Brief Encounters

Timeline 1 (Part 25)

William's Point of View

As our national soccer team scored, I jumped up in celebration, clapping and cheering along with the rest of the crowd. But amidst the noise and excitement, my eyes drifted to Harry, catching the way he lingered in his stare at Jeanna.

I'd noticed it before—the subtle glances, the quiet moments between them—but I'd been pushing it aside. Ignoring it. After all, what's the point of creating problems where none exist? The growing bond between Harry and Jeanna... it's a good thing, I told myself. If they get along, it means Harry's one less person I have to worry about when it comes to welcoming Jeanna into the family.

"Did you see that? Unbelievable play!" I said, trying to shift the focus back to the game.

"Yeah, unreal," Harry replied, though his distracted tone made it clear he hadn't been watching since the game began.

Before I could call him out on it, he suddenly stood. "I'm grabbing a hotdog," he said abruptly.

"Wait, I'll come with you," Jeanna offered without hesitation. Then she turned to me, her voice casual. "Would you like some, babe?"

I shook my head with a small smile. "I'm good."

As they walked away, I watched them go, Jeanna chatting animatedly while Harry listened with that easy smile of his. My gaze lingered, following their figures as they wove through the crowd until they vanished from sight. A strange pang stirred in my chest—unsettling, yet hard to define.

I guess, deep down, I've always felt a flicker of insecurity around Harry. He's always been the more charming one between us, the kind of person who can light up a room with a single joke or disarm anyone with his easy smile. He could make anyone laugh effortlessly, while I've always been... different. A bit more reserved, more serious.

More like Dad, I suppose.

They returned with their hotdogs at last, Jeanna laughing softly at something Harry had said. She handed me a napkin she'd brought back, her thoughtfulness never failing to make me smile.

"Hey, babe, you sure you don't want any?" Jeanna asked again, glancing at me with those curious eyes of hers.

"Yeah," I replied, shaking my head.

Harry took his seat beside me, but his attention barely wavered from Jeanna. Jeanna didn't seem to notice—or maybe she was choosing not to. She focused on her food.

I turned my gaze back to the game.

"Good game, huh?" Harry said suddenly, trying to fill the silence as he bit into his hotdog.

I nodded, my tone lighter than I felt. "Yeah, really intense."

Maybe it was the way Harry had looked at her, or the way my chest had tightened when I'd watched them walk off together. But suddenly, I was aware of how much I was thinking about them—about him—and how this small moment made me reflect on things that had been buried for a long time. I hadn't been this torn in ages.

It made me think back to when Harry and I were younger—how things used to be simpler...