Another night

After dinner, Bella suggests watching a movie together. You agree, and she pops in a DVD. The movie is slow and uneventful, and you find your attention wandering. You notice Bella yawning, and realize that she's falling asleep.

"Hey, it's getting late," you say, pausing the movie. "We should probably head to bed."

Bella nods, and you walk her to her room. As she's getting ready for bed, you find yourself admiring her. She's beautiful, even in her sweatpants and t-shirt. You push the thought from your mind, knowing that it's not appropriate.

"Goodnight, Alex," Bella says, climbing into bed.

"Goodnight," you reply, closing the door behind you.

You head to your own room, but you can't shake the feeling that something is off. You're used to sleeping alone, but tonight you feel restless. You toss and turn, trying to get comfortable.

After a few minutes, there's a knock at your door.

"Hey, Alex, can I come in?" Bella's voice sounds timid.

"Of course," you say, sitting up.

Bella enters the room, looking nervous.

"Is everything okay?" you ask.

"I can't sleep," she admits, biting her lip.

Suddenly you're both acutely aware of the fact that you're alone together in your bedroom.

"Um, do you want to sleep here?" you ask, gesturing to your bed.

Bella nods, and you move over to make room for her. You both lie down, facing away from each other. For a few minutes, there's silence. You can hear the sound of Bella's breathing, and you feel the warmth of her body next to yours.

Suddenly, Bella rolls over, facing you. You can see the moonlight reflecting in her eyes, making them seem even more beautiful.

"Can I ask you something?" she whispers.

"Of course," you say, feeling your heart racing.

"Do you ever think about us?" Bella asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

You freeze, unsure of how to respond. You do think about her, constantly, but you know that it's wrong. She's your stepsister, and she's going through a tough time right now. You don't want to take advantage of her.

"I...I don't know what you mean," you stammer.

Bella moves closer, until her face is inches from yours. You can feel her breath on your lips.

"I mean, do you ever think about kissing me?" she asks, her eyes locked on yours.

You feel yourself giving in to temptation. You lean in, and press your lips to hers. The kiss is electric, and you feel your body responding to hers.

For a few minutes, you forget about everything else. You're lost in the moment, enjoying the feeling of being close to Bella. But then, reality comes crashing back.

You pull away, panting.

"I can't do this," you say, shaking your head. "It's not right."

Bella looks hurt, but she doesn't argue. She simply nods, and rolls over, facing away from you.

You spend the rest of the night lying awake, feeling guilty and confused. You know that you can't let things go any further with Bella, but you can't deny the fact that you're attracted to her.

As the sun begins to rise, you finally drift off to sleep, knowing that tomorrow will bring new challenges and new choices.