His and Only His (mature +18)

Ch 5: Something Different

The late lunch had been the epitome of fun and nothing short of delicious. Heather admitted she had never eaten such a tasty pizza, while Mary complimented the juice's richness. Jeremy, on the other hand, had been pleasantly surprised when Lucas didn't take them to a fancier place. He had expected something different from a millionaire; something more sophisticated, more luxurious, with a bigger celebrity-like feel to it even. But then again, he was Jennifer's brother, and she was no showoff.

“Oh damn,” said light-brown-eyed brunette groaned, “I ate too much.” She patted her belly while worrying her lower lip a little bit.

“3 slices of pizza and a coke is hardly too much,” Lucas observed calmly, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. He hoped she wasn't on a meaningless diet. She didn't have any extra weight to lose, and he certainly didn't want to lecture her about food.

“Well, I, for your info, don't have the metabolism of a horse,” she stuck her tongue out at him so the taunt would be well-received.

She wasn't disappointed for he chuckled.

“Yeah, you eat like a bird,” Tyler teased, his dark brown eyes twinkling. “You should really learn to just enjoy your food.”

“Cut the crap, big boy. You pay more attention to your food than anyone of us here,” Heather poked him in the ribs two or three times as she said that, and was happy to hear him laugh wholeheartedly at her comeback.

He patted his well-built midriff proudly before explaining, “Well, I gotta keep them abs, girl.” A chorus of laughs followed. Tyler had actually adopted for that sentence a gangster's drawl which didn't match his joyful expression at all.

“So, are you too full for your dessert, sweets?” Lucas' right eyebrow was raised in question. He was worried she might say yes, and thus confirm his suspicions regarding the diet issue.

He needn't have worried as the excited and vehement "No" came all too quickly from Jennifer.

“One of these days, you'll ruin those teeth, I'm telling you,” only Heather could make a serious advice sound so light. Her friend just waved it off carelessly.

“Let's go somewhere else then,” Lucas said as he stood by the table, for he had risen to his feet the moment his stepsister had let out her answer. The business man within him, who obeyed no one and waited for no one, cared only about taking action. Once something was decided, it was to be carried out, no questions asked, no delay.

That was simply the kind of man he was, even before starting his own business. Jennifer both loved and hated that about him. It made him really caring, but he sometimes bordered on the overbearing. She asked why they had to change locations when the Italian fast-food offered desserts, to which Lucas deadpanned “Because there's better”.

Of course, she inwardly smirked. There was nothing he wouldn't do as long as he could afford it. He didn't care about people's opinions regarding him and his sometimes unusual ways. No matter if they frowned or laughed, he couldn't be bothered. The need to fit in was not something he believed in all that much. It was quite the opposite actually: he encouraged Jennifer to be different, to have her own opinions, and to make her own path.

“Life is difficult enough as it is without having to meet other people's expectations. Make your own decisions, make your own mistakes, and just embrace who you are.” He had told her seriously, and yet affectionately at the same time, over five years ago. She had come to him on the verge of tears because some of her classmates had claimed her drawings could not be her own. Ever since receiving his life advice, her passion for art had doubled.

Looking back, there was never a time when she had considered him her brother. He had been the confident, the best friend, the tutor, the play mate, and then the first crush and the first love… but never the brother, or stepbrother for that matter. The strong feelings she held for him were like nothing she had ever experienced in her young life. And yet, they had to be buried. The thought alone hurt to the point where she sometimes thought she would suffocate but it had to be done.

She was convinced her growing feelings for Jeremy only needed to develop a bit more before it became easier on her.

The return to Westchester had been in a comfortable silence for the most part.

It was too much of a short ride to allow the contented friends time for big discussions. They had joked around a little bit and then fell into silence. Lucas had offered to drop his stepsister and her two girl friends home, but she refused categorically, saying she didn't wish to change their little trip's plans for him, and that since he had work the following day anyways, he'd probably be better off staying at his place in Manhattan. The determination in her eyes let him know she wasn't going to give in, and he didn't insist.

