In Love With My Half Brother

Chapter Ten: What Happens When No One’s Watching

The last bell of the day didn’t feel like freedom.

It felt like a countdown ending.

I didn’t know why.

I just knew something wasn’t over.

“Walk with me,” Maya said as we packed up.

“I have a headache,” I replied, not looking up.

“That’s your excuse now?”

“Yes.”

She studied me for a second, then sighed. “Fine. But text me when you get home.”

“I will.”

She didn’t look convinced.

But she left anyway.

And just like that—

I was alone.

At least, that’s what I thought.

I stepped out into the hallway, adjusting my bag on my shoulder. Most people were already heading out, voices fading as the building slowly emptied.

I should’ve gone straight home.

That would’ve been the smart thing to do.

Instead…

I turned.

Toward the back of the school.

I don’t know why.

Maybe it was instinct.

Maybe it was curiosity.

Or maybe—

I already knew.

The further I walked, the quieter it got. The noise from the front of the school faded completely, replaced by nothing but the sound of my own footsteps.

Until—

Voices.

I stopped.

Faint, but clear enough.

“…you don’t get to decide that.”

Jason.

I moved closer, careful, slow.

“…I’m not deciding anything,” Liam replied. “I’m just saying what everyone’s already thinking.”

I reached the corner and paused.

They were behind the building.

No crowd.

No audience.

Just them.

Jason stood facing Liam, posture relaxed—but not really. There was tension in the way he held himself, like he was holding something back.

Liam looked the same as always.

Calm.

Confident.

Like this didn’t bother him at all.

“You’ve been saying a lot,” Jason said.

Liam shrugged. “Only what’s obvious.”

“And what’s that?”

“That you don’t like anyone getting close to her.”

My breath caught.

I didn’t mean for it to.

But I heard it.

Clear.

Direct.

Jason didn’t respond immediately.

That alone said too much.

Liam tilted his head slightly. “You gonna deny it?”

Jason’s voice dropped. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Then explain it,” Liam said simply.

Silence.

The kind that stretches too long.

“You shut down anything that comes near her,” Liam continued. “You answer for her. You watch her like—”

“Careful,” Jason said.

Quiet.

But sharp.

Liam didn’t back off.

“Like she belongs to you.”

My heart skipped.

Everything felt still.

Too still.

Jason stepped forward.

Not aggressive.

But enough.

“Don’t say things you don’t understand,” he said.

Liam let out a small laugh. “Then help me understand.”

Another pause.

Longer this time.

Jason’s jaw tightened slightly.

“I don’t like how you talk to her,” he said.

“You’ve said that,” Liam replied. “That’s not an answer.”

Jason didn’t respond.

Because maybe—

There wasn’t a simple answer.

Liam watched him for a second, then nodded slowly.

“Yeah,” he said. “That’s what I thought.”

Jason’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means,” Liam said, stepping just a little closer, “you don’t even know why you’re doing it.”

That landed.

Hard.

Even from where I was standing, I could feel it.

Jason didn’t move.

Didn’t speak.

And for the first time since I met him—

He looked unsure.

Just for a second.

But it was there.

“You’re not the only one who notices her,” Liam added.

That was it.

That was the shift.

Jason moved.

Fast.

Closing the space between them.

Not touching.

But close enough that the tension snapped tight between them.

“You’re done,” Jason said.

Liam didn’t flinch.

“Or what?”

Silence.

Heavy.

Dangerous.

I stepped forward before I could stop myself.

“Stop.”

Both of them turned.

At the same time.

Jason’s expression changed instantly.

From controlled—

To something else.

“Ava,” he said.

“What are you doing here?” Liam asked, almost at the same time.

“I should be asking you that,” I replied, stepping closer.

My heart was racing, but I forced my voice to stay steady.

“This isn’t a game,” I said, looking between them.

“No one said it was,” Liam replied.

“Then why does it feel like one?”

Neither of them answered.

Of course.

I turned to Jason. “You said you’d deal with it.”

“I am.”

“This isn’t dealing with it,” I said. “This is making it worse.”

His jaw tightened.

“He started it,” Jason said.

“I didn’t ask who started it,” I replied. “I’m asking why it’s still happening.”

Silence again.

Liam stepped back slightly, hands raised just a bit. “Relax. I’m not trying to fight.”

Jason didn’t move.

Didn’t look away.

“You’re pushing it,” he said.

“And you’re overreacting,” Liam shot back.

I stepped between them before it could go any further.

“Enough.”

That word hung in the air.

Stronger than I expected.

And finally—

Finally—

Both of them stopped.

Not relaxed.

Not calm.

But stopped.

I exhaled slowly. “This is exactly what everyone wants.”

That got their attention.

“Drama,” I continued. “Rumors. Something to talk about.”

Liam looked away slightly.

Jason didn’t.

“I’m not giving them that,” I said.

Another pause.

Then Liam nodded once. “Fair enough.”

He looked at Jason one last time.

“This isn’t over,” he said quietly.

Then he walked away.

Just like that.

Gone.

The silence that followed felt heavier than anything before.

I turned to Jason slowly.

“What was that?” I asked.

He didn’t answer.

Just looked at me.

And for once—

There was no sarcasm.

No deflection.

Just something real.

“I told you to stay out of it,” he said quietly.

“And I told you to stop making it worse.”

A beat.

Then—

“I don’t like him,” he admitted.

“I know.”

Another pause.

Then I asked the question I probably shouldn’t have.

“Why?”

He looked at me.

Really looked this time.

Like he was deciding something.

And for a second—

I thought he was going to answer.

But instead—

“Let’s go,” he said.

And walked past me.

Leaving the question hanging between us.

Unanswered.

But louder than ever.