Chapter 49: I choose him

We pulled apart at the sound of the bell. I stepped back and could breathe like a normal human being again.

He let out a quiet laugh. “Perfect timing”

I shot him a look.

“I hate this school” i muttered

“Same” he paused and leaned in slightly “girlfriend”

My heart is did something illegal. I smiled, “boyfriend” I replied.

We both let out a small laugh.His hands reached for mine and we stepped out of the classroom that clearly wasn’t our class.

His hands were warm and firm.

We walked side by side down the halls. Heads turned,people whispered, pointed, eyes followed. The entire atmosphere shifted.

Guess news travelled fast around here.

And apparently so does chaos.

It was kind of hard to act like what this was– oh it's called a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship– normal. Like Nicolas Hayes holding my hands and walking in the public space was a total walk in the park.

Ok you got this girl. You’re a girlfriend now. He belongs in your arms or i belong in– oh fuck what are you saying tessa.

I felt his thumb rubbing my hands. I looked up and he was already looking at me.

“Are you okay?” he whispered.

I nodded once.

We continued walking to our class. What's the big deal anyway? We arrived in class and sat next to each other.

I felt the air shift. I looked up.

Ethan.

“Tessa,” he said, stopping right at my desk.

I glanced at Klaus and saw that ‘she's my girl and you're not messing with either of us’ look.

I straightened slightly, “yeah?”

His gaze flickered briefly towards Klaus then back at me. He blinked twice and continued. “Miss issa wants to see you”

My brows furrowed. Shoot had my grades become worse. I made sure to study hard for my tests. “Me?” I asked to be sure

He nodded once “in her office”

My stomach dropped.

Was this about the play?

Would msa finally be coming?

A thousand possibilities rushed through my tiny brain all at once I thought it might explode. The crazy part– none of these possibilities were positive.

I slowly stood up “okay…”

Klaus looked at me concerned. We did a little dialogue with our eyes and reassured him I was good even if I was far from it.

“Lead the way” I said to Ethan and we both headed to the office.

I walked in the front, he trailed behind me.

I could feel his eyes on me even without turning. There was this calm tension, it felt like… I couldn't place a finger on it.

“Tessa” he finally broke the silence.

But I pretended like I didn't hear him. I just folded my arms and kept walking.

“Tessa,” he called again.

I exhaled loudly “what?”

He paused.

“Are you and Klaus… a thing now?” he went straight to the point. It felt as though hed been trying to ask that question since that night.

“Yes,” I said, slowing my pace a little.

A straight question equals a straight ass answer, right?

“He’s not safe, you know”

There it was.

I stopped walking and turned to look at him.

“Whats that supposed to mean? ”

His expression didn't change or shift even in the slightest. It just remained unreadable.

“It means” he started slipping his hands into his pockets “he doesn't hold on to things, people or feelings”

I let out a short dry laugh “so like you're suddenly an expert on klaus now?”

“I'm his brother tessa”

“And he's my Boyfriend”

“We grew up together Tessa, you've been his girlfriend for like what ,thirty minutes ? Ten?”

“That still doesn't give you the right to conclude if he's good for me or not” I folded my arms giving him the stink look. “Because honestly you don't know him”

His jaw ticked slightly.

“I know enough,” he continued. “I know how he is. He gets what he wants, and when it stops being… exciting, he lets it go.”

Something in my chest tightened. But it wasn't doubt, I was irritated.

“He’s going to hurt you.”

He remained calm and certain like he had already seen the future where I ran crying into his arms because Klaus decided he didn't love me anymore.

Just like my favourite k pop group would say – no, not today.

I stared at him for a second longer then shook my head.

“And thats exactly why i’d choose klaus over you”

I took a step towards him.

“Any day”

Another step.

“Any time”

Ethan blinked and took three steps back

“You need manipulation, you need sabotage to even stand a chance with me”

His jaw tightened. “that's not true–”

“It is” I cut him off.“You needed lies, timing, and God knows what else just to get me to go out with you.”

“I didn't force you tessa” his voice was low

“No, but you lied”

“I didn't–”

“Tell me the full truth”

“Well neither did klaus”

I paused.

“he didn't try to sabotage my chances with you, didn't say you'd hurt me and shit”

“All he had ever done was love me as much as I love him or even more” my voice was firm “no manipulations, no lies, no sabotage and that's exactly how it should be”

Silence.

“You think that's enough?” He asked “just love?”

“It's plenty”

“Plenty enough to fix how shitty he truly is?”

“I’m not trying to fix him,” I snapped. “That’s the difference between you and me.”

“I don't think you fully understand–”

“Oh i am well aware of whatever you think I dont understand”

I placed a hand on my forehead frustration creeping on

“Why do you do this, Ethan?” I said and the look on his face shifted, it was softer."Why the hell are you always trying to drag your own twin brother down the gutter every chance you get?”

He sighed. “Because i like you”

I held his honest, sad gaze.

“So does klaus” i said quietly “and he has never–not once– said anything terrible about you”

I wanted to continue but I could see the defeated expression on his face and decided that was enough banter for today.

“You should get yourself checked,” I added.

I turned and we were already at the office.

Panic set in again. I held my breath, knocked once and walked in.