That night, Jennifer enjoyed the best sleep she had had in weeks. Despite Lucas’ unexpected presence, and the tumultuous feelings that came with that, she had enjoyed herself greatly. Since she had been able to keep her emotions somewhat in check and had somehow acted normal, her anxiety regarding her just-beginning relationship with Jeremy had diminished. She was thus feeling lighter, and even more confident about her Lucas-free love life.

On Monday, as per usual, Jeremy came to pick her up. They talked about going to a place that had opened recently and in which there was supposedly good food, good music and a little bit of karaoke fun towards 11 p.m. The table reservation Jeremy had managed to get, through one of his father's friends, was for Wednesday.

Out of the five friends, Mary had been the most interested in going. Her love for music knew no bounds. Jennifer had, therefore, been asked to make Lucas figure something out to get them a reservation there, but she had totally forgotten when she had seen him last weekend. Sweet, thoughtful Jeremy had heard the poor girl whining about Cobra – which was the famous place's name – and had not thought twice about trying to get them in.

Upon exiting the car, the young lovebirds started the day with joined hands. They met a few of their classmates who congratulated them on finally getting together. Some claimed they had seen it coming while others just said they made a cute couple.

“So cliché,” they had both laughed when finally alone.

Coincidently, their lockers were in the same compartment and thus they only parted, on a kiss, when the first bell rang. The day dragged on uneventfully and so did the next day, and the day after that… until it was time to go home, that is.

Wednesday had started just the same as any of the precedent days. It had however taken one hell of an unexpected turn towards the end. Indeed, upon finally walking out of Montana High, with her friends and boyfriend, the most surprising sight greeted Jennifer.

The sleek, all-black Mercedes that was parked in front of her was one she only knew too well. The guy leaning against it was one she only fantasized about too often. And the stormy-gray stare finding her eyes was one she dreamed about more than she cared to admit.

Numerous eyes were on him but no one dared approach the darkly handsome man. People only whispered, while a few admiring hushed giggles were heard from all around.

“Looks like Lucas came to pick you up,” Tyler observed in a light tone, trying to fill the silence that had fell since Jennifer had stopped talking mid-sentence when her gaze had settled on her oh-so-seductive stepbrother.

“Looks that way,” she muttered while heading Lucas’ way, still accompanied by her friends. The whispers doubled before dimming out, in compliance with the crowd's unanimous desire to hear the upcoming exchange.

Jennifer stopped in front of him and refused to speak, settling for a raised eyebrow and a narrowed stare. To her utter and complete annoyance, he paid it no mind. As soon as he exchanged greetings with her friends, his gaze followed the arm that disappeared behind her waist, and settled on the hand that hugged her side briefly, before looking up into Jeremy's face, “Kindly remove your arm from around Jennifer.”

It had been years literally since he had last called her by her name, and that had to be the most unsettling thing of the whole situation.

Jeremy was taken aback by the cold look he received and obeyed without delay. “Sure,” the boy mumbled awkwardly while obliging. He put a little bit of distance between him and his girlfriend, and that only made her annoyance rise higher, “I'll see you later, I guess, Jen.”

“Yeah, see you at 6,” she gave him a weak smile while inwardly questioning Lucas’ strange reaction. She no longer cared to know the reason why he had showed up at her high school, although he had stopped doing that the last few years, all that mattered right then was his odd behavior.

Had something happened? Why was he in such a foul mood?

She mechanically waved her friends off, even exchanged almost unconsciously a pleasantry or two with them before they were gone, and was soon enough left with her disturbingly brooding stepbrother.

He headed for his door while letting out a rather clipped “Get in”, efficiently making her even more perplexed.

After a minute or so of silent driving, she snapped out of her daze and all but exploded at him, “What the hell was that about?”

“What were you thinking flirting with that boy?” He deadpanned, remaining focused on the road but obviously listening.

She couldn't believe what she was hearing, and she openly made it known. “What is it to you what I do with Jeremy?”

