Reality

Chapter 7

It was Ethan's turn to watch the creepy doll. Those were the longest two weeks ever.

But we still had to write down our observations.

"Okay and it cried at 3am and then again at 3:31 am and then again at-"

"Ethan, do you even watch this thing?" I ask.

"Yeah, I do. But for your information, the devil child is out to get me."

"Ethan?"

"Yeah?"

"It's a doll."

"Well it's a possessed doll."

I roll my eyes and write down the times he gave me.

"Is that it?" I ask.

"No. It cried again at 4:03 and then I didn't hear it until 4:15..."

"Ethan!!!"

"What?" He asks innocently.

"You let it cry for 12 minutes?!?"

"In my defense it seemed like 3." he says, putting his arms up.

"Oh God. If we fail this I'm blaming it on you," I threaten.

"Hey," he says." I don't fail."

I smack his arm and he laughs.

"So tell me about yourself," he begins.

I eye him warily.

"Well, I have a lot of homework and so very little time."

He rolls his eyes and props his feet on the coffee table in my living room. I push them off.

"No. I mean, what do you do for, you know, fun. What are your pet peeves, favorite movies, sports, all that."

"Well I read for fun and I love to spend hours watching Netflix."

He stares at me blankly.

"And I hate people who judge my hobbies," I say with a smile.

He gets the hint and his face turns back to normal.

"That's cool....?"

"You don't sound sure."

"Oh yeah I am. Yup. Definitely." he says.

I frown.

"You think I'm a weirdo," I point out.

"Hey, don't frown. You never know who can be loving your smile. And I don't think you're weird. It's just, you're different."

"Oh that makes this better," I say.

But all I can think about now is the comment he made about me frowning.

"No.. that's not what I mean. It's just. Girls these days. You're not like them. And that's good."

I smile.

"There it is."

"What?"

"The smile that can make the sun shine in the darkest of places."

My stomach fills with butterflies.

"Ethan Chase, are you hitting on me?"

I secretly crossed my fingers, hoping he'd say what I want him to. I look into his eyes and I see his mischievous smile, his blond curls making him look amazing.

"Not necessarily. Can't I give a girl a compliment?"

I shrug, kinda disappointed.

He continues to smile. I begin to think of all the pain people hide behind that one simple action.

Then I remember what he said about his mom, and his sister.

"Where's Melanie?" I ask.

He doesn't answer me for a few minutes.

"She's at my aunt's house. I leave her there when I have stuff to do."

"Oh."

Ethan looks at the floor.

Silence.

"Well I should get going now."

I nod. But I don't want him to go.

"Okay," I say.

He grabs his jacket, and I walk him to the door.

Then he turns to me.

He hesitates, as if deciding something.

"I'm taking Mel to the movies next Friday, were watching The Lion King's return to the big screen. Maybe I'll pick you up?" He finally says.

I smile and a strand of loose hair falls over my face. Ethan brushes it back.

"That would be great," I say, meaning it.

He flashes me that crooked smile of his and walk out the door, leaving my heart beating at maximum speed.

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So what do you think of this chapter?

Ethan and Catherine seem to be getting somewhere, finally.

Teaser: Ethan's POV and a time lapse

Please vote and comment :)

Update: Wednesday or Thursday