**Uncertainty and Doubt**

October's eyes scanned Ethan's response, her heart racing with anticipation. She had expected him to push for an explanation, but instead, he simply said, "Okay, no worries. I just thought it would be a good opportunity for us to focus on our project." His words seemed innocent enough, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to his invitation than met the eye. As she pondered her next move, October's mind kept drifting back to the mysterious messages and Aria's warning. She had always considered herself to be a good judge of character, but now she was beginning to wonder if she had misread Ethan entirely. Was he hiding something from her? And if so, what? Determined to get to the bottom of things, October decided to do some digging of her own. She started by searching for Ethan's name online, but just like Aria had said, his social media presence was virtually nonexistent. It was as if he had deliberately erased himself from the internet. Frustrated and curious, October turned her attention to Ethan's classmates. She had met some of them in her psychology lectures, and they all seemed to know him quite well. Maybe, just maybe, they could provide some insight into his character. The next day, October decided to sit with a different group of students at lunch, hoping to gather some information about Ethan. As she listened in on their conversations, she began to piece together a different image of him. Some of them seemed to admire him, while others whispered about his supposed 'dark past.' October's ears perked up at this, and she found herself leaning in closer to hear more. "I heard he's from a really wealthy family," one of the students said, not so quietly. "But he's always been super down-to-earth, you know?" October's eyes scanned the room, trying to find Ethan, but he was nowhere to be seen. She wondered if he was purposefully avoiding her, or if he was simply busy with his own life. Just then, October's phone buzzed in her pocket. She hesitated for a moment before pulling it out, hoping it wasn't Ethan again. But to her surprise, it was a text from an unknown number: "Don't trust him." October's heart skipped a beat as she read the message. Who was sending these texts, and what did they want from her? She glanced around the room, feeling a sense of unease wash over her. Was she being watched? Determined to get some answers, October decided to confront Ethan about her concerns. She walked up to him in the hallway, her voice barely above a whisper. "Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked. Ethan turned to face her, a look of concern on his face. "What's up?" he asked. October hesitated, unsure of how to phrase her questions. "I was just wondering...do you know anything about your online presence?" she asked, trying to sound casual. Ethan raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" "Well, I was trying to look you up online, and it's like you don't exist," October said, her eyes locked on his. "Is everything okay?" For a moment, Ethan seemed taken aback. Then, a hint of a smile played on his lips. "Yeah, everything's fine," he said. "I just prefer to keep a low profile, that's all." October wasn't convinced, but she didn't push the issue further. Not yet, at least. As they parted ways, she couldn't help but feel that she was still missing a crucial piece of the puzzle. And she was determined to find out what it was.