My Stepbrother: Secret Obsession

A dog with two d***s

AVA 

The indie, or is it a pop song? I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor by Arctic Monkeys was loudly playing through four speakers from my bedroom while I shower. The plan is to block any chance of disturbance and bad energy that might seek my path. 

As the rainfall shower brings its warm grace against my skin, it washes down the negative energy and rancor I felt for hours and replaced them with my daily synthetic enthusiasm.

I rinsed my hair with my favorite shampoo, grabbed two white towels, which I use to wrap around my hair, and the other to cover my naked body before emerging from the steaming toilet, singing the lines from the song. 

"And your shoulders are frozen (cold as the night)

Oh, but you're an explosion (you're dynamite)

Your name isn't Rio, but I don't care for sand

And lighting the fuse might result in a bang, b-b-bang-oh"

In my bedroom, I found the temperature unendurable for my exposed body. 

Shivering, I sprint to the nightstand for the air conditioning controller, but I couldn't find it. 

Bloody hell. 

My fingers slam the pause bottom on the home pod. And in a heartfelt manner, I plead with the not-so-naff device for warmth, and it granted me. 

How I wish my world works in that technique, by just demanding what you need to a device and get it in an instant. 

Relieved, I slump onto my scrambled bed, asking the device to unpaused the music, when my eyes flash my hand. Panic was an understatement.

Right there, I could see those visible tiny human hair that wasn't planted but manages to grow like weeds. 

It roused flashes of memories from my shocking afternoon.

Those slim legs, smooth bikini bodies girls, one of which is named Claire and is dating my ex-boyfriend.

I don't blame her, he is a wanker. Only I have bad news for her. Once a traitor, forever a traitor. 

His heart is wired with two sockets, which means, when he claims to be in love with you, he's probably thinking of Hailey. 

Rolling my eyes, I suppressed a groan.

The thing is, I need to shave. But the problem is, I don't have a shaver or any option. 

Mom did the packing, and that kitty woman who's floating on cloud nine had claimed all this would turn into a fabulous summer. 

From how it's headed, it seems like she's right since, of course, she wouldn't imagine what it feels like to be my age and have hairy legs around French Gigi Hadids. 

Realizing I have to leave eventually for dinner,  and I was ending up in a pajama instead of the sexy off-the-shoulder dress I had planned. I angrily jumped, stomping, screaming my irritation into the loud music. 

My indoor tantrum worked a little as it had helped me every day.

With that, I gave in and took the only offer universe had provided. 

Glad to know, not only humans are corrupted. It looks to me even mother earth is committed. As I can tell, she sure reaps bribes from those she wishes and grants her preferred barbies a dollhouse. 

In another tragic appearance, this time striped blue cotton loungewear, a funny slipper, and my phone, I head to the ground floor.

I could hear lots of chats and waves of laughter coming from the dining area. 

Okay, this is how it will go. 

I swipe the screen of my mobile phone, scroll to t****k, and tap with my finger.

I put on my most appreciative smiles and went live with my seven hundred and fifty thousand followers.

Of course, I know. Achievements, people will kill for. 

When you live where I live and have all that I do, I guess you wouldn't even know how the followers keep finding you. 

"Hello, mates. I feel so bad for not posting anything for two days straight. I will be honest, some crises arise. I have to spend the summer far from the city. You know I have a lot of things in mind, shopping for starters. I need perfect bikinis, a spa, and parties. So if anyone of you has suggestions in mind, now is the time."

As I follow the path to the dining room, my eyes fell on two fan messages. 

One asked if I was in the mountain house.

"Frankspace0765, yes, the mountain house it is." 

Two suggested a bikini brand.

"Antoniajefferies, I will make sure to check on that,"  I answered. 

"Here is my family, getting ready for dinner," I tell the screen and swipe to the back camera when I finally reached my destination. 

"Hello, Ava's people..." Christian nervously grins at my phone. 

Mom was settled by the opposite side of the table, shooting me a disappointing face. 

I can live with that.

Yes, she knows I was using my followers to survive through the time for what I've done yesterday. 

Around the table is Julian, smiling broadly at me. Leigh looking dashing from across the table, completely ignoring my presence as he focuses on his phone. Unbelievable, since he has Miss Universe sitting next to him, displaying her paperwhite teeth at Lilith.

"Mom, say hello to everyone!" I taunt the woman.

Glaring at me, she decided to be reasonable, knowing I have a whole troop inside that tiny little device. 

"Hi everyone, I hope you're all enjoying the holiday." She sweetly said, in that polite manner, that I had shelved mine since last year.

"Mom and Christian made this delicious dinner. It looks good already, my hundred and five percent hunger needs to devour it right now.” I tell in my live video while showing them the view of a quite organized table, filled with various dishes of food that smells a little bit of heaven.

"Honey, actually we didn't. Claire and Leigh decided to bring home their recipes." 

Excuse me? She said what? 

For a moment my walls fell and my true expression prominently displayed.

