My Stepbrother secret-possession

I Wanted You To Be Constant

FEBRUARY

"I still don't understand," Mum furrowed her eyebrows at someone I can call my best friend.

"Auntie Susan, I promise it will be decent," Evie assured my tenacious mother.

I wonder about the way she addresses my mom. Yes, me too! But I suppose she got used to it when Sawyer was here. Knowing Evie and her obsession with my tradition, I don't mind that she addresses my mum as her auntie.

"So there's a possibility it won't be decent," Mum said, hands on her hips, raising her eyes at both of us.

"Mum," I whined, "you have to trust me." I let out a heavy breath, and her eyes softened, as if it reminded her of how last year went. "Please," I begged.

"No drinking and whatever they do there," she warned us with a strict glare, pointing at me.

"You