Chapter 2: Cracks in the Armor

Lucy woke up the next morning determined to forget about Ethan Hayes. She told herself he was nothing more than a distraction—an infuriating, cocky distraction who wouldn’t be around forever.

As she sat at the breakfast table, flipping through her notebook, she heard the unmistakable sound of Ethan’s boots against the hardwood floor.

“Morning, sunshine,” Ethan greeted, his voice dripping with casual charm.

Lucy didn’t look up. “You’re late.”

“For breakfast? Didn’t know there was a schedule,” he replied, grabbing a mug and pouring himself a cup of coffee.

“For helping my dad,” she shot back, finally glancing at him. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his shirt was unbuttoned just enough to hint at the tattoos peeking out from beneath. She quickly averted her eyes, feeling her cheeks heat.

Ethan smirked, clearly noticing her reaction. “Relax, bookworm. The professor and I have an unspoken understanding. He’s not expecting me this early.”

Lucy rolled her eyes. “Of course not.”

“Something on your mind?” he asked, leaning casually against the counter and taking a sip of coffee.

“No,” she said quickly, shoving her notebook into her bag and standing up. “I have to get to school.”

“Good girl,” Ethan teased, his grin widening. “Don’t let me corrupt you.”

Lucy glared at him, her face burning. Without another word, she grabbed her backpack and left the house, his laughter following her out the door.

---

School Sanctuary

At Westfield High, Lucy found solace in her daily routine. She attended her classes, took meticulous notes, and avoided drama. But even as she focused on her studies, Ethan’s words replayed in her mind.

“Don’t let me corrupt you.”

What did he mean by that? And why couldn’t she stop thinking about him?

During lunch, her best friend Ellie noticed her distracted state.

“Alright, spill,” Ellie said, leaning across the cafeteria table. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Lucy said, poking at her salad.

Ellie raised an eyebrow. “Don’t lie to me. You’ve been weird all day.”

Lucy hesitated, then sighed. “It’s Ethan. My dad’s grad student.”

“The bad boy with the motorcycle?” Ellie asked, her eyes lighting up. “Tell me everything.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” Lucy said quickly. “He’s just... annoying.”

Ellie smirked. “Annoying, huh? Is that code for ‘hot but infuriating’?”

Lucy groaned. “He’s not hot.”

“Sure,” Ellie said, clearly not believing her. “So, what’s he done to get under your skin?”

Lucy hesitated, unsure how to explain. “He’s just... there. All the time. And he thinks he’s so clever.”

Ellie laughed. “Sounds like someone’s got a crush.”

“I do not!” Lucy said, her voice a little too loud. Heads turned, and she quickly lowered her voice. “I don’t.”

“Alright, alright,” Ellie said, holding up her hands. “But if you ever need advice on dealing with a bad boy, I’m your girl.”

Lucy shook her head, laughing despite herself. “Thanks, but I’m fine.”

---

Unwanted Attention

That evening, Lucy came home to find Ethan sprawled on the couch, flipping through channels on the TV. He glanced up as she walked in, his smirk returning.

“Hey, bookworm. How was school?”

“Fine,” she said shortly, setting her bag down and heading for the stairs.

“Come on,” he called after her. “No small talk? No witty comebacks?”

Lucy paused, her hand on the banister. “Why do you care?”

Ethan shrugged, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Maybe I like getting a reaction out of you.”

“Well, you’re wasting your time,” she said, heading upstairs before he could reply.

In the safety of her room, Lucy closed the door and leaned against it, taking a deep breath. She couldn’t let Ethan get to her. He was just another distraction, nothing more.

---

Late-Night Encounter

That night, Lucy couldn’t sleep. She tossed and turned, her thoughts racing. Finally, she decided to get a glass of water.

As she padded quietly down the stairs, she saw the light on in the kitchen. Peeking around the corner, she froze.

Ethan was there, leaning against the counter with a beer in hand. His shirt was unbuttoned, revealing more of the tattoos that covered his chest and arms. He looked up as she entered, his smirk softening into something almost... inviting.

“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked, his voice low.

“Yeah,” she said awkwardly, grabbing a glass and filling it with water.

Ethan watched her, his gaze unreadable. “You know, you don’t have to be so uptight all the time.”

“I’m not uptight,” she replied defensively.

He chuckled, setting his beer down. “Sure you’re not.”

Lucy frowned, her irritation flaring. “Why do you care so much about how I act?”

Ethan moved closer, his eyes locked on hers. “Because it’s fun watching you squirm.”

Her heart raced as he leaned against the counter beside her, his proximity overwhelming. She could feel the heat radiating from him, his scent a mix of leather and something distinctly masculine.

“Well, maybe you should find someone else to bother,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.

“Maybe,” he said, his lips curving into that infuriating smirk. “But where’s the fun in that?”

Lucy turned away, her face burning. “Goodnight, Ethan.”

As she hurried back upstairs, she could still feel his eyes on her.

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