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Chapter Three: That Quiet Pull
Janet's POV
Grand Central Terminal – 7:46 AM
The train hissed to a stop at 42nd Street–Grand Central, releasing a wave of tired commuters who moved like a single impatient organism. I stepped aside to let an older woman pass, but my gaze—stubborn, disobedient—returned to Alex.
This is where we split.
He stood a little ahead, hands tucked casually in his pockets, looking like he didn't belong in this world of rushing strangers. Like he was above it somehow. Calm. Watchful. Sharp in a way I'd never seen before.
No—not never.
He had never been like this.
Not even close.
"See you this weekend," I said softly, surprised by how small my voice sounded.
The moment the words left me, a quiet ache unfurled in my chest. I didn't want to say goodbye. Not today. Not when something about him felt… different.
And that difference looked too good on him.
Alex nodded, the corner of his mouth lifting in something that wasn't exactly a smile but felt more intimate than one.
"Text me when you reach."
A normal request. Simple. Ordinary.
But the way he said it—low, steady, almost warm—made my heartbeat falter.
Beside him, Mia hooked her hands possessively around his arm, her eyes glittering with a smugness she didn't even try to hide. Like she was branding him in front of me. Claiming him. Announcing something only she understood.
A cold ripple slid down my spine.
Mia always hovered around him, but today… today it felt sharper. Bolder. Confirmed.
Still, I smiled, even though something inside me tightened.
"Okay."
The doors chimed. People pushed forward, carrying me with them. I had to step out.
But I didn't want to.
I didn't want to leave him behind on that train.
Not when, for the first time, I was starting to really look at him.
Noticing how he spoke more gently. Stood more confidently. Looked at me with a focus that felt… protective. Present. Like he was actually seeing me.
Like he cared.
It made no sense.
It felt like he had grown up overnight—become someone steadier, stronger, someone I shouldn't be too aware of.
And that terrified me.
And thrilled me.
Which was somehow even worse.
Stop it, Janet. He's your brother. He's family. Don't be weird.
But the words rang hollow.
Before I could get stuck in my own head again, Mia flashed me a bright, triumphant smile—a smile that said, He's mine—and that snapped something inside me.
I took one last look at Alex, trying to memorize him even though I had no right to.
His eyes met mine.
And just like that, the world shrank to the narrow space between us.
"Be safe, Janet," he said gently.
My breath caught.
I nodded sharply and turned away before my resolve could crack open.
As the doors slid shut behind me, a strange mix of relief and regret tangled inside my chest—light and heavy all at once. Fluttering with something I didn't understand.
Something I didn't want to understand.
Because if I did…
What did that make me?
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Dobbs Ferry – 8:38 AM
By the time I walked through the stone archway of The Masters School, the morning chill had faded, and I'd rebuilt my cheerful, friendly mask piece by piece.
"Janet!"
"Morning!"
"You're early!"
My friends' voices welcomed me like a warm breeze. I waved, smiling easily. Being bright and kind came naturally. It was familiar territory.
Lily looped her arm around mine. "New hair tie?"
"Oh—yeah." I laughed. "Just felt like switching things up."
"It's cute! You look extra pretty today."
Her compliment usually would've made me happy.
But something pinched inside me instead.
All I could think was:
I wish Alex saw it.
I wish he noticed.
And just like that, my heart fluttered again—annoying and persistent. I almost tripped over my own shoes.
Stop it, Janet.
He's your brother.
He's off-limits.
He's just… different today. That's all.
But no matter how many times I tried to pack those feelings away, they kept slipping out. Quiet. Unwelcome. Soft. Dangerous.
Because now that I'd noticed him…
I couldn't unnotice him.
And the worst part?
I wouldn't see him again until Saturday.
Five entire days.
The realization settled heavily in my stomach. I kept smiling, kept walking, kept acting like nothing was wrong.
But nothing about today felt normal.
Not Alex.
Not the way he looked at me.
Not the way it made my chest feel tight and warm at the same time.
As I pushed open the door to my first class, one thought echoed in me—
Why does it feel like something between us shifted… even though nothing actually happened?
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