The Road Back to You

Ethan woke up groggily, feeling the soft weight of a blanket over him. He blinked a few times before realizing that Violet must have covered him. His fingers instinctively brushed against the couch where she had been sleeping, the warmth still lingering. He sighed and rubbed his face, feeling oddly at peace, something he wasn't used to.

As he sat up, he saw Violet near the window, sipping coffee, lost in thought. The morning light caught in her hair, making her look softer. Their eyes met. Ethan's breath hitched for a moment, but he quickly masked it.

"Sleep well, Sleeping Beauty?" Violet smirked. 

"If I knew I'd have an audience, I would've tried harder to look presentable," Ethan scoffed, running a hand through his messy hair. 

"You looked like a mess," she teased, handing him a cup of coffee. Their fingers barely brushed as he took it from her.

Later that morning, instead of going home separately, Ethan suggested they grab breakfast at a nearby café. Violet was surprised but didn't object.

They sat across from each other in a quiet, cozy café. The air was relaxed yet charged with something unspoken. While eating, Ethan found himself sharing a rare childhood memory, one of the few happy ones he had. He spoke about how his mom used to bake cinnamon rolls on rainy mornings, making their home feel warm for a brief moment.

Violet listened with quiet attentiveness. She didn't push, didn't ask for more, but the way she looked at him made Ethan feel like she saw right through his walls.

At one point, he unconsciously reached forward and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. It happened so naturally that neither of them processed it immediately. Then they froze, eyes locking, tension thick between them.

Violet cleared her throat and quickly changed the subject, pretending like nothing had happened.

When they returned to work, Jade immediately sensed something different.

"Why do you look like you spent the night falling in love?" he cornered Violet first. 

"Shut up," Violet groaned, rolling her eyes.

"Why do you look like you've been electrocuted?" then he turned to Ethan. 

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Ethan gave him a flat look. 

But Jade wasn't convinced. He smirked knowingly, making a mental note to keep an eye on them.

Meanwhile, Maddie watched from a distance, fuming.

She realized that whatever had happened between Ethan and Violet last night had changed something.

And she hated it.

She started plotting another way to drive a wedge between them.

In the evening, Violet headed to her art class, needing a breather from the confusion in her head.

She met Liam and Kathy there, and they immediately noticed that she was distracted.

"You're painting flowers today," Liam observed. "You never paint flowers unless you're thinking about someone."

"Ohhh, is it a he?" Kathy teased, nudging her.

"You guys are the worst," Violet groaned. 

"We just enjoy watching you squirm," Liam smirked. 

But as she painted, her mind kept drifting back to Ethan. The way he looked at her. The way he touched her hair. The way his voice softened when he reassured her last night.

Damn it, she thought. I'm in trouble.

Violet, Liam, and Kathy sat together for lunch, chatting and laughing over their meals. Their usual playful banter filled the air, making the cafeteria lively.

Ethan, unexpectedly, walked in and, instead of heading to his usual solitary corner, he pulled out a chair and joined them at the table.

"Well, well, look who decided to grace us with his presence," Liam nearly choked on his food. 

"Are we being audited, boss?" Kathy smirked. 

"No. Just needed a change of scenery," Ethan sipped his coffee, unaffected. 

Violet raised an eyebrow, stealing a glance at him as she took a bite of her food. He was unusually quiet, just listening to their conversation with an expression that was hard to read.

As the conversation went on, Ethan finally spoke. "I have a business trip tomorrow."

"Where to?" Violet's fork paused mid-air. 

"Out of town. Meeting a client regarding the project."

"And who's going with you?" Kathy leaned in, feigning interest. 

"Maddie," Ethan said simply, not noticing the way Violet's grip on her fork tightened.

Liam and Kathy exchanged looks, their amusement growing.

Violet, trying to sound casual, asked, "Oh. How long will you be gone?"

"A day or two. Depends on how things go," Ethan's tone was indifferent, but something about the way he glanced at Violet didn't go unnoticed.

Later that evening, Jade, always quick on his feet and ever the mischief-maker, devised a plan to switch things up. Just as Maddie confidently strutted towards the car, suitcase in hand, Jade intercepted her with a fabricated urgent task from the boss. Before Maddie could argue, Violet found herself being pushed into the car beside Ethan, her own hastily packed bag in tow. Ethan glanced at her, surprised but not displeased, while Jade gave him a cheeky wink before shutting the door.

