Cracks in the Armor

Lena spent the following days in a daze, trying to make sense of what had happened with Ethan. His breakup with Megan had been a major moment, but the confession she'd been waiting for-the one where he finally admitted he had feelings for her-never came. Instead, he had pulled back, reinforcing their friendship rather than deepening their connection.

Friendship, Lena thought bitterly as she stared out of her office window. It felt like a constant theme in her life, always so close to something more but never quite reaching it. She was tired of playing the "good friend" role. She wanted more, deserved more.

Jessie noticed her distraction almost immediately.

"Girl, you've been off all day," Jessie said, plopping down in the chair beside Lena's desk. "What's going on? Ethan?"

Lena sighed, rubbing her temples. "Yeah, it's Ethan."

Jessie raised an eyebrow, leaning forward eagerly. "Spill. What happened? Did he confess his undying love for you?"

Lena shook her head, a wry smile playing on her lips. "I wish. No, he told me he broke up with Megan, and for a second, I thought he was going to tell me he had feelings for me too, but... he didn't. He just wants to 'figure things out' right now."

Jessie groaned, throwing her hands up dramatically. "Men! They're so infuriating sometimes! Like, seriously, how hard is it to admit you like someone?"

"I don't know," Lena muttered. "Maybe he doesn't like me. Maybe I'm just reading too much into it."

"No way," Jessie said firmly. "You two have a connection. Anyone with eyes can see that. He's probably just scared or confused after the breakup. Give him time, but don't wait around forever."

Lena knew Jessie was right. She couldn't put her life on hold waiting for Ethan to make up his mind. But that didn't stop her from wanting him to come to her. She wanted him to see what was right in front of him, to finally realize that she wasn't just a friend-she was the one.

As the week dragged on, Lena did her best to keep busy and not obsess over Ethan. But every time her phone buzzed, her heart would leap, hoping it was him. Each time it wasn't, she felt her hopes sinking just a little further.

By the time the weekend rolled around, Lena was ready for a distraction, and Jessie was more than happy to provide one.

"Come out with me tonight," Jessie urged her over lunch on Saturday. "You need to get out of your own head for a bit, and I know just the place. There's this new bar downtown, and it's supposed to be amazing."

Lena hesitated. The idea of going out sounded appealing, but part of her was still holding on to the hope that Ethan would call or text, maybe even suggest hanging out. But she couldn't keep waiting around for him.

"Okay," she agreed, offering Jessie a smile. "Let's do it."

That evening, Lena stood in front of her closet, debating what to wear. She wanted to look good-really good. She knew she needed to feel confident, to remind herself that she was desirable and worthy of more than just being someone's backup plan.

She settled on a sleek black dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. It wasn't too flashy, but it was enough to make her feel powerful and beautiful.

When she arrived at the bar, Jessie was already there, sipping on a cocktail and chatting with the bartender. The place was packed, the energy buzzing with excitement and laughter. It was exactly what Lena needed to pull herself out of her funk.

"You look amazing!" Jessie exclaimed as Lena approached, giving her a once-over. "This is exactly the vibe we need tonight. Let's have some fun."

Lena grinned, feeling a surge of confidence. "I'm ready."

The night flew by in a blur of laughter, dancing, and more than a few drinks. Lena felt lighter than she had in days, letting herself get lost in the music and the company of her friends. Jessie had been right-this was exactly what she needed. For once, she wasn't thinking about Ethan. She wasn't waiting for his texts or wondering what he was doing. She was just living in the moment, and it felt good.

As the night wore on, Lena found herself at the bar, ordering another drink when a tall, handsome guy slid up beside her.

"Hey," he said with a charming smile. "Can I buy you a drink?"

Lena raised an eyebrow, amused. "I think I'm already getting one."

He chuckled, glancing at the bartender who was pouring her drink. "Fair enough. But how about I get the next one?"

Lena smiled, feeling flattered by the attention. It had been a while since anyone had flirted with her so directly. And while she wasn't necessarily looking for anything, it was nice to feel wanted.

"Alright," she said, nodding. "I'll let you get the next one."

They chatted for a while, exchanging light conversation as the music pulsed in the background. The guy-his name was Brian-was funny and easy to talk to, and Lena found herself enjoying his company more than she had expected. For the first time in what felt like forever, she wasn't thinking about Ethan. She wasn't waiting for his call or wondering what he was up to. She was just enjoying the moment.

But as the night drew to a close and Lena said her goodbyes to Brian and Jessie, her thoughts inevitably drifted back to Ethan. She couldn't help but wonder what he was doing, if he was thinking about her too.

She pulled out her phone, staring at the screen for a long moment before typing a message.

Lena: Hey, hope you're doing okay. Just wanted to check in.

She hesitated for a second before hitting send, her heart pounding in her chest. Maybe it was the alcohol making her bold, or maybe she was just tired of waiting. Either way, she wanted an answer.

Ethan's reply came almost instantly.

Ethan: Hey, I'm alright. How about you? Everything okay?

Lena bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. Did she tell him the truth? That she missed him, that she wanted more than just friendship? Or did she keep it casual, play it safe?

Before she could decide, another message from Ethan popped up.

Ethan: Do you want to meet up tomorrow? There's something I need to talk to you about.

Lena's heart skipped a beat. Something to talk about? Was this finally it? Was he going to confess, or was she setting herself up for more disappointment?

Either way, she knew she had to find out.

~~~~~