My Stepbrother, My Enemy {BL}-Chapter 252: Ethan Finds Out

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The gymnasium at Brookstone High had been transformed into something almost magical for the Snowball, the kind of over-the-top winter wonderland that only a dedicated student council and an unlimited budget could pull off.

Fake snow drifted lazily from machines hidden in the rafters, catching the soft blue and silver lights that twinkled overhead like captured stars.

Giant paper snowflakes dangled from the ceiling on invisible threads, spinning slowly whenever someone walked underneath, and the walls shimmered with iridescent fabric that looked like frost.

A massive ice sculpture of intertwined snowflakes dominated the center of the dance floor, lit from below so it glowed with an ethereal chill, while tables along the edges held punch bowls that bubbled with dry ice and platters of silver-dusted cupcakes.

The DJ booth pulsed with remixed pop ballads and upbeat holiday-infused tracks, and the air smelled like pine from the scattered evergreen garlands mixed with the faint sweetness of vanilla candles.

Wow, the decor committee had outdone themselves this year with whatever budget given to them.

Everywhere students laughed, posed for photos against the backdrop of a faux snowy forest mural, and twirled in dresses and suits that caught the light like fresh powder under moonlight.

The enthusiasm was palpable, girls squealing over each other’s outfits, guys trying to look cool while secretly checking their reflections in phone screens, everyone riding that high of one perfect night where high school felt almost bearable.

Adrien and I arrived in the limo my mom had insisted on renting, because apparently pulling up in a regular car would have been a tragedy on par with forgetting to RSVP.

The moment the driver opened the door and we stepped out onto the red carpet the school had rolled out for dramatic effect, heads turned.

Whispers rippled through the crowd like wind through snowdrifts. Phones lifted and eyes widened. I could feel the attention settle over us like a spotlight, bright and unrelenting.

I’d chosen a classic black tuxedo with a subtle midnight-blue velvet lapel that caught the light just enough to look intentional rather than flashy. The fit was tailored perfectly, slim through the shoulders and chest, tapering at the waist...so it moved with me instead of fighting me.

A crisp white shirt underneath, a narrow silver tie, and polished black oxfords completed the look. I’d kept my hair simple, swept back with a touch of product to keep it from falling into my eyes, but I still felt a little exposed under all those stares.

The Winter Gala had drilled the skill into me: chin up, shoulders back, pretend the whispers are background music instead of judgment.

So I did. I kept my head high, offered Adrien a small smirk as we walked side by side, and tried to ignore how my pulse hammered against my collar.

Adrien, though...he looked unfairly gorgeous, as usual. His suit was charcoal gray, almost black in the low light, cut sharp and modern with a subtle sheen to the fabric that made him look like he’d stepped out of a magazine spread.

The half-up, half-down hairstyle he’d refused to let go of still worked ridiculously well: the top section pulled back into a neat, small knot at the crown of his head, leaving the rest to fall in soft, controlled waves around his shoulders.

It framed his face perfectly, highlighting the sharp line of his jaw and the quiet intensity in his eyes. A silver cufflink caught the light every time he moved his hand, and the faint scent of his cologne, something woody and expensive...drifted over whenever he leaned close.

He looked confident, untouchable, the kind of beautiful that made people forget how to blink.

Except he kept fumbling with something in his pocket all evening. Little taps, quick pats, like he was checking for his phone or keys over and over. It was strange because Adrien never gave a fuck about the attention he got, he thrived on it and yet tonight he seemed... off.

"You alright?" I asked quietly as we paused near the entrance, letting the crowd part around us like we were royalty or something.

He flashed me that trademark smirk, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"Fine. Just making sure I didn’t forget my dignity at home."

I didn’t buy it, but before I could press, a group of girls from the junior class swarmed him, giggling and tugging at his sleeve, asking for photos and compliments.

He let them whisk him away with an confused raised eyebrow, glancing back at me once with an apologetic shrug that said duty calls.

