As it turns out, Ethan and I had become really good friends over the dwindling days of summer. We didn't do much other than explore the town, but I could tell Ethan appreciated the tours, and I was content at simply having company.

We were currently sitting at a nearby lake, relaxing and relishing in the feel of our last day of summer. I felt a small splash on the side of my leg, and I looked over to see Ethan give me a cheeky grin, as he moved his feet back and forth underneath the water.

"How rude," I smiled and shook my head. I could hear Ethan get up from the lake shore and rummage around in his backpack behind me. Ignoring him, I closed my eyes and tilted my head back towards the sun, bathing in its comforting heat.

A sudden sensation cold as ice hit the back of my neck, startling me from my content stupor. I twisted around to face Ethan, his hand still poised in the air and covered in a thick layer of sunscreen.

"Turn around, your shoulders are starting to burn," he frowned.

I huffed out a breath of air and turned back around, allowing Ethan to rub the sunscreen into my pale skin.

Ethan had begun massaging my shoulders, showing no mercy as he dug into the muscles to rid my body of its tension. None of us spoke as Ethan's big hands smoothed down my shoulders to my biceps, and back up to my shoulders again. I could even feel a bit of the warmth from Ethan's breath as it hit the back of my neck, warmer than the sun itself. My eyes were closed, head tilted forward slightly in utter bliss. When he had hit a particularly tight spot at the nape of my neck, my lips parted a bit and a small groan escaped. Although the noise wasn't particularly embarrassing, I was still shocked that a sound like that had come out of my mouth at all.

Much too soon, Ethan appeared to have snapped out of whatever trance he was in, because to my disappointment, he removed his warm hands and planted himself back in his spot beside me once again, a sheepish smile on his face.

"Sorry, your shoulders looked tight," he cleared his throat awkwardly.

I slowly opened my eyes again and looked at him, finding him staring back at me. Between the heat and the weird emotions bubbling up inside of me, I felt as though what had just occurred was so sensual and risque, that I couldn't help but feel giddy at the prospect that I had just felt what it was truly like to be a carefree teenager for the first time.

Ethan averted his eyes quickly, wincing against the bright sun as he glanced around at the trees surrounding the lake.

"I love being out here in the forest. It's quiet. Peaceful. Don't you think?" He asked suddenly, picking up a smooth rock next to his foot and turning it in his fingers slowly.

I looked out at the tree line thoughtfully, chewing on the inside of my lip. I wished I could agree with him, but the high pitched female voice in my ear shattered the whole idea of being out in the woods to find some silence. I had people around me all the time, there was hardly any escape.

Ethan had no clue how lucky he was that he could merely escape into nature to find quiet.

"You don't ever get scared out here?" I countered.

He furrowed his eyebrows, head jerking back slightly in surprise at my question. "Not really?" He replied in an uncertain tone, before flinging the rock across the lake, the two of us watching as it skipped across the surface three times before sinking. "I think the wild animals are more scared of us than we are of them."

Ethan couldn't see the things in the trees.

Not like I could.

Tragically, I didn't sleep well that night. The idea of school the next day was taking over my thoughts, the peaceful days of summer being whisked behind me like a wisp of smoke, as though they were never there to begin with.

In hopes of escaping to dreamland, I watched the tiny fuzzy shadow creep across the floor over by my door. I guess it was my way of counting sheep, and if my visual hallucinations were acting up again, I was, without a doubt, stressed and exhausted.

In fact, the blossoming friendship between Ethan and I had felt like a dream all along. I wasn't a total recluse in school, I spoke to people, but I had never really formed a connection with someone as much as I did with Ethan. Already so attached in the three weeks we have known each other, I was deathly afraid of losing him. I didn't want him to find other friends to replace me or a pretty girl to love- I didn't want to be forgotten. Maybe I'm being selfish, but doesn't everyone have a right to be a bit selfish for once in their life? I've been handed some shitty cards, and I was tired of not being in control. I'm tired of being alone.

