IN LOVE WITH MY STEPBROTHER

IE'S

nough to wake me up fully knowing that I had gotten myself in trouble. My dad had definitely heard that which meant t

s he? That was so unusual but maybe it was my lucky day. Maybe I was going to have a great start of my junior year but that would onl

devil.* I thought as I fli

as her face appeared on the screen.

rying to hide my pyjam

minutes tops. I

you up. My car broke down and I can't ge

ation. I can't drive before my

l me before the migraines that had forced me to stop driving did. I couldn't risk it regardless of how much I loved Ava. Sometimes she was a bad influence and I did most things because

me. She was my extrovert and in most cases she had to defend me or stand up to bullies for me. Sometimes I admired her confidence but no matter how hard I tried to be like her, I ended up being uncomfortable almost like someone

me ride with Tim on top of hav

mmer. The break up was still raw and Ava was nowhere near getting over him. How could I say no and make my friend more miserab

e down the street

ing downstairs hurriedly. I descended in twos and threes hoping to bypass my dad before he saw me. I grabbed

ssie, h

is sweet little girl who never got in trouble and whenever I did, he never blamed it on me. Those were the moments I wished my moth

ed forward avoiding eye contact. This was something he did whenever

n wanting to talk to you about bu

nces later but whatever it was, he looked even more nervous than I was.

ntil I come back in the evening?" He hesitated and then met

ight, honey." He handed me a

I had to admit to myself that I had never seen him like that. Questions ran

kets. "Just do me a favor and come back straight home

the first time we woul

so I wasn't surprised by that. My father's edgy face and masked voice was what made me quest

you lat

there for several more seconds before I finally moved. I looked at the keys in

see the disappointment in her face the moment I s

"Du

drooping to her sides. "My dad was acting all weird and I c

Tim, first thing on my f

her playfully but Ava scowled at me. "You need to show him that y

t easy. Who am I supp

sts. That was the only thing that Ava had failed to rope me into, not because I hadn't tried but because I was always awkward w

en suddenly Ava tugged on my arm roughly. At first I thought she was about to throw another ta

out much enthusiasm but Ava

that fell over his forehead exposing the hottest face I had ever seen. How I knew he was hot was not an explanation I could give because I just felt it. The sleeves of his t-shirt hugg

"Da