Bully Stepbrother

1. Door

I've called more than five bicycle shops nearby, but the response was always the same: "Get a new bike," they said, as if it's given out for free.

It's not that I can't afford a new bike. In fact, besides my tuition fee and some extra money my parents usually add to my account for living expenses, I also have eighty-three thousand dollars saved up for the Range Rover my parents promised to get me as soon as I got my driving permit.

But knowing that even if I got a new bike, Caden would continue to destroy it, I would rather have my old one repaired.

Fortunately, I finally got through to a polite guy who took down my home address and offered to help later in the evening, as part of his off-site service.

I don't know how to feel because that means I won't be getting my textbooks today.

Great! Caden has succeeded in ruining my day, as usual. How sad.

I went back to the apartment and turned on the sixty-inch television after grabbing a bag of nacho cheese Doritos and a coffee mug.

The place is a moderately-sized room combined with a kitchen and dining table. It came furnished, so Mom didn't have to worry about getting new stuff for us.

In the living room area, the dark wooden floor is covered with a comfortable beige rug. There are two leather couches with cozy small multi-colored square pillows, a recliner, and a set of wooden coffee tables and end tables on each side of the couches. The television is mounted against the white wall above the fireplace. To the left, we have our bookshelf filled with books and some wall frames.

Behind the living area is the kitchen, where we have a side-by-side refrigerator and built-in appliances, including a dishwasher. Next to the worktop is a four-seat dining table.

The apartment is a portable two-bedroom, one-bathroom, and a laundry room building. Although Caden's bedroom is the biggest, mine has enough space too.

After flipping through different channels, I settled on watching "Friends." That show has always managed to make me smile after every fight and argument with Caden. I think that's what I need right now while I angrily stuff chips in my mouth.

I wanted to call Mom, but the family video call is scheduled for later in the evening, which means I have to wait for hours until Caden gets home.

Still, I feel restless about not having my things ready, so the comedy show didn't work out as well as it used to. What made me feel slightly better was cussing Caden out loud and hitting the couch repeatedly.

I didn't even care about making myself an elaborate meal. I just relied on the party-sized bag of Doritos and bottled water until evening.

That jerk stayed out for almost the entire day. It's already 5:47 pm, and there is no sign of him. I don't know where to direct my anger until an idea comes to mind.

I smiled just as wickedly as Caden would when my legs took me towards his bedroom. Bingo! His keys were attached to his door. That made it easier for me.

I entered his bedroom and locked the door behind me, leaving the keys in their place. This means he won't be able to use another key to enter. He won't have access to his belongings or a place to sleep. Even better, no room for him to bring unknown girls.

Feeling like Lord Baelish after successfully executing a plot, I walked over to the window.

This apartment is different from our house back in New York. Of course, it is. Our home is a single-family two-story building, while this is a tall five-story building, and we're located on the fourth floor.

But I'm skilled when it comes to situations like sneaking from window to window, so I'm confident it will be just like any other time. I just need to avoid looking down.

Taking deep breaths, I first slid my legs through the window before pushing my whole body off and relying on the thin bricks supporting my feet and fingers as I moved like a spider against the outside wall. I should be grateful for the days when I went camping after my dad ran away. I learned different things from hanging out with other kids.

I'm pretty sure no cops or residents have spotted me yet, because if I were caught in this situation, I'd end up in jail.

These are the kinds of things only Caden is capable of making me do.

Just when I thought I was almost there, I missed a step and almost lost my grip.

"Shitttt." I cursed as my right foot probably landed on an air conditioning unit.

"s**t, what the hell are you doing?" Someone's voice filled with panic called out.

Great! Now I'm caught. I'm going to jail.

"I'm trying to get through the window," I replied to the voice without attempting to locate its source.

"Are you sneaking into someone's apartment? I should call the police." So the suspicious person wasn't some heroic Superman; instead, he was just a jerk.

Irritatedly, I forced myself to look below. I saw a young guy with red hair peeping from the window on the third floor.

I didn't get a chance to scan his full features like I would if I weren't wall-walking, trying to save my life at the moment.

"That's my apartment, you idiot." I spat out.

"Your apartment? And you're climbing the wall to get in? Ever heard of the entrance door?" He sarcastically asked.

Huffing, I frowned. I'd rather the cops saw me than this ridiculous jerk of a person. "Either you shut up and mind your own business or—" Well, I stopped myself before uttering things I didn't mean, like asking for help from some, probably a dork who does nothing but provoke his neighbors through the window. I hope he can see how much I don't need his help. I've got this. I've done this before. All I need is for him to get out of my way.

I managed to retrace my steps and continued moving closer to my window.

"Do you need help?" His tone was cautious and concerned.

"No, I don't! Not from neighborhood gossips." I snapped at him as I grabbed my window frame and began pulling my body into my bedroom.

"Clearly, you don't." He amusingly rolled his eyes and disappeared into his lousy apartment, I guess.

How wonderful! We have another jerk in the building. Yay. Duh.

Anyway, I'm more excited about accomplishing my mission than worrying about some red-haired neighbor trying to ruin my triumph. I leaned against the wall and giggled as I imagined my stepbrother's face when he realizes he has no place to sleep tonight.

The sudden sound of the doorbell startled me, and I immediately got on my feet. Caden has the keys, so who could it possibly be? Unless he threw them for his own satisfaction.

I hadn't finished contemplating the possibility when I opened the door and found myself staring into a pair of brown eyes.

My eyebrows furrowed. "Excuse me?"

"I'm Jake, from the bicycle shop," he said with a cute, infectious smile.

Instantly, a smile formed on my face. "Oh, sorry, I was in the middle of something. Uhm..." I stumbled over my words.

He seemed a bit nervous, glancing down the hall and back at me. "I can come back tomorrow."

"No, I mean I was. You have no idea how much I need that bicycle before tomorrow," I shook my head while speaking.

"Okay, cool," he said, readjusting the backpack on his shoulder, clearly nervous.

"Thank you for coming. I'll show you the bicycle even though it's right there," I said and closed the door behind me before pointing to the wrecked thing beside him.

He stifled a laugh. "Alright, I think I'll take a look at it outside. Is that okay with you?" he asked.

"Yes, I'll help you with the broken saddle and handlebar," I offered, picking up the two sad parts that Caden had managed to ruin.

We took the elevator to the first floor and headed to a backyard, probably meant for the residents of my building to use. It was currently empty and had a peaceful atmosphere. I had a feeling this place and I would become good friends.

I've always enjoyed quiet places since I was young. It was my way of escaping the constant arguments of my parents. Then, my mom married Caden's dad, and I began to be bullied by Caden every day, so hiding became my thing.

Jake started unpacking his equipment, and I sat on a cement bench, taking in the calmness as I watched him do what he was best at.

It was getting dark when we decided that he would take my bicycle with him, and I could use his instead until tomorrow when he would have mine ready and working again.

I thought that would work, and even though I had the urge to scream out how much I hated Caden, I managed to smile and appear grateful. And I truly was grateful.

"Tomorrow evening then?" he asked after I informed him that I'd be at school until two in the afternoon.

"Yup, thank you once again," I smiled and entered the building, bringing Jake's brown Kona bike with me.

This time, I didn't leave the bicycle outside. I took it with me into the apartment. I couldn't let Caden wreck something that didn't belong to me.

As I turned the key until the door made a clicking sound, I stepped into the living room. Suddenly, it was as clear as day that I wasn't alone. And I was certain it was none other than Caden, for I spotted his backpack on the couch just as I heard a woman giggling from the one place where his escapades should never happen—my bedroom.

Oh, for heaven's sake!