By the time I was finally able to drift off to sleep, the little creature was passing by my closet, creeping along so delicately as it always did.

~

"First day of school! How exciting!" Mrs. Clarissa chirped as she vigorously whisked something in a mixing bowl over by the sink.

My hand rested on my cheek, I could feel the stress begin to darken my face, but hopefully I didn't look too close to death. Benji played with his fork absentmindedly, while Mary banged her hands on the kitchen table. A thick feeling of dread loomed over the three of us sitting at the wooden table. School has never been an enjoyable experience for any of us, just another way to feel as though we didn't belong with the rest of the kids; but deep down, we all appreciated Mrs. Clarissa's attempt to create a more positive atmosphere.

After a silent, hearty breakfast of orange juice and french toast, I was the first to leave since the high school had always opened sooner than Mary and Benji's schools. I slung my black backpack over my shoulders, pocketing my phone and waving goodbye to my family.

I found a decently sized rock to kick around on my way to the bus stop at the corner, which gave me a good excuse to avoid making direct eye contact with any of the other kids already at the stop. I recognized some of them, not because we have met, or talked, and they sure as hell aren't my friends, but I've had a few classes with some of them. One of the girls blew some guy in the bathroom at the end of last year and got caught by the janitor, so everyone knows her really. Some of them glanced at me coming closer, others didn't even bother to cease their conversations to see who was approaching, but they all left me alone, which I appreciated. If I could just get through this last school year with minimal attention, only communicating with the kids I talk to occasionally, all while scoring at least average grades, I would be all set. Only things never work out that way, do they?

"Ivan! Ivan!" A deep voice barked from the side of the road. I knew that voice. It was nice to hear it, I had grown a real liking to it over our time spent together until the last breath of summer. But right now, it was attracting the attention of every kid at the bus stop onto me. I could feel my cheeks immediately go red, as I looked up at the curious stares cast in my direction, and as I turned my head to the left, following the sound of the melodic voice, I was greeted with a grinning Ethan motioning me to get in his car.

Without another thought, I ran over to the passenger door and ripped it open, scurrying inside in hope that the tinted windows would shield me from the investigative eyes. As we drove past, their heads seemed to follow Ethan's car like a bunch of possessed dolls. I hate being dramatic, but I was truly rattled to my bones.

Ethan was his usual jubilant self in the driver's seat, shaking his head and chastising me for thinking he was really going to let me take the bus to school everyday.

"You're embarrassing," I huffed, blowing a strand of jet black hair out of my eyes. Ethan gasped, feigning hurt, but continued to laugh it off.

"Sorry Ivy, didn't mean to cramp your style with my dusty ass."

I rolled my eyes at his foolishness, but I couldn't help the smile that bloomed across my face.

When Ethan pulled into his parking spot at the school, the only time we had left together was the short walk across the parking lot to the entrance. Immediately after we walked inside, Ethan informed me that had to go to his first period class, something about introducing himself and making a good first impression to the teacher. I guess he was actually being serious about his whole 'new me' revelation. As his big frame made its way through the narrow hallway, I couldn't help but notice some of the girls staring at him like a piece of meat. Shaking my head, I began heading to my own first period class, English.

Looking up from my schedule, I managed to weave my way around the other lost looking students too focused on their schedules or phones. I had no real trouble finding my classroom, primarily because my history class from last year was just across the hall.

As I entered the classroom, I glanced around at the other students as subtly as I could, sizing up the chaos I would have to deal with later. The actual class wasn't anything advanced, but rather a standard graduation requirement, so I was getting types of students from across the entire spectrum.

There were some disrespectful bratty girls, some macho guys I recognize from various sports teams flirting with those disrespectful bratty girls, the creepy kids with bad hygiene, creepier than me in fact, which is a rather difficult accomplishment. Some loud rowdy kids were shoving each other around in the back of the room and guffawing real loud, and an extremely obnoxious popping sound was reverberating through my right ear drum.

