Ella had been to family gatherings countless times before, but this one felt different. The house was filled with familiar faces, laughter echoing off the walls, and the smell of her aunt's cooking drifting through the air. She had barely stepped inside when her mother's voice rang out, welcoming her in with open arms. For Ella, it was another predictable family reunion—until she saw him.
James was standing by the window, looking out over the yard, a half-smile on his face as he watched the children playing outside. It had been years since she'd seen him, and yet, he was instantly recognizable. The same dark hair, the same piercing gaze—only now there was a maturity to his face, a quiet intensity that hadn't been there before.
She took a slow breath, surprised by the strange jolt in her chest as their eyes met.
"Ella." His voice was steady, warm in a way she hadn't expected.
"James." She tried to keep her voice casual, but there was no hiding the slight tremor in it. She crossed the room and hugged him quickly, her cheeks warming.
They caught up in polite small talk, each aware of the unspoken tension between them, a feeling that wasn't present the last time they'd been together. As the evening wore on, they kept finding themselves drawn together by chance, their conversations stretching on longer than either intended.
By the time night fell, the stars glittered in the sky, and the guests began to trickle away. They ended up alone on the porch, a quietness settling between them. James leaned against the railing, glancing at her with a curious smile.
"Remember how we used to stay up all night talking out here?" he asked softly.
Ella smiled, feeling a pang of nostalgia. "Feels like a lifetime ago."
They stayed there in silence for a moment, both aware of how easily they slipped back into old rhythms, yet both feeling the shift in the air, the unspoken pull between them. This time, things were different—dangerously so.