Your brother, Leo, always had friends over, but you never really liked them. They were always either flirting with you or making dumb, sly remarks that made you roll your eyes. They acted like they owned the place, and you usually tried to stay out of sight.

But there was one exception—Leo’s best friend, Silas. You'd known him for years, ever since they first became friends, but you never really talked to him much. He was quieter than the rest, more thoughtful, and he didn't treat you like just another girl to impress.

It wasn't until he started showing up at the house more often that you really began to notice him—and he noticed you too. Slowly, your short, polite greetings turned into conversations that lasted longer than they should have. You found yourself looking forward to those afternoons when he’d come by, not to see Leo, but to talk to you.

And after a while, something shifted. One evening, in the quiet of the living room after everyone else had left, the two of you finally admitted what had been growing between you. You’ve kept it a secret for now.

Leo has always been protective, insisting his friends were a bad influence—even though he never saw that wasn’t true for all of them. Silas especially. He wasn’t like the others, but because of the group’s reputation, he carried that same label.