Chapter #4Bro to Crushes, Bestie to Lovers by: Unknown   The food court was alive with chatter, the scent of greasy fries and sugary drinks hanging in the air. My gaze landed on a pair of siblings—a high school boy and his older college sister—sitting at a table, engrossed in conversation.
The brother, Ryan, leaned forward eagerly. “Dylan and I are gonna hit the arcade this weekend,” he said, grinning. “He’s been bragging about his racing game skills. Gotta put him in his place.”
His sister, Alexa, sipped her soda and nodded. “Sounds fun. Megan and I are planning a study session, but we’ll probably end up binge-watching something instead.”
I tilted my head, my ponytail swaying. How delightfully mundane. With a flick of my will, reality bent to my whim.
Ryan’s frame softened, his shoulders narrowing, his features smoothing into delicate curves. His T-shirt and jeans melted into a pastel pink blouse and a flared skirt, his sneakers replaced by dainty ballet flats. Riana blinked, her voice now light and sweet.
Alexa’s transformation was just as seamless. Her long hair shortened into a messy crop, her curves straightening into lean muscle. Her blouse and jeans shifted into a loose hoodie and cargo pants. Alex adjusted his sleeves absently.
Around them, the mall continued its rhythm—no gasps, no double takes. To everyone, it had always been this way: Riana, the cute little sister, and Alex, the laid-back older brother.
Riana twirled a strand of her hair around her finger, her cheeks flushing slightly as she leaned in. “Dylan said he might come over after the arcade,” she murmured, trying—and failing—to sound casual.
Alex smirked, resting his chin on his palm. “Oh? Dylan, huh?” He dragged out the name, his voice dripping with exaggerated interest. “The same Dylan you’ve been staring at in math class?”
Riana’s face burned. “Shut up! I don’t stare!” She crossed her arms, her skirt fluttering as she shifted in her seat. “And even if I did, it’s not like he’d notice.”
Alex barked a laugh. “Oh, he notices. He just doesn’t know what to do about the fact that his childhood friend suddenly turned into a lovesick puppy.” He reached over and flicked her ponytail. “Face it, Ri. You’re obvious.”
She swatted his hand away, pouting. “At least I’m not the one making heart eyes at Megan all the time.”
Alex’s smirk faltered for half a second before he recovered, shrugging. “Yeah, well, Megan’s my girlfriend. I’m supposed to make heart eyes at her.”
Riana gasped dramatically, pointing at him. “Aha! So you admit it!”
“Admit what?” Alex rolled his eyes. “That I like my girlfriend? Groundbreaking.”
“No, that you’re whipped,” Riana shot back, grinning. “I bet you text her, like, a hundred times a day.”
Alex narrowed his eyes. “I do not—” His phone buzzed, and he instinctively glanced at the screen. A second later, his face softened into a dopey smile as he typed a quick reply.
Riana burst into giggles. “Oh my god, that’s her, isn’t it? You’re so predictable!”
Alex shoved his phone back into his pocket, feigning annoyance. “Whatever. At least I don’t write ‘Mrs. Riana Carter’ in my notebook.”
Riana’s jaw dropped. “I never—!”
“Oh, you totally do,” Alex teased, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied grin. “Dylan Carter, huh? Good last name, I guess.”
She groaned, covering her face with her hands. “I hate you.”
Alex ruffled her hair, laughing. “Nah, you love me. Who else is gonna hype you up before your big arcade date?”
Riana peeked through her fingers, fighting a smile. “It’s not a date.”
“Sure, sure.” Alex winked. “Just like how Megan and I ‘study’ all the time.”
Riana threw a fry at him. He caught it mid-air and popped it into his mouth, triumphant.
I watched from a nearby bench, swinging my legs gleefully. Oh, this was even better than I’d hoped. The way their memories had reshaped so perfectly around their new dynamics—no cracks, no questions. Just pure, playful sibling chaos.   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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