The Blossoming Love

**Chapter 7: Uninvited Attention**

******************Bella's pov***************

Monday morning arrived with its usual mix of noise and routine. The school hallway buzzed with students catching up after the weekend, their chatter bouncing off the lockers and tiled floors.

Bella moved through the crowd with her head slightly lowered and earbuds in—not playing anything, just a comfortable shield. Her backpack rested lightly on one shoulder, and she held her books tightly to her chest as she made her way to class.

She could still recall the comfort of Saturday night—the laughter, the safety, and the way her friends had surrounded her like a warm blanket. That feeling stayed with her, helping her keep her chin up as she walked through the halls.

Then she felt it again—someone was watching her.

Her steps faltered. She recognized that stare. She didn't need to look to confirm it.

Ethan.

He leaned casually against the lockers up ahead, surrounded by his usual group of friends. Loud. Confident. Carefree. And yet—his eyes weren't scanning the crowd or focused on a joke.

They were on her.

Bella kept walking, refusing to meet his gaze.

As she reached her classroom door, however, she heard footsteps behind her. Slower. Deliberate.

"Hey."

Her heart skipped a beat, but she turned calmly, her eyes wide with quiet caution.

Ethan stood there, just outside the classroom. His smirk wasn't arrogant this time—it was… amused. Like he was watching a pet react to a sudden noise.

"You're Bella, right?"

Her mouth felt dry. "Yes."

"I've seen you around," he said, as if she didn't already know that. "You're always so quiet. Mysterious."

She blinked. "I'm not mysterious. I just don't talk much."

Ethan laughed softly. "That's kind of what makes you interesting."

Bella shifted her weight. "Okay…"

He leaned slightly closer, just enough to lower his voice. "You had a sleepover, right? With Sarah and the others?"

Bella's brows furrowed. "How do you know that?"

Ethan shrugged casually. "I've got ears."

That unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.

"Well," she said gently but firmly, "I'm heading into class."

He didn't move. "You know, we should talk sometime. Get to know each other."

Bella stared at him, her mind racing for the right thing to say—something polite, yet clear.

"I'm not really the 'get to know' type," she said finally.

Ethan's smirk faltered, just slightly. "Maybe I'll change your mind."

With that, he turned and walked away—cool and casual, as if he hadn't just thrown her completely off balance.

Bella stepped into the classroom, her breath catching in her throat. She didn't want to make a big deal out of it. Maybe it meant nothing. Maybe it was just Ethan being himself.

But deep down, she knew—this was the beginning of something.

And she wasn't sure if she was ready for it.

******************Ethan's pov****************

Ethan leaned against the edge of a stairwell railing, arms crossed and eyes narrowed at the floor below, where students hurried to class.

But his thoughts weren't on class.

They were on her.

Bella.

He didn't even know what it was exactly—she wasn't loud or flashy, didn't hang out with the popular crowd, and definitely didn't throw herself at him like most of the girls he was used to.

And maybe that was the whole point.

She was quiet and careful, like someone guarding a secret.

For the first time in a long time, Ethan couldn't figure someone out.

"She totally brushed you off," Jake said, grinning as he rejoined Ethan at the railing. "Bro, that's cold."

"She didn't brush me off," Ethan muttered, though even he wasn't fully convinced.

Matt snorted. "She said—and I quote—'I'm not really the get-to-know type.' If that isn't a curveball to the face, I don't know what is."

Ethan ran a hand through his hair. "Whatever. I'm not in a rush."

Jake nudged him. "You're actually going through with the bet?"

Ethan didn't answer immediately. He'd agreed to it back when this was supposed to be fun—when he assumed Bella would be just another girl to charm and forget. But she wasn't reacting the way others did. No flirty giggles. No blushing smiles.

Just calm, guarded silence.

It was throwing him off.

And the worst part?

He kind of liked it.

"She's different," he said finally.

"Different how?" Matt asked, raising an eyebrow.

"She doesn't care about me. Not the way people usually do. I talked to her, and it was like… she wanted me to go away."

Jake laughed. "Isn't that usually your thing?"

Ethan didn't respond. His smirk had faded. He glanced back down the hallway where Bella had disappeared into class, her expression unreadable.

What's your story, Bella?

He didn't like feeling curious.

And yet, here he was.