His hold on the wheel got tighter at that, so much that his knuckles went white. “Just answer the damn question!” Had she not known him, she would have been scared. He would never hurt her though, and that was something she was sure of.

“He's a sweet and caring guy. I like him,” she let out after a while, shrugging as if that should explain it all.

“Do you now?” His tone was sarcasm impersonated, and she felt even more annoyed with his standoffish ways.

Not knowing how to react, she stubbornly kept on looking out of the window, watching the road until the car pulled over some two minutes later. They were still not at the house though. They were in fact on the highway; on the sideline, true, but on the highway nonetheless.

“What?” Her annoyed drawl made his jaw clench tighter if that was even possible.

“I remember you claiming to love me on your 15th birthday.”

He said it so simply, she was left speechless. After vowing to forget it ever happened, and keeping quiet about it for almost three years, there he was, bringing it up out of the blue, and in such a painfully flat tone no less. Had he been talking about the weather, his tone wouldn't have changed one iota.

“I was just a child,” she gritted on her teeth, quoting him from back then, and opening some old wounds in the process, “I knew nothing about love.” She turned to defiantly look him in the eye towards the end of her bitter-flavored, bitter-toned reminder.

“And you think you do now?” He chuckled darkly, eyes narrowed.

“That's something I'll have to find out with Jeremy, won't I?” Her annoyance was quite obvious despite the sweet tone used to argue back.

“Like hell you will,” he bit out before swiftly unbuckling himself and reaching for her. He held her cheek before crushing her soft inviting lips under his. Her eyes widened and she was able to do nothing but gasp, granting him access to her mouth.

She fell victim to his experienced kiss, her eyes closing in surrender, while he very much enjoyed staking a claim on her wet cavern. Desire clouded her senses, and made her forget everything about the world she knew, except for the man kissing her of course.

She pushed him after a moment, having somewhat come to her senses when she had moaned his name in delight.

“What do you think you're doing?” She punctuated her angry hiss with a slap to his cheek, her eyes showing her confusion.

“Don't pretend you didn't enjoy it,” he retorted, while calmly settling back into his seat, the slap seemingly forgotten the moment it occurred.

“Don't toy with me, Lucas.”

“Wouldn't even dream of it, sweets,” he put the seatbelt back on and started the engine, his eyes never leaving her lovely face.

“You wanted to be nothing but my brother,” she pointed an accusing finger his way, “freaking act like it... the way you did all these years!”

She was deeply troubled. He was annoyingly calm. That had to be what unnerved her even more. His thoughts weren't in disarray, his eyes didn't show any distress, his emotions were firmly held within, and she felt like she was the only one fighting to remain sane after what had transpired.

“I wanted you to grow up and have a taste of life before falling into a relationship with me, but I'll be damned if I have to sit back and watch you getting all cozy with some stupid British pretty boy.”

It took time for his flat response to sink in, but when it did, her reaction was not the prettiest one, for after the understandable surprise and puzzlement, the silly hope and happiness, came the justified anger and outrage. “How hypocrite can you be? You rejected me on my 15 birthday and now you don't want me to move on?”

“Move on, huh?” He chuckled humorlessly while driving his way towards the house they both called home. “You just want to be with him because he's the complete opposite of me.”

“The world doesn't revolve around you, Lucas,” she spat out, angry with him because he had, if she were to be honest, hit the nail on the head. She was, however, deluding herself into believing her anger was the result of something else – of his drawing a nonexistent connection between Jeremy and himself to be more specific.

“Although that may be true, sweets, I'm gonna make sure your world does,” his heated stare surprised her, made her doubt everything she knew to be true, made her doubt her step-brother ever rejecting her even. “Again,” he finished with a mischievous wink and a smug smirk.

Because yes, a few years back, her world did revolve around him.

To say she was stunned by what he'd just said and done would be the understatement of the year. This was not how she had imagined her Wednesday that morning. This was something different, and entirely overwhelming. Though, truth be told, she wasn't sure she hated it really.