Chapter 3After the Finals: The Smiling Valedictorian and the Crying Slacker

I stood frozen in place. For a second, I didn't know if I should march up and slap him, or just turn around and walk away.

If I slapped him, I didn't entirely have the moral high ground.

Even though the whole senior class knew Ethan and I liked each other, technically, we weren't officially together yet.

But just walking away made my blood boil.

While I was hesitating, Ethan spotted me. He instinctively shoved Hailey away and sprinted over to me, looking panicked. "Riley, listen to me, I can explain."

I crossed my arms and sneered. "Go ahead. I'm listening."

How could he possibly spin this into something acceptable?

Ethan opened his mouth, seeming to realize how absurd his next words were going to sound.

But he said them anyway.

"At the wrap party yesterday, you didn't show up, and Hailey confessed her feelings to me."

I replied that I didn't go yesterday, and he didn't even bother to text me once. Turns out, he was busy getting confessed to.

I clenched my fists. "And then you two got together?"

"No, I didn't say yes," Ethan said in a low voice. "She got drunk yesterday and kissed me. Today, she asked me to return that kiss to her so she could have closure, which is why I..."

I was dumbfounded.

I stared at Ethan. "Do you think I'm an idiot?"

Ethan shook his head, offering a bitter smile. "No, I'm telling the truth. Honestly, my head is a total mess right now."

"You don't need to be conflicted," Hailey suddenly spoke up from the side.

She walked up to me, her voice hoarse. "I was drunk and out of line yesterday when I kissed Ethan. Today, I practically begged him to return the kiss. None of this is his fault. He's just too much of a gentleman. Don't blame him."

I was utterly speechless.

After delivering her lines, Hailey wiped the tears from her face and smiled tragically at Ethan. "Thank you for letting me leave high school with no regrets. My crush on you ends here. I wish you happiness, Ethan."

With that, Hailey choked back a sob and walked away.

Ethan looked at me, then looked at Hailey's retreating, weeping figure. He gritted his teeth and said, "I'm sorry, Riley. Wait for me, I'll explain everything properly later."

Then he actually chased after Hailey, leaving me standing alone in the wind.