"Happy birthday Ethan." My best friend, acting oblivious to the fuming volcano next to her, takes long rapid strides  and reaches out to give him a friendly hug.

How could she fucking do this to me? I should have known she'll do it whether I agree or not. Always agree to disagree, that's Myra's motto in life. 

Wait! This is embarrassing! Does he know anything at all? Did Brad talk to him? Did Myra and Brad talk about it? Is that why she was smirking the whole time? Is that why he looks surprised? No wonder he'll still be pissed at me. My brain runs at 100 miles an hour when I hear him say "thank you" with a thick voice, and he hugs her back while his green eyes rake on my body then lock on mine, his mouth forming into a small smile. 

Those green dreamy eyes that are so light and full of life beg me to gaze at them and not look away. It seems that the air is sucked out of the atmosphere and the emerald of his eyes is pumping oxygen into my lungs, like young lively trees. 

Navy blue looks good on him, his button up shirt with rolled up sleeves showcases his bulging muscles. His beige jeans are tight and ripped at the knees. The combination of colors along with super wavy hair makes him appear like his a superstar from the 80s. His pupils are complimented by the pop of color of his clothes, it actually makes them appear sea green.

"Did you buy everything in the shops sweetheart?" Brad says, snapping me out of my thoughts and I look away. I'm reminded once again that I've been staring at Ethan for a while. Good God, his eyes are magical, they lure you in with no pre-warning. The good thing is that Myra has her back to my face. If she saw me, she would annoy the hell out of me.

"Don't exaggerate. It's only some bits and pieces for the both of us." She says as she pulls away and all we stand in a circle.

"You guys remember each other from last night, right?" Brad tries to get us to talk but fails miserably. Instead, I just nod awkwardly at Ethan and he does the same with a faint 'hmmm' sound.

 "Where's the car, we need to put these babes in it?" Myra saves the situation, as always.

"It's parked a little far from here. But McDonald's is right here." He points at it with his hand. "Let's go eat first."

Ethan seems to have overcome his shock or whatever it is and follows Brad inside while I, on the other hand, am standing still in place with the bags in my hands.

"Please don't be mad Hanna. Just give it a go and I'll leave you alone. Plus it's his birthday, it might be your chance." Myra says all in one go and then lets out a sigh of relief.

I don't know if I'm more angry at my best friend for doing this or at myself because I poured my heart out for her. I should've known this would happen from her hint last night and I shouldn't have came with her today in the first place. 

"We'll talk about this at home. Let's go in now." I feel like a rude asshole glaring at my best friend but I'm serious when I said I can't risk my chance at love. After getting my point clear, I hook my arm around hers and nudge her to go in, with a warm smile, because I can't be angry at her for more than ten seconds.

When we walk in, I'm thankful to see that the boys sat next to each other. We sit on the opposite bench and I only notice that I'm sitting in front of Ethan when I do so.

Okay Hanna, no more staring. Keep yourself up. It's just the eyes that are attractive. He's playing it cool. Just play it cool.

"How do you like it in Leeds so far Aidan?" Brad is the one to start the conversation. Since it's their idea, the son of a bitch has to get us out of this discomfort.

"I didn't get to see much yet but so far so good. I can't wait to go to the cinema." I have developed an excessive love for movies and tv shows and a need to attend every new one. I don't mind watching it on netflix  but I'm one of those people who actually go to the cinema and pay to watch it.

"We"ll check the program and chose one to watch soon." Myra interrupts me, and I can tell how excited she is just by the twinkle in her eyes. I take a glimpse at Ethan and his eyes are anywhere but me. One of his hands is in his pocket and he is playing with a back strand of his hair with the other.

Why did they think that this would be a good idea?

We then order our lunch and Myra drags me to the restroom while food arrives.

"What the hell?"

"What the hell what? Are you guys out of your minds? Look how uncomfortable he is."

