A sister's request ||One Shoot||

Fractured Peace

The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm glow over the small town of Brookhaven. Mia Thompson stood on the porch of their modest home, her gaze fixed on the street where familiar shadows loomed—shadows she knew all too well. The Cross family lived just two doors down, and with them came the constant reminder of the rivalry that had spanned generations.

Mia tightened her grip on the railing, the rough wood biting into her palm. It had been three years since the accident that took their parents, leaving her to shoulder the weight of responsibility for her younger sister, Lily. At eighteen, Mia felt like she was juggling the responsibilities of an adult and a child all at once.

“Hey, Sissy! Look at me!” Lily’s voice broke through her thoughts. The five-year-old was in the backyard, spinning in circles, her laughter ringing like music. For a moment, Mia allowed herself to smile. Lily was a bright spot in a world tinged with gray.

But the tranquility was short-lived. The sound of laughter from the Cross house, loud and carefree, cut through the evening air. Mia’s stomach twisted. Ethan Cross, the boy who lived next door, was at the center of it all. He was everything she wasn’t: confident, charming, and utterly infuriating.

Mia remembered their last encounter all too well—a heated argument that had erupted over a trivial matter, fueled by the animosity their families had cultivated for years. It was the same old story, played out like a tired film.

Just then, Lily ran up to her, eyes sparkling with excitement. “Sissy, can we go to the park? Please?”

Mia hesitated. It was their favorite place, a sanctuary where they could escape the weight of their reality. But the thought of running into Ethan—or worse, his family—made her uneasy.

“Maybe tomorrow, sweetie,” she said, ruffling Lily’s hair. “It’s getting late.”

“But I want to go now!” Lily pouted, her small hands on her hips, a stance that reminded Mia of their mother.

Mia sighed, knowing she couldn’t deny her sister’s request. “Okay, just for a little while. But we have to be careful. You know how things are with the Crosses.”

As they walked to the park, the tension in the air felt almost palpable. Mia couldn’t shake the feeling that today would be different, that the fragile peace between their families was about to be tested.

Arriving at the park, Lily dashed off to the swings, her laughter echoing in the crisp evening air. Mia took a deep breath, trying to relax. But her heart raced as she spotted Ethan across the playground, surrounded by his friends, the sun illuminating his tousled hair. He caught her eye, and a flicker of recognition passed between them.

“Just ignore him,” Mia muttered under her breath, turning away. She was determined to keep Lily’s spirits high, to protect her from the shadows of their families’ past. But the feeling of being watched lingered, and she could sense the tension building, a storm brewing just out of sight.

As Lily swung higher, Mia couldn’t help but feel the weight of their history pressing down on her. They were caught in a cycle of rivalry, but perhaps today, just for today, they could carve out a moment of peace amidst the chaos.

Little did she know, the lines between enemy and ally were about to blur in ways she could never have imagined.

Mia leaned against the weathered wooden beam of the park’s pavilion, her eyes scanning the playground as Lily gleefully ran from one swing to the next. The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the grass, and a warm breeze rustled the leaves above. It was a scene she cherished: Lily’s laughter, the rustle of the wind, and the fleeting moments of peace. But today felt different. The air crackled with an anticipation that made her uneasy.