MY STEPBROTHER IS MY MATE

Mum!! You can go live alone with your new ‘baby’ as I won't be going with you” I snapped and dropped the cup of tea in my hand on my table, air quoting the baby for emphasis. All I was hoping for was a quiet breakfast, but my mum won't let me have that. Talking about moving into her baby’s home. I hated the fact that she left dad and wouldn't even allow me to go see him whenever I wanted, and now she wants to bring another father into my life! “My Queen” she called and drew me closer to herself, her grip firm around my hands. My mum has always called me that since childhood, but she never treated me like one. I mean, shouldn't a queen be making decisions on her own? But my own title came without the luxury of choice. I couldn’t even decide on my own food! This Queen’s mother always decides for her like she owns her life. But on this, I won't allow her. “You will love him baby! I can't do anything that will hurt you, you know that” she said, her hands still caressing mine “ I am doing this for us, for you in particular”I chuckled, glanced at her and gently removed her hand from mine. “Doing this for me, Hun?” I asked, staring blankly at her “I am sick and tired of hearing those words. You said exactly the same thing when you changed my school and to think I am the one attending the school, you don't even know all I have to bear in that school, you don't even know if I am happy, and you sit here to tell me this is for my sake?!” “I thought we closed that chapter already?” She asked, staring at me like I was crazy “JOT is one of the best schools in town, if not the best. They have a daughter and son from LA’s most prestigious homes attending the same school as you” she replied without glancing at me. “What do you Care about? What about my happiness?” “What happiness are you talking about, for over a year now you have been attending the school and there is nothing wrong with you so tell me what more happiness do you want?” She answered this time, staring at me in the eyes. “Oh crap!! Well, I'm not surprised. You have always been a selfish type. All you care about is yourself. I hope your little baby knows that about you before it is too late for him” I said irritably. She slammed her hands on the table so hard I was scared the coffee pot would fall over. “Young woman!! I won't watch you talk to me or your step father like that. I have made my decision and that is final!!” She sneered and walked away. “Oh wow! That's so fast " I called after her "My step-father?!” I stuffed a slice of bread in my mouth and picked up my bag, could the day get any worse? I made the walk to school fuming and raging. I was tempted to snap out and skip school but I had a plan that couldn’t wait. I hummed the lyrics of my favorite song as I went, hoping to calm myself down. I got to school twenty minutes later, just in time for my first class. I was having an English literature class and it was one of my favorite classes. Two reasons, first being I got to see Jared. Second was because I indeed loved literature. Today was different, I was more interested in the class ending than in any other thing. I was going to express my feelings to Jared Chancelot. It was going to be tricky but I was going to do it. I was impatient for the class to end and so was my wolf. Rage was exactly what her name implied, bold, alluring and wild. “He is definitely looking at you.” She said and I fought the urge not to chuckle lest people look at me oddly. “You think? He doesn’t even know me” I responded, turning back to stare at him. He was engrossed in a conversation with Eve and I tried not to be jealous, it was not official that they were in any sort of relationship yet. Eve Lince was popular, unlike me. She had everything I had ever wanted. Popularity, beauty, a good relationship with her mum and a present Dad. I didn’t want to dwell on the fact that my concern was Jared. “Miss Jeremy. You are distracted” The teacher called my attention. “I’m sorry Mr Jeff.” I said quickly. “Better be Miss Jeremy.” He said and I squirmed in my seat. I was very sure my ear had gone pink, I hated attention of any kind. The class finished and Rage was back again. “Come now Mia. It’s about time you gave it to him. It’s a nice shirt he would like it” she urged me on. “Are you sure?” I asked. “Have I ever lied to you?” She asked me “Yes. All the time!” I said laughing. “He is different. I already told you I like his scent and most of the school doesn't know, but he’s also a wolf.” Rage said. “Stop saying that.” I told her. “Well, give it to him already!” I picked up my bag and headed to where he sat. “Hey Jared. Can I speak to you?” I asked, smiling awkwardly. “Ohhhhhhhhh.” His friends echoed and he turned his gaze on me looking me in my eye. I almost turned to a puddle of butter. “If you have anything to say to me, say it here.” He said and his friends all high-fived him. I watched as Eve moved closer to him. Wrapping her hands around his waist. “Well. I have a present to give you, I chose you for secret Val.” I said quickly and brought out the present from my bag. “Go girl.” Rage cheered me on. I gave it to him and he collected it and looked at the package keenly. “What is in there?” Eve asked me, daggers in her eyes. “He would see for himself.” I said coolly, still standing there. The class was now silent, it turned out they had been over hearing our conversation and we’re all curious for Jared’s response. “ ‘Miss Jeremy’. I can’t take this from you.” He placed emphasis on the miss Jeremy, just like the teacher had called me “We are told not to take things from strangers. You are a stranger so I can’t take it, so you may as well keep it for yourself or give it to charity” he handed it back to me. His friends cheered and blared as he stood up and passed me, so did the rest of the classroom. Anger tore through me and I resisted the urge to pounce on each and every one of them. The paper I had attached to the package fell on the ground and before I could reach it. Eve bent down and scooped it up. ‘I am your biggest admirer. Be my Val I’ll be your Val. Your biggest admirer’ Eve said out loud to the listening ears of the rest of the classroom. She threw the paper up followed by a heavy slap on my face. “Quit that stupid dream of yours!!!” “You pathetic low life!!”