The cold grip of winter had almost faded, yet the chill between Ethan and Sophia remained. Their once-unbreakable bond now felt fragile, each conversation a careful balance between unspoken words and wounded pride. The distance between them had grown, and neither knew how to close it.
Clara, however, seemed closer to Ethan than ever. He wasn't sure if it was by choice or circumstance, but the more time he spent with her, the more confused he became. She was warm, understanding, and always seemed to know exactly what to say. But something about it felt… off.
And then, everything changed.
The Incident
It was a Friday evening when Ethan received a message from Clara.
Clara: Hey, I need to talk to you. Urgent. Can you meet me at the park?
Ethan frowned. Clara never sounded this serious.
He grabbed his jacket and headed out, his thoughts tangled. Maybe she was finally going to admit what they both already knew—that she had feelings for him. And maybe, deep down, a part of him wanted to hear it.
When he arrived at the park, Clara was standing near the fountain, arms wrapped around herself despite the warming air. Her face was pale, her green eyes brimming with something unreadable.
"Clara?" Ethan asked cautiously.
She turned to him, swallowing hard. "Ethan, I don't know how to say this, but… I need to tell you the truth."
Ethan's stomach twisted. "What truth?"
Clara hesitated before taking a deep breath. "I lied to you."
His heart skipped a beat. "About what?"
"About everything," Clara whispered. "Ethan… I didn't just transfer here by chance. I came here for you."
Ethan's mind reeled. "What? What are you talking about?"
Clara looked away, shame flickering across her face. "I knew who you were before I ever set foot in Rosehaven. I read your blog—your poetry, your journal entries, everything. I found you months ago, and I felt… connected to you. Like you were writing exactly what I was feeling. It was like you knew me without even meeting me."
Ethan took a step back. "You… found me?"
Clara nodded. "I started following your blog when I was still in Riverview. I was going through a hard time, and your words kept me sane. But I wanted more than just reading. I wanted to know you. So I convinced my parents to move here."
Ethan's chest tightened. "Clara, do you even hear yourself? That's—" He struggled to find the words. "That's insane."
Tears welled in Clara's eyes. "I know it sounds crazy, but I swear, I never meant to hurt you. I just wanted to be close to you."
Ethan shook his head, his pulse pounding. "So everything? The way you acted, the way you got close to me—it was all a lie?"
"No," Clara said desperately. "I meant everything I said to you. I do care about you. I do think you're amazing. But I should have told you the truth from the beginning."
Ethan felt sick. He had trusted Clara. He had confided in her. And all this time, she had been weaving herself into his life with a secret hanging over them.
"I can't believe this," he muttered, turning away. "I need to go."
Clara reached for his arm, but he pulled back.
"Ethan, please—"
But he was already walking away.
The Betrayal
Ethan didn't go home. He went straight to Sophia's house.
She opened the door, surprised to see him. "Ethan?"
"I was wrong," he said breathlessly. "About everything."
Sophia frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Clara," he said, running a hand through his hair. "She—she's not who she said she was. She knew me before she even moved here. She followed my writing, tracked me down, and came here on purpose."
Sophia's eyes widened. "What?"
Ethan nodded, the words spilling out. "She read my journal online. She moved here because of it. She lied to me, to everyone."
Sophia was silent for a moment. Then, instead of relief or triumph, anger flashed across her face.
"And you're just realizing this now?" she said, her voice shaking.
Ethan blinked. "What?"
"You spent months defending her," Sophia snapped. "You told me I was overreacting. That she was just a friend. And now, now that she's the one who betrayed you, you suddenly see it?"
Ethan felt like the ground had been ripped out from under him. "Sophia, I didn't know—"
"But I did!" she shouted. "I knew from the start that something was wrong, and you made me feel like I was crazy for it. Do you know how much that hurt?"
Ethan's throat tightened. "Sophia, I never meant—"
"I don't care what you meant," she said, stepping back. "You let her get between us. You let her make you doubt me."
Ethan's chest ached. "I know. And I'm sorry. But please, don't let this be the thing that ruins us."
Sophia let out a bitter laugh. "I don't know if there's an 'us' anymore, Ethan."
His heart clenched. "Don't say that."
She looked at him, her brown eyes filled with something unreadable. "I need time."
And with that, she shut the door.
The Aftermath
Ethan sat alone at the pier that night, staring at the water. Everything felt like it was crumbling. Clara had betrayed his trust. Sophia had pulled away. And for the first time in a long time, he felt completely lost.
Clara's words haunted him.
I just wanted to be close to you.
And Sophia's words cut even deeper.
I don't know if there's an 'us' anymore.
Ethan pulled out his journal, staring at the blank page. The words wouldn't come.
For the first time in his life, he wasn't sure if they ever would again.