My Stepbrother-Too Hot To Handle

Dabby:

I watched Damien get more angry and angry with me, and I started to get the urge to cry already. I was really scared of him because of the way he was looking at me, and the manner at which he started to come closer.

My entire body started to retreat in accordance with my brain signal even without my own permission, till my back was now resting on the wall and there was no place to move to any longer.

Damien’s huge body towered over my own body and he grabbed my jaw so harshly, as his blue eyes bored an invisible hole in me and I almost crumbled in fear. I held my breath so that he wouldn’t hate me even more, but it was really hard to be so scared and not breathe at the same time.

“Hear me out, four eyes. There is curfew in this house and you have to respect it. Anything after 9:00pm is a no, and you will sleep outside in the cold if you are a minute late. Is that clear?!” His voice ordered authoritatively, and I felt my breathe fly again with my eyes raised up to its peak.

I usually had panic disorder if I got too scared or nervous, and I really prayed I wouldn’t be messed up in his presence now. It happened mostly in the past when I was in middle school, but it got quite better as I grew up.

Getting bullied by Madison and other was kind of mostly physical and emotional, but it never got to my mental state because it didn’t make me intensely scared. It was a shit I always expected.

However, being with Damien was different. He was really intimidating and freakishly strong, that if he decided to hit me there in anger I would likely faint. He didn’t like me either, and he showed it so well.

‘I was just screwed.

“Yes…. Yes. Yes. I would. I would never be late. I would obey you and the house rules,” I rushed my words so that he would leave my jaws alone, because they were starting to hurt and my eyes were preparing to release tears.

“And for that dummy like yourself that you call a friend, I see yourself getting into a lot of trouble with him. Lots,” he emphasized with a threatening look.

With his last sentence, he let go of me in a very rough and harsh manner, and I crumbled to the ground immediately without control. My feets were trembling badly and I was struggling to breathe, while he just entered into his room and just shut the door so loudly.

I managed to pick myself up after a few minutes and made my way into the room, before I could finally cry so much till I was tired. I tried calling mum so many times to ask when she would be back, but she wasn’t even picking me up and it made me wonder if she had abandoned me.

It was so hard to understand why mum would be able to feel so comfortable else where, without talking to me for days now because of a new man. Though we didn’t have the very great mum-daughter relationship, because she was always meeting new people or traveling.

She was an art curator and graphics designer, which earned her good money. But she also had debts to pay from the college loans she signed up for during her college days, which was a major problem, while her dream as a fashion designer and cloth brand holder had to be put on hold.

It had been hard raising me because of so many challenges she had faced in the past, and I wouldn’t want to blame her for finally settling down for happiness. Maybe I was being too immature.

Regardless of what I was thinking, I just cried myself to sleep because I was fed up with everything, and woke up later than I usually do with swollen eyes. My eyes looked quite terrible in the mirror when I checked, and I almost screamed terrifyingly at the sight of my eye bags.

Quietly as I could, I went to the kitchen to get ice packs for my eyes, and ran back to the room as fast as I could to avoid being undetected. I spent minutes trying to make my eyes look okay from the swelling by putting ice packs on it, and tried to find something nice to wear at the same time.

After minutes of checking through, I picked a big trouser and long sweatshirt as usual, and a pair of sneakers to complete the matching combo. It was few minutes to school time already and I was still had home, as I tried to dry my voluminous amount of hair with hair dryer.

I gave up at last minute in frustration and rushed out of the room with my bag and wet hair, and then I remembered that I was hungry and had to eat. Knowing that trying to make breakfast made would waste time, I just decided to walk to the nearest cafe for breakfast without minding the fact that I was late.

It was quite the relief that Damien was no longer at home, and I just strode peacefully down the street.

The air in school felt quite different, and the school was unnecessarily rowdy with so many students loitering around, like they didn’t have any class that morning. There was quite an intense public display of affection from so many people everywhere, and it got me wondering if school was canceled for the day.

I walked to class to check if Mason was in class already, and he was not also there same as many others. There was quite a display of designed cut red papers, red balloons and beautiful prints which had the words ‘I LOVE YOU’ written on it.

It made me wonder what was happening, as I left the class almost immediately before someone would make fun of me, or do something crazy. I checked my bag to bring out my phone so I could call Mason, and I already had so many missed calls from him and mum already.

I had my phone activated to silence yesterday in anger, and had not even checked it this morning. I wanted to call mum back to know why she was calling, but I was too angry to call her back.

