanted to believe that they could go back to how things were, but part of her wasn't sure if that was possible.
When Ethan dropped her off that night, he leaned in for a kiss. She hesitated, then kissed him back, but her heart wasn't fully in it. As she pulled away, she caught the flash of hurt in his eyes and felt a pang of guilt.
"Goodnight, G," he said softly, trying to mask his disappointment.
"Goodnight, Ethan," she replied, watching as he walked back to his car, a sense of heaviness settling over her.
Later that night, as she lay in bed staring at the ceiling, she felt her phone vibrate on her nightstand. She reached for it, surprised to see a message from Adrian.
Adrian: Hey. Everything okay?
Her lips curled into a small smile. Somehow, he always seemed to check in at the right moment. She typed back, hesitating only a second before hitting send.
Gianna: Yeah, just had a weird night. Thanks for checking in.
A moment later, his reply popped up.
Adrian: Anytime. You know where to find me if you need someone to talk to.
She found herself smiling, feeling lighter as she put her phone down and let herself relax. Whatever happened between her and Ethan, she was grateful to have Adrian as a friend. But deep down, she knew that things were changing, and once they changed, there was no going back