26

Spencer buried her face in her hands, groaning softly. "It's just... I don't know how to talk to Ethan without feeling like I'm screwing things up."

I raised an eyebrow, leaning forward on the couch, trying to read the expression that peeked through her fingers. "Spence, this is Ethan we're talking about. The guy you've been crushing on for weeks."

She peered at me through her fingers, her lips curving into a weak smile, but her eyes betrayed a deeper worry. "That's the thing, though. I'm scared he's starting to realize I'm not... you know, as easy to like as he thought."

I frowned and shifted closer to her, reaching out to squeeze her hand. "He doesn't care about some perfect version of you, Spence. He likes you. The real you."

Spencer let out a deep sigh, her shoulders sagging under the weight of her insecurities. "I hope so," she whispered, but there was a tremble in her voice.

I could see it—the fear of messing things up before they even began. The way she was holding back, overthinking every little interaction with Ethan. It was weird, seeing Spencer like this. She was always the confident one, the girl who had an answer for everything, but now she seemed lost. Vulnerable. Unsure.

"You don't have to be perfect with him," I said softly, hoping my words would sink in. "It's still early. You're both figuring things out."

Spencer glanced at me, her expression a mix of uncertainty and hope, as if she were on the edge of a cliff, debating whether to jump or retreat. "I don't even know what we're figuring out, though," she admitted, her voice shaky. "It's not like anything's actually happening. We're just... hanging out. Talking. But every time I think it's going somewhere, I freeze up."

"Why do you think you freeze?" I asked, tilting my head, genuinely curious.

She shrugged, staring at her lap, almost embarrassed. "I don't know. It's like the closer I get to him, the more I freak out. What if he's not really interested? What if I make a move and he backs off?"

"Spence," I said, shaking my head, "Ethan's not going anywhere unless you keep pushing him away. If he wasn't interested, he wouldn't be spending so much time with you."

She looked down, her fingers tracing invisible patterns on the couch. "But what if I'm too much?"

A soft laugh escaped me before I could stop it. "You? Too much? Please. You're the most level-headed person I know. Trust me, Ethan's lucky you're even giving him a chance."

Her lips quirked into a small smile, though her eyes were still clouded with doubt. "I just... I don't want to screw this up before it even starts."

"You won't," I said, my voice firmer this time. "Just be yourself. Let it happen naturally. You don't need to rush anything."

Spencer nodded, but the uncertainty was still etched in her features. I knew her well enough to know that this thing between her and Ethan was new, and that newness made her anxious. It was fragile, and the idea of breaking something so delicate was terrifying her.

She was silent for a moment, before finally glancing up at me with a mischievous glint in her eye. "What about you?" she asked, her tone teasing, a hint of her old self creeping back. "How are things going with Levi? Still pretending you two aren't obsessed with each other?"

I stiffened at the mention of Levi. Of course, she'd bring him up. "We are working on it."

Spencer raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "Right. So confessed yet?"

I crossed my arms defensively, leaning back into the couch. "Stop, there is nothing yet."

"Uh-huh," she said, clearly unconvinced. "Except every time you two are in the same room, there's enough tension to set something on fire. Don't think I haven't noticed."

I rolled my eyes, trying to brush it off. "It's complicated."

"Everything's complicated," she shot back, stretching her arms above her head and letting out a small groan. "But at least with Ethan, I'm trying. Maybe you should, too."

Her words struck a chord, but before I could respond, she was already on her feet, pulling on her jacket with a new sense of determination.

"Where are you going?" I asked, standing up with her.

"To have a conversation with Ethan," she said, smoothing out her jacket and giving me a playful smile. "At least that's what I'm aiming for."

I didn't say anything as she walked to the door, her movements lighter, her mood visibly lifted. But her words stayed with me, hanging in the air long after she left.

She was right. As much as I hated to admit it, I'd been avoiding whatever was brewing between Levi and me. For weeks, we'd been dancing around this growing tension, acting like it didn't exist when it was all too obvious. And if I kept avoiding it, I had a feeling things were only going to get more complicated.

I sat back down, my thoughts wandering to Levi. We'd been at each other's throats for months, the rivalry between us simmering beneath every interaction. But recently... recently, something had shifted. The teasing felt different, sharper, charged. Every glance, every word exchanged carried an undertone that neither of us was willing to acknowledge.

The problem was, I didn't know how to deal with it. Levi was infuriating, cocky, always ready with a comeback that made me want to scream and kiss him in equal measure. But the idea of giving in, of admitting that I felt something more than just annoyance for him? That scared me.

I wasn't like Spencer, willing to jump headfirst into something new and uncertain. I liked control. I liked knowing where things stood. And with Levi, nothing was certain. Everything felt like it was teetering on the edge of something I couldn't define.

But maybe, just maybe, Spencer was right. If I didn't take a step forward, nothing would change. The tension between us would keep building until it exploded. Or worse, it would fade, and we'd go back to pretending nothing had ever happened. And that idea? That terrified me even more.

I leaned back on the couch, letting out a long breath. Maybe it was time to stop pretending. Maybe it was time to face whatever was happening between Levi and me. But where did that even begin?

I guess, like Spencer, I'd have to figure it out.