Definitely just neighbors

By Tuesday morning, Ethan was apparently alive again.

I knew because there were three knocks on my wall at exactly 7:40.

I stared at it.

Then my phone buzzed.

Ethan: Good morning.

Me: No.

Ethan: Harsh.

Me: You’re recovered. Go bother someone else.

Ethan: I prefer consistency.

I rolled my eyes and got ready for class.

When I stepped into the hallway, Ethan was already outside his apartment, leaning against the wall with a coffee in his hand.

“You look better,” I said.

“You sound disappointed.”

“A little.”

He handed me another cup.

I looked at it.

“What’s this?”

“Coffee.”

“I can see that.”

“For you.”

I took it slowly.

“Why?”

“You fed me yesterday.”

“So?”

“So I’m returning the favor.”

I looked at the cup.

“You bought coffee because I gave you soup?”

“Don’t make it emotional.”

I smiled.

“Wasn’t planning to.”

We walked to campus together.

Again.

At this point, I was starting to think it had become a routine without either of us agreeing to it.

When we reached the lecture hall, Nina was waiting outside.

Her eyes immediately dropped to the coffee in my hand.

Then to Ethan.

Then back to me.

“No,” I said before she could speak.

She smiled.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You never have to.”

Ethan laughed.

“I like her.”

“You don’t know her.”

“I know enough.”

Nina looked pleased.

Traitor.

During class, Ethan sat closer than usual.

Not beside me.

Just close enough that I noticed.

Which was annoying.

After class, our lecturer reminded us about the upcoming group assignment.

Nina groaned.

“I hate group work.”

“So does everyone,” I said.

“Some people were born to suffer. Group assignments prove it.”

Ethan walked over.

“What group are you in?”

I checked the list on my phone.

“Group six.”

He looked at his.

Then smiled.

“No way.”

I already knew.

“You’re in group six.”

“Looks like it.”

Nina leaned toward me.

“This is getting ridiculous.”

I ignored her.

Our group had four people, but the other two had already messaged saying they couldn’t meet until later in the week.

Which left me and Ethan.

Alone.

Again.

We ended up in the library.

For once, Ethan was actually serious.

No teasing.

No ridiculous comments.

He opened his laptop and started going through the assignment instructions.

I watched him for a second.

“What?”

He looked up.

“Nothing.”

“You’re staring.”

“I’m surprised.”

“By?”

“You’re actually doing work.”

He placed a hand over his chest.

“Maya, that hurts.”

“You survive a lot.”

He smiled.

We spent nearly two hours working.

By the time we finished, the library was almost empty.

I stretched.

“I’m hungry.”

Ethan closed his laptop.

“Food?”

“That sounded too eager.”

“I’m always ready to eat.”

We stopped at a small place near campus and ordered fries.

Nothing fancy.

We sat near the window, sharing one large portion because Ethan claimed ordering two was “financially irresponsible.”

“You literally buy coffee every day,” I said.

“That’s different.”

“How?”

“It keeps me alive.”

“Dramatic.”

“Accurate.”

I laughed.

Then my phone buzzed.

A message from Nina.

Nina: Where are you?

I replied.

Me: Eating.

Her response came immediately.

Nina: With him?

I stared at the screen.

Ethan leaned forward.

“Who is it?”

“Nina.”

“What does she want?”

“To be annoying.”

“Tell her I said hi.”

I looked at him.

“Absolutely not.”

He smiled.

When we finally got back to the apartment building, it had started raining.

Not heavily.

Just enough that we had to run from the sidewalk to the entrance.

I laughed as we rushed inside.

“You said it wasn’t going to rain,” I said.

“I said probably.”

“That is not the same thing.”

We stood in the lobby, slightly wet and out of breath.

Ethan looked at me.

Then he smiled.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“No, what?”

He reached out and brushed a small drop of water from my cheek.

I froze.

It was such a small thing.

Barely anything.

But suddenly the lobby felt too quiet.

His hand dropped.

Neither of us spoke.

Then the elevator doors opened.

Saved by broken building technology.

I stepped inside quickly.

Ethan followed.

The ride up was painfully silent.

When we reached our floor, I walked toward my door.

“Maya.”

I turned.

He was standing outside his apartment.

“What?”

He smiled slightly.

“Thanks for today.”

“For doing our assignment?”

“For not being completely unbearable.”

I stared at him.

“There he is.”

He laughed.

“Goodnight.”

“It’s eight.”

He grinned.

“Now you understand how annoying that is.”

I shook my head and went inside.

My phone buzzed before I even put my bag down.

Nina: So?

Me: So what?

Nina: You and Ethan.

I stared at the message.

Then typed:

Me: We are just neighbors.

I looked at it for a second before sending.

Then I heard three knocks on the wall.

I smiled.

Definitely just neighbors.