I wandered toward the drink station, scanning the room until I spotted Gigi standing alone near the punch bowl in that lavender dress that looked like it had been made specifically for her aura.

Her hair was swept up in loose braids with a few tendrils framing her face, and she looked ethereal, like she belonged in a fairy tale rather than a high school gym. The color did infact match her aura perfectly, soft, warm, quietly radiant.

I approached slowly, heart in my throat. "Hey."

She turned, and for a second her expression flickered, surprise, then something softer. "Noah."

"I’m sorry," I said before she could speak. The words tumbled out in a rush. "I didn’t mean to shut you out. I’ve been dealing with... everything. I got scared and selfish and I didn’t want to drag you into the mess. But that’s no excuse. I missed you, a lot. You’re my best friend, and I’ve been a terrible one lately."

Gigi studied me for a long moment, then her eyes softened completely. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me in a hug that smelled like vanilla and relief.

"I missed you too, idiot. I was worried, but I figured you’d come back when you were ready. Just... don’t disappear again, okay? I can handle messy. I’ve got snacks and bad advice for days."

I laughed against her shoulder, hugging her tighter. "Deal. Where’s Skylar?"

"Bathroom. She’s fixing her eyeliner for the third time because ’perfection takes patience.’" Gigi rolled her eyes fondly. "She’ll be back. You staying out of trouble tonight?"

"Trying my best."

We chatted for a while longer, the awkwardness melting away like it had never been there, until I spotted Ethan across the room.

He looked stunning in a deep navy suit that made his blond hair glow under the lights, tie slightly loosened already because of course he couldn’t resist.

Our eyes met over the crowd, and he smiled, that real, quiet smile that always made my chest ache in the best way.

Gigi smiled and turned to me, "I heard about his uncle, I wanted to come to the funeral but my aunt was out of town that day and I needed to help her with her shop. How is he?"

I nodded, "He’s getting better,"

Ethan crossed the floor, smiled at Gigi who grinned and fanned herself with her hand to tease me as Ethan offered me his hand. "Dance with me?"

I took it without hesitation. The DJ had switched to something slow and dreamy, and we moved to the center of the floor where fake snow still fell in gentle flurries.

Ethan pulled me close, one hand on my waist, the other clasping mine, and for a few perfect minutes the world narrowed to just us.

His thumb brushed small circles against my back, and I rested my forehead against his shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of his cologne mixed with the crisp winter air that clung to his jacket.

"You look incredible," he murmured into my hair.

"So do you."

We swayed together, laughing softly when fake snow landed on our noses, and for once everything felt simple and right.

Then my phone buzzed in my pocket. Adrien’s name on the screen.

"I...um, I need to go to the restroom." I lied and darted away before Ethan could even protest.

I stepped outside through a side door into the quiet courtyard where string lights wrapped around bare trees and benches sat under a light dusting of real snow that had started falling.

Adrien waited near a stone wall, hands in his pockets again, looking more nervous than I’d ever seen him.

"Hey," I said. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah...I uh..." He exhaled, pulled a small velvet box from his pocket, and held it out like it weighed a thousand pounds.

"I know we’re step-siblings. I know we can’t... do this publicly. Ever, but I needed you to know." He opened the box to reveal a simple silver bracelet, engraved with a tiny constellation that matched one we’d stared at together on the roof last summer.

"I love you, Noah. And I know your heart’s split, I realized that Ethan’s got a big piece of it too and he always will. I’m not asking you to choose. I just... wanted you to have this. To know it’s real."

My face heated, blush spreading fast. "Adrien..."

"Shhh."

He stepped closer, tentative, and I met him halfway. The kiss was soft, careful, full of everything we’d never said aloud, sweet and aching and complicated. His hand cupped my cheek, thumb brushing my skin, and for a heartbeat nothing else existed.

Then a sharp intake of breath behind us.

We broke apart to find Ethan standing frozen in the doorway, eyes wide, expression caught somewhere between shock and something deeper, more painful.

The snow kept falling around us, soft and silent, as the three of us stared at each other in the glowing courtyard light.