Chapter One
James liked to think of himself as a forward-thinking person, though many would probably disagree. He was methodical, overthinking every decision. Impulsive choices were rare for him, reserved only for moments of reckless clarity.
This was one of those moments.
As he stood on the pavement in front of the townhouse, doubts began to creep in.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Sirius asked hesitantly beside him.
"I think so..." James mumbled. He had fallen for the house after stumbling upon it by accident on his commute. It was striking—bold and unapologetic—exactly how he wanted to be seen. In a way, the house felt like a reflection of himself.
But no matter how perfect it seemed, the house had its flaws. It was far from home, miles away from his family and friends, and James wasn’t shy about his attachment to them. He knew he struggled with letting go.
Still, maybe this distance was what he needed. Maybe this was the push to break out of his comfort zone and step into something new.
"If you change your mind, you know I’m always here for you," Sirius said, giving his shoulder a brotherly shake.
Sirius wasn’t just a friend—he was family. They had grown up together, faced life’s biggest challenges side by side, and eventually ended up living under the same roof. Calling them "best friends" almost felt like an understatement. They were brothers in everything but blood.
Until now, James thought.
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Settling into his new home was surprisingly easy.
After unpacking the few belongings he owned and making a mental list of what he'd need to buy, James found himself idly people-watching from his window. He gazed at the steady stream of passersby, inventing elaborate stories about their lives as they walked by. It was a welcome distraction—until something unexpected happened.
A man turned onto the street, heading up the steps to the house next door. The one with the green door.
He was striking in a quiet, mysterious way—pale, with sharp features and dark, tousled curls that caught the light just enough to give him an almost ethereal glow.
Without thinking, James bolted to his front door, flinging it open as he rushed outside.
Startled, the man stopped mid-step, his wide eyes locking on James.
"Hi! I’m James," James said, bouncing slightly on his heels. "Just moved in."
The dark-haired man studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Right. Well, welcome, I guess," he said, turning back to the green door.
James frowned slightly, feeling a sudden surge of curiosity. "You’re not going to tell me your name?" he asked, half-joking, half-hopeful.
The man paused, turning to look at James again, his eyes now glinting with what could only be amusement. "Reg."
"Reg," James repeated, as if testing the sound of it. "That’s a nice name."
Reg snorted, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips as he opened his door and slipped inside, disappearing from view.
James stood there for a moment, staring at the now-closed door, completely captivated by the brief encounter.
"Reg," he muttered under his breath, the name rolling around in his mind. Snapping out of his daze, he turned and headed back inside, his thoughts still lingering on the intriguing boy next door.