"That's because he doesn't know you yet. You should get to know each other. Try to start a conversation with him, Hanna please. I swear he's a good guy once you know him." Myra pleads me with her hands pressed together and I give away a long sigh before muttering a 'fine'.

We go back outside and the food is already there. We sit and start eating. Brad and Ethan start talking about working out and healthy eating. Then Myra tells me about this new movie called 'La La Land' and Brad chimes in saying how good the trailer was.

Before I know it, half of my plate is gone and I'm full-on giggling and talking loud and more importantly, giving myself the permission to look at Ethan who is only listening to our ramble without a word. Although Myra has nudged me to talk with him, I couldn't find anything to tell him, he's acting distant.

"Honey, would you help me put the bags in the car?"

"S-sure." Myra answers after a moment. She winks at me before sitting up and disappearing out of the shop, with all the bags.

Instinctively, I take a look back at Ethan and he is looking down. Again.

Is he still mad at me? Does he hate me? Is he annoyed because Brad ruined his day by bringing him here with us? With me? We were okay last night, why aren't we now?

My heart starts throbbing inside my rib cage and my leg tapping on the floor nervously while my hand gets semi-paralyzed playing with the fork. The only reassurance I get is that Myra and Brad will be back any second. My phone vibrates in my pocket and I take it out to see a text message. It reads:

I'm sorry Hanna. This is (partly) Brad's idea but he thought if we left you guys together, maybe you'll get to know each other and communicate more. Please please don't be mad and call me whenever you need a ride home or if you need anything. I left some cash in your bag in case you need anything.

I'm quick to fly into temper as all I see is a red fog. My mouth is ready to spill some curses, a lot of them actually, when I see Ethan looking at me with concerned eyes.

"Damn it!" is all I say when in reality I wanted to fucking curse her for intruding into my personal life.

"Is everything okay?"

"They're gone. She just texted me saying that they freaking left!" I almost shout.

"Oh." is all he says. For a second, I was happy and taken aback that he talked to me but it ended too soon.

"I'm sorry your special day is ruined. I don't know what Brad was thinking bringing you here." He looks at his watch. There you go, he is bored to death. Why the fuck am I being a drama queen today? Maybe I'm still shaken up from the divorce.

"It's only three pm. Let's go somewhere else." He surprises me and himself by his suggestion, with a reassuring expression on his face.

I just nod, astonished, take my bag and am about to go pay when he tells me that Brad has already paid for it all when we were in the restroom. He gives me a brief smile and I have a childish smile on my face, as I follow him outside.

"The pier is around here. You want to chill there?" Ethan has his hands in his pockets as we walk down the streets. He seems aware of his suggestion, not like he said it without meaning it. I just nod and mutter a "hmm" in a low tone but I'm sure he has heard it because he tries to walk with the same pace as mine, not leaving me behind.

I'm still in shock. I cannot believe I'm walking with him alone in the streets of Leeds. I barely know him, and he doesn't seem to have a problem with it. I guess I'm just in awe. I expected him to be annoyed and leave or something. Never in a million years did I expect him to offer to hang out with me, alone.

The bulging muscles from under his tight jeans as he walks are too sexy not to look at them. His tucked arms are a little hairy which makes them seem manly. It gives me the idea that a little tattoo would make them look more attractive and badass.

"How was your birthday surprise?" I might as well just talk, about anything really.

"It sucked," I look at him, but he's having a stern expression on his face. "I don't like birthdays. I don't like surprises either."

"Why is that? If I may ask?"

"I just don't like being around many people. It was only Brad, Jake, Wren and his girlfriend besides my mom. But I told them before that I don't appreciate celebrating birthdays. But they did it anyway."

They remind of some people who like to meddle with my life as well, and make it a little more fucked up.

"That's why they left early. Jake and Wren and Eleanor. Brad insisted that we'd go 'hang out' for a bit." He quotes with his fingers, and he has some wrinkles around his mouth. He's chewing his inside mouth. He is nervous. Oh God.