As they hit the road, the atmosphere between them was a mixture of anticipation and an unspoken tension neither of them could quite define. They arrived at the hotel later that evening, only to be informed that due to a booking mishap, there was only one available room left, with one bed. Violet felt her face heat up, but Ethan, ever composed, simply sighed and ran a hand through his hair before taking the key.

"Only one bed?" she asked in disbelief.

Ethan, clearly irritated, ran a hand through his hair. "I know," his voice was gruff, as if he was as displeased as she was.

Violet opened her mouth to protest further but decided against it. The situation was already set, and there wasn't much they could do.

Later that evening, they had dinner on the hotel room's balcony, the city lights glowing in the distance. Violet was talking non-stop while eating, rambling about random things.

"You're going to choke. Slow down," Ethan watched her, shaking his head. 

"I won't—" Violet began, but then she coughed, choking on her food.

Ethan reached for her, but before he could, she grabbed the nearest glass and drank it in one go.

"Violet, that's—" his eyes widened. 

"That tasted… different," she smacked her lips, eyes widening slightly. 

"That was alcohol," Ethan sighed. 

"Oh. Oops," she blinked, then giggled. 

A few moments passed, and then she started swaying slightly in her chair. "Ethan," she whispered dramatically, "the world is spinning."

"That's what happens when you down a drink like that," he leaned back, smirking. 

She stared at him, tilting her head.

"Your eyes are… really something, you know that? So intense. Like… like fire. But colder. But warm, too. Does that make sense?"

"Not at all," Ethan huffed out a quiet laugh. 

"I knew it. You confuse me," she grinned, completely unfazed. 

"Alright, that's enough. Come on," he stood up. 

"But I'm fineeee," she pouted as he helped her up. 

"Sure you are," he muttered, guiding her to the room.

In the washroom, he turned on the tap and made her wash her face. She splashed water on herself messily, giggling as droplets ran down her face.

"You're a mess," Ethan sighed, taking a towel and gently drying her face. 

"But you like me anyway, don't you?" she gave a lopsided smile. 

"Come on, let's go," he stilled for a second before shaking his head, adjusting her hair carefully. 

Back in the room, Violet tripped on the rug, and instinctively, she grabbed onto Ethan, pulling him down with her.

They landed on the bed, Ethan hovering over her, his hands braced on either side of her.

Violet blinked up at him, her fingers still gripping his shirt.

"You know," she murmured, her voice thick and the lingering warmth of alcohol, "you once told me something when you were drunk."

Ethan, who had been watching her with cautious amusement, tensed slightly. "Did I?"

She nodded, blinking slow and heavy.

"You told me I drive you insane," she said, a small, almost teasing smile tugging at her lips. "That you can't stop thinking about me."

His jaw tightened, but he didn't deny it. "Sounds like something a drunk man would say," he exhaled.

"Then why do you look like you remember every word?" Violet hummed.

Ethan didn't answer. He didn't have to.

"Why do you always look at me like you want to kiss me so bad?" Violet asked, being intense.

Ethan admiring her for whatever she was saying. "Hmm, I don't know, maybe I want to," he replied with a smirk.

A moment of silence took place after Ethan's reply.

She suddenly frowned, as if a thought had just struck her. "That night… you also said something else. You said, 'I hate it. I hate how much I—'" She tilted her head, eyes searching his face. "How much you what, Ethan?"

Ethan's lips parted slightly, his breath hitching for just a second. He could feel the weight of her question pressing against his chest, threatening to pull something raw and unguarded from him.

"Tell me," she whispered.

"Violet—" his throat bobbed.

"Tell me," she pleaded softly, her fingers curling into his dark hair.

"Not like this. I'll tell you when you're sober," he hesitated, then shook his head, his voice quieter this time.

Violet pouted slightly, her grip on his collar loosening. "Maybe I won't want to know then."

"You will," Ethan smirked.

"Ethan…" she whispered, her eyes dazed. "Maybe… maybe I'm falling in love…"

Ethan froze.

Violet reached up, her fingers tracing the collar of his shirt before pulling him slightly closer.

For a second, their faces were mere inches apart. His breath hitched, his gaze locked onto hers.

Then, her grip loosened. Her body relaxed.

She had passed out.

"Unbelievable," Ethan let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. 

Gently, he moved her to the side, tucking her under the covers properly. He took off her heels, adjusting the blanket over her.

Before he turned off the lights, he hesitated, looking at her peaceful face.

Without thinking, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

Pulling away, he let out a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair before settling on the couch for the night.

Sleep didn't come easy. Not after what she had just said.

And not after the way he had felt in that moment.