Leo's sitting in a chair in the living room, dark locks of his black hair falling onto his face as he quietly watches his show. You walk in, frowning. "Your mom said dinner's ready" you say simply. Leo looks up, his lips twicthing a bit into a small smile. "Got it grumpy" he says with a sarcastic grin as he passes by you. You groan lightly, following him into the dinning room where your dad and his mom are. "I'm not grumpy"you mumble before sitting down next to him. The dinner table erupts into conversation between the two grownups, and you and Leo just eat quietly. "Frowning gives you wrinkles" he shrugs. You huff.

"Will you stop being dramatic?" Leo counters easily. The two of you continue eating, the room silent except for your father's laughter and the clanging of silverware against plates. You exchange a few glances, neither one really wanting to be the first to speak but both unable to help it as small sparks fly between your eyes every time they meet. It was always like this with Leo; annoyingly observant and quick-witted. He seemed to enjoy pushing buttons just because he knew how well you'd react, and you hated to admit that it made conversations with him at least a little bit more interesting.

Leo raises an eyebrow at your dirty looks but otherwise ignores it. He takes the dishes you pass him, setting them down on the counter before responding with a retort, "You're such a drama queen." His tone is amused rather than insulted, which only serves to irritate you further. "And what about you?" you snark back. "The master of sarcasm himself." He smirks. "Hey, at least I don't frown all the time" he teases. You roll your eyes in response, trying hard not to laugh at his jibe as it hits a little too close to home.

Leo glances at you sideways from where he's standing near the sink. "Oh, please. As if I need your help," he says mockingly. "I can handle myself just fine." You huff in annoyance. "You know that's not what I meant..." You mutter. "Fine then," he replies, continuing to wash the dishes. "I guess I'll have to handle it myself." You let out a quiet growl of frustration but follow him anyway, walking behind him to dry the dishes as he washes them. The tension between the two of you is palpable as you silently go about your tasks, neither one wanting to back down.

"Thanks," he replies curtly, hardly glancing up from the plate he's currently drying. "It's my mom checking in again." He sighs exasperatedly before flipping open his phone and responding with a brief text message. "She worries too much." As he slides his phone shut again, you can't help but feel a small pang of sympathy for him. Your mom wasn't that bad, at least she didn't constantly nag...but then again, maybe Leo had been dealt an even worse hand in that department. You decide not to pry further, instead opting to keep your attention focused on the dishes.

"Well, you never know," he snorts. "You could accidentally push me into a deep hole or something." He gives you a pointed look before adding with an amused grin, "Or maybe I'm just used to her hovering over my head all the time." It was true that his mom had always been overly protective of him, but that didn't mean he appreciated you pointing it out. You decide not to press further and instead finish drying the last of the dishes, setting them neatly in their designated spots beside the sink. "There," you say, looking at Leo, "done." He glances over at you before returning his attention to his phone, still sitting on the countertop. "Thanks," he mumbles without looking up.

He shrugs noncommittally. "It's okay," he says, finally looking up at you as you finish wiping the counter. "I know she can be a little...intrusive sometimes." You give each other a brief smile before Leo glances back down at his phone, no longer seeming particularly interested in conversation anymore. The room falls silent again, and you're left feeling a mix of irritation and something else - perhaps understanding or acceptance. Maybe things were going to be okay after all.

With a sigh, Leo turns to face you fully. "I'm tired," he says simply. "Do you want to watch something or something?" He offers half-heartedly, not really wanting to engage in further conversation himself but trying to be polite and make an effort. You shrug, suddenly unsure of what to say or do. It's obvious that neither one of you is comfortable with the other's presence right now, and yet here they are, stuck living together for the foreseeable future. The weight of their new situation settles between them like a thick fog.

With a snort, Leo takes the remote from your outstretched hand and begins scrolling through the channels. "You got it, drama queen," he teases, finding a documentary about nature photography to his liking. He hits play, and the two of you settle onto the couch, keeping a respectful distance between your bodies even as the television buzzes to life with vivid images and soothing narration. The silence stretches uncomfortably once more, both of you seemingly unsure of how to break it. It's almost painfully awkward.

He rolls his eyes. "Yeah, it's nice to watch something that isn't totally mind-numbing," he mutters, clearly unamused by your commentary. The tension in the room continues to build as you both sit there, neither one quite sure what to say or do to break the silence. It feels like every little movement is being scrutinized, every word carefully chosen. After several minutes of this uncomfortable silence, Leo finally decides to speak up again. "You know," he says, trying to sound casual, "we don't have to sit here in awkward silence if you want to do something else."

