Chapter One
1312 Words
Ava's POV
I didn’t want to be here.
That was the first thought that crossed my mind as the car rolled to a slow stop in front of the house.
It was too big.
Too quiet.
Too… unfamiliar.
My fingers tightened slightly around the strap of my bag as I stared out the window, taking in the tall gates, the perfectly trimmed hedges, and the kind of house that looked like it belonged in a movie.
“Home,” my mother said softly, like she was trying to convince herself more than me.
I didn’t respond.
Because this didn’t feel like home.
Not yet.
Maybe not ever.
“Come on, Ava,” she added, already opening her door. “Let’s not make a bad first impression.”
Too late for that.
I stepped out of the car, the warm air brushing against my skin, and adjusted my hoodie. My heart was beating faster than it should have been, and I couldn’t tell if it was nerves… or something else.
Maybe it was the fact that everything was about to change.
Again.
The front door opened before we even got there.
A man stepped out—tall, well-dressed, calm.
My stepfather.
“Welcome,” he said with a warm smile, pulling my mom into a quick hug before turning to me. “You must be Ava.”
I nodded politely.
“Yes, sir.”
“None of that,” he chuckled. “You’re family now.”
Family.
The word felt strange.
Heavy.
Before I could respond, he gestured inside.
“Come in. I’ll show you around. Ethan should be upstairs.”
Ethan.
The name barely registered.
At the time.
If only I knew.
---
The house was even bigger on the inside.
Everything was neat, expensive-looking, and a little too perfect. My footsteps felt loud against the polished floor as we walked through.
“…and your room is just down this hall,” my stepfather continued, opening a door.
I stepped inside.
It was… beautiful.
A large bed, soft lighting, a wide window with curtains that let in just enough sunlight. It didn’t feel like mine, but it was more than I expected.
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
“You’ll settle in,” he assured me.
I forced a small smile.
I hoped so.
“Ethan!” he suddenly called out, his voice echoing slightly. “Come down for a second!”
My stomach twisted.
I don’t know why.
Maybe it was instinct.
Maybe it was nothing.
Footsteps followed.
Slow.
Unhurried.
And then—
I saw him.
He stood at the top of the stairs at first.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Dark hair slightly messy like he didn’t care enough to fix it.
And his eyes—
They landed on me.
Sharp.
Focused.
Like he was trying to figure me out in one glance.
Something in my chest tightened.
“Ethan,” my stepfather said, breaking the silence. “This is Ava. She’ll be staying with us now.”
Ethan didn’t move immediately.
Didn’t smile.
Didn’t speak.
He just… looked at me.
And for some reason, I couldn’t look away.
“Hey,” he finally said, his voice low, calm.
Too calm.
“Hi,” I replied, hoping my voice didn’t give anything away.
I wasn’t sure what “anything” even was yet.
He walked down the stairs slowly, stopping just a few steps away from me.
Up close, he was worse.
Not in a bad way.
In a way that made it hard to think straight.
“You’re starting at my school tomorrow,” he said.
It wasn’t a question.
“Yes.”
A small pause.
Then a faint smirk touched his lips.
“Good luck.”
Something about the way he said it didn’t feel like encouragement.
More like a warning.
---
That night, I couldn’t sleep.
I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying everything in my head.
The house.
The move.
Him.
Ethan.
There was something about him I didn’t understand.
Something quiet but intense.
I turned onto my side, pulling the blanket closer.
This was just new.
That was all.
New place. New people.
It would pass.
It had to.
---
The next morning came too fast.
I got dressed quickly, choosing something simple—jeans and a fitted top. Nothing that would draw attention.
I didn’t want attention.
Especially not on my first day.
But the moment I stepped into the kitchen, I knew I had already failed.
Ethan was there.
Leaning casually against the counter, scrolling through his phone.
He looked up.
And just like that—
That same feeling hit again.
Sharp.
Unexpected.
“Morning,” he said.
“Morning.”
I grabbed a glass of water, trying to act normal.
Trying not to feel his eyes on me.
“You ready?” he asked after a moment.
“For school?”
“For survival.”
I frowned slightly, glancing at him.
“What does that mean?”
He pushed off the counter, stepping closer.
Too close.
“You’ll find out.”
My heart skipped.
Not in a good way.
Not in a bad way either.
Just… something.
We walked out together.
And the entire drive, I could feel it.
The tension.
The unspoken something sitting between us.
---
School was worse.
The moment we stepped out of the car, people noticed.
No—they stared.
At him.
At us.
Whispers followed almost immediately.
“Who’s that?”
“Isn’t that Ethan?”
“She’s new…”
I felt it all.
Every look.
Every assumption.
I hated it.
“I’ll see you later,” I muttered quickly, ready to escape.
But before I could move—
His hand caught my wrist.
Everything stopped.
My breath.
My thoughts.
Time.
I turned slowly.
He was looking at me again.
That same intense way.
“Stay close,” he said quietly.
“Why?”
A slight pause.
Then—
“Because people here don’t mind their business.”
My chest tightened.
“Neither do you,” I whispered before I could stop myself.
Something flickered in his eyes.
Interest.
Amusement.
Something dangerous.
“Maybe not,” he admitted.
And then he let go.
---
By lunchtime, I understood what he meant.
Girls whispered.
Watched me.
Judged me.
Because of him.
Because I arrived with him.
I sat alone, trying to ignore it all.
Trying to breathe.
But it wasn’t easy.
Nothing about this was.
I was halfway through my drink when—
A shadow fell over my table.
I looked up.
Ethan.
Again.
“Get up,” he said.
“What?”
“Come with me.”
“I’m fine here.”
He leaned closer slightly, his voice dropping just enough.
“No, you’re not.”
My heart started racing again.
“I said I’m fine.”
A pause.
Then suddenly—
His hand wrapped around my arm, pulling me up gently but firmly.
I gasped softly.
“Ethan—”
“Stop fighting me,” he muttered.
“People are watching!”
“Exactly.”
And then—
Before I could react—
He pulled me closer.
One arm around my waist.
Holding me against him.
Too close.
Way too close.
My breath caught.
“Ethan…” I whispered, my voice barely there.
His face dipped slightly toward mine.
Not touching.
But close enough to make everything feel… dangerous.
“Let them watch,” he said quietly.
My heart was pounding so hard it hurt.
“You shouldn’t be doing this,” I managed.
“You’re my stepbrother.”
The words felt heavier out loud.
More real.
More wrong.
He didn’t move away.
Didn’t loosen his grip.
If anything—
He pulled me a little closer.
His eyes locked on mine.
Dark.
Steady.
Unapologetic.
“I know,” he said.
A pause.
A breath.
And then—
“So why can’t I stop?”
- Writer
