My Stepbrother, My Enemy {BL}-Chapter 56: Cottage Core
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3rd Person POV 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
Adrien reclined against the couch, his gaze still fixed on Noah as the storm outside dwindled to a gentle drizzle. The candlelight flickered weakly, barely illuminating his face. He seemed peaceful, completely oblivious to the chaos he had stirred in his mind.
It frustrated him how easily he got under his skin now. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. He wasn’t supposed to matter to him. But Noah did, and that realization sat in his chest like a bruise that refused to heal.
He remembered the first time he saw him laugh with Ethan, a genuine, carefree laughter right in front of him and the time they began actually dating.
That day, something hot and ugly twisted inside him. At first, he didn’t even grasp it. Jealousy wasn’t something Adrien Fell admitted to, even to himself. But it was there, gnawing at him every time Ethan’s hand brushed against Noah’s or whenever he looked at Ethan with that fondness.
So, Adrien did what he always did when feelings became too real: he lashed out.
The fight with Ethan wasn’t just about the game. It was about everything he couldn’t articulate, all those confusing thoughts that kept him up at night. Ethan was just the easiest target.
Adrien sighed softly, shaking his head at his own foolishness. "Real smart, Fell," he muttered quietly so as not to disturb him.
He stood up, almost on autopilot, and approached where Noah slept. His blanket had slipped off his shoulder, and before his mind could talk him out of it, he gently pulled it back over him.
His fingers brushed through his hair for a fleeting moment—soft and warm and he froze, quickly pulling back as if it had been a mistake, shoving his hands deep into his pockets.
Turning toward the window, he leaned against the frame, staring at the dim outline of the lake. The rain had tapered off to a soft patter, the clouds parting just enough to let a sliver of moonlight break through, casting silver streaks across the water far away, calm and unending.
He hated how serene it all appeared when his mind was anything but calm.
Two weeks. Just two damn weeks, he kept telling himself. Then this whole ridiculous "family bonding" thing would be done. He could return to what he knew best: basketball practice, late-night parties where he could get drunk, and the easy attention that came with it. Back to being the version of himself who didn’t think too much or feel too deeply.
He thought about Vanessa—how effortless their relationship felt, even as she wished he’d reciprocate her feelings and treat her like a girlfriend. She was just noise, distraction, and validation that wouldn’t hurt to lose later. It was simple, unlike his stepbrother.
He clenched his jaw and breathed out, watching his breath fog against the windowpane.
For just a moment, he wished he wasn’t such an idiot. Wished he could handle his emotions like a normal person instead of burying them under pride and foolish choices. But he had no idea how to do that. Every time he tried to feel something real, it left him feeling weak.
The storm outside had completely stopped now, but Adrien Fell’s chest was still tumultuous.
Noah’s’s POV
When I woke up, the first thing that hit me was the faint scent of rain, the kind that clings to the air long after a storm has passed. My neck ached from awkwardly sleeping half-curled on the couch with a blanket draped over me. Blinking blearily, I rubbed my eyes and noticed Adrien still lounging there.
He was sprawled on the opposite couch, one arm hanging off the side, breathing steadily, his hair a tousled mess. For a moment, I simply stared. The morning light caught the angles of his jaw, softening his usual sharpness. It felt strange to see him so... relaxed.
I frowned, wondering why he hadn’t retreated to his room. Maybe he’d just dozed off here too.
Yeah, that had to be the reason.
Yawning, I stretched and quietly tiptoed towards the door to avoid waking him. The storm had left a mess with fallen branches and wet leaves littering the porch and yard. The lake sparkled under the weak morning sun, appearing as if it hadn’t been caught in a storm at all.
"Guess nature doesn’t clean up after itself," I muttered.
A voice startled me from behind. "Talking to yourself again?"
I turned to find Adrien at the door, squinting against the light, his voice low and raspy from sleep. His hair looked messier than usual, and he was still in the same black T-shirt from last night, slightly wrinkled.
"You scared me," I said, pressing a hand to my chest.
He smirked, stretching lazily. "I have that effect on you."
I rolled my eyes, knowing he was right.
He glanced around at the fallen debris and sighed. "Looks like we’ll need to clean up. But first, let’s have breakfast."
Before I could reply, he headed back inside, rummaging through the fridge. I followed him in, leaning against the counter as he began pulling out bread, ham, cheese, and eggs like it was second nature to him.
I frowned but didn’t protest. He worked quietly, almost too calmly, with practiced and confident movements. When he handed me a plate a few minutes later, I mumbled a small "Thanks" before taking a seat.
After we finished eating, we both stepped outside. The air was still damp, the grass slick under our shoes. Adrien grabbed a broom and watched me while I started gathering branches into piles.
"You missed one, Noah," he called from behind. I turned around, realizing I hadn’t overlooked anything.
I shot him a glare. "I will throw this stick at your head."
He grinned. "No need to get violent."
I huffed, trying not to smile. "You could actually help instead of just standing there making jokes."
"I am helping," he replied, sweeping lazily. "I’m moral support."
I shook my head, feigning indifference. We worked like that for a while—him teasing, me grumbling back—but it wasn’t... awful. The silence didn’t weigh as heavily as it used to. Every so often, our shoulders would brush when we reached for something, and I caught him glancing at me, only for him to quickly look away.
At one point, I surveyed the freshly swept porch and the cleared yard, wiping the sweat from my forehead.
"Wow," I said, panting slightly. "We actually did it."
Adrien smirked, tossing a branch onto the pile. "Don’t sound so surprised."
I rolled my eyes, but a smile tugged at the corners of my lips.
As I watched him bend down to pick up another piece of wood, a thought quietly crossed my mind. Maybe this is what Mom and Keith had hoped for. Not friendship, precisely, but something... less hostile.
I exhaled, staring out at the tranquil lake again. For the first time since we arrived, it didn’t feel like I was completely trapped.
