'~'~'N€VER_KNOWN'~'~'

~3~ «Shadows of Doubt»

The morning sun streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over Danielle's room. She stretched and yawned, feeling the lingering effects of last night's workout. Today was an important day; she and Kavin had planned to finalize their history project. Despite her best efforts to keep her emotions in check, the prospect of spending the day with him filled her with both excitement and nervous anticipation.

Danielle dressed quickly, opting for a casual yet stylish outfit, and made her way to the café on Main Street. Kavin was already there, as usual, his attention focused on his laptop. She smiled as she approached, her heart doing its familiar flip.

"Hey, Kavin," she greeted him, sliding into the seat across from him.

"Morning, Dani," Kavin replied, looking up with a warm smile. "Ready to tackle this project?"

"Absolutely," Danielle said, pulling out her notes. "I think we just need to polish a few sections, and we'll be good to go."

They settled into a comfortable rhythm, working together seamlessly. The café buzzed with the sounds of clinking cups and murmured conversations, creating a cozy backdrop for their collaboration.

_ ____ ___

Just as they were making significant progress, Ethan walked into the café. He spotted Danielle and Kavin immediately and made his way over, a broad smile on his face.

"Hey, Danielle! Kavin," Ethan greeted them, pulling up a chair.

"Hey, Ethan," Danielle replied, surprised but pleased to see him. "What brings you here?"

"Just grabbing a coffee before my next class," Ethan said, glancing at their project materials. "Looks like you two are hard at work."

"Yeah, we're almost done with our history project," Kavin said, his tone polite but slightly guarded.

"Mind if I join you for a bit?" Ethan asked, looking directly at Danielle.

"Sure, why not," Danielle said, smiling. "We could use a break anyway."

As Ethan settled in, the dynamic at the table shifted. He and Danielle quickly fell into an easy conversation, laughing and sharing anecdotes. Kavin tried to join in, but it was clear that Ethan's presence was disrupting the comfortable flow he and Danielle had established.

"So, Danielle, are you free later? I was thinking we could grab lunch together," Ethan suggested, his eyes twinkling.

Danielle hesitated, glancing at Kavin, who was staring intently at his laptop screen. "Um, actually, Kavin and I have plans to finish this project. Maybe another time?"

Ethan nodded, though a hint of disappointment flickered across his face. "Sure, no problem. I'll catch you later then."

Kavin watched Ethan leave, his jaw clenched slightly. He turned to Danielle, forcing a smile. "Shall we get back to work?"

"Yeah, let's do that," Danielle said, feeling a bit of tension in the air.

_ ____ ___

They worked in relative silence for the next hour, the atmosphere between them subtly altered by Ethan's visit. Danielle couldn't help but notice Kavin's moodiness, and it made her wonder if he was feeling something more than just frustration over the project.

Finally, Kavin spoke up, his voice unusually curt. "Ethan seems pretty interested in you."

Danielle looked up, surprised. "He's just a friend, Kavin. We've been in the same class for a while."