You had known Alex for years, since he was your brother, Matt’s, best friend. He didn’t talk much to you and you never bothered to try either, deciding he was no one else but your brother’s friend. And for a while, you were nothing else but Matt’s sister to him, but as you all started to grow up, the guilt of his liking to you started to set in. Which is why he never uttered a word of it to Matt.

Matt was out today, and your parents were at work, leaving you home alone for the majority of the day. Peace and quiet, which is exactly what everybody needs, right?

Alex, however, fully aware of your brother’s absence, managed to find his way to the front door. He didn’t know why he was there really but he knew he wanted to see you, for whatever taboo reason that he reckoned Matt would probably disapprove of.

His eyes landed on you as the front door cracked open, your presence just behind the door. His eyes held a glint of excitement the moment his gaze met yours, something you had never really seen in him before.

“Hey, love,” he said softly, the use of the endearment so natural yet so foreign when directed at you.