My Stepbrother, My Enemy {BL}

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Gigi blinked at me as if I’d really grown that second head after all. "Not a big deal? Noah, you hate attention. You once hid in the bathroom for an entire period just because someone complimented your shoes too loudly. This is, like, your personal nightmare!"

Skylar nodded vigorously. "People are going to be weird about it all week. Asking questions, making jokes—"

"Yeah, I know," I stood up, slinging my backpack over one shoulder. "I’ve got class in ten. I’ll catch you guys at lunch, okay?"

They stared after me, mouths slightly open, as I walked away. Gigi called out, "Are you feeling okay? Did you hit your head or something? Should I do a reading?!"

I just waved without looking back, keeping my head high as I pushed through the front doors.

The truth was, after everything that had happened over the past few weeks, secret road trips, blizzards, late-night rendezvous, digging up ghosts from Adrien’s past...this was no big deal.

Whispers about being step-brothers? No biggie. I’d survived worse. And somewhere along the way, I had picked up a bit of Adrien’s nonchalant armor. It fit better than I expected.

Still, Gigi’s worried look lingered in my mind as I navigated the crowded hallway toward my locker. That guy had a sixth sense for when I was hiding something major.

I wasn’t sure if I found that comforting or terrifying how well he knew me.

I was almost at my locker when I spotted him.

Ethan was leaning against a row of lockers halfway down the hall, talking to some cheerleader I vaguely recognized, brunette ponytail, bubbly laugh, the whole deal. She was twirling her hair and laughing up at him, and he wore that charming smile that used to make my heart race.