As Nora went about her day, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something had shifted between her and Ethan. She kept thinking about his question, and wondering what he had meant by it.

As she sat in class, Nora found herself stealing glances at Ethan, trying to read his expression. But he just seemed his usual self, smiling and joking with his friends.

At lunchtime, Nora sat with Rachel and Mike, trying to distract herself from thoughts of Ethan. But even as they chatted and laughed, Nora couldn't help but feel a sense of awareness whenever Ethan was near.

It was as if she had developed a sixth sense, a radar that went off whenever he was in the vicinity. Nora felt like she could sense his presence, even when she wasn't looking at him.

As the day drew to a close, Nora found herself feeling more and more anxious. She didn't know what to make of her feelings, or what Ethan's question had meant.

As she walked home from school, Nora felt like she was in a daze. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't even notice when Rachel fell into step beside her.

"Hey, Nora, what's going on?" Rachel asked, looking at her with concern.

Nora shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. "I don't know, Rach," she said. "I just feel really confused right now."

Rachel nodded sympathetically. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked.

Nora hesitated, unsure of whether she was ready to share her feelings with Rachel. But then she nodded, deciding to confide in her friend.

"It's just Ethan," Nora said, feeling a sense of vulnerability. "He asked me if I ever think about us as more than friends, and now I'm all confused."

Rachel's eyes widened in surprise, but then she nodded thoughtfully. "I think I know what you mean," she said. "I've seen the way you two look at each other. There's definitely something there."

Nora felt a sense of relief at Rachel's words. Maybe she wasn't just imagining things, after all.

But as they continued walking, Nora couldn't shake off the feeling that she was taking a risk by confessing her feelings to Rachel. What if Ethan didn't feel the same way? What if their friendship was ruined forever?

As they approached Nora's house, Rachel turned to her with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Nora," she said. "I'm here for you, no matter what happens."

Nora smiled back at her, feeling a sense of gratitude. She knew that she could always count on Rachel to be there for her.

But as she went inside and got ready for bed, Nora couldn't shake off the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even imagine.