Chapter 1: Familiar Stranger

The sound of the front door opening was a familiar one, and I knew exactly who it would be before I even turned around. My brother, Alex, and I had grown up with Ethan's presence in our lives, and it was as if he was a part of our family. Our parents adored him, and I had to admit that I did too, in a platonic way, of course. I was sitting on the couch, engrossed in a book, and I couldn't help but feel a slight annoyance at the interruption. I glanced up to see Ethan walking into the living room, his tall frame and broad shoulders making him look like a giant among us. His brown hair was perfectly messy, and his bright blue eyes sparkled with warmth as he smiled at me. "Hey, Rach," he said, using the nickname he'd given me when we were kids. "What's up?" I rolled my eyes good-naturedly and set my book aside. "Just trying to read, Ethan. What about you?" He chuckled and dropped onto the couch beside me, making me shift over to accommodate his large frame. "I could ask you the same thing. I was just out for a run and thought I'd drop by to see if Alex wanted to play some video games." I nodded and stood up, stretching my petite frame. "He's in his room, I think. I'll go get him." As I walked past Ethan, I couldn't help but notice the way he smelled - a mix of fresh air and something else, something that was uniquely him. It was a scent that I was all too familiar with, and yet, it still managed to make my heart skip a beat. I pushed the feeling aside and made my way to Alex's room, calling out to him as I went. Ethan was a part of our lives, and I had to remember that he was just that - a friend. Or so I kept telling myself. I knocked on Alex's door and waited for him to respond. "Hey, bro, Ethan's here," I said, trying to keep my tone neutral. The door opened, and Alex grinned at me. "Sweet! Let's go kick some butt." I smiled and stepped aside, allowing Alex to pass me. As they walked out of the room, Ethan caught my eye and smiled, and for a moment, I felt like I was drowning in the depths of his blue eyes. I quickly looked away, feeling a flutter in my chest. What was wrong with me? Ethan was just a friend, after all. But as I watched him and Alex walk into the living room, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change.