"Alright," he says slowly, eyeing you carefully. "What's the most annoying thing about me?" He asks with a smirk.

He snorts indignantly. "Oh really? Is that what I am now? Sarcastic?" He tilts his head slightly, crossing his arms over his chest. "Well, thank you for noticing." The silence returns once more, but this time it seems less awkward than before. You both seem to be finding some semblance of comfort in acknowledging each other's flaws and quirks. It was almost as if they were your bond, linking you together despite everything else that separated you. Perhaps there was hope for them yet.

"You're a know-it-all." Leo says with an exasperated sigh. "You always think you're right, and you can't stand to admit when you're wrong. It gets really annoying after a while, you know?" He glances over at you, his expression somewhere between amused and frustrated. "And I swear if you say anything else about my sarcasm, I might have to start taking it personally."

The air between the two of you seems lighter now, less tense than before. Perhaps they really could find a way to get along after all, despite their differences and the odd circumstances that brought them together. Only time would tell.

"Hmm...alright," he replies after a moment's consideration. "You're kind of moody sometimes. You hold grudges for way too long and it makes things really awkward between us." He shrugs, trying not to sound too accusatory. "I mean, I do the same thing, but still...it gets old sometimes." The two of you share a brief glance before returning your attention to the documentary playing on the television in front of you. The silence that follows is almost comfortable now, like an old friend that you've known for years and don't need constant conversation with to feel connected.

Perhaps there was hope for this situation after all.

"You think I don't know how addictive vaping is? Do you want me to turn into one of those people who can't go five minutes without taking a hit?" He takes the vape and blows out a ring of smoke before replying. "My favorite candy...hmm, that's a tough one. I'd have to say either Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or anything sour." It was a pleasant surprise how easy this conversation had become between the two of them. Maybe there was hope for their relationship after all. They might not be best friends, but they could at least learn to get along. The future held many unknowns, but perhaps it wouldn't be as bleak as they once thought.

"Deal," Leo says with a grin, handing the vape back to you. He settles more comfortably against the couch, his eyes drifting back toward the television screen as he continues to watch the documentary on nature photography. The room grows quiet once more, but this time it feels less tense and more...comfortable. Like they'd finally found some common ground upon which to stand, no longer needing to constantly struggle for dominance or control. It was a strange sensation, and one that neither of them were quite sure how to process just yet. Only time would tell if this newfound understanding would last or if they would eventually fall back into old habits and rivalries.

Leo glances over at you before looking away again. "Not really," he says with a shrug. "It's just something I do when I'm stressed or bored. Doesn't mean I like it." He pauses for a moment, considering his words carefully before continuing. "But I guess we all have our vices, right?" There's an awkward silence that follows his question before both of you turn your attention back to the TV screen, neither one quite sure what else to say about the matter.

Perhaps it was better not to dig too deep into such topics. After all, they had more important things to worry about now, like figuring out how they were going to make this living situation work for however long it lasted. There would be plenty of time to explore their similarities and differences in the future, if they managed to survive this first year together.

"So," Leo says awkwardly, drawing your attention away from his nearly flawless figure. "Do you think we should try to establish some sort of schedule or routine? You know, so we don't end up stepping on each other's toes all the time?" He glances over at you before looking down at his hands folded in his lap. The silence stretches out between them once more, but there's an underlying current of tension this time that wasn't there before. Perhaps it was just the weight of their situation settling heavily upon their shoulders again.

Your expression turns thoughtful as you consider his question. It would probably be wise to establish some ground rules, especially since they were going to be living together for a whole year. The question is, would Leo listen to your ideas and suggestions, or would he simply ignore them like he always did back home? Only time would tell.

"Whatever you say, champ," Leo drawls, giving you a skeptical look. "But I'm serious about the schedule thing. We need to figure out who gets to use what room when, and make sure we both have time for ourselves." He glances away for a moment before looking back at you. "I mean, it's not like this is just temporary for me. I'll be here for a whole year." There's an unspoken apology in those words, as if he regrets the fact that his situation has brought you into his life once more.

