Just friends

Ethan and Luna continued to take things slow and focus on rebuilding their trust. They started to hang out with each other, doing normal high school stuff like studying for exams, playing video games, and watching movies. Ethan made sure to be patient and understanding, not pushing Luna to reveal more than she was ready to share.

As the weeks went by, Luna began to open up to Ethan in small ways. She would confide in him about her fears and worries, and he would listen attentively, offering words of encouragement and support. Ethan felt like he was getting closer to the real Luna, and he loved the way she looked at him with a newfound trust in her eyes.

One day, as they were walking home from school, Luna turned to him with a serious expression.

"Ethan, can I ask you something?" she said.

"Anything," he replied.

Luna hesitated before speaking. "Do you still feel...attached to me? I mean, after what happened with the orb?"

Ethan's heart skipped a beat as he considered the question. He had been thinking about this a lot lately, trying to figure out his feelings.

"Honestly?" he said. "I do still feel a connection to you. But it's different now. I know we've both been through a lot, and I'm trying to focus on building our relationship on trust and respect."

Luna nodded thoughtfully. "I appreciate that," she said. "I want us to be able to trust each other again."

Ethan smiled, feeling a sense of hope. "We will," he said. "I promise."

As they walked the rest of the way home, Ethan couldn't help but think about how far they'd come. They'd faced some tough challenges, but they were working together to build a stronger bond.

Kaida noticed the way Ethan looked at Luna and raised an eyebrow. "You two seem pretty cozy," she said, walking up beside them.

Luna rolled her eyes. "We're just friends," she said.

Ethan chuckled. "Yeah, just friends," he agreed.

Kaida smiled knowingly. "Good for you guys," she said. "You deserve it."

As they parted ways at the door, Ethan felt grateful for Kaida's support. He knew that his relationships with both Luna and Kaida were important to him, and he was determined to nurture them in a healthy way.