The Wildest Dream

I sat beside Sophie in the bustling school auditorium, watching the other kids adjust their costumes and practice their lines. The play was about to start, and yet—

"How come your brother isn't here?" I asked, glancing around.

Sophie didn't look the least bit worried. Instead, she smiled, fixing the hem of her dress. "He woke up early and set everything for me so I wouldn't panic," she said. "And last night, he even fixed my tiara."

I blinked. Jack did that? The same Jack who seemed allergic to anything remotely thoughtful?

Before I could dwell on it, the doors at the back of the auditorium swung open, and Jack came running in, half out of breath. He scanned the crowd, found us, and slid into the seat next to me like he hadn't just sprinted here.

Sophie's face lit up, but she didn't say anything—just sat up straighter, as if his presence alone gave her a boost of confidence.

I, on the other hand, side-eyed him. "Took you long enough."

Jack ran a hand through his hair, still catching his breath. "Traffic," he muttered.

I didn't even bother calling him out on the lie.

Instead, I found myself watching Sophie as she turned back to the stage, completely reassured just because he was here. There was something oddly sweet about it, something that made a strange warmth settle in my chest.

Without thinking, I sighed. "I wish I had a big brother instead of a little one."

Jack, finally recovered, smirked. "Trust me, you don't."

I didn't bother replying. The play was starting, and as Sophie took her place on stage, all I could think about was how Jack, against all odds, might actually be a good brother.

Maybe even a great one.

After the play, Sophie wasn't exactly in the best mood. She had done well—better than most kids her age—but something about her performance didn't sit right with her. While other kids ran to their parents, grinning and showing off their costumes, Sophie stayed quiet, fiddling with the hem of her dress.

Jack, on the other hand, looked like the proudest brother in the world. "You were amazing," he told her, ruffling her hair. "Seriously, I don't think anyone else even came close."

Sophie sighed. "I messed up one line."

Jack crouched in front of her. "No one even noticed. And even if they did, you still had the best stage presence."

She gave him a small smile, but I could tell she wasn't fully convinced.

Jack stood up, clapping his hands together. "Alright, since my little star isn't celebrating properly, we're going to the ice cream parlor."

Sophie's face lit up immediately, but I took a step back. "I'll leave you two to it," I said quickly. "I should get going anyway."

Jack turned to me, an eyebrow raised. "No, you're coming."

"I don't—"

"It's ice cream, Lara, not a contract signing. Stop overthinking everything."

I hesitated.

Sophie grabbed my hand. "Please? It'll be fun!"

Jack smirked. "See? Can't say no to her now."

I sighed, pretending to be annoyed, but honestly? I didn't mind. Not as much as I probably should have.

We ended up at a small ice cream parlor a few blocks away. The kind with pastel-colored walls and a display case filled with way too many flavors. Sophie, who had been sulking all evening, finally looked like herself again, bouncing on her toes as she scanned the menu.

Jack, standing next to her, didn't even look at the options. "You want the same as always?" he asked.

Sophie nodded without hesitation. "Chocolate fudge with caramel drizzle."

Jack turned to the employee. "One chocolate fudge with caramel drizzle."

He barely even looked at the menu before ordering again. "And one mint chocolate chip."

I frowned. "You didn't ask what I wanted."

Jack rolled his eyes. "You always get mint chocolate chip."

I opened my mouth to argue but… he wasn't wrong. I always got mint chocolate chip. But the fact that he remembered? After all these years?

Sophie giggled beside me. "He does that a lot. I don't think he ever looks at the menu for me."

Jack shrugged. "It's not that hard."

I should've rolled my eyes. I should've brushed it off. But as we sat down, watching Sophie dig into her ice cream with the enthusiasm of someone who had completely forgotten she was upset, I felt something shift.

For the first time in years, Jack didn't feel like my enemy. He felt like the boy I used to know. The one who knew my favorite ice cream flavor without asking. The one who—before everything changed—actually paid attention.