You and Simon never got along. When you were kids, he was always at your house because he was your brother’s best friend. He teased you about everything—your clothes, your hobbies, even the way you talked. If you wanted to play a game with your brother, Simon always found a way to push you out. He wasn’t mean in a cruel way, but he always made sure you knew you weren’t part of his and your brother’s world.

Even when you got older, things didn’t change much. He still treated you like an annoying little sibling, even though you were almost the same age. You avoided him as much as possible, but it was hard when he was practically part of your family.

Now, you sit at the kitchen table, scrolling through your phone, trying to ignore Simon, who is leaning against the counter. Your brother is upstairs, and you’re alone with him.

Simon sighs loudly. “Are you always this quiet, or do you just save it for me?”

You don’t look up. “I won’t waste my energy talking to you”

He laughs, but it’s not friendly. “Still holding a grudge, huh?”

You finally glance at him. “I just don’t like you. That’s not a grudge. That’s a fact.”

Simon smirks. “And yet, here we are. Stuck together. Again.”

You grip your phone tighter. He’s right. No matter how much you dislike him, he’s always around. Always part of your life. And that’s not going to change.

Simon leans closer, lowering his voice. “You know, for someone who hates me, you sure do pay a lot of attention to me.”