"I taught Leigh many of my cooking steps through the year, turns out he is a great student, he picked up so well. Now you can call him an official chef." Said the arsemonger sitting beside him.

Great student, my foot. What else did he submissively give into? 

My eyes drop to where their shoulders meet. 

Their shoulders were touching at the dining table. 

Shameless people. 

It seems he has a hard time looking up. But of course, he should. Wasn't that the person who promised me loyalty? 

"You okay?" Lilith pat my butt playfully.

It snaps me out of my jealousy-struck. 

I didn't even nod. I endeavor to say my good night to the live video and call it a day, little did I know hell wasn't done with me.

My comments are all about Claire Middleton.

Comment one: he finally brought her home.

Who's he? 

Comment two: she's so pretty and reserve, she fits so well into the Boyce family. 

I don't get it. I need an explanation, any sign. And for the first time in my life, I got a sign.

Comment three says: Leigh couldn't help bringing her home after that live video they did. 

Okay, that was enough evidence, I need.

Still standing, I suspend the live video. 

Without thinking, I break my constitutions by login into i********: and typing into the search bar.

Leigh Boyce. 

Hundreds of Leigh Boyce appear.

I tap on the verified account. 

Profile picture; he was proudly rocking a number seven Princeton football uniform and shiny helmet, holding a pigskin by the end zone of the field. 

He was a quarter away from a million followers, even more, famous than a lot of professional players. 

Following a hundred and sixty-two people only, exclude me. 

Athletic. 

His bio was some quote ‘I've learned that defeat isn't the end, and persistence doesn't always steer you to goal. But I hold on to hope.’

I scroll down his profile, my heart jerking like an almost expired machine in my ribcage.

So far so good. From what I see are his teammates, matches, himself, football news. 

Until a post from what seems like three months ago, pop up.

Fancy restaurants, fancy dresses, neat fancy suits, and cups of champagne. 

Claire was in the picture along with some polish people. More precisely, she was looping his middle section and he even seem to be enjoying it.

What a wonderful time he seems to have. He must have moved on and left me dwelling in mental grief. 

How great.

"Cute PJ." Claire smiled from across the table. 

Expressing a smile that was in no way close to my heart, I retorted: "It's natural."

Half of the people on the table almost choke. 

It made Claire uncomfortable, but it was the point. 

Her, been tensed up around me, somehow manage to recover some certain authority I thought I lost.

However, the slag regains her complexion so quickly. "Where have you been? We've been expecting you, but you never show at the backyard." She plays the nice girl card, making me look like the villain. 

Good for me I don't have a weakness. There is no way she can get to me. 

Lilith glance at me, then starts: "Ava, sometimes struggles with insecurities." 

Wow! 

"Hey, check out your phone selfie." I simply asked Lilith. 

"Why?" 

"Please do." I implored politely. 

With a suspicious expression, she picked her phone and swipe to the camera application. 

Her reflection pops up on the screen.

"What do you see?" I asked my stepsister. 

"Me?" She shook her head, confusedly, her lip curl up with distaste. Annoyed, I was been irrational and out of point. 

But I wasn't. 

"Be more sincere. Isn't it a slut?" I blow her a kiss. 

"Ava!" Mom warned, flashing Christian an apologetic glance. 

"What? Can we start eating?" I asked nonchalantly. 

When the dining room becomes quiet for a while, Leigh's one and only went and open her mouth. "Ava, I'm so sorry." She appeared worried, but the significance of her words was nothing like that. "I have no intention to make you feel that way."

Let me make it clear to this b***h. 

"Insecure? Oh please! Artificial isn't among my list" I stared brazenly into her eyes. 

Whoever she thinks she might be, no one belittles me in this city. 

"Blonde looks good on you." She points, hinting. 

Alright b***h!  

Either way, nothing makes me weak anymore, not her little blow. So I grinned.  

Christain from the other side of the table tries to bring up a conversation with the boys while Lilith hissed at me. “What is wrong with you?"

"Let's say I like to jump down hater’s throats." I shrugged and heightened the volume of my voice when I continue. "I am an influencer, not some phony individual who tries so had to leave behind who they are." That was meant to someone on this table and from their reaction, I am sure they got the message, loud and clear. 

"Influencer? or do you mean a nincompoop dancer who makes a total i***t of herself in front of the camera?" 

I only intend to have two people here as my target, but my dear stepsister had to go and make herself another enemy. 

"Are we talking about your life experience here? If that's the case, then I know exactly where you fit in... You wanna know?" I scrunch my face at her, our eyes locked in a shared understanding. 

Her eyes darken, she fumed beside me.  

"You are a b***h you know?"

"Why so sensitive? I didn't say anything to her." I turn to mom and Christian with a blank expression. "Did I Leigh? dude, did I say anything that's not true?" I taunted purposely.

He ignored and avoided my gaze.  

Traitor. 

'I love you' he said. 'Don't leave me’ he said. 'I can't live without'  he said. 'Don't end us' the wanker f*****g said.

And here we are.

"Ava?" 

