Step into love

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t rev

ood and getting closer, yet once again Ethan shrugs her off with secrets. The thought fills Av

ee to meet at their favorite spot for coffee. Leah sits down and confides in Ava with her own relationship dilemma-a boy who had been sending her

er that night, Ava proceeds to his room, determined for answers. Entering, she finds Ethan staring at an old, weathere

her understand what Ethan is really concealing. As she searched, something totally unexpected greeted her: an old journal, which

ded self, which was far from the light-hearted, fun-loving character she had been getting to know. Something was different. And it wasn't j

Her mind replayed every interaction they had over the last few days, searchin

uncomfortable sleep, her phone buzzed on

ed advice, someth

ld feel the stress in Leah's message. She quickly typed b

rm, smelling of fresh pastries, a little comfort to Ava's restless mind. Leah usual

e's this guy I have been seeing, but.he's sending me so many mixed signals.

e nodded. "I get it. It's like you don't know where you

ust me, like I'm doing something wrong. But then he'll say something swe

ah. Trust me. Some people just have walls.bigger walls than we realiz

t she was saying on behalf of Ethan. It wasn't Leah alone who didn

ind. Was he hiding something? Her gut told her that there was more beneath his smooth

softly on his door, and after a moment, Ethan opened it

ice was casual, w

d finally. "What's wrong, Ethan? Yo

eyes landing on a small framed photo on his desk. It looked old and worn, the edges faded. Before

ed, the strain in his voi

ep closer. "You're always saying 'not now

flashed with something between a

th something deeper-fear that maybe he would never let her in. And wordless, she

mportant about Ethan-something he didn't want anyone to know. She knew she should just leave him alone, give him his spac

throat. She wasn't really sure what she was looking for, but that photo from the night before stuck out in her mind. There w

She opened it with shaking hands and gasped as her fingers closed over a battered leather journa

r of her. She opened Ava's journal; her eyes scanned through the first few entries, fragments of a young boy'

up toward her. Ethan was back. Her pulse raced. Without so much as a second to waste, she barely

sharp, every syllable