The Sinclair estate was quieter than usual that Saturday morning. The golden sun filtered through the tall windows, brushing the polished floors with soft light, but the house felt… still.
Noah sat at the long dining table, cereal untouched, staring at the city skyline from the window. The conversation from last night's dinner — the balcony moment, Sophia's smirk, her words — replayed in his mind like a film he didn't want to admit he'd watched over and over.
"Dude, you're zoning again," Ethan said, nudging him as he leaned back in the chair across from Noah.
Noah's dark eyes flicked to his friend. "I'm not zoning."
"Sure," Adrian added, smirking, "you're totally fine. Just a little… distracted, maybe?"
Noah frowned, gripping his cereal spoon tighter than necessary. "Distracted is… irrelevant."
Mason, sketching idly in his notebook, raised an eyebrow. "Irrelevant or not, you're acting different. Spill it."
Noah leaned back, letting out a controlled sigh. "We had a… conversation last night. That's all."
"Conversation?" Ethan said, clearly skeptical. "Come on, man. You don't just have conversations with Sophia Harrington without it being… something."
Noah's jaw tightened. "It was nothing."
Adrian leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "Nothing? You looked like the Ice King just melted a little."
Noah's lips twitched — almost a smile, quickly masked. "…I said it was nothing."
Mason snorted. "Right. Nothing. And yet here you are, replaying it in your head."
Noah gave a short, almost inaudible laugh, but it didn't reach his eyes. "It's… complicated."
Ethan leaned back, nudging Noah again. "Complicated, huh? Sounds like someone got under your skin. Or… maybe you liked it."
Noah's eyes darkened, a silent warning. "Don't push it."
But Mason just grinned, shaking his head. "I'm just saying, you're… different today. You're quieter, and not in your usual brooding way. Something's bothering you. Or… someone."
Noah exhaled, forcing himself to shift the thoughts away. He didn't want to think about her. He didn't want to admit it. He wasn't supposed to care. Not about Sophia Harrington. Not about anyone.
But somewhere under the discipline, under the careful control, a small part of him — a stubborn, human part — couldn't stop remembering: the way her golden hair caught the balcony light, the mischievous glint in her eyes, the warmth behind her teasing words.
"Alright," Ethan said after a pause, "let's get out of here. Gym, city, something. You need to shake off… that thing."
Noah nodded reluctantly, allowing himself to be pulled along. The streets were alive with weekend energy, music from nearby cafés drifting over the sidewalks, but he remained quiet, alert, observant. He noticed the people, the chatter, the chaos — and somewhere in the back of his mind, he noticed the absence of Sophia's presence.
Adrian broke the silence, smirking. "I swear, man. That girl is trouble."
Noah's lips tightened. "She's… persistent."
"Persistent?" Mason laughed. "Noah, that's one way to put it. You mean impossible to ignore."
Noah didn't answer immediately, letting the words linger like smoke. He wasn't sure he wanted to admit it, not even to himself.
By evening, the boys had settled at a rooftop lounge overlooking the city. Lights flickered below, traffic moving like tiny rivers of gold and silver. Noah leaned against the railing, silent, thoughtful, letting the city's hum fill the space.
Ethan clapped him on the shoulder. "You okay, man?"
"I'm fine," Noah said, voice low. But his eyes betrayed him, scanning the skyline as if expecting someone — anyone — to appear.
Adrian nudged him again. "You're thinking about her, aren't you?"
Noah's jaw tightened, the faintest exhale escaping. "…Maybe."
Mason smirked. "Yeah, maybe. And that's exactly why this is fun. You, Mr. Ice King, actually… human."
Noah didn't reply. He simply turned his gaze back to the city, letting the quiet, controlled facade remain intact. But inside, the currents Sophia had stirred the night before were still there, subtle and unrelenting.
By the time they left the rooftop, Noah's friends had teased, nudged, and joked enough that the Ice King's icy veneer remained mostly intact, but the truth was undeniable: Sophia Harrington had left a mark. And he knew, whether he wanted to admit it or not, he would see her again.
Because in the controlled, strategic world of Noah Sinclair, some things — and some people — refused to be ignored.