Page 89 of Unfolding Ethan

We all laughed at him, and I and Ethan shared a knowing glance before bursting into laughter again. Other students gave us a warning glare and we quieted down. Even though I woke up crying and thinking about my mom, I was glad for my friends.Especiallymy best friend who was solving a physics problem with Katherine.

He helped me in pre-calculus and explained each and every problem with great patience. Also, because his hand was on my thigh almost all the time, teasing me if I didn't get the answer right.Jerk.

"So, what would be the physical quantities? Find their iden—” Ethan paused and started chuckling, hiding his face. I looked at him and around us. There was nothing out of the ordinary to chortle like that.

"What is it? Why are you laughing?"

He looked at me and blushed, shaking his head. When I gave him the I-won't-let-you-kiss-me-if-you-don't-tell-me look, he pointed at the word quantities and identities with his pen. And then it hit me, so I started chuckling with him.

Rio snapped angrily, "What is it?"

We both shared a look and chuckled, shaking our heads at Rio, who frowned at us. Volt asked, "Come on, tell us." He paused and added, "Unless you're thinking about your sex life, we don't wanna know."

Katherine smacked his arm. "I wanna know!" She turned toward me with a big grin and said, "Tell me!"

I looked at Ethan, who was grinning, and said, "Quantities. Identities."

"Um . . ."

"So?"

"Huh?"

I snorted, "Don't you guys get it? Quantities. Identities."

They all had a poker face. So, Ethan explained with calm, "Quan-tities. Iden-tities. Get it?" We started chuckling again because we were immature pieces of shit.

They all shook their heads in disappointment. "You both are so immature."

"Why did I even bother to ask?" Rio grumbled and stood up to get the books he needed to complete his History assignment.

“Hey, Kiara.”

I waved at Paul with a small smile. “Hey, Paul. Fancy seeing you here.”

He nodded, staring at Ethan, and smiled my way, “Are you free this Saturday?”

Not again.

Ethan looked up, a vein twitching on his neck when he glared at him. I was sure if I was on the other side of that glare, I'd probably pee in my pants.

“No, she’s not. I am taking her out after we win the swim competition,” Ethan replied.

“We will see who wins the competition.” Paul ran a hand through his dark hair. “Kiara, you can join me at the party. I promise you that I can make your night more memorable.”

I bit my lip, keeping my palm on Ethan’s clenched fist hiding under the table. Sighing, I looked up at his dirty green eyes, smirking down at me.Seriously, what the hell did I see in him?

“Paul, please leave. I have already told you no a million times. I have no interest in going out with you.”

Paul opened his mouth to say something when Ethan stood up, his chair creaking back.

Ethan stared him down with a glare, “Leave.”

No one dared to speak. Even Katherine, the peacemaker, knew better than to stop Ethan. He added, “Before I have to explain to your sister why your jaw is broken.”

I swear I heard his knuckles crack under his fist and felt my core dripping, but I focused on the current situation rather than worshipping him then and there.Bad timing, Kiara.

Paul's eyes darkened, remembering how his elder sister came to Ethan's apartment, complaining about her little brother's broken nose after Ethan had punched him five years ago near that ice cream truck. Even thirteen-year-old Ethan knew how to throw a good punch. I remembered how he had held my hand with his bruised one and bought me the ice cream as we walked to the roof where I cleaned his knuckles and shared our first kiss.

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