My Stepbrother, My Enemy {BL}-Chapter 17: Natalie and Ryan

•⋅⊰∙∘☽✼☾∘∙⊱⋅•

Ethan and I strolled down the quiet hallway during free period, our footsteps echoing softly against the tiled floor. I still couldn’t believe it—I was actually paired up with him. Of all people, the universe decided to throw me together with Ethan Seymour.

He was animatedly sharing stories about his summer trip to Spain, his voice warm and engaging, and his hands gesturing as he recounted the chaos of stopping his little brother from jumping into the hotel fountain.

"I swear, that kid has no self-preservation instinct," Ethan laughed. "Mom nearly passed out, and Dad just stood there snapping pictures like it was the funniest thing ever."

I couldn’t help but smile. His laugh was infectious, that relaxed, charming sound that made it easy to forget why I had promised myself not to like him anymore.

"Sounds like you had a blast," I said, hough I wasn’t really sure what to say. "I can’t picture you chasing anyone around a fountain, though."

He flashed me a grin over his shoulder as we turned into the library. "You’d be surprised. I’m not always as put together as people think."

I playfully rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the way my stomach fluttered. "H–how’s that? You’re basically perfect."

Ethan chuckled as we browsed the shelves for Romeo and Juliet. "Trust me, perfection is overrated. Plus, you’re exaggerating." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"I don’t think I am," I murmured, more to myself than to him.

He glanced my way, his kind eyes making my heart flutter. "You were always quiet in class, but you seemed nice. Didn’t expect you to have such a dry sense of humor, though."

I blinked, taken aback. He noticed me?

When we finally found the book, Ethan pointed to a table by the window, sunlight streaming across it with a warm glow. I followed him, clutching my notebook like a shield.

As he opened the book and began reading aloud with that effortless confidence of his, I sat there frozen for a moment, pretending to take notes while sneaking glances at him—his blond hair falling across his forehead, a hint of stubble along his jaw, and that soft smile he wore when he caught me staring.

My heart raced.

He really was unfairly charming. The worst part? He didn’t even seem to realize it.

He had to, right?

Ethan set his notebook down and pulled his chair closer, the faint scent of his cologne wafting between us—something fresh and clean that made it hard to think straight. He uncapped his pen, looking at me with that easy-going smile of his, which somehow made the air feel lighter.

"So," he said, leaning on the table. "How do you think we should kick off this project? We’re supposed to write a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet, right? I was thinking we could start with an outline of the plot."

I blinked, surprised that he was actually asking me for input instead of just taking charge like most popular guys would. "Oh, um... y–yeah," I stammered, my voice a little higher than usual. "Maybe we could... you know, keep the tragic theme but change the reason they can’t be together? Something more modern?"

He nodded, jotting something down in his notebook. "That’s a solid idea. I knew you’d be great at this. You’re always reading something in class—novelkisss, right?"

My pen paused mid-spin. "You noticed that?"

He looked up, a small grin forming. "Of course! You used to sit two rows ahead of me. It’s hard not to notice when you’re so focused."

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I quickly looked down at my notes. "Oh, I just... I like stories—that’s all," I mumbled. "It’s not a big deal."

Ethan chuckled, his voice playful. "You don’t have to downplay it. You’re pretty cute."

My head whipped up. "W-what?"

His laughter rang again, shaking his head. "The way you get all flustered is kinda cute."

I wanted to sink into the ground. My face burned, and I fumbled with my pen, dropping it onto the table with a soft clatter. "Y-you shouldn’t say stuff like that," I muttered, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably.

"Why not?" he asked, tilting his head. "It’s true."

"You’ll make me fall even harder for you." Or, "You’re not even attracted to guys, so don’t confuse me with those words." Is what I would have said if I had the balls to.

I bit my cheek, trying to suppress the smile that threatened to surface. "Let’s just... um, focus on the s-story," I said, clearing my throat.

Ethan smirked, leaning back in his chair like he already knew he’d gotten under my skin. "Sure, whatever you say, Valentine."

I stared down at my notebook, my heart racing far too fast for just a simple group project.

After a good half hour of tossing ideas around, crossing things out, and laughing over the silliest ones, we finally came up with something that felt solid. Ethan leaned in, tapping his pen against the page as he went over our notes, and I noticed the crease between his brows deepening as he became more engaged. I never thought group work could actually be... well, fun.

"So," he said, glancing up with a grin after I explained my plot idea. "Juliet becomes Natalie, Romeo becomes Ryan, and they’re not torn apart by feuding families but instead by... what? An arranged engagement?"

"Exactly," I replied, trying not to beam too proudly. "Natalie’s family business merges with this massive corporation, and she’s engaged to the CEO’s son to seal the deal. But she’s in love with Ryan, the guy she met before the arrangement was made."

Ethan nodded, writing that down. "And Ryan crashes the wedding to stop it, only to get shot by the angry fiancé—except Natalie jumps in front of the bullet?"

"Yeah," I said quietly, tracing a finger along the edge of my notebook. "She dies saving him, and when Ryan realizes what she’s done, he... he can’t handle it. So he..." I hesitated, glancing at Ethan, who was watching me closely. "He kills himself. Because for him, life without her isn’t a life worth living."

A silence enveloped us, broken only by the faint hum of the library’s air conditioner. Ethan’s expression softened, his voice dropping. "That’s... really heartbreaking. Somehow, you’ve made Romeo and Juliet even more tragic."

I let out a light laugh, though it was more nervous than anything. "I–I didn’t mean to. I just thought it needed to end that way."

He closed his notebook and leaned back, eyes still on me. "You really have a knack for this. You should be a writer."

I blinked in surprise. "A writer? Me? No way. I just enjoy stories, that’s all."

"Yeah," he replied, smiling, "but the way you tell them—it’s like you’re living in them. You make people feel things. That’s pretty rare."

I could feel my face heating up again. "Stop it," I muttered, hiding behind my notebook. "You’re just saying that."

Ethan chuckled softly, and I could hear the smile in his voice. "I really mean it. You’re full of surprises, Valentine."

"Please don’t call me that," I groaned, peeking at him over my notes. "It makes me sound like a candy bar."

He grinned wider. "A cute candy bar."

There’s no way he just called me cute again.

I buried my face in my hands. "You’re impossible."

His laughter lingered in the air, and for a moment, I forgot we were in a crowded library. It felt like we were in our own little world—one where things didn’t seem so complicated.