ETHAN AGAIN

CHAPTER 6

Mira was resting on the couch when she heard a knock on the door. Since her dad was out getting groceries, she got up to answer it. To her surprise, it was Ethan standing at the door with a concerned look on his face.

"Hey, I heard you weren't feeling well," Ethan said, holding up a bag of groceries. "I brought some soup and medicine. Can I come in?"

Mira was touched by his kindness and let him in. Ethan helped her back to the couch and brought her a blanket to keep her warm. He then proceeded to make her a bowl of soup and handed her some medicine.

As Mira ate the soup and took the medicine, she felt a sense of gratitude towards Ethan. She couldn't believe he had taken the time to come and visit her, especially since they had only just met.

"Thanks, Ethan," Mira said, smiling weakly at him. "You're really sweet."

Ethan smiled back and sat down next to her on the couch. "No problem, I'm just glad I could help," he said. "You were shivering pretty badly last night, so I wanted to make sure you're okay today."

Mira felt a flutter in her chest at his words, and she couldn't help but notice how close he was to her. She felt a sense of comfort and safety in his presence, and she couldn't help but wonder if maybe she was starting to develop feelings for him.

As they sat together on the couch, Mira couldn't help but notice the way Ethan's eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. She felt a sense of ease with him that she hadn't experienced with many people before.

Ethan, sensing her gaze, turned to her and smiled softly. "Feeling better?" he asked, his voice low and gentle.

Mira nodded, feeling a sense of shyness wash over her. "Yeah, thanks to you," she replied, looking down at her hands.

Ethan reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're welcome," he said, his touch sending shivers down her spine.

As they sat there in comfortable silence, Mira couldn't help but wonder what the future held for them. Would they become more than just friends? Only time would tell.

Suddenly, Ethan's phone buzzed, breaking the silence. He glanced at the screen and apologized before answering the call. Mira listened as he spoke to whoever was on the other end, his expression turning serious.

"I have to go," he said, standing up and grabbing his things. "But I'll check in on you later, okay?"

Mira nodded, feeling a pang of disappointment. "Thanks again, Ethan," she said, smiling up at him.

Ethan smiled back and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Get some rest," he whispered, before turning and leaving.

As Mira watched him go, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation.

As Ethan made to leave, Mira's dad walked in, a bag of groceries in his hand. He noticed Ethan standing by the door and his expression changed to one of surprise and gratitude. "Ethan, thank you so much for watching over Mira," he said, setting down the groceries. "I really appreciate it." Ethan smiled and shook his head. "No need to thank me, sir," he said. "I just wanted to make sure she was okay. She's a great person." Mira's dad nodded, looking at his daughter with a warm smile. "She is indeed," he said. "I'm glad she has friends like you looking out for her." Ethan nodded and made to leave, saying "I should get going, sir." Mira's dad nodded and smiled, "It was nice seeing you, Ethan. Take care." Mira watched as Ethan left the house, feeling a mix of emotions. She was grateful for his kindness, but also a bit relieved that he was gone. She smiled weakly at her dad.

Mira's dad walked into the kitchen ,Mira followed and after a moment of silence between them, he asked her how she was feeling. Mira replied that she was fine, and her dad nodded, sitting down beside her. He gently placed a hand on her forehead, checking for any signs of fever.

"You're still a bit warm," he said, concern etched on his face. "Maybe I should get you some more medicine."

Mira shook her head, smiling weakly. "I'm okay, Dad. I just need to rest."

Her dad nodded and settled in beside her, starting to tell her stories about when he first met her mom. Mira listened, but her mind began to wander. She found herself lost in thought, wondering why her dad was bringing this up now. What was he trying to say? Was he trying to distract her from her illness, or was there something more to it?

As her dad continued talking, Mira's thoughts drifted further away. She was thinking about Ethan, and how she felt when he was around. She remembered the way he smiled at her, the way he held her hand, and the way he looked at her with such kindness in his eyes.

And then her dad's words snapped her back to reality. "I think I know why I'm telling you this, sweetie," he said, looking at her with a knowing gaze. "I think you're in love."

Mira's heart skipped a beat as she looked at her dad in surprise. She felt her face flush, and her palms grow sweaty. "No, Dad," she said, shaking her head, trying to deny it. But her dad just smiled, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"I've seen the way you look at him," he said, his voice low and gentle. "You're smitten, kiddo. And I couldn't be happier for you."

Mira's eyes widened in surprise, and she felt her heart racing in her chest. How did her dad know? And what did he think about Ethan? She wanted to ask him a million questions, but she didn't know where to start.

Mira shook her head vigorously, trying to convince her dad that she wasn't in love. "No, Dad, really, I'm fine. I just...I don't know, I think I'm just grateful for his kindness, that's all," she said, trying to downplay her feelings.

Her dad chuckled and leaned in, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Grateful for his kindness? Mira, I've seen the way you light up when you talk about him. You're not just grateful, you're smitten," he said, his voice filled with warmth.

Mira felt her face grow even hotter as she looked away, trying to hide her emotions. She didn't want to admit it, but her dad was right. She was developing feelings for Ethan, and she couldn't deny it anymore.

"Dad, stop," she said, laughing nervously. "You're making me embarrassed."

Her dad smiled and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a warm hug. "I'm just happy for you, sweetie," he said. "You deserve to be happy, and if Ethan makes you feel that way, then I'm all for it."

Mira sighed and leaned into her dad's hug, feeling a mix of emotions. She was still trying to process her feelings for Ethan, and now her dad was adding to the mix. She knew she couldn't deny her feelings forever, but for now, she just enjoyed the warmth of her dad's hug.

*****

MIRA

Mira excused herself and headed upstairs, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside her. As soon as she reached her room, she closed the door behind her and let out a deep breath. She walked over to her desk, pulled out her diary, and began to write.

The words flowed effortlessly onto the page as she recounted the events of the day. She wrote about Ethan's visit, her dad's perceptive words, and her own conflicted feelings. As she wrote, Mira felt a sense of relief wash over her. It was like she was sharing her secrets with an old friend.

She wrote about the way Ethan made her feel, the way her dad seemed to know exactly what was going on, and her own uncertainty about what to do next. As she finished writing, Mira felt a sense of clarity, like she had finally given voice to her thoughts and feelings.

With a sense of satisfaction, Mira closed her diary and leaned back in her chair. She felt like she had taken the first step in understanding her emotions, and now all she had to do was figure out what to do with them.

Mira's phone rang, breaking the silence in her room. She smiled as she saw the group call from her friends on the screen. She answered the call, and was immediately greeted by the chatter of her friends.

"Hey, girl! How are you feeling?" one of her friends asked, concern evident in her voice.

Mira laughed and settled into a more comfortable position on her bed. "I'm feeling a lot better, thanks for asking," she replied, happy to catch up with her friends.

The conversation flowed easily, with her friends asking about her health, Ethan's visit, and her dad's comments about love. Mira shared her story, and her friends listened with interest, offering words of encouragement and support.

As they talked, Mira felt her spirits lift. She was grateful for her friends' concern and company, and she knew that she could always count on them to be there for her.

"Girl you gotta come clean though , Ethan's too hot to be left hanging "Rachel said

"Fuck he is cute "Sofia added

"Girls I don't wanna go so fast I gotta go slow ok?"Mira said looking at them both through the phone

"Fine whatever"they all laughed and continued the chat.