Under The Same Roof

Chapter Four

Maya stood in front of her window, staring at the quiet backyard. The sun was dipping low, painting the sky in soft pink and gold. But she hardly noticed the colors.

All she could think about was Ethan.

She hugged her sketchbook to her chest like a shield. She hadn’t dared to open it since she arrived. It felt too raw, too close to the girl she used to be.

Why did he still make me feel like this? she wondered. Why can’t I just act normal around him?

She let out a long sigh. Her room felt both familiar and foreign. The walls were the same pale blue, the desk still pushed under the window, but the air felt heavy now, charged with all the unspoken words between them.

She heard footsteps in the hallway and froze.

A moment later, Ethan appeared in the doorway. His hair was damp, small drops still clinging to the ends. He wore a plain gray T-shirt and dark sweatpants, and he was busy scrolling on his phone as he walked.

When he looked up and noticed her, he stopped.

“Oh… hey,” he said, voice low but somehow casual.

Maya’s fingers tightened around her sketchbook. “Hi,” she managed, her voice thin.

There was a pause. The only sound was the faint dripping of water from his hair onto the floor.

“You still draw?” Ethan asked suddenly, nodding toward the sketchbook in her hands.

Maya swallowed hard. She looked down at the cover, tracing the corner with her thumb. “Yeah,” she said softly. “Sometimes. Not as much as before.”

His eyes softened. “I remember… you always had that thing with you. Even on the porch steps at midnight.”

Maya felt her face warm up. “You remember that?”

Ethan leaned against the doorframe, one hand still holding his phone. “Of course. You used to pretend to sketch the garden, but I knew you were drawing something else.”

Her heart jumped. Did he know?

She forced a laugh. “Well… the garden wasn’t that interesting.”

Ethan’s lips curved into a small smile. He looked at her for a few long seconds, like he was searching for something in her face.

Then his brow furrowed. “Why did you really stop drawing? Was it Chicago? Or… something else?”

Maya’s breath caught. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She had no idea how to explain the loneliness, the way the city felt too loud and too empty at the same time.

She shifted her weight, eyes dropping to the floor.

Before she could force out an answer, Ethan’s phone started ringing.

He glanced at the screen and his face brightened. “Sorry—just a sec.”

He swiped to answer. “Nathaniel!”

Maya’s eyes widened. Nathaniel. She hadn’t heard that name in years. Ethan’s childhood best friend. The boy who was always glued to Ethan’s side during summers, dragging him into endless soccer matches and wild lake swims.

She took a careful step back, grabbing the chance to slip away.

“Yeah, I just got in,” she heard Ethan say behind her as she slipped into her room. “What? You’re coming down too? That’s awesome!”

She shut her door gently, pressing her back against it. Her heart raced like she had just run a mile.

Why is this so hard? she thought, burying her face in her hands. Why does it feel like I’m fifteen again?

She sat on her bed, trying to calm her breath. She could still hear Ethan’s voice through the thin walls, low and easy, as he laughed and teased Nathaniel on the phone.

It felt so close, too close.

----

When Lily finally called them down for dinner, Maya hesitated. She peeked at herself in the mirror, brushing a hand over her hair and smoothing her shirt.

It’s just dinner. You can do this, she told herself firmly.

She stepped out of her room and saw Ethan already standing by the stairs, still in his relaxed clothes but now fully dried off. He looked up when he heard her door.

Their eyes met. Something passed between them — a quiet, electric pause.

Maya quickly looked away, her cheeks burning.

Downstairs, the table was already set. Lily had gone all out — pasta with creamy sauce, a big salad, warm bread. The scent wrapped around Maya like a hug.

“Finally!” Lily said, clapping her hands as they came in. “I thought I’d have to drag you both down here!”

They all took their seats. Ethan sat across from Maya, Lily in between them.

Lily did most of the talking, as always. She chattered about work, funny TikTok videos, the neighbor’s new puppy. Ethan laughed, his deep voice rumbling in a way that made Maya’s chest ache.

At some point, Lily turned to Ethan. “So… how long are you staying this time?”

Ethan shrugged, taking a sip of water. “A couple of weeks. Maybe longer. I just needed a break.”

Lily cheered. “Good! We can finally do a real family movie night. You have no idea how boring it is watching ‘Titanic’ alone.”

Ethan snorted. “You’ve watched that movie, what, fifty times?”

Lily pointed her fork at him. “Sixty-two, thank you very much.”

They all laughed, even Maya, though her laugh felt fragile, like it might break at any second.

Ethan’s eyes flicked to her. “And you, Maya? How long are you planning to stay?”

Maya paused, her fork halfway to her mouth. “I… I don’t know yet,” she said honestly. “I just needed some time...”

Ethan nodded slowly. “That's ok,” he said, his voice low.

She looked at him then, really looked. In that moment, he didn’t seem like the unreachable boy she had loved from afar. He looked tired, real, almost like someone searching for something too.

Lily jumped in before the silence could stretch too long. “You guys remember that treehouse we tried to build in middle school? Mom nearly had a heart attack when she saw us on the roof.”

Ethan chuckled. “I still have the scar from falling off the ladder.”

Maya felt her chest tighten with the memories.

Lily went on and on, telling stories from their teenage years, and each one pulled Maya deeper into the warmth of the table, and yet made her feel more vulnerable at the same time.

By the time they finished dinner, the sun had completely disappeared, leaving the kitchen bathed in a soft golden glow from the hanging lights.

They started clearing the table together, moving in a gentle rhythm.

When Maya reached for the last plate, her hand brushed against Ethan’s. They both froze.

She looked up at him sharply, her breath catching. His fingers hovered near hers, close enough to feel the warmth.

Their eyes locked, and for a second, everything around them seemed to go quiet.

Then, suddenly, Lily’s voice cut through. “Maya! Come help me pack up the leftovers!”

Maya pulled her hand back so quickly she almost dropped the plate. “C-coming!” she stammered, backing away.

Ethan stood still for a moment, watching her retreat, his face unreadable. Then he turned and picked up the dish towel, drying a bowl with slow, careful movements.

Maya joined Lily at the counter, her pulse still running wild.

Lily rambled on about which containers to use, but Maya barely heard a word. Her mind was spinning with that almost-touch, that charged moment she wasn’t sure she imagined.

When everything was packed away and the kitchen quiet again, Maya excused herself quickly. “I think I’ll head up… I’m a little tired.”

“Of course!” Lily said, giving her a quick hug. “Get some rest. We’ll plan something fun tomorrow!”

Maya nodded, her heart hammering, and climbed the stairs with shaky steps.

She shut her door softly behind her, leaning against it, trying to slow her breathing.

What is happening to me? she wondered.

In the kitchen below, she could hear the faint clink of dishes and Ethan’s deep voice mixing with Lily’s chatter.

She pressed her hand over her heart, feeling it pound against her palm.

She knew sleep wouldn’t come easily tonight.