"What mom?" I pout at the woman who's wearing a disappointing expression. "She's rotten in dip scum. Where her mind is going is really dark. She's having problems. People will think of her like a maniac, which I don't wish on anyone. Let alone my sister." I feign a frown.  

 "Go to your room, now!" Mom sternly instructed when the dinner hasn't even started yet. And I so badly want to throw up and call the dinner over as soon as everyone begins to enjoying the shitty food made by Romeo and Juliet.

"But I am so hungry, and I so badly want to eat from what the official chef made here... Made with varied potions just like in fairytales." I smiled at the two nutters opposite me.  "Aren't you living one Leigh?" I kept taunting. But the puppet that he is, remains calm and relaxed just to prove a point to his father. 

Good boy s**t!    

"Just do precisely as I say." Mom pressured, her face shows intolerance. 

But my bad, she brought me here. If only she didn't, I might still be the Ava she used to know. 

Holding mom's impatient glare, I heard his confused voice called my name. 

I risk a peek as his eyes flicker past mine. 

Coward.

"She has been a b***h for a year now! You missed the transition." Lilith answers her brother while I intentionally shove the chair to the extent it could have broken if it wasn't made with exorbitant steel that talks quality and fortune.

I should grab something in the fridge... Ice cream even. But I am too angry to chew.

Mom used to say 'Pain sucks but you have to go through it so survive. When you deny yourself to feel the inevitable emotion and reserve it for another day, remember it stays there hanging, still waiting for you, without fading.' 

Sometimes it left me wondering, maybe if I accept my pain and live it, I might be able to get over it.

In my room, I made the stupidest and childish decision.

I texted Lucas Nelson before falling asleep.

Or quite honestly, before crying myself to sleep.

***

In the morning I took a quick shower, excited for today.

As a routine, I put on my workout bra, leggings, and pull my hair into a ponytail, remaining make-up-free for the morning, then aim for the gym.  

It was seven, the suitable time I've marked for my morning workout.

New huh? Ever since last year, I've given my life to what's not necessarily, society. 

I thought maybe being devoted to something else could take away the pain. I can't tell it worked, but I know anytime I hit the boxing bag or ran an hour on the treadmill, I remember reaching an edge I can't reverse, a place where I stood barely dressed, watching my life fall apart.

So now I punch! With everything in me, I punch again.

I rose the buried anger and let it flow through my veins just as the sour taste of jealousy spread down my throat.

I hit the punching bag with my leg.

Claire- punch. Lilith- punch. Mom and Christian- punch. Las Vegas- punch. Pain- punch. Growing up- Punch. Life- punch. Expectations- punch. Lies- punch. Leigh Boyce- leg. And repeat.  

"That's quite intense. Without pads, you're going to hurt your knuckles and knees." A voice came up from behind me. 

I know exactly who it is, so I didn't care to spare a peek. 

"It could be worth it." Hitting your stupid gorgeous face.

I didn't stop, I kept on.

Claire- punch. Lilith- punch. Mom and Christian- punch. Las Vegas- punch. Pain- punch. Growing up- Punch. Life- punch. Expectations- punch. Lies- punch. Leigh Boyce- leg. And repeat.

While through the next round, I was pull from the boxing bag.

I retaliated, pushing his hard chest, he stumble but regain balance, then grab my both bare arms in his hands, immediately preventing me from moving or operating anymore.

I shudder in his hold, having all logical thoughts escaped my memory. Leaving me in the essence, and depth of his scent, that spurts and spread at every angle, biting every organ in me. 

He has this stirred remarkable smell that is of wild, musk, and man. There was mint, spice, and trouble, packed in all one resounding smell that was so appealing, could get one's hormones to ignite in the opposite direction. 

Sharply staring into his greedy eyes, chestnut hair falling into them. They were the hue of spring tricks that lingered to blend the wilderness in summer. They were luring, brightened with the clue of strength. I watch how they squint at the sun from the glass walls and twinkle like he was made of diamond.  

His hold loosens, but he didn't release me. 

There was a sensation, very had to demonstrate as his fingers began caressing my bare arms. All my nerves concentrated there. I felt the electricity, warmth, and life to every movement of his touch. 

Through my trance, he leans in, bringing his warm and soft lips to my forehead. 

That instantly immobilized me. 

"What happened to you?" He asked, his lips kissing my forehead again. 

I swallow, eyes closed to the softness and life in his proximity, and open my mouth, but no words were coming out.

What really happened? 

It is then I realized I didn't even know. 

"Leigh, don't forget you're going to show me the city today, workout will slow us down." A voice came up, a voice that recognizes that flawless human, dating my stepbrother. And footsteps approaching.

I cast a skeptical eye at him whilst his, blinked as they adjusted. Then he finally releases me and stepped back. 

"At least I am not a dog with two dicks." I exhaled and turn back to the boxing bag.   

Claire- punch. Lilith- punch. Mom and Christian- punch. Las Vegas- punch. Pain- punch. Growing up- Punch. Life- punch. Expectations- punch. Lies- punch. Leigh Boyce- leg. And repeat until he finally exits the gym after hesitation.