HIDDEN LOVE

Secrets In The Hallway

CHAPTER 7: Secrets In The Hallway*

The house was too quiet after that stormy night. Avery tried to act normal, but she couldn't look at Jaxon the same way.

At breakfast, her mom said, "You two are so quiet. Are you fighting?"

"No," Jaxon said too fast.

Avery's face turned red. "We are fine."

But they weren't fine. Every time they passed each other in the hallway, their shoulders touched. Every time they did, Jaxon's heart jumped.

One evening, Avery was coming out of the bathroom in a small towel because she forgot her clothes. Jaxon was walking past.

They both froze.

"Oh!" Avery gasped.

Jaxon immediately turned his back. "Avery! What are you doing?"

"I forgot my dress!" She ran to her room, embarrassed.

Jaxon stood in the hallway, staring at the wall. He was trying to be respectful. He was trying to be a good brother, even if he was only a step-brother. But moments like this made it so hard.

Later, he knocked on her door. "Hey. I left a shirt outside your door. In case you need... you know..."

Avery opened the door a crack, now fully dressed. "Thank you."

"Next time knock before you run around the house like that," he said, trying to sound annoyed, but his voice was soft.

"I didn't know you were home."

"I am always home," Jaxon whispered. "Because you are here."

Avery didn't know what to say. She just held his shirt tight.

Avery started talking to a boy from her class named Liam. He was nice and helped her with homework.

Jaxon hated it.

He saw them laughing together in the driveway after Liam dropped her off.

"Who was that?" Jaxon asked when she came inside.

"Just Liam from school," Avery said, smiling. "He's nice."

"Too nice," Jaxon muttered.

"Are you jealous?"

Jaxon looked at her. This innocent girl who had never had a boyfriend before was now making him feel things he had never felt.

"Why would I be jealous? You're my step-sister."

"Right. Step-sister," Avery said, and she felt hurt. She walked to her room.

That night, Jaxon couldn't take it. He went to her room.

"Avery, I'm sorry. I was jealous. Okay? I don't like seeing you with other guys."

"Why?" she asked, her eyes big.

"Because," he said, stepping closer but not too close. "Because I fell first. And I know you're new to all this love stuff, but I can't watch you fall for someone else."

Avery's heart was beating so fast. "I don't like Liam. I only... I only think about one person."

"Who?" Jaxon asked.

Avery looked down. "You already know."

For a second, the world stopped. They were just two people, not step-siblings, not forbidden, just Jaxon and Avery under the same roof.

*

Richard and Avery's mom went away for the weekend for their anniversary. They left Jaxon in charge.

"Take care of your sister," Richard said.

Jaxon nodded. "I will."

The first night alone, they ordered pizza and watched a movie in the living room. They sat far apart at first, then closer, then their knees touched.

During a scary scene, Avery grabbed Jaxon's arm.

"You scared?" he laughed.

"A little."

Without thinking, Jaxon put his arm around her to comfort her. Avery leaned into him. It felt natural. It felt right.

Then the movie ended and it was quiet. They were so close. He could see her lips. She could feel his breath.

Jaxon leaned in. Avery closed her eyes. She had never been kissed before, not really.

At the last second, Jaxon stopped. Just one inch away.

"We can't," he whispered, his voice shaking. "If I kiss you now, I won't be able to stop. And you deserve better than a secret."

Avery opened her eyes. Tears were there. "But I want it to be you. My first real kiss. I want it to be you."

Jaxon stood up. "Go to bed, Avery."

He walked away, but he punched the wall in his room because holding back was the hardest thing he had ever done.

He wanted to be the one who protected her innocence, not the one who took it.

---