Gianna's patience was wearing thin. Ethan had intercepted her just as she was heading to her last class of the day, and now they stood in the center of the school courtyard, their voices sharp enough to turn a few heads. She wanted this conversation to be over, but Ethan wasn't letting up.
"Why can't you just let it go?" she snapped, folding her arms. "I'm moving on, Ethan. You should too."
"Moving on?" Ethan's voice rose, his expression twisted with frustration. "With that guy? You don't even know him, Gia! You're acting like he's some saint, but for all you know, he could be feeding you lies!"
Gianna narrowed her eyes, defensive. "You don't know anything about Adrian. He's… he's been there for me, which is more than I can say for you."
Ethan's laugh was hollow, cutting. "Oh, I get it—he's the 'nice guy,' right? The one who just magically showed up right when things went south between us? He's playing you, Gia! And you're eating it up without even questioning it!"
She clenched her fists, trying to keep her voice steady. "You're ridiculous. Adrian is nothing like you. He's kind and—"
"Kind?" Ethan interrupted, his eyes flashing with anger. "So you're telling me you know everything about him? Where he lives, what he's really about? Or are you just hanging on to this fantasy because it's easier than dealing with the truth?"
Her cheeks burned, but she refused to back down. "You don't get to stand here and judge me. You were the one who cheated, Ethan! You destroyed what we had."
"And yet here you are, falling for someone you barely know," he shot back, his voice cold and challenging. "What happens when he lets you down, Gia? When you find out he's not who you thought?"
The words hit deeper than she wanted to admit, stirring something uncomfortable inside her. She felt her grip on her anger slipping, replaced by a sliver of doubt she didn't want to acknowledge. "Stop it, Ethan," she muttered, trying to keep her voice steady. "You're just bitter because I'm moving on."
"No," he replied, his tone sharp, almost pitying. "I just don't want to see you get hurt again. But fine, Gia, go ahead. See how long it takes for him to let you down."
Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing alone, grappling with the uncomfortable truth he'd thrown in her face.
Gianna felt the sting of Ethan's words long after he'd stormed off, his accusations leaving a bitter aftertaste. She forced herself to stay calm, to brush it off as jealousy. But as she walked home, a new feeling settled in, one that nagged at her in quiet moments: doubt.
That evening, as the last hints of daylight faded outside her bedroom window, Gianna lay on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Ethan's words played over in her mind, louder each time she tried to silence them.
"What do you even know about him?"
It hadn't bothered her before. Adrian had always been a bit of a mystery, but that was part of the intrigue, wasn't it? Every time they hung out, they talked about life or school, silly things that didn't matter too much. She liked that he wasn't pressing her for details about her own life, yet somehow, she realized, he never offered much about his.
Turning onto her side, Gianna grabbed her phone and opened her messages, scrolling through the chat she'd had with Adrian. They were all casual exchanges—about classes, books, places to hang out. There was nothing concrete about who he really was. No mention of his family, or even where he lived.
She hadn't thought to ask before. Maybe she hadn't wanted to disrupt the easy rhythm they'd fallen into. But now, with Ethan's accusations echoing, she couldn't ignore it.
The next day at school, Gianna found herself glancing around the hallways, hoping to catch a glimpse of Adrian. She didn't know why she felt the need to see him, but her mind wouldn't let her rest until she'd had a chance to really talk. As the final bell rang, she lingered outside her classroom, looking for his familiar face among the crowd.
Finally, she spotted him near the lockers, lost in thought as he fidgeted with a book. She walked over, her heart beating a little faster.
"Adrian," she called, and he looked up, a small smile forming as he saw her.
"Hey, Gianna. What's up?" he asked, his tone casual.
For a moment, she hesitated, unsure how to even begin. But she took a steadying breath. "I just… I realized we hang out all the time, but I barely know anything about you."
He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his gaze. "Well, what do you want to know?"
She felt her nerves settle a bit at his easy response. "Where are you from, for starters? And your family—do they live around here?"
Adrian's face softened, and she thought she saw a shadow of something deeper flicker in his eyes. "I moved here recently," he said slowly. "My family… it's complicated. Not really in touch with them."
Gianna frowned, sensing the weight behind his words. "Complicated how?"
He shrugged, his smile fading. "Just… things didn't work out, you know? People go their own way."
She nodded, not wanting to pry further. But a part of her felt uneasy. There was still so much she didn't understand, and the more she thought about it, the more she wondered if Ethan had been right. If she was diving headfirst into something that might not be as simple as it seemed.
"Thanks for telling me," she said quietly, offering him a small smile. "I guess I just wanted to know more about you. It feels like you know so much about me."
Adrian's expression softened, and he reached out, lightly touching her arm. "Hey, I'm not hiding anything, Gianna. I like spending time with you. If there's ever anything you want to know, just ask."
She nodded, trying to ignore the lingering doubts. She wanted to believe him, but something inside her felt unsettled.
As they walked out of school together, she found herself stealing glances his way, wondering just how much of Adrian's life was still a mystery—and if she'd ever fully understand who he was.