I'd known Ethan for years, but he'd never been anything more than the step-brother of the guy I'd end up dating. We bickered and bantered, and spent more time insulting each other than he did playing his games – both virtually and with every girl he met.

Then something changed the weekend I graduated. That bickering was more like flirting, and my heart raced when he looked at me in a way I didn’t think he’d ever looked at me before. But, it was Ethan; he flirted with everyone so I was just reading into it.

Except, Ethan turns up when James doesn’t. Ethan’s kind and thoughtful when James is not. Ethan knows all about my nerd-side when James doesn’t. But, Ethan’s not that guy. James is. Right? Maybe. Or, maybe Ethan’s the one who’s been that guy all along.

I’m about to take a crash course in the stages of crush with a guy who may as well have written the rulebook, and I’m seriously under-prepared. Ethan’s as much fighter as lover. I’ve just never seen him fight for anything like this before.

Warning: if you don't like nerdy references, out of date music, a guy who's not afraid to wear eyeliner, or girls who've just realised what they wanted was right in front of them the whole time, then this short isn't for you.

A YA/NA cross-over.

the Seven Stages of Crush