My Brother’s Enemy
376 Words
Ethan arrived ten minutes later.
And the second he saw Liam Carter standing beside me, I knew.
The storm wasn’t the problem anymore.
“Sophie.”
His voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
I stepped between them.
“Before you start—”
“You called him?”
I blinked.
“What?”
His eyes moved to Liam.
“You called him?”
“No.”
Liam answered before I could.
“She didn’t.”
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“Of course you’re here.”
Liam’s jaw tightened.
“Your sister needed help.”
“You don’t get to act like you care.”
Something changed in Liam’s face.
A flash of hurt.
Gone instantly.
But I saw it.
And I didn’t understand why.
“Ethan,” I said.
He looked at me.
“You don’t know him.”
I shook my head.
“And you do?”
The silence that followed was uncomfortable.
Because I had never questioned him before.
Not like this.
Ethan was my brother.
My protector.
The person who was always there.
But maybe that was the problem.
Everyone kept telling me who Liam was.
Nobody asked me what I saw.
Ryan pulled up behind Ethan.
My brother’s best friend.
Unlike Ethan, Ryan didn’t look angry.
He looked worried.
“Sophie, are you okay?”
I nodded.
“I’m fine.”
His eyes moved to Liam.
And something unreadable crossed his face.
“Good.”
Ryan smiled.
“But maybe next time don’t accept help from people who don’t deserve your trust.”
I frowned.
“Ryan.”
“What?”
His expression softened.
“I’m just saying.”
But something about the way he said it bothered me.
Because it sounded less like advice…
And more like a warning.
───
That night, I couldn’t sleep.
Not because of the storm.
Because of Liam.
The boy everyone hated.
The boy who helped me.
The boy who looked hurt when Ethan spoke to him.
My phone lit up.
Unknown number.
I stared.
Then opened it.
Did you get home safely?
I knew immediately.
Liam.
I should have ignored it.
Instead, I replied.
How did you get my number?
A few seconds passed.
Then:
Your brother talks too much.
I smiled.
And hated myself for it.
- Writer
