My space
1436 Words
Adria untangled herself from her friends hurriedly and quickly ran to him. She opened the door and literally pushed him inside.
But his eyes had been fixed on the two beside her, especially the handsome boy who looked like a model standing at her left.
Rushing to her own side of the car, she screamed, “See y’all tomorrow!”
She got in, but before she could shut the door, she heard Tiffany say, “You said he was ugly!”
When the door was locked, she turned to look at him, wondering if he’d heard that.
His surprised face said he did.
“Why the hell are you here?” She scowled at him, her gaze hateful and furrowed with embarrassment.
“Your dad asked me to pick you up. Why? Are you embarrassed of me? Come on, I’m your stepbrother, and I think I’m quite appealing to the eye,” he said mockingly as he started the car, not failing to look at her face and body.
Her hair was surprisingly still intact.
His eyes fell on her clothes; was that how they dressed?
Why was her skirt so short? It revealed a good amount of skin.
“It’s not my fault that I feel like you’re an attention-seeking jerk,” she said as she sat back into her chair and folded her arms.
He smiled; none of her harsh words ever got to him, she realized.
She turned to look at the smirk on his face, then down at what he was wearing – a black leather jacket with a vest inside and jeans that she was sure were tight on his ass, making them sumptuous to look at.
Not for her, though, but for others who didn’t find him repulsive.
How was that not an attention-seeking outfit?
“Who was that beside you? You’ve got a boyfriend?” He asked suddenly in a deep, dark tone, looking at her expression through the mirror.
But he didn’t have to look; he could feel the irritation at his question.
“I didn’t know I had to give you details about my personal life, brother,” she snapped.
He smiled casually, returning his eyes to the road.
He didn’t know he could ever find his match – someone who could be constantly annoyed and unbearable like him.
That intrigued him.
“I was just asking. I mean, I don’t think anyone at your level can handle your attitude,” he said with a shrug.
She turned slowly to look at him; if she was glaring at him before, now she was looking at him like her eyes could kill.
“And whatever you mean by that? Who do you suggest can handle me, then?” She asked him, interested in whatever stupid answer he had to give.
“Someone way older, more mature. Someone like—”
“You?” She laughed. Hopefully, he didn’t mean to say that.
He smiled back, “Not exactly what I wanted to say, but I’m not so bad, am I?” Was it her, or had the smirk graduated to a seductive smile?
This guy enjoyed mind games.
She would play back, but she had to get over what was happening first.
She even wondered why he was still home. He had a place to stay; he didn’t stay with his mom before she got married.
Just like Aria, who was staying in her own apartment for school, he was made to come back home for a few weeks for the wedding.
She couldn’t wait to go back; him, on the other hand, seemed to be having fun.
So she shook her head and reached for the radio. It was playing a song by Lana Del Rey.
She smiled at her luck and leaned towards the window, allowing the cool breeze to blow through her hair.
He wanted to say more, but he left his words for later. Instead, he increased the volume.
*************************************
They pulled up at the parking lot, and Adria was the first to get out.
She didn’t even look back as she went straight to the house.
She could hear him chuckling as she reached the door.
She badly wanted to turn and give him a piece of her mind, but she could hear her dad’s voice in the living room, with her stepmother.
“Hey, Dad, hey Claire,” she said to them, walking past them to head for the stairs, for her room.
“Not so fast,” Collins called behind her, making her stop in her tracks.
She turned her head. “Do you want something, Dad?” She asked with the fakest smile she could muster.
She heard Nathan come in behind her.
“Come, sit with us,” he said softly.
She knew what he was trying to do – he wanted her to loosen up to the family – but he didn’t understand, did he?
What she needed was time. Anything other than that now would seem forceful.
What’s worse was that she could see Claire was a good person, so she knew her facade wouldn’t last long.
She would melt towards this sweet woman.
“I’d rather not. I want to rest. I was up too early,” she lied. She just wanted to run in and sleep.
She heard her stepbrother cough in response. She turned and glared at him; he raised his hands in surrender.
“Just for a moment, I want to talk to you,” her father said.
She could see Claire’s hopeful face; she knew she would feel bad if she destroyed that woman’s hope.
She nodded as she retreated, coming to sit on the couch across from them.
Nathan wanted to leave when he heard his mother say, “You too, come sit.”
She gestured at the space next to Adria.
Aria looked at the woman narrowly, wondering why she was telling her son to sit next to her.
He nearly objected, but one warning glare from his mom and he walked up to the couch, sitting close—too close—to Adria, as if there was no space.
The slight smile on his face made it obvious that it was intentional.
Both parents looked at each other, a silent conversation going on about who should go first. Collins cleared his throat. "We need to improve the relationship between us," he began.
Nathan was pleasantly surprised. "If we're talking family, why is Lily not included?" he asked, obviously growing uncomfortable.
"Because Lily gets along with everyone just fine. You and your stepsister, on the other hand..." she trailed off, rubbing her head as if taming a growing headache.
"All you do is bicker and fight!" She said with an unsatisfied tone.
"Well, that's because all he wants to do is provoke me," Aria muttered softly.
"Really now? You don't want anyone in your space!" He retorted.
"Exactly! My space, Nathan. MY SPACE," she stressed the last part.
"You—" He wanted to say, but was cut off by his mom.
"Nathan!" She yelled, "Are you not old enough to understand that the person who would be affected the most by this is her?" Her voice softened.
He didn't say a word; he just looked ahead. Adria bent her head, looking down with guilt.
That was the reason she knew she wouldn't be able to push Claire away for long.
The woman was just nice.
"And you, Adria," the father finally spoke. "I know it's hard; it's an adjustment for all of us.
So I want all of us to make efforts to make this work. How about that?" He spoke softly.
She realized that, no matter how angry she became about this matter, her dad always tried to talk to her calmly.
So she gave him a slight smile and a nod.
Everyone turned to look at Nathan for a response.
"Why? I didn't have a problem with that. Let's get along, family," he said with a bright smile—too bright.
"Great," Claire clapped her hands together gingerly. She looked so happy.
They both stood up to leave for their rooms, but the father called out.
"Both of you can only leave for your apartments when we notice that you two get along. For now, get comfortable, buddies."
Adria and Nathan turned to look at each other.
His mother's voice came after, "And there will be a family movie night today. So come down for dinner early." Her voice was joyful.
Adria thought it was time to run into their rooms before their parents dropped another bomb.
- Writer
