The morning sunlight streamed through the blinds of Ava's bedroom, casting a soft glow across her desk. Ava sat at her desk, staring at the pages of her sketchbook, but she wasn't really seeing them. The pages were full of unfinished ideas—scenes, concepts, faces, and colors that she couldn't bring herself to finish. Her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Ethan.
It had been two weeks since their art project partnership began. Two weeks of drawing, brainstorming, and long conversations that had surprised her more than once. She'd always thought of Ethan as just another popular jock, someone who only cared about his looks and his reputation. But she had quickly learned that he was more than that—far more.
He was funny. Thoughtful. Kind. He listened when she spoke, and when he smiled at her, it wasn't the smirk that she had seen so many times in the hallways of Evergreen High. It was real. It was the kind of smile that made her heart skip a beat. But the more time she spent with him, the more she found herself questioning everything she thought she knew about him—and about herself.
Ava sighed, dropping her pencil onto the desk with a soft thud. She ran a hand through her hair, tugging at the ends in frustration. She wasn't used to feeling like this. Ethan was… different. And it scared her. She was used to being invisible, to hiding behind her art and staying out of the way of people like Ethan—people who seemed to have everything figured out. So why was he so interested in her?
Her thoughts drifted back to the conversation they had the day before, when they were working on their project in the library. Ethan had been so easy to talk to, so open. When she'd told him about her dreams of becoming an artist, of studying at a school far away from Evergreen, he had actually listened. He hadn't dismissed her ambitions the way some people did. He had encouraged her. He even said that he thought she could make it, that her art was good enough to be seen by the world.
But it wasn't just about the project. Ethan had been different in the way he looked at her, in the way he treated her. There was something about him that made her feel like she was worth noticing. And that scared her. Because what if he wasn't really interested in her? What if this was all just some kind of passing phase for him?
Ava couldn't shake the nagging feeling that maybe she wasn't good enough for someone like Ethan. He was outgoing, popular, and confident. She was quiet, reserved, and always second-guessing herself. He was used to being surrounded by friends, while she had Chloe, but even that relationship felt fragile sometimes. Chloe was always pushing her to take risks, to step out of her shell, but Ava wasn't sure she was ready for any of it—especially not when it came to someone like Ethan.
Her phone buzzed on the desk, interrupting her thoughts. She picked it up, hoping it was a message from Chloe, who had been texting her nonstop ever since Ava had told her about the project with Ethan. But the message wasn't from Chloe.
It was from Ethan.
*"Hey, you up? You free for coffee later? I was thinking we could go over the project together. I've got a free period."*
Ava stared at the message, her thumb hovering over the keyboard. She had told herself that she wouldn't overthink things with him. That it was just a project. But it didn't feel like just a project anymore. The more they worked together, the more she realized how much she was starting to like him. And that made her nervous.
She didn't know how to reply. She wanted to say yes, but the words wouldn't come. Part of her wanted to cancel, to pretend like she wasn't interested, to keep things the way they were before she started feeling things she wasn't ready to deal with. But another part of her— the part that had been listening to her heart instead of her doubts—wanted to see him. Wanted to spend more time with him. She liked him. She knew she did.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally typed out a response.
"Sure. Coffee sounds good. Where?"
She pressed send before she could second-guess herself. Almost immediately, Ethan's reply came through.
"There's this place off Main Street—The Beanery. I'll meet you there in an hour?"
Ava smiled slightly, the nervous tension in her chest loosening just a little. "The Beanery" was one of those cozy little cafes that everyone at school liked to pretend they were too cool for, but Ava loved it. It had an old-school charm—dark wood tables, mismatched chairs, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the air. It was quiet, perfect for getting work done without distractions.
She glanced at the clock on her wall, realizing she didn't have much time to get ready. She threw on a sweater, brushed her hair, and grabbed her sketchbook before heading out the door.
The Beanery was quieter than usual when Ava walked in, and she spotted Ethan almost immediately. He was sitting at a small table in the back, a steaming cup of coffee in front of him. He looked up when she entered, and the smile he gave her made her heart do a little flip.
"Hey," he greeted, standing up as she approached.
"Hi," she replied, sliding into the chair across from him. She set her sketchbook on the table, feeling a little self-conscious as she noticed how neatly he'd laid out his notes and sketches.
"You already started?" she asked, glancing at the papers in front of him.
"Yeah, figured I might as well get a head start." Ethan shrugged, his casual demeanor making her feel even more out of place. "I hope you don't mind. I kind of just dove into it."
Ava shook her head. "No, it's fine. I actually haven't gotten too far yet."
She pulled her own sketchbook out and opened it to the page where she had been working on their project. There was a rough sketch of a park—two paths diverging at the center, trees lining either side, and two figures walking in opposite directions. She hadn't finished the details yet, but it was coming together.
Ethan peered at her sketch. "This is awesome," he said, his voice full of genuine admiration. "I love how you've made it feel like both paths lead somewhere different. It's really… I don't know, it feels real."
Ava's cheeks flushed. "Thanks. I wasn't sure how to make it look different, but I thought the paths could show how different people might see the same place."
"I think you nailed it," he said with a grin. "I've got some ideas too. I was thinking maybe we could show how one of the characters feels a sense of peace, while the other feels kind of lost. Maybe we could add some shadows or something?"
Ava nodded, impressed by how easily he picked up on her ideas. They spent the next hour bouncing ideas back and forth, their conversations flowing effortlessly as they sketched and laughed. For the first time in a while, Ava felt like she could truly be herself—like there was no pressure, no judgment. Just the two of them working on something together.
But as the time passed, her doubts started creeping in again. Ethan was easy to talk to. Too easy. And that scared her. What if this was all just some fleeting moment for him? What if, after the project was over, they would go back to their separate lives—him with his friends and soccer, and her with her art and her quiet world?
She pushed the thoughts away, focusing on their project instead. But the nagging feeling wouldn't go away. The truth was, she didn't know how to handle the feelings she had for Ethan. She wasn't sure if she was ready to let herself like him this much.