The classroom buzzed with energy as students filtered in, taking their usual places. Conversations overlapped, laughter echoed, and the air was thick with gossip and excitement.

In the far corner, a small group of girls huddled together, deep in conversation. Rose, effortlessly elegant yet completely unaware of the effect she had on people, sat with her best friend Kate.

Kate, with her mischievous grin, leaned in closer, lowering her voice just enough to make it feel like a confession.

"Last night was… something else," Kate whispered, her voice dripping with satisfaction.

Rose raised an eyebrow, feigning disinterest as she scrolled through her phone. "Something else?" she echoed, her tone neutral.

Kate smirked, enjoying the anticipation. "Jamie was unbelievable. God, the way he—" she exhaled dramatically, shaking her head as if words weren’t enough.

Rose's fingers paused on her phone screen. For a second, she processed what Kate had just said, and then—discomfort settled in.

Jamie.

Not her actual brother, but her brother’s closest friend—someone she had grown up around, someone she had always seen as an older brother figure.

Her stomach twisted, but she kept her expression composed.

"I really don’t need details about Jamie’s sex life, Kate," she muttered, trying not to sound as horrified as she felt.

Kate chuckled, completely unbothered. "Oh, come on. You need to know your brother’s friend is doing an exceptional job in bed."

"I don't."

"I mean, if I were you, I’d want to know—"

"Kate!" Rose cut her off sharply, pressing her palms to her temples.

Kate laughed, thoroughly enjoying Rose’s discomfort. But then, as if sensing something, she rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Oh, come on, Rose. You really see Jamie as your brother? Just because he’s Nate’s best friend doesn’t make him your blood relative. You just follow some weird rule in your head, thinking of him as your brother. Respecting someone doesn’t mean you need to put them in the family zone."

Rose frowned, her grip tightening on her phone. "That’s not it. It’s just…" she trailed off, not wanting to argue.

It was simpler this way. Easier. Jamie had been around for years, and in her mind, he was just… untouchable. Off-limits.

Kate shrugged, clearly not convinced but dropping the subject.

"Fine, fine. I’ll spare you the details. But just so you know, your brother’s friend is—"

"Not another word." Rose’s voice held warning, but the blush creeping up her neck gave her away.

Kate surrendered, holding up her hands in mock defeat, while the other girls in the group giggled at the exchange.

As if on cue, the boys walked in.

The energy in the room shifted immediately. It was the usual thing—boys making an entrance, all loud voices and overconfident strides. Nate, her older brother, led the group, looking as cocky as ever, followed by Jeremy, Jamie, and a few others.

But today, there was someone new.

Rose barely noticed at first, too busy recovering from Kate’s words. But when the noise in the room shifted, when she heard the unmistakable change in the boys' tones, her curiosity sparked.

Ares.

That was the name being thrown around.

He stood among them, effortlessly fitting in yet standing apart.

There was no dramatic entrance, no over-the-top greetings, nothing that screamed ‘new guy.’ But somehow, the space around him felt different. People adjusted to him. They leaned in, greeted him, acknowledged him.

Rose wasn’t interested, not really. But she looked anyway.

Just a glance.

And in that moment—he saw her too.

His gaze locked onto hers, unwavering.

Rose expected the usual. The fleeting glance, the half-smile, the disinterested acknowledgment before looking away. But Ares didn’t look away.

His stare held weight.

Unspoken words. Something deeper.

And just like that—the moment stretched.

It was broken only when Nate finally noticed Rose’s presence in the room.

"Oh, right—meet my sister, Rose."

The words snapped the air back to reality.

Ares turned to Nate, acknowledging the introduction with a slow nod, but when he turned back to Rose—his eyes still held something unreadable.

A silent, deliberate assessment.

She had been glanced at before. Admired. Desired, even. But this… this was something else. Something heavier.

Something dangerous.

And for the first time in a long time, Rose felt… seen.

......................