The more I look at you,

The more I wonder,

The more you laugh ,

The more I—

"Would you look at that?" Hailey Young smirked darkly at her cousin sister , Astrid. "Didn't know he had it in him , Mr i-am-so-good."

"Van and love? No effing way!" Astrid shook her head in a big no and with confidence that made Hailey burn.

"No way? Look for yourself , bitch. He forgot to stash it in his precious locker." She mocked. Mom had told her to clean his room and she had had her hands on the treasure.

Astrid shrugged her shoulders. "Even if he did write it, what's the big deal?"

"El o el!  Then he shouldn't fake being a Mr reserved and honourable all the damn time. Look at the words! He didn't shy away from coloring the entire damn page with his feelings." She said the word like a curse.

"And you don't like what? Him being reserved or him writing down in his personal diary?"

Hailey pushed back her sheet of brown hair.

"I'm just saying, you should portray yourself as you're and not the other way around." Hailey said with a flare of disdain.

The fact that they lived in a giant mansion with the big fat family wasn't enough and Dad had to go and bring a foster kid home too...under a random act of kindness.

A ten years old Hailey had watched the boy entered with her father , holding his hand. That was when she felt the first pang of jealousy.

Then the next few days she had watched her parents arguing back and forth over the boy who spoke when spoken to , who looked when looked at . . .no one could wrung out a single word from him. .but that didn't matter to Hailey.  What did was. .he had the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. Big black eyes that could suck you in , even his hair matched his eyes . .they fell down to his shoulder in a haphazard manner . But Astrid loved his straight and sharp nose and full lips.

As the days passed , everyone got information. Apparently , he was picked from the road collecting trash and her dad had brought him home . . .and what bothered her more was. .everyone was warming up to him. Even her mother. Her own brother . .her uncle. . Astrid!

But the why was obvious. .

He had an alluring smile that could hook you up and pull you in his direction.

Oh so that's how he trapped my Dad, Hailey had wondered seeing Ethan play with him. Very gently , very slowly. .Van Buren had wrapped everyone around his finger and he became a solid part of the Young family. Graduated from a top notch college , he was with her Dad now . . handling office.

It was Hailey who simply couldn't accept him like that and . . .he knew.

×××××××××

"Can someone please give me breakfast in this house?" Ethan Young groaned , getting his cousin brother  Jack's attention.

Jack smirked. "I'll if you bless me with ten dollars."

Ethan leaned back against the chair ,"I'll if you get me married."

Jack sipped on his coffee , eyes skimming over the newspaper.

"Cousin , we gotta find someone who can stich buttons on your shirt , who can—,"

"Why the heck do your shirt keep losing buttons?" Hailey wondered out loud knowing her brother was a haughty prince.

"How would I know?" He picked a ripe apple from the basket ," it's all because of this bod."

"Yeah well, your six packs are enough to make us , obese entities,  all feel uncomfortable." Jack commented.

It was true though , Ethan Young was undoubtedly the hottest guy of the family. He had inherited his mother's dark blue eyes and caramel hair that always were unkempt. His dark eyebrows made him look intimidating and Hailey kept teasing him of his Angelina Jolie lips. .ready to kiss.

And the bad part? He knew it. Knew he had it in him.

"Atleast I can eat everything I want." Jack said eyeing his protein filled drink.

"Yeah and grapes are sour."

Hailey frowned when Ethan placed the half eaten apple on her plate.

"Excuse me?"

"Eat it. You look ready to die."

"You just ate it! I'm not eating that!"

"Sharing is caring , sis."

She had opened her mouth to bite back when the chair beside Ethan was scraped back and. . .he sat down. Folding the sleeves of his white dress shirt back , he thanked Astrid for piling up pancakes for him.

Hailey bristled at his confidence as if he was a part of this family so easily fitted in. And the fact that he had turned into the most eligible bachelor wasn't helping either. Her friends were eyeing him. Jake gave him the new paper and he accepted it with a smile that made his face the only face she wanted to look—

Hailey stomped hard on her thoughts.

"—and how are you like?" He asked in his deep voice.

Not from her.

From Ethan.

"Like you don't know." Ethan winked.

"My brother's heart is as clear as the mirror you see in this house. He isn't hypocrite. .at all." Hailey said while eating her pancakes.

The smile on Van's face dimmed down when he looked at her , looking at him with a sarcastic smile on her pretty face.

"Ethan?"

Mrs Young had appeared in the room , a kind hearted woman in her fifties , "Dad's calling."

Ethan got up and walked towards his mother with his arms open. Mrs Young laughed when he hugged her to his heart.

"You know it's high time I get married so you don't have to worry about me." Ethan said as the mother son duo walked towards the door.

"Your internship—,"

"It's going great. The boss is crushing on me. Girls are kissing my feet but you know me right? I won't give in until i see the one who can match me up."

"Mom?"

They halted and Hailey came right to their front , dressed up in her white uniform and her hand outstretched demanding money.

"Are you going to school or party?" Ethan suddenly changed color from goofing around to being dead ass serious , his dark eyebrows bunched up at the uniform that seemed like a second skin.

"Ethan. ." Mrs Young place a hand on his chest.

"If I saw her like this again , she's not leaving this house." His tone left no place for negotiation and he left them right there , walking towards his father's room.

"Mom!" She stomped her feet.

"I know. ."

"You didn't even say a word to him!" She grounded out.

Mrs young sighed ,"You know your brother. He's touchy about these things. Anyways ask Van to drop you off. I don't want Sister Marrie to nag me again."

"But—,"

Mrs Young easier her hand and she had no other choice but to shut up.

Well, she didn't have a choice now did she?

××××××

"Can you drop me off?" She asked in a very forced manner and she did it while standing behind his chair.

Hailey heard the crinkling of newspaper as he folded it neatly.

"Yes."

That short answer grated on her nerves and sitting in his Porsche she made sure not to look his way.

Ten minutes passed with him driving and her staring out.

"Eat something in the canteen." He said in a casual manner, forcing her to look at his side profile.

The damn man was simply perfect!

"How do you know I didn't—,"

"Don't mind Eathan. He's a good guy."

"I judge what I see and well you don't seem the type to have an affair but here you're ," her voice burned and pushed him down the a pit. For a second , his hand slipped from the wheel.

She provoked him but he didn't say a word , just kept driving.

"Well? Who is it?" Her voice held palpable amount of curiosity.

He didn't say a word.

"Oh come on! I can help you out with it." She pushed again.

"Jake will pick you up."

"I don't want anyone to pick me up!" She snapped not liking the fact he completely washed her out as if she had never spoken in the first place.

The car had stopped outside of her school and she got out . .but then turned back and looked at him who was about to shut the door.

"My offer is still open . .for time unlimited."

×××××××××