You sigh, considering his request. It would probably be best to have some sort of plan in place. After all, there's only so much space in this apartment, and it would be difficult for both of you to function if things were always in each other's way. "Alright," you say eventually, pulling your feet off the c

"You know what? You're right," Leo says, his voice tight with suppressed annoyance. "We don't need a stupid schedule." With that, he gets up from the couch and heads toward his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. The suddenness of his movements catches you off guard, leaving you feeling somewhat guilty despite your earlier annoyance.

You sit there for a moment, contemplating whether or not to go after him. On one hand, you don't want to coddle him or make it seem like he can't handle living with someone else. But on the other hand, his reaction seems a bit extreme, and maybe he really did need some reassurance that things were going to be okay between the two of you. In the end, curiosity wins out, and you decide to knock softly on his door.

After a moment of silence, you hear Leo mutter, "Fine," before he opens the door. His expression is still tight, and his hands are balled into fists at his sides. It's clear that he's still angry about what happened earlier. "What do you want?" He asks curtly, glancing away as soon as the words leave his mouth.

You hesitate for a moment before speaking. "I just wanted to apologize and make sure we're okay," you say slowly, choosing your words carefully. You don't want to sound like you're coddling him or making excuses for his behavior. "Because I know it's going to be tough living together for a whole year."

Leo looks at you, brow furrowed in confusion. "What's gotten into you all of a sudden? You didn't seem too worried about that earlier," he acc

Leo sighs, exasperation clear in his voice. "Fine, whatever. You're sorry. Now can we please drop this and go back to the way things were before?" He asks, motioning toward the living room with his hand. There's an awkward silence as you both stare at each other, neither one wanting to give in but knowing that they need to find some sort of middle ground if they want to survive the next year together. Finally, Leo takes a step back, opening the door wider. "Look, I get it. This whole situation sucks for both of us. But let's just try to make the best of it, okay?" His tone is softer now, almost pleading. "Just...try not to be such a jerk about everything."

Leo sighs. "Whatever," he mutters, stepping aside to let you pass through the doorway. He doesn't look at you as you walk past him and toward your own room.What was that?Did you..look at his lips? he stumbles on the thought, hating the warm feeling that pools in his stomach at the thought of you. This situation is more complicated than he ever could have imagined. With a sigh, he turns back toward the living room and plops down on the couch again, staring blankly at the television as if he hasn't a care in the world.

He watches from the living room as you pad over to the kitchen. The silence between them lingers like a heavy cloak, draped across their shoulders. After what feels like an eternity, Leo finally pushes himself off the couch and follows you into the kitchen. "Hey," he says quietly, trying to keep his tone neutral. "You want some company?" There's a hint of awkwardness in his voice, as if this is the first time they've spoken since your brief encounter earlier.

Taking a seat at the counter, Leo nods to the open container of ice cream. "What flavor did you get? Looks pretty good." He keeps his eyes on the ice cream, not meeting yours. Part of him wonders why you invited him over here; another part of him is just relieved that there's at least a semblance of normalcy between you again.

"Chocolate chip, huh?" Leo says casually, picking up a spoon from the counter. "That's my favorite, too." There's an awkward pause as he digs into the ice cream, taking small bites and trying not to seem too eager. "So," he starts slowly, looking back at you from beneath his lashes. "Do you want to talk about anything?" His voice is carefully neutral, like he's afraid of how you might react if he came on too strong.

"Maybe a little," Leo says with a smirk, unable to resist the urge to tease you. "But it's so hard to look away from something this perfect." He gestures between the two of you before taking another bite of his ice cream. "You shouldn't be so self-conscious about it. It's not like I'm the first person to notice how great your ass looks in those boxer briefs." His voice is light and teasing, but there's an underlying current of appreciation that seems genuine enough.

"Thanks," you mutter sarcastically, though you can't quite keep the blush from creeping up your cheeks.

"It's not like I can help it," Leo says with a shrug, looking back down at his ice cream. "I mean, you are my stepbrother and all...but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the view." He glances up at you again, meeting your eyes for a moment before quickly looking away once more. There's an awkward silence as he finishes off his ice cream, bits of chocolate chipping clinging to his lips.

"Well," he says finally, sliding off the counter and dumping his empty bowl in the sink. "I should probably get some sleep. We have school in the morning, after all." There's a faint hint of disappointment in his voice as he turns away from you, but he does his best to hide it. Maybe tomorrow things will be different between them; maybe they can finally find some common ground and begin to establish a

"Alright," Leo says with a small shrug. He climbs back up onto the counter, sitting beside you but keeping a respectable distance between the two of you. "What do you want to talk about?" he asks casually, taking another bite of his ice cream. There's an unspoken understanding that this is their chance to make things better between them; to find some common ground and establish a connection that might not be so strained from now on.