I quickly took a random seat near the window in the center row of the classroom, attempting to hold my ear without causing too much attention. I was absolutely stressed to my wit's end, and at this point, I really just wanted to get the class over with.

Feeling a gentle tap on my shoulder, I startled, whipping my head to the right and laying my eyes upon a short girl with tan skin and soft brown eyes, wearing a familiar and comforting smile.

"Sorry I startled you, Ivan. It's kind've hard not to," Vera chuckled at me, shooting me an apologetic smile. I shook my head, dismissing her apology and silently letting her know I was alright. "This seat taken?" She asked.

"Uh, no. Be my guest," I shrugged, pushing my notebook over to give her more room.

"Thanks. I'm glad you're in this class. I don't know anyone else," she rambled, pulling out a handful of different colored pens.

"It's no problem, really. I'm glad you're here too."

She pulled her long, curly brown hair over one shoulder as she looked me in the eyes with genuine interest. "How was your summer?"

"Uh, good, I guess. You know. . . same old summer as any other year," I laughed nervously. Vera just smiled and nodded along, telling me about some camping trips she went on with her family, the few occasions in the year they actually spent time together. It was nice talking to Vera. She was the closest thing I had to a friend, and even then, we only talked at school, never meeting up on our own accord. I met her my sophomore year, when I had her in my general health class. She was a bit like me in a sense, we were both underdogs who never really knew how to converse and become accepted within the general student body; but, we had bonded over those struggles and found companionship with one another. Only now, Vera has blossomed into a confident, attractive lady, and I still keep that anti-social outcast persona from our sophomore year. I think she simply pities me a bit at this point.

Vera's phone was vibrating wildly on her desk, and due to the sheer amount and frequency of notifications that were cropping up on the screen, I could only assume it was a group chat. After a single glance, Vera simply rolled her eyes and turned off the notifications, shaking her head with a smirk.

"What was that about?" I asked.

"The girls are swooning over some new hot hunk of a student. I can't believe this. The last thing we need in this school is another jughead causing cat fights amongst the girls," Vera shook her head and began writing something in her notebook.

"Ethan isn't like that at all!" I spat angrily. Vera stared at me with wide eyes, and now the majority of the classroom also. My cheeks burned red hot with embarrassment, and I averted my gaze in shame. I heard Vera bark at the other kids to mind their own conversations, and I could feel her gaze return onto me.

"You, uh, know him?" She asked awkwardly. I took a deep breath and willed everything inside of me to at least look at her from of the corner of my eye.

"Yeah. . . I mean. . . I guess we're friends," I shrugged, attempting to seem nonchalant after jumping the gun to defend Ethan's honor.

"You guess you're friends?" Vera asked incredulously.

"I mean we just met not even a month ago. He lives on my street. And he's nice. Leave me alone," I sputtered, the words just bubbling out of my mouth.

Vera shook her head with a delicate smile. "I was just teasing you, Ivan. I'm glad you've met someone new. Really." Her eyes were filled with so much sincerity I had to avert my glance, it was like her gaze stripped me naked and forced me to feel all of these raw emotions. Vera had never really been like that. Sure, she was always kind to me, but this motherly tenderness and concern in her gaze was all foreign in regard to me.

"I missed you over the summer, Vera," I told her sincerely.

"I missed you too Ivan, I'd really like to meet up apart from school. How about a sleepover this Friday?" She asked, voice raising at the end hopefully.

I nodded just as the teacher began to introduce herself, a small smile playing on my lips at her genuine desire to spend time with me. I had to admit, I was really grateful that Vera is in this class. It was nice to know at least one person who would always have my back, especially in the lion's den that is public high school.

~

What are some of your thoughts on Ethan and Ivan's relationship? Always need some good romantic tension to spice things up. Consider leaving a vote, I really appreciate every person who supports this story.