Ethan
I spotted Ariana and Mia sitting at their usual spot in the cafeteria, chatting casually as they ate. A part of me felt relieved to see Ariana looking better after everything that had happened. The bruises on her face had mostly faded, though there was still a small, lingering mark on her cheek. Just the sight of it made my blood boil all over again, remembering what Ryder and his thugs had done.
Taking a deep breath, I made my way over to their table and plopped down next to Mia. “Hey, how’s it going?” I asked, keeping my voice light as I looked over at Ariana.
Ariana glanced up from her tray, offering me a small smile. “I’m fine, Ethan. Thanks for asking.”
“Are you sure?” I pressed, concern creeping into my voice. “You don’t have to pretend. After everything that happened, it’s