You hesitate for a moment before replying. "Um...I don't know. You choose."

Well aware of what you just did, Leo glances down at where your hands were moments ago. He smiles softly, but keeps his eyes locked on his ice cream as he takes another bite. "There's plenty of stuff we could talk about," he says casually. "School, hobbies...that time you got suspended for throwing grapes at Mr. Jenkins..." He lets out a small laugh, though there's an undercurrent of curiosity beneath his amusement. "What was that all about anyway?"

"Oh come on," Leo teases. "You know what I'm talking about. That whole situation with you, Mr. Jenkins, and the grapes...it was pretty legendary." He pauses for a moment, his expression turning thoughtful. "I never really understood why you did it though. You seemed so calm about getting suspended and everything. Like it didn't bother you at all." There's an unspoken question lingering in the air between them, daring you to spill your secrets and finally let him into your world a little more.

The silence stretches out for several moments as you consider his words. Part of you wants to tell him everything: why you acted out, why it didn't bother you so much...but another part of you is still hesitant. You don't know if you trust Leo yet; whether or not he deserves to hear your deepest secrets.

There's a momentary flash of understanding in Leo's eyes as you wipe the ice cream from his cheek, but he doesn't comment on it. Instead, he takes another bite of his ice cream and changes the subject. "So, what do you plan on doing after college?" he asks casually. "Going to try for a scholarship? Landing an awesome job right out of school?" He quirks an eyebrow, curiosity evident in his tone.

The conversation flows easily from there, with both of you sharing your dreams and aspirations for the future. You find yourself telling Leo things that you've never told anyone else; confiding in him about your hopes and fears for what lies ahead. And as the hours tick by, you realize that perhaps it won't be so bad having him around after all.

Ouch, my head, Leo mumbles, rubbing the spot where you've collided with him. He flushes slightly, noticing how close they are now. As their breath mixes together, he can feel his heart racing in his chest. This is...new territory for them. He takes a deep breath, steadying himself before meeting your gaze again. "Yeah, I'm fine," he says finally, trying to sound casual despite the sudden flutter in his stomach.

He swallows hard, unable to tear his gaze away from yours. Your fingers feel warm where they've touched him, sending a shiver down his spine. "Yeah," he whispers back hoarsely. "Only us." There's an awkward silence as their faces remain inches apart; the air between them electric with a charged energy neither one of them knows how to process.

For a moment, Leo wonders what it would be like if things were different between them...if they could cross this line without everything falling apart. But he knows that's not reality. He and you are only bound by circumstance now; when this year is over, so too will their connection. So instead of dwelling on what could never be, he pulls back slightly, breaking the eye contact. "We should probably get some sleep," he mumbles, suddenly feeling very tired despite how awake he was just moments ago.

As you walk into class, Leo can't help but steal a glance at you. You look...amazing. The sweatpants hug your hips in all the right places and the necklace adds a hint of elegance to your outfit. It's hard for him not to stare, but he quickly snaps back to reality and focuses on his own work, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention from you or anyone else in class.

Throughout the day, they exchange only a few brief glances across the room; each one filled with a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty. Despite their previous conversation the night before, they still haven't crossed back over that invisible line between them, unsure if doing so would help or hurt their situation. But as the school bell rings at the end of the day, signalling yet another long summer vacation ahead of them, Leo finds himself wondering if maybe there's still

"Yeah, I can't wait for some time off," Leo says, tossing his bag onto the couch and flopping down beside it. "I've got some plans for this summer; hopefully we'll be able to hang out a bit more now that we won't have school or your mom breathing down our necks all the time." He glances at you then, unable to keep the hint of longing from his voice.

There's an awkward silence as he waits for you to respond; he wonders if maybe he should have chosen different words, but it's too late now. All he can do is hope that somehow this summer they'll be able to find a way back to each other, even though deep down he knows it won't be easy.

Taken aback by the sudden closeness, Leo feels his heart rate pick up a notch. He takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself as he meets your gaze. "Yeah," he says quietly, "I mean, it's not like we can't hang out or anything." There's an awkward pause before he continues. "We're stuck with each other for the next few months; might as well make the most of it, right?" His voice comes out more casual than he intended.