"So you didn't want to hang out especially that you knew Myra and I would be joining you guys?"

"I didn't even know that." Bitches are planning this behind our backs.

"I didn't know either to be honest." I say, feeling the need to defend myself.

"Are you still mad at me?" I mentally slap myself. But I had to ask, or it'll bug me forever. Yesterday's apology wasn't really an apology.

"What? No." He looks surprised.

"Are we clear then?"

"Of course!"

"Why didn't you say anything the whole time at McDonald's?" My chill level is going up. I'm such a creep. Did I have to ask that?

"I barely know you Aidan." My body cringes at the use of my own name.

"Okay. Let's go from the start. Call me Hanna." We arrive at the pier, and stop before the stairs, watching the cool breeze of summer creating small racing waves to the shore.

"Hanna?" He turns around to face me, his hair flying behind like it has a mind of its own, his elbows resting on the wooden fence. I look at him and my thoughts are confirmed. His eyes are the same shade of the sea, they're so light and attractive. I gaze at them intensely, hoping he won't turn his face away. He doesn't.

"Yeah, I don't like my name. My small circle of friends call me Hanna." I can see a hint of a smile on his lips. "It reminds me of a man's name."

"Well I think it's a unique name. I personally like it and think you should stick to it." He gives me another smile and turns to face the sea. It's like he's giving me small doses of heaven and I have to catch them and collect all of them to reach final bliss. He doesn't know how cute he looks when he smiles.

"Thanks. Tell me about you. What's your biggest dislike? Or tell me anything about you?"

"I love to entertain myself with the British accent." He has a wide smile on his lips. "Your turn."

"People think I'm bitchy and hostile when they first meet me." His eyes widen for a second when he hears the B word but he quickly recovers.

"I'm sure you're not." He briefly looks at me with a lit face  and at this point, I'm so used to his contagious smile, like I've known him for years. "I'm an introvert. Jake and Wren are my only close friends since childhood. Brad is my personal trainer and a new friend."

"Brad and Myra as such good company. You won't regret their friendship. Although they can be a little nosy and meddlesome as you have seen." We share a comfortable laugh. "They're my only friends in Leeds now."

"I'm your friend too." He flashes his brilliant teeth at me and I nearly jump to give him a hug. His sweetness is heart-warming.

We then go to buy some ice cream and of course he doesn't let me pay. We go sit by the beach and swallow our melting ice cream. Although it's a really hot day, I wasn't bothered because I was really having a fun time. 

He then tells me how he dropped out of university because of his anxiety and the absence of his parents. He finds relief in working out although it's exhausting. He finds it better than human company. When my turn comes, I tell him how I skipped a year and I'm supposed to be a sophomore. When I tell him I've had a rough start at life and that's why I moved to Leeds, he finds it hard to believe because I'm 'still young and charming'.

There were moments when my heart skipped a beat when he simply looks at me while talking. I fought and fought and found it hard not to give in to the warm eyes and the watery mouth in front of me. I didn't even notice that we were walking into a familiar neighborhood only when I recognize the building entrance to Myra's and Brad's apartment. It was around six in the evening and the weather started to become a little chilly all of a sudden. And I've never in my life craved such built strong arms to hold me and keep me warm. 

"It was nice meeting you Hanna." Ethan winks at me, and my insides melt.

"Pleasure's mine. I'll see you around Ethan."

With a nod, he smiles and turns around leaving me at the porch, his hands in his back pockets and his head high as the sky.

"Oh, and happy birthday by the way." He turns, and flashes his teeth at me once again, and then waves me goodbye before taking a turn and disappearing.

A/N: It's happening again! I've updated!

The updates on Healing Ethan will be on Mondays from now on. (Wish me luck on keeping that schedule.)

So, they met! I'm getting super excited. So, questions time:

What's your favorite scene from today's chapter?

What do you think of Ethan? ;)

Do you think he fell for Aidan?

What do you think will happen next?

Next update: 06/02/2016