To Hate My Stepbrother

Ava’s POV

I watched the anger on Nicole’s face disappear, to be replaced with disbelief as she bursted out laughing.

“Oh, you’re kidding, right?” She asked with a raised eyebrow and I rolled my eyes, “He? Your step brother?” She added after a moment, probably expecting to say ‘sold’ or something.

Nicole laughed for a moment as if I had suddenly gone crazy or waa saying something I wasn’t sure about.

“Are you really telling me that the guy back there is your step brother?” She asked again and I rolled my eyes in irritation , leveling her with a flat look.

“Are you insinuating that I don’t know what I’m talking about? Or that I have forgotten what being a step brother means?” I demanded with an eyeroll.

That made her realize just how serious I was.

“Oh my goodness, you’re actually being serious,” She whispered, covering her mouth with her palm and I scoffed.

“Hey, don’t worry.” She added as she walked closer to me and patted my back softly.

“What do you mean don’t worry?” I asked, not quite understanding what she meant.

“Because I’m now a part of this and together, we will make his life a living hell.” She affirmed and I found myself smiling slowly at what she said.

“Thank you! I knew you would understand the minute I explained it all to you.” I said as I heaved a sigh of relief and Nicole smiled as she sant into the spot beside me to pull me into a hug.

“I’ll be honest with you though, when I saw him, I honestly thought he was good looking and I imagined what it would feel like to have a fast quickie with him.” She whispered and I regarded her judgementally as my stomach twisted in disgust.

I pulled away from Nicole for a while and I gagged while trying to comprehend what she had just confessed.

I could have continued my life without knowing about that just fine.

“Mason? Good looking?” I scoffed, even though deep down, I really couldn’t deny the fact that I had thought he looked good for a fleeting moment this morning.

“Yeah, No,” she argued and I raised an eyebrow and she immediately knew what I meant, “I mean, anyone would think that too.” She added and I shook my head.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“No one that has a boyfriend would think that.” I argued and she rolled her eyes at that.

“C’mon, you know damn well that I love Ryan.” She added and I scoffed playfully next.

We laughed and spoke for a while until the loud ringing of Nicole’s phone stopped the moment. She turned it over to see who it was and we both saw Ryan’s name on the screen.

“Hey baby.” She said into the phone and I had no idea what they were talking about but it was easy for me to tell that Ryan had been searching all over for us.

“We’re not kids, we can take care of ourselves baby.” Nicole said into the phone and I laughed.

“Look, we won’t be coming back in there…” She was saying before I snatched the phone from her and placed it against my ear. I knew she was about to tell Ryan that we weren’t coming back to the party because of me, but I didn’t want her missing out on all of the fun because of me.

“We’re by the road side and waiting for you.” I said into the phone as Ryan voiced out his appreciation and I handed the phone back over to Nicole.

“Why did you ask him to come? We could’ve gone home together.” She whined and I laughed.

“Because he would be coming for you and not me,” I answered, “You’re not about to miss out on all the fun at the party you couldn’t stop talking about during lectures today.” I added, watching her face fall a little.

“C’mon. I’m only going home to do my assignments. It won’t be as fun as being at the party. I’m a responsible, nerdy person, whereas you’re the complete opposite.” I added to make her feel better and I knew I achieved that when she laughed a little.

It didn’t take long for Ryan to show up and I couldn’t be anymore grateful, I stood alongside Nicole as Ryan approached us.

“Did something happen?” Ryan asked, already sliding into a protective mood but we were quick to reassure him that nothing happened.

“I can drive you back to your house. I don’t mind.” Ryan offered, polite and compassion as ever, but I only shook my head.

My head was now beginning to ache and my vision was starting to get dim. I should’ve just accepted his offer but I knew that would be selfish of me.

“No. I’m good, I can just walk home, it’s not that far from here.” I protested and after a little back and forth, Ryan agreed.

“Call me immediately when you get home or if you encounter any kind of trouble on the way.” Nicole said and I nodded, reassuring her that I will do just that.

We finally hugged and I decided it was time for me to start walking back home before it gets any later and I wouldn’t be able to find my way home.

Nicole nodded and I watched as she walked back to the party with Ryan. I sighed heavily and held my head for what seemed like minutes before starting my walk home.

I’d walked a few miles already when I remembered that I had no idea where I was going. The road doesn’t look really familiar to me. Mason had driven me to school earlier this morning and instead of me looking at the road, I had my headphones on and my eyes had been closed.

I groaned in frustration as I hissed and silently cussed Mason. I looked back and forth but there was not a cab or buses in view, finally picking up my phone. I gasped when I saw the time.

It was 11:30 PM. Almost midnight!

I shouldn’t have rejected Ryan’s offer, I shouldn’t have even decided to leave the party! All these wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t agree to go to the party in the first place!

I dumped my phone in my pocket as I started running, realising instantly that it was a bad idea because my head began to pound almost immediately.

The haziness in my eyes is definitely because of all the alcohol I’ve consumed back at the party.

Fuck.

I briefly considered calling my mum, but it was too late for that and disturbing her was something I wouldn’t want to do. She’s literally still in her newly wed phase and disrupting her night is something I never want to do.

I let out a sigh of relief when I saw a truck in sight.

It stopped in front of me and I was grateful but not grateful for the headlight that was causing my headache to intensify.

I took a good look at it and I knew that I’ve seen that truck before. I walked to the side with my palm protecting my eyes from the onslaught of the bright headlights.

It honked three times and I frowned as the window slowly rolled down.

My frown deepened when the face I was least expecting to see got revealed as the window rolled down completely.