Chapter 19: The shock
954 Words
The school grounds had transformed completely.
Warm string lights stretched across the courtyard, glowing against the evening sky like suspended fireflies. Tables filled with drinks and food lined the edges, music soft enough to blend into conversation but present enough to keep everything feeling like an event.
It was meant to be a celebration.
But no one forgot what it really was.
A distraction from the world shifting outside.
And at the center of it—
Max Shelton stood with James beside him.
Not hidden. Not separate. Together.
Which alone was enough to pull attention in their direction every few seconds.
Camilla leaned against a pillar nearby, watching them. “Okay, I’ve accepted this reality now. They just come as a package deal.”
Aston sighed. “That’s not how people work.”
Camilla shrugged. “It is tonight.”
Elena stood a little apart at first, quiet, observant. But unlike before, there was no tension in her posture—just acceptance. She had already stepped back from the conflict.
James glanced at Max briefly.
“You didn’t have to come,” James said.
Max didn’t look at him immediately. “You’re here.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It is for me.”
James almost smiled at that—but didn’t.
Before he could respond, Max’s gaze shifted.
Subtly.
To the entrance of the courtyard.
Something in his expression changed.
Not alarm.
Recognition.
James noticed immediately. “What is it?”
Max exhaled slowly. “He’s here.”
James followed his gaze.
A new presence had entered.
Ethan Hallow walked into the event like it belonged to him—calm, composed, every movement deliberate. The noise of the crowd didn’t seem to touch him.
But the moment he stepped fully into view—
Everything subtly shifted.
Camilla narrowed her eyes. “That’s him again.”
Elena nodded. “Ethan Hallow.”
Aston frowned slightly. “He feels… too comfortable here.”
James didn’t speak yet.
Because Max had gone still.
Not tense.
Not surprised.
Just… aware.
Then Max spoke.
“That’s my cousin.”
Silence.
Camilla blinked. “Your what?”
Ethan, as if hearing it, turned slightly and smiled faintly in acknowledgment.
“Max,” he greeted smoothly.
Max gave a small nod. “Ethan.”
No warmth. No surprise.
Just recognition between people who understood each other too well.
James’ eyes flicked between them.
Cousin.
That explained the familiarity.
But not the tension under it.
Ethan’s gaze then drifted—slowly, deliberately—away from Max.
To James.
It lingered for a moment.
Measuring.
Then passed.
And landed on Aston.
That shift was immediate.
Interest sharpened.
Aston frowned slightly. “Why is he looking at me like that?”
Camilla whispered, “Oh no. That’s not a normal look.”
Ethan began walking toward them.
Not rushed.
Not hesitant.
Direct.
He stopped just within their group’s space.
“Interesting gathering,” he said lightly.
Camilla crossed her arms. “We try.”
Ethan ignored her, eyes still on Aston.
“You’re Aston, right?”
Aston blinked. “Yeah.”
Ethan smiled faintly. “I was told you’d be difficult to find.”
“That sounds like a problem.”
“It isn’t,” Ethan replied. “I prefer it.”
James’ jaw tightened slightly beside Max.
Max noticed—but didn’t interrupt.
Ethan tilted his head slightly, studying Aston.
“You don’t fit the usual pattern here,” he said.
Aston frowned. “Is that a compliment or an insult?”
“Yes,” Ethan said simply.
Camilla muttered, “I hate him.”
Elena, now watching quietly, looked between them with growing curiosity.
Ethan stepped half a pace closer to Aston.
“I’m going to be honest,” he said.
Aston didn’t move. “That’s new.”
Ethan’s smile widened just slightly.
“I’ve decided I’m interested in you.”
The silence that followed wasn’t loud—but it was sharp.
Camilla choked slightly. “You just—what?”
Aston stared at him. “You can’t just say that to people.”
“I can,” Ethan replied calmly. “And I just did.”
James exhaled quietly through his nose, looking away for a second like he was trying not to react.
Max, however, didn’t move.
But his gaze had sharpened slightly.
Ethan continued, unbothered.
“I’ll be pursuing you,” he added, as casually as if he were discussing a schedule. “Consider it… intentional curiosity.”
Aston blinked. “That’s not how people normally—”
“I’m not normal people,” Ethan interrupted.
Camilla leaned toward Elena. “This is the most unhinged flirting I’ve ever witnessed.”
Elena whispered back, “It’s strangely confident.”
Aston rubbed the back of his neck. “I think I need a minute.”
Ethan nodded once. “Take your time. I prefer clarity over confusion.”
Then, as if nothing unusual had happened—
He stepped back.
And turned slightly toward Max again.
“I see you’ve settled in well,” Ethan said to him.
Max gave a small, unreadable look. “You’ve made it disruptive.”
Ethan smiled faintly. “That was the point.”
James finally spoke.
“Why is he here?” he asked Max quietly.
Max’s gaze stayed on Ethan.
“He’s curious,” Max said simply. “And persistent.”
“That’s your family?” James muttered.
Max glanced at him briefly. “Unfortunately.”
That earned a faint breath of amusement from James—but it didn’t fully reach his expression.
Because Ethan had already shifted his attention back to Aston again.
Watching him like a problem he wanted to solve.
Or maybe—
Something he wanted to keep.
- Writer
