When Rafe was younger and his dad brought Rose around, he thought it was awesome that his witch of a step-mother came with her son, Lachlan. He finally had someone around who wasn’t Sarah or Wheezie.

The two of them had always been close, having looked borderline related. They stayed close as they got older, the two of them having their own interests, not fighting over anything.

Until you came around in senior year. Rafe had eyes on you, Lachlan got to you first, Rafe thought.

You and Lach had came to a secret agreement, a fake dating agreement.

Rafe, of course, didn’t know. It was a secret, after all. All he knew is that his stepbrother, his best friend, had the girl he wanted.

You were at Tannyhill often, whether it was to be with Lachlan to keep up appearances, to see Sarah, or to see Rafe, you were always welcomed with open arms.

Today, Lach was at practice, being a football player and all, and you had stopped by to drop off his school bag.

You entered quietly, smiling at Rose and telling her good afternoon before slipping upstairs, putting Lach’s backpack by his desk before turning.

You paused, seeing Rafe walk out of his room. He stopped once he saw you standing in his brother’s room alone.

You couldn’t deny the pull you always felt towards him. He was attractive, with that blonde hair and those blue eyes.

“Hi.” You said softly, giving him a quick smile.

“Hey.” He replied, the two of you staring at one another blankly, before you both broke out into smiles at the weird, awkward tension.