Summer came to an end, and everyone was gearing up for their final year in high school. Last year had been pretty stressful and challenging, but I believed that this year was going to be better. I'm ready to try out new activities, join social clubs, and play games. I'm running for school president, trying out for the cheerleading team, and, most importantly, hoping Ethan asks me out for senior prom.
Ethan is Ava's childhood friend. He's a shy guy of eighteen with twisted locs and deep-set brown eyes. They've been good friends since they were five, residing in the
Same neighborhood and attending the same school. These factors have made their bond strong. Everyone in school thinks they're dating, but they're not, and Ethan thinks it's time to make it official.
It's almost five, Ava said as she looked at the clock above her bed when she came out of the shower. Ethan had asked Ava out a day before school resumed, and Ava believed he called her out to make it official and perhaps ask her out for the senior prom. Ava applied her lip gloss, picked up her radiant blue handbag, and grabbed her phone before leaving her room and heading downstairs.
Ava grabbed a to-go snack from the refrigerator and headed toward the door, stretching out her hand to pull the door handle. Her dad, Mr. Martins, reminded her not to miss her curfew, and her mom promised to ground her if she did. "Yes, mom, yes, dad," Ava replied sarcastically as she left the house.
I'm seventeen for God's sake, about to graduate from high school, Ava murmured to herself with a bitter heart as she walked to Ethan's place.
Ethan had just come out of the shower and put on a white towel when he heard the doorbell. He rushed to check who it was and opened the door to find Ava standing there.
You're too early. I just showered, Ethan said.
Yeah, I know I'm too early. I just needed to get out of that frustrating house, Ava replied in a bitter tone.
What's wrong? Ethan asked, noticing Ava's mood.
Go get ready, let's go. I'll tell you later, Ava said as she made her way to Ethan's couch.
Ethan quickly went upstairs to his room, dried himself properly, applied lotion, put on his clothes, and quickly arranged his room. A few minutes later, Ethan came down with his bike keys, and both of them headed to the garage. He took out his helmet and gave it to Ava.
What about yours? Ava asked.
Don't worry, Ava, put it on. I won't let anything happen to you, he replied.
Ethan inserted the keys, and the bike roared. He quickly zoomed off into the road.
Oh my God, Ethan, you're too fast!!! Ava screamed as she held the side of the bike tightly.
Hold me tight, and you won't fall, Ethan replied.
Ava quickly grabbed Ethan without hesitation. Ethan was an expert rider, so in less than seven minutes, they arrived at Daisies Pizza Empire
DPE
.
DPE was popular because of its mouth-watering pizzas. Only the aroma of Daisies' pizzas could be perceived blocks away. Ava and Ethan came down from the bike and headed into the restaurant.
Daisy, an ally of Ethan's father, gave him a warm welcome when she saw him. Ava greeted Daisy politely and looked around, noticing that all the tables were filled. She told Ethan that there was no table for them.
Do you think I would call you out without making a reservation? Ethan smiled, looking at Daisy.
Ava giggled. "I'm sorry, Daisy. I didn't introduce you to my friend. She's Ava," Ethan said as he held Ava around her waist.
Oh, nice to meet you, Ava, Daisy smiled, giving Ava a welcoming hug.
Where is our table, please? Ethan asked Daisy.
Sorry for the inconvenience, Daisy said as she directed Ava and Ethan to their table.
Ethan and Ava approached their table, and Daisy left. Ethan adjusted Ava's seat, giving her room to sit down. Ava sat down, and Ethan did the same. They went through the menu and ordered a medium-sized pizza with two cups of lemonade.
So, what really happened today? Ethan asked.
Oh, Ava sighed as she began to tell Ethan what had happened earlier in the morning. I'm seventeen, and my parents still treat me like a kid. They're too overprotective. I hang out with my friends, having the fear that I'm going to miss curfew and get grounded. I miss many fun moments because of being grounded by my parents. Just last month, I went out with Lily, and I came back just five minutes past curfew. I was scolded like a kid and grounded for a week.
Ethan, I'm just tired. I just wanna graduate and move to college, Ava said as a tear dropped down her cheek.
It's no reason to cry, Ava. You're a big girl now, Ethan comforted her as he dried her tears. They watched some funny videos to brighten up Ava's mood as they waited for their order to arrive.
Minutes later, their order arrived. Their medium-sized pizza and lemonade were placed on the table, and Ethan paid with a discount offered by Daisy. Ethan sliced the pizza and handed a slice to Ava, doing the same for himself.
As they ate, Ethan slowly moved his feet toward Ava, and once his feet reached Ava's beneath the table, she got frightened, shocked, and accidentally spilled lemonade on herself. Ethan apologized, but Ava rushed to the ladies' restroom without uttering a single word.
Ethan loves me, but he's too shy to admit it, Ava said to herself, smiling as she looked in the mirror. She dried herself and left the restroom.
I'm really sorry for making you spill lemonade on yourself, Ethan apologized, feeling sorry for Ava.
