In Love With My Half Brother

Chapter Nine: Lines Being Crossed

I thought the attention would die down after the game.

It didn’t.

If anything, it multiplied.

By the next morning, the school felt louder in a different way—not just noise, but energy. Like everyone was waiting for something to happen.

And I hated that feeling.

“People are still talking about yesterday,” Maya said as we walked through the hallway.

“They need hobbies,” I muttered.

“You know it’s not just about the game anymore, right?”

I stopped walking slightly. “What do you mean?”

She hesitated. “It’s about you two.”

I sighed. “There is no ‘you two.’”

“Tell that to literally everyone else.”

I didn’t respond.

Because I already knew she was right.

When we reached my locker, I saw him.

Jason.

Standing there like he wasn’t the center of half the school’s attention.

Again.

“You’re early,” I said as I approached.

“Class,” he replied.

I opened my locker. “You don’t usually care about that.”

“I’m adjusting.”

“Mm,” I hummed. “Or avoiding something?”

He glanced at me briefly. “Like what?”

I didn’t answer.

Because I didn’t want to say it out loud.

Then—

The hallway shifted again.

I felt it before I saw it.

Laughter. Movement. People stepping aside.

“Speak of the devil,” Maya muttered.

I looked up.

Liam.

Walking straight toward us.

Not rushing.

Not hesitant.

Confident like always.

But this time… not smiling.

Jason noticed him too.

Immediately.

“Morning,” Liam said when he reached us.

No one answered right away.

Then Jason: “Don’t start.”

Liam raised an eyebrow. “Start what?”

“You know what.”

I looked between them quickly. “Okay, can someone explain why this feels like a problem already?”

Liam finally looked at me.

And his expression softened slightly.

“Relax,” he said. “I’m not here for drama.”

Jason let out a short laugh. “That’s new.”

Liam ignored him.

Instead, he stepped slightly closer to me.

“I just wanted to ask you something,” he said.

My stomach tightened a little. “Me?”

“Yeah.”

Jason shifted slightly beside me.

Subtle.

But I felt it.

“What?” I asked carefully.

Liam nodded toward the hallway. “After school. Walk with me.”

Silence.

Not loud.

But sharp.

I blinked. “Why?”

“Just talk,” he said simply.

Jason spoke before I could.

“No.”

I turned to him immediately. “I can answer for myself.”

Liam smiled slightly. “I was asking her.”

Jason didn’t move.

But the air between them changed again.

Tighter.

“He said no,” Jason repeated.

Liam tilted his head. “I didn’t ask you.”

A few students slowed down again.

Of course they did.

I could already feel eyes turning toward us.

This again.

“I’m not doing this in the hallway,” I said quickly.

Liam looked back at me. “It’s just a walk.”

Jason’s voice dropped slightly. “Leave it.”

Liam finally turned fully toward him.

And this time, the smile was gone.

“You’ve been doing that a lot,” he said.

“Doing what?”

“Answering for her.”

That landed.

Even I felt it.

Jason didn’t respond immediately.

Which was rare.

“I’m not answering for her,” Jason said finally.

“Then let her answer,” Liam replied.

Silence again.

I could feel my heartbeat getting louder.

Why did it feel like I was in the middle of something I didn’t choose?

I exhaled. “Okay. Stop.”

Both of them looked at me now.

Good.

“Liam,” I said carefully. “I’m not walking anywhere after school.”

A pause.

Then he nodded slightly.

“Alright,” he said.

That was it.

Too easy.

He turned to leave—

Then stopped.

Looking at Jason again.

“I’ll see you around,” Liam said.

But it didn’t sound casual.

It sounded like a promise.

Then he walked away.

And the moment he did—

The hallway noise slowly returned.

But not for me.

I stayed still.

Jason didn’t move either.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I said quietly.

He didn’t look at me. “Do what?”

“Step in like that.”

Another pause.

Then he finally spoke.

“I don’t like how he talks to you.”

I frowned slightly. “That’s not your decision.”

“I know.”

“Then why did you—”

“Drop it,” he cut in.

I stopped.

Because his voice wasn’t sharp this time.

It was controlled.

Too controlled.

Which meant it mattered more than he was saying.

I watched him for a moment.

Then said, softer, “This is getting out of hand.”

He finally looked at me.

And for a second—

There was something there.

Something almost unguarded.

“I know,” he said quietly.

But neither of us moved.

Because now it wasn’t just rumors anymore.

It wasn’t just attention.

It was something building.

Something neither of us knew how to stop.

And something I was starting to feel… whether I wanted to or not.