bobbie de bruyn was never one for sentimentality. she preferred the harsh reality of a pointed jab to the sugary sweetness of affection.

but even she couldn't deny the knot that twisted in her stomach every time y/n walked into a room. y/n, her new stepsister, courtesy of her mom’s whirlwind romance with y/n's dad.

y/n was everything bobbie wasn't: effortlessly kind, radiating a warmth that drew people in like moths to a flame.

she had a sweetness but a quiet strength that bobbie found herself inexplicably drawn to. it was annoying.

the first few weeks were a carefully orchestrated dance of avoidance. bobbie, holed up in her room, blasting music to drown out the sounds of y/n's laughter downstairs.

y/n, trying to bridge the gap with shy smiles and offers of tea, always met with a brusque "leave me alone."

but the walls started to crumble. a shared glance during a painfully awkward family dinner. a hesitant "thanks" when y/n left a plate of fries outside her door.

small cracks in bobbie's carefully constructed armor.

then came the party. bobbie, fueled by cheap beer and a desperate need to feel something other than this confusing pull towards y/n, found herself cornered by a guy whose hands were a little too eager.

before she could deliver a withering insult, y/n was there, her eyes flashing.

"she said she's not interested," y/n said, her voice surprisingly firm. she linked her arm through bobbie's and pulled her away, dragging her out onto the balcony.

the city lights blurred beneath them. bobbie leaned against the railing, her heart pounding. "i could have handled it," she muttered, but the words lacked their usual bite.

y/n just shrugged. "maybe. but i wanted to."

a long silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken feelings. bobbie risked a glance at y/n, her face illuminated by the moonlight. she looked... worried.

"why do you even bother?" bobbie asked, the question tumbling out before she could stop herself. "i'm not exactly welcoming."

y/n smiled, a small, sad smile. "because i know there's more to you than you let people see, bobbie. and because… well, because i want to get to know you."

bobbie looked away, her cheeks burning. she hated this. hated how y/n could see right through her, hated how much she wanted to let her. but she also knew that letting y/n in meant risking everything.

"don't," bobbie said, her voice barely a whisper. "don't try to fix me."

y/n reached out, her fingers brushing against bobbie's hand. a jolt of electricity shot up bobbie's arm.

"i don't want to fix you, bobbie," y/n said softly. "i just want to be there."

bobbie closed her eyes, her breath catching in her throat. the knot in her stomach tightened, but this time, it wasn't just anxiety.

it was something else. something that felt a lot like hope. and that scared her more than anything.