Ava looked at him and smiled. No issues, Ethan. It's my fault. I get frightened easily, she said.
No, it's mine. I was the one who frightened you, Ethan said. Is there anything you'd like me to know, Ethan? Ava asked.
Ethan felt a bit nervous but tried to hide it. He wanted to act like a man and get rid of his shyness, but the reverse was the case. Ethan got nervous, and his hands became wet. He grabbed his lemonade to take a sip but lost his grip, and it spilled on the floor.
Ethan began, "Ava, the reason I called you out was that I-I-I-I wanted to..."
You wanted to what? Ava asked with curiosity. She was expecting him to say, "I wanted you to be my girl." This thought made Ava smile in her head.
Ethan tried to be bold but couldn't. "I wanted to appreciate you for being a good friend all these years. You've supported me physically, academically, and even emotionally. I just wanted to say thank you. We'll be resuming final year tomorrow, and once this year is over, we'll all move to college. We might not get to see each other as frequently as before, so that's why I organized this mini-date to appreciate you."
I appreciate you too for being such a wonderful soul. You're the only guy who understands me, the only guy I feel free staying with, the only guy who feels like a brother to me," Ava said, smiling.
Thank you for everything, she added.
Ethan surprised Ava with an amazing gift—a golden necklace—and Ava was really grateful.
Ethan and Ava finished their pizza and left. Daisy waved goodbye as they left the restaurant.
Where should we go? Ava asked. "I still have an hour and thirty minutes to curfew."
I think you should go home when there's still time to spare. I don't want to be the reason you get grounded again,Ethan said with a caring tone.
Don't worry, let's go to the cinema and watch a movie. Once it's twenty minutes to curfew, I'll rush home. See, easy peasy, Ava said.
You sure? Ethan asked, a bit worried about Ava.
Yeah, very well, Ava replied.
Okay then, hop in,Ethan said as Ava hopped on his bike and grabbed him. He started the bike and zoomed off.
They arrived at the cinema in no distant time. Ethan paid for a movie—a romance movie about a young girl who was torn between two hearts.
Should I get you popcorn? Ethan asked Ava.
No, don't bother. I'm already full from the pizza we had at Daisies', Ava replied.
Ethan bought a cup of popcorn for himself and walked into the cinema with Ava. They took a seat and waited for the movie to start.
Ava checked her phone almost every minute so she wouldn't miss curfew. The movie started, and the beginning seemed very interesting. It portrayed the story of Ethan and Ava at the beginning.
Ethan, this story just looks like the story of us, Ava told Ethan. He smiled at her, and she smiled back.
They continued with the movie. The movie got more interesting as each scene passed by. Ava was lost in the movie and lost track of time. When she realized herself, she screamed, "Oh my God!! Ethan, I lost track of time!!!"
The crowd in unison shouted, "Shh," with a finger on their lips.
Ava replied in a low tone, "Sorry." She checked her phone, and it was ten minutes past seven.
I've missed curfew, Ethan. I'm ten minutes late, and I'm going to be grounded, Ava said with a sad tone.
I'm sorry, Ava. I told you earlier to go home so you wouldn't miss curfew, but you insisted on going to the cinema, and now you've missed curfew, Ethan replied, feeling deeply sorry for Ava.
Don't overthink about it. It's not your fault. It's mine. I'll have to face the consequences of my actions, Ava told Ethan.
Ethan, feeling sad and sorry for Ava, suggested a crazy idea. "Can't you just lie to them? Tell them that we were studying for our resumption test tomorrow at my house."
Ava looked at Ethan and said, Ethan, you want me to lie? What if my parents find out? My good girl reputation will be ruined. She paused and then continued, "I'm sorry, I can't lie to my parents. I'll just have to face the punishment."
It's okay, Ava. Hop in, let me ride you home, Ethan said with a sad voice.
Ava hopped on Ethan's bike, and Ethan rode her home. On the bike, Ava's brother Owen called her and told her to sneak into her room once she got back. Owen said this and hung up the call.
Ethan stopped Ava a few blocks away from Ava's house so that her parents wouldn't hear the sound of the bike.
Goodnight, Ethan. See you in school tomorrow, Ava said as she gave Ethan a warm hug and disappeared into the dark.
Ava ran home in a hurry and peeped in through the window in their living room. She met her parents watching a movie and checking their time, probably to know the exact time Ava came home. Ava saw this and ran to her room. She climbed a tree that had a branch leading into her room and met Owen on her bed.
Owen! Mr. Martins called out to him. Why is your sister not back? Who, Ava? Owen answered, acting confused. Ava came back a while ago. She said she was tired and went to bed.
Ava's parents thought Owen was lying to them. They climbed the stairs to Ava's room and went in. They saw a figure covered with a blanket and thought Owen was trying to prank them. Mrs. Martins forcefully pulled out the blanket and found Ava fast asleep. She apologized for interrupting Ava's sleep, and Ava told her not to worry, pretending to go back to bed.
They left Ava's room, and Ava thanked Owen for covering her.
