**Chapter 5: Shifts in Perspective**

The days turned into weeks, and with each passing day, Ethan and I were growing more comfortable around each other. One evening, as I was working on my homework, Ethan walked into the living room and plopped down beside me on the couch. "Hey, need any help with that?" he asked, nodding toward my books. I looked up at him, feeling a bit self-conscious about my struggles with math. "Actually, yeah. I'm having a bit of trouble with this one problem." Ethan leaned in, his eyes scanning the page. As he worked through the problem with me, I couldn't help but notice the way his hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck. It was a small thing, but it made me feel... aware of him in a way I hadn't been before. As we finished up my homework, Mark and my mom walked into the room, smiling at the sight of us working together. "Looks like you two are becoming quite the study team," Mark said, chuckling. My mom sat down beside Mark, putting a hand on his knee. "We're so proud of you both for adjusting so well to the new living situation." Ethan and I exchanged a glance, and for a moment, I felt like we were sharing a secret. It was a small, fleeting moment, but it made me realize that we were both in this together, navigating this new reality as stepbrother and stepsister. The next day, Ethan and I were walking home from school when he turned to me with a mischievous grin. "Hey, want to sneak out of the house and grab some dinner at that new burger joint downtown?" I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should be breaking the rules. But then I looked at Ethan, and saw the excitement in his eyes. "Okay, but we have to be back before Mom and Mark know we're gone," I said, smiling. Ethan nodded, and we set off on our adventure, laughing and joking as we walked. For a few hours, we forgot about the stress of adjusting to our new lives, and just enjoyed each other's company. As we walked back home, the sun beginning to set, Ethan turned to me with a serious look on his face. "Hey, can I ask you something?" I nodded, curious. "What is it?" Ethan hesitated, his eyes searching mine. "Do you think... do you think Mom and Mark are happy? Really happy?" I felt a surge of surprise at the question. "What do you mean?" I asked, trying to read his expression. Ethan shrugged. "I don't know. They seem happy, but... I don't know, it's just that it's been a big change for all of us. And I want to make sure they're okay." I smiled, feeling a sense of understanding. "I think they're really happy, Ethan. They love each other, and they're good for each other." Ethan nodded, looking relieved. And in that moment, I felt like we were connecting on a deeper level, like we were both invested in each other's happiness. As we stepped back into the house, my mom and Mark looked up at us, smiling. "Hey, how was your day?" my mom asked, concern etched on her face. Ethan and I exchanged a glance, and I knew that we had just shared something special. "It was good," I said, smiling. "Just a normal day." But as I looked at Ethan, I knew that it was more than that. We were slowly building a new life together, one that was full of surprises and uncertainties. But for the first time, I felt like I was ready to face whatever came next, as long as Ethan was by my side.