𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙙 - e.d. [ completed ]

Three

Emma

"So, Emma, are you new in town? I haven't seen you around." Ethan says, sipping on his coffee. I take a mouse bite out of my croissant, and eye him across the table.

"Yes, I moved here two months ago." I say, simply.

"Oh, do you go to school here too?" he continues the conversation even though it's pretty obvious I don't want him to.

"No, I graduated already." I say. But what is graduation for when you don't have money for college?

"That's cool."

We sit in awkward silence, me nibbling on my croissant and him sipping on his black coffee. I couldn't help but stare.

The boy was very good looking that was for sure. His jawline was really sharp and defined, his hair was dark and wavy, streaks of faded purple decorating the front. He looked tired, but was energetic at the same time, and I wonder what he was hiding behind the dark eye bags. His eyes were really bright in this morning sunlight, ready to see the world, excited to see anything and everything. He seemed to find joy in everything, whilst I was the exact opposite.

I couldn't help but wonder - why the hell is he sitting here with me?

"Why are you up so early?" he says suddenly, making me realize I've been staring for too long.

"Insomnia." And fear and anxiety. "You?"

"Really no reason. Just wanted to see if I can wake up early like those cliche old couples, and have black coffee to wake me up. It's not really working." he jawns, making me jawn too.

He chuckles a little and I join him, but then quickly regret it, when a numb pain starts prickling at my side. I sometimes forget I still can't really laugh at anything without pain.

But the again, what do I really have to laugh at?

"Wow, are you okay?" Ethan says, his eyebrows furrowed and his hand reaching over the table to grab mine, as my other one presses on my rib.

"Yes, uh, I'm fine."

"Are you sure? You don't look fine." he says, referring to my rib.

"I'm fine, it's just an old injury." I lie, shooting him down and his hand leaves my arm.

"Okay then." he mutters, and I lean back into the booth.

I sigh, once the pain subsides and finish my croissant. I throw two dollars on the table and get up to leave, stuffing my things into my duffle bag.

"Wait, where are you going?" Ethan says, getting up too.

"Why do you care?" I snap.

"Maybe I want to come." he says, finishing his coffee.

"Well, I don't want you to." I reply.

"Oh." he mumbles. I could see the slight hurt in his eyes, when I said that, and I immediately felt bad, but it's better this way.

He doesn't deserve to be dragged into my shitty life.

I'm way to messed up for him to handle.

I'm just a dead beat girl, without a proper family.

He doesn't need me messing up his life. He doesn't deserve it.

"I'm sorry. I need to go." I didn't really need to go. I just wanted to.

And what made it even worse was the look on his face when I left - he really didn't want me to.