There's a moment where neither of you moves, their bodies pressed together like this. It feels...different than anything they've experienced before. Intense. Leo swallows hard, his thoughts racing as his gaze drifts down to your lips. He knows he shouldn't be thinking about this, but the desire for more is overwhelming him.

The feel of your warm breath against his skin sends shivers down Leo's spine, making it hard for him to think straight. He tries to tell himself that this is wrong, that they should keep things platonic for the sake of not ruining everything between them...but the desire for more is too strong. His gaze flickers between your eyes and your mouth before finally landing on the latter, his heart hammering in his chest as he leans forward, closer...closer still...until their lips meet in a slow, tentative brush.

Surprised by the softness of your exhale, Leo hesitates for only a moment before pressing deeper into the kiss. It feels incredible; better than anything he'd ever imagined. The taste of your lips, the feel of your body pressed against his own...it all consumes him. He slides his hands up to cup your cheeks, fingers threading through your hair as he explores every inch of your mouth with his tongue.

Despite knowing this is wrong, that they shouldn't be doing this, there's a part of him that doesn't care. All that matters right now is the way you feel beneath his touch, the way you taste on his lips. For a fleeting moment, everything else fades away and it's just them - lost in each other. But as reality begins to creep back in, he pulls back slightly, breaking the kiss and looking down at you. His

He takes a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart. Part of him wants to dive back in, to lose himself in the feel of your lips against his, but he knows they can't. They shouldn't. The consequences are too great for both of them; their lives and families would never be the same.

Reluctantly, he pulls away further, though his fingers remain entwined in your hair. "I...we should stop," he says softly, voice raspy with desire. His gaze drops to your lips before flickering up to meet your eyes again. "It's not right, you know that."

He waits for a response, but when none comes he asks cautiously, "Are...are you okay?" He isn't sure if maybe this went too far and hurt you somehow; if breaking it off like this was the wrong thing to do.

There's a

The contact between your hips ignites a fire inside him, making it difficult for Leo to think clearly. He wants nothing more than to pull you closer, to feel your skin against his once more, but he knows they can't. "We need to stop," he says roughly, trying to force himself to remain steady as he meets your gaze. His chest feels tight, and it's taking every bit of willpower he has to keep his hands where they are.

As the seconds stretch on, it becomes harder and harder for him to ignore what just happened between them. They crossed a line tonight, one that neither of them were prepared to cross, and there's no going back now. All he can do is hope that somehow this won't ruin everything between them; that maybe...just maybe, there's still a chance for them to find their way back to each other, despite how forbidden this all is.

Leo closes his eyes, feeling the heat of your breath against his lips. It takes everything in him not to lean forward again and press his mouth against yours, but he knows they can't. "I...I shouldn't have done that," he whispers, his voice raw with regret. There's a brief moment where their chests rise and fall together as they catch their breath.

His hands remain entwined in your hair, fingertips trailing lightly down your neck before coming to rest on the hem of your shirt. He knows he should probably move them, but something about the way you look at him makes it impossible. "You're driving me insane too," he admits with a shaky breath, his eyes meeting yours once more.

There's an electricity between you that neither of you can deny anymore; it courses through your veins and makes it hard to focus on anything but

The feel of your skin against his fingers sends a jolt through him as he watches you guide his hand higher, revealing your bare stomach beneath his fingertips. It's both a thrill and a curse; the desire for more intensifies with every brush of their skin. He closes his eyes, fighting to regain some control as he leans forward, pressing another featherlight kiss to your lips. "I shouldn't be doing this," he whispers against them. "It isn't fair to either of us."

His other hand finds its way to your hip, anchoring himself as he struggles to focus on anything but the taste of you and the way you feel underneath him. He knows they can't keep going down this path; eventually something will snap, and it could ruin everything between them forever. But right now, in this moment, it feels so damn good...

He lets out a shuddery breath as you press him against the wall, fingers digging into his hips as he takes in your scent and taste. The feel of your body against his is overwhelming; it's like nothing else matters in this moment except for being close to you. His hand moves from your hip up under your shirt, skin on skin contact driving him wild. As he trails his fingers lower and runs a hand down your 8 pack desire erupts within him, making it impossible to think straight.

His tongue darts out to wet his lips, eyes meeting yours as he leans in for another kiss. But just before their lips meet, he pauses, breath hitching in his throat. "I can't...," he begins, voice hoarse with need. "We shouldn't..." The words feel like lead in his mouth; they're hard to