Chapter 32: The moment i stopped trying

klaus's pov

I finally decided to talk to her for the first time during sophomore year.

By then I was sure she knew who I was – bad boy Klaus, school hottest, riding a sick ass motorcycle, confidence the size of a planet, nonchalant and the coolest dude to walk the earth.

At least that's what people were saying.

I couldn't blame them. I was indeed cool, I mean how many sophomores do you see making out with a senior year hottie.

I had a lot of confidence and I thought I could finally use that to talk to her.

I noticed Tessa liked to eat burgers. It wasn't an obviously Detail. if you asked anybody they'd probably say she ate anything but ask me and I could say for sure that she would eat burgers even when she was full.

And I didn’t understand why.

So I rode my motorcycle across town to find the best burgers there were and when I got back it was still warm.

It was already lunch time and she was sitting at her usual corner cheeks filled with food as usual like a squirrel.

It was cute.

Maya was talking non stop and all Tessa could do was nod and stuffed her mouth even more.

I let out a small chuckle– secretly thankful no one saw me softened. Then I moved towards her

Why the fuck was it difficult to talk to tessa.

My grip tightened on the burger bag and before I could take another step aside right on cue, Julie Intercepted me.

“Hey handsome” she said holding her phone up without giving me time to respond “could you help me shoot something for my tiktok” she pouted her lips “ill be quick i promise”

“Can it wait?” I asked my eyes stylishly drifting to where Tessa sat.

“Honey , if I wait two more minutes , the trend will get old, now come on,” she said and practically dragged me to the field.

I could’ve said no but I didn't.

They were always watching and I had to act like I didn't care.

Pro tip– always make sure no one can read your expression as a cool kid. That way itll be difficult for them to tell if you’re fucking exhausted.

“Here” julie stretched out a phone to me “its a thirty seconds video so well be quick, swears”

Thirty seconds became a minute, then two.

Then it turned to five, five to ten…..

She kept on asking for another take over and over again.

“My nose looks big here”

“The angle isn't right”

“I hate it”

“You didn't video half my pretty feet”

“Are you even paying attention”

She was quite a lot.

half way through I wasn't actually paying attention. Not when Tessa still sat there, not when I hadn't still spoken to her .

“Omg that's perfect” Julie squealed at the hundredth take.

I didn't respond, just walked away.

When I approached where I dropped the burger it was already gone.

“Yo thanks for that” one of the guys tapping my shoulder “that burger was insane” he smiled and left.

I couldn't react. My eyes moved past him to her but he was already leaving.

It really wasn't supposed to be that hard

I tried not to think much about it on my ride home. I tried to focus on the breeze that coarse through my whole body as I increased the speed off my motorcycle.

This was freedom.

Ethan was already in the living room when I got home– balanced on the couch, legs stretched , phone in one hand and a can of soda in another.

Comfortable like he owned the place.

He barely looked up at first then–

“You’ve been staring at her”

I froze for a split second before deciding to ignore and move straight to my room.

He scoffed “don’t act like you didn't hear me klaus, were not at school”

I paused and turned “what the fuck do you want?”

He dropped his can and stood up “oh dont play dumb, you think i dont see you starring at her when no one is looking”

“And?”

There was a short, heavy pause.

Ethan sighed before running a hand through his hair, the way he did when he got exhausted.

“That girl… the girl always wearing a hoodie”he started stepping forward “shes a nice girl klaus”

I frowned, “and what has that got to do with anything”

“everything , it has everything to do with it” his tone switched “she already gets picked on by your friends, that veronica girl and the rest they dont even try to hide it”

I stayed quiet.

“So whatever it is you're thinking or planning or whatever those stares are for”he continued “just drop it”

“And why should i, what do you think im planning”

“I dont give a shit about whatever fucked up thing you got planned, im not interested, just leave her alone” he raised his voice

“Why?” i barked back

“She keeps to herself, she doesn't bother anyone, she respects herself and has just one friend” he continued “which means she definitely doesn't need someone like ruining her quiet life all because what… you want to entertain yourself”

I let out a dry laugh “and is it so bad that i might want to be her friend”

“It is bad for YOU to want to be her friend, its only a free pass for your fucked up friends to make her life unbareable”

My jaw tightened.

“Why are you so bothered, its not like youre friends or anything, you dont even know her name” i said “since when did who i stare at become your fucking business ethan?”

“You ruin things” the words hit harder than intended

I froze.

“Everything you touch never remains whole”

I steeped closer “thats bullshit”

“You and i both know its not” ethan shot back

We stood face to face.

“Mom and dad can barely stand being in the same room anymore” he whispered “you think that happened for no bloody reason”

I took a step back and shoot my head “that has nothing to do with me”

“Keep telling yourself that” he said

Silence followed.

“That girl doesn't deserve someone like you in her life” he spoke again and walked past me

“Her name is Tessa” I shouted but Ethan didn't respond, just left.

I fought within myself not to believe Ethan but the truth always hurt.

That day marked the moment i stopped trying.