I arrive at his office at 9:55 PM.
The building is dark. Empty. Just emergency lighting casting dim shadows in the hallways.
Exactly like last night.
Except everything's different now.
The dean's warning. Liam's confession. Madison's threat.
Twenty-four hours to decide. Stay away or burn.
I'm choosing to burn.
His door is closed. Light underneath.
I knock softly.
"Come in."
I open the door. Step inside. Close it behind me.
Don't lock it this time. Can't. Not after last night.
Ethan's standing by the window. Looking out at campus. Hands in his pockets, shoulders tense.
"You came," he says without turning.
"You asked."
"I wasn't sure you would. After last night. After what I said."
"Neither was I."
He turns to face me. Looks exhausted. Like he's aged a decade since yesterday.
"How was your meeting with the dean?" he asks.
"She told me to stay away from you. Said if I don't, she'll investigate formally."
"She told me the same thing."
"And yet here we are."