Instead, I tried calling Mason. Though I knew that Damien already hated Mason and that he hated seeing us together, I really couldn’t dish the one friendship I had because of someone who didn’t give a damn about me.

‘I just had to be careful. Since he was not in our class, all will be fine,’ I consoled myself hopefully and proceeded to find Mason. I sighted a couple kissing by the school hallway and I hid my face in embarrassment for them.

‘Were they not ashamed of doing that in public? Or was I the odd ball?’

“You look confused about everything going on here,” I heard the voice behind me, and I turned instantly.

“Morning Mason,” I greeted quite nervously, as I took a glance at the guy that was standing before me.

He was really good looking, and even his hairstyle was so good. His clothes fitted so well, and he wore a mind intoxicating cologne. It was still hard to comprehend how someone like him became my friend.

“How are you doing? You were quite late this morning, everything fine?” He asked.

“Woke up late, and came to school to see even a more unserious day……” I paused, “What is happening?” I spoke in gentle words, hoping that he would hear my voice that never had a constant pitch. It was always in highs and lows.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“It’s lovers day today, and the first period of class is canceled. Do you not know?” He asked in surprise, and I was even more astounded.

‘How did he get to know everything in less than 24 hours, when even I, who have been here for months now, hadn’t figured it all out?’

“I totally forgot,” I shook my head, “And also, you really blend in so well,” I complimented and he just chuckled.

“And surprisingly, I got gifts,” he informed me, and my eyes widened in surprise. It was really good to be so cool, and handsome too.

“You are really cool,” I managed to say, without messing up my excitement for him by saying rubbish.

“And, I got you something,” he smiled at me, and my eyes even widened more.

‘He got me a gift? Mason got me a gift? Is he kidding?’

And from his pocket he brought out a really cute bracelet, and handed it over to me. I didn’t have enough time to admire it in surprise of what to even utter, when Mason collected it from me and offered to put it around my right wrist.

“Oh my goodness, Mason. You really didn’t have to. I got nothing. I mean, thank you…. But I really cannot take it,” I uttered all sorts of rubbish almost at the same time, and I shook my head to blame my stupidity.

But I really felt good. He made me feel like a person that deserved something good too, and I didn’t even know how to react or thank him. He was being too kind, and I wanted to cry in happiness.

“You do not have to say anything, Dabby. I know you are trying to say a thank you. This is a thank you from me too, for being my first friend here,” he smiled, and my heart froze.

‘How could a really cool guy be a complete opposite of most of the cute guys around? How did he even become my friend?’

“Thank you so much, Mason. It is really beautiful,” I finally found my voice.

We both worked amongst the crowd of so many girls and boys doing their own business, and Mason passed a huge bar of chocolate to me. It looked like one of the gifs he received too.

Suddenly amongst the crowd, I heard someone call my name so angrily, and drag me by the hair. It was the same agonizing voice from my dreadful days, but she really sounded bitter this time rather than the usual taunting voice.

“You bitch! Damien broke up with me because of you. You dumb and stupid low-life fool,” she cussed at me, and I wondered what had gone wrong.

‘Wait a second. Damien broke up with her? Why do I feel good? Why? It was really good to see her terrified face of shame.’

However, I couldn’t say any words to her and ask about how that concerned me, as everyone just watched her rant. She had drawn quite an attention to us at the spot, and everyone was now watching to see what would happen. Even I, was scared.

‘What if she beats me mercilessly?’

“Say something you bloody fool! If it weren’t for yesterday, then I wouldn’t have to hear this shit today! Did you hypnotize him or what?!” She cussed angrily again, as she lunged towards me in a flash and dragged my hair.

It was quite tangled and I had not combed it for days except doing the hand untangling, which made me almost lose my mind to pain. Mason tried to grab her by the arm and yank her away from me immediately, but a loud voice was enough to stop me from losing half of my hair.

“Do you think she is actually the reason why we broke up?” I heard Damien’s voice, and I hated that moment immediately.

“Dam…ien,” she broke into weakness, as she tried to move closer to him, “Is this a prank or you are serious?” She asked sadly.

“I got a new person. The trends have to change,” he said nonchalantly, and the crowd booed. It was really humiliating for Madison, but he held her head high up and flashed an angry eye at him. Yet, he didn’t flinch.

“And who is she?!” Madison raged.

“Do you want me to bring her out in the crowd now, and kiss her?” Damien said with a smirk, as he gazed hard at me from where he was standing.

‘Wait? What was he trying to do here?’