Ethan regretted his decision almost immediately.
It wasn't that Ava was a bad student. In fact, she was eager to learn, asking questions with such genuine curiosity that he found himself wanting to answer them. But the more time he spent with her, the harder it became to ignore the feelings he had tried so desperately to suppress.
They met in the library after school, a secluded corner where few students ventured. Ava arrived first, her books neatly arranged on the table. When Ethan walked in, she looked up and smiled, that same smile that had haunted his dreams for years.
"You're late," she teased, tapping her pen against the open notebook.
He rolled his eyes. "I had things to do."
She tilted her head, studying him. "You always have things to do. Do you ever take a break?"
"No," he said simply, pulling out a chair and flipping open a textbook. "Let's get this over with."
Ava sighed but didn't argue. Instead, she leaned in, her shoulder brushing against his as she focused on the material. Ethan swallowed hard.
This was dangerous. Too close. Too familiar.
He forced himself to focus on the lesson, explaining formulas and theories with the detached precision he had mastered over the years. But no matter how much he tried to keep his distance, Ava kept pulling him back in—with her laughter, her determination, the way she scribbled notes furiously even when she didn't understand.
At one point, she groaned, dropping her head onto the table. "This is impossible."
Ethan smirked. "It's basic algebra."
"For you, maybe," she muttered. Then she sat up suddenly, turning to face him. "Why won't you talk to me anymore?"
His smirk vanished. "What?"
"You used to tell me everything," she said softly. "Now, you barely look at me."
Ethan's chest tightened. He had known this conversation was coming, but he wasn't ready for it.
"I'm busy," he said, voice clipped. "That's all."
Ava frowned. "That's a lie."
He exhaled sharply, pushing back his chair. "We're done for today."
"Ethan—"
But he was already walking away, his heart pounding as he fought the urge to turn back.
He couldn't let himself get close again.
Because if he did, he wasn't sure he'd have the strength to walk away a second time.