Chapter 4

(Ethan’s POV)

I swallowed a bit of air as I lowered my gaze at Izobel’s plump lips. She has no lipstick, but her lips were glossy because of the lip gloss she had on. I glanced at her eyes, and I was taken aback by how she was looking at me intensely. The pupils in her eyes intensified that I could not help breathing on her, wanting to move closer to her face. An inch away from her, I looked again at her mouth. She has this magnet, a type of magnetic force that draws me closer to her.

Half an inch. My heart was thumping against the inside of my chest.

I could feel her breathing against my face, making me more drawn into her. I could not focus on anything else, only on her lips.

“Ethan Wilson!” exclaimed Ms. De Leon, catching us both off guard. I turned my direction to our teacher, and she was giving us a look, and her raised eyebrows warned me to explain myself.

I brushed my hand through my hair, blushing, and faked a grin. “Ms. De Leon, I was studying temperature shifts that occurred during a chemical reaction.”

She made a snorting sound. “By attempting to kiss your lab partner?”

Everyone in the class shifted their gaze in our direction. I glanced at Izobel, and surely all her blood seemed to reach her face. She was so red of embarrassment. Beneath the table, I could see her hands clenched into a fist like she was ready to punch me.

She looked down and did not move an inch until the class was over. When the bell rang, she immediately stood up and dashed out of the room. Good heavens, she walked fast that I had to run to catch up with her.

“Izobel, I’m sorry!” I said, catching my breath. “I did not mean to embarrass you there,”

She suddenly stopped walking, and I almost bumped into her. She turned around, her eyes glazing over me that I made one step back. It was quite threatening, and I swear her looks made goosebumps rise on my arms that I shivered.

“If you don’t want to get hurt, Ethan, stop following me, and don’t you ever talk to me again!” She hissed, then she turned her back on me and climbed down the stairs.

 “You heard the lady, eh!” Nolan chuckled, putting his arm on my shoulder. I irked, shoved his arm away, and walked down the stairs, too, but not follow Izobel. I turned in the direction of the locker room and changed for the basketball practice.

---

I went to the gym earlier in the hopes that my annoyance would subside. I growled as I missed three shots on the ring already. My anger to myself distracted me from shooting the ball through the hoop. When the ball fell to the floor, Nolan scooped it up and dribbled the ball as he ran in my direction.

“So, what exactly is going on with this Izobel girl?” He asked, passing the ball to me. When I caught the ball, I dribbled it a few times before shooting it through the hoop again. This time, it made through the ring, but still, I was not happy. Remembering how angry Izobel had been made me more furious. I could not believe I had let that happen.

Nolan went for the ball again, but this time he did not hand it over to me. In the distance,  he positioned himself to shoot the ball, and it made its way through the ring. “Have mercy on the poor girl, Ethan. Do you think Anastacia would let this go if she finds out you’ve been following Izobel around like crazy?”

It was my turn to chase after the ball. I scooped it as it fell from the hoop, but I did not give it to him. Instead, I jogged to the other half of the court while dribbling. We were still early for the practice, so I went here to be alone. On the other hand, Nolan was like Anastacia, not letting go of things unless they knew what was going on.

He ran slowly, matching my pace, but he did not attempt to get the ball from my possession.

“What’s happening with you?” He asked, grinning at me.

I scowled at him, but he ignored me. As I positioned myself to shoot the ball in the ring, he practiced shooting, bending down and popping up with his legs as he shot an imaginary ball in his hand.   

“I’m not sure...” I really don’t know what was happening to me. I was utterly baffled at my actions. I almost kiss her in class a while ago. She must be furious at me and for this day. Her first day at school appeared to be riddled with humiliation, and what annoyed me was that I took part in ruining her day, perhaps making her day miserable.  

I ran to get the ball that bounced on the floor and passed it to him. He started walking as he dribbled, then attempted to shoot the ball. It bounced on the rim but failed to go through the net.

“You like her?” He asked, running after the ball.

“I can’t like her,” I uttered, realizing I did not move. Nolan, my cousin, and my best friend knew that I could not like anyone else right now.

“But you like her?” Nolan will not let this go unless I give him my honest answer. When I didn’t answer, he tapped my shoulder. “I can’t, and I don’t are two different answers, Ethan,” He dribbled the ball again but did not move from his place. “You are trying to restrict yourself from liking her. Just like Anastacia...”

My forehead creased as I shook my head. “You know that my relationship with Anastacia is-” I stopped because I could not find the right words to say.

“Temporary?” He chuckled as he sat down in the middle of the basketball court.

'Temporary’ I planned to break up with her this summer, but she threatened me she would commit suicide if I did that. Delaying the breakup for another month wouldn’t be so bad until our new neighbor came to Springville Town.

I was unsure of the word, but I was convinced that our relationship would not continue long. “Something like that,” I said, unsure of the word. I could not picture my life with her forever if that word even existed.

Nolan burst out laughing as he watched me walking closer to him.

“Are you saying that Izobel might be the one? Permanent?” He shook his head, smiling smugly at me. “Dude, clear your head, okay?”

My jaw clenched, giving him a frosty look. I sat beside him and checked on my basketball shoes, untied them, and tied the shoelace again.

“She’s nothing special, okay?” I scowled, but somewhere within me was screaming about my unknown feelings for her. I did not look at Nolan. I focused on my tying my shoelace.

“What’s in her, by the way?” He asked again. I tilted my head to glance at him, trying to find out if he was mocking me or he was as curious as I was.

“What do you mean?” My eyes narrowed.

He shrugged his shoulders. “Have you seen how bubbly her twin sister was?” He had a sly grin on his face. “They went by Dad’s office yesterday afternoon to get the key to their house,” He explained. “And I can see why you’re so into her. They had the same outfit yesterday... you know, white mini dress, both hair down flowing freely at their back, no eyeglasses... and...” He sighed. “Doñas de Fuera,”

‘Women from elsewhere,’ I said as I translated his description of the twin. Nolan must be insane to make such a ridiculous comparison of them to supernatural female beings, and he must have said that since they were both beautiful and wearing a white dress.

“But Izobel was quiet, aloof, and would mostly talk only to her Mom.” Nolan continued. “I was actually surprised with her style this morning, but maybe she’s really different from Amber,”

I stood up. “Why are we talking about them anyway?” I tried to show that I was not interested.

He laughed and got to his feet as well. “First and foremost, you’re upset because of Izobel. Second, you almost kissed her in the class. Lastly, even if you deny it, you’re here thinking of her, but you’re well aware that you won’t be able to have her.” He walked and dribbled the ball, and then he turned to me. “Dude, stay away from her,” He reminded me as he passed the ball to me. “Either you will get hurt, or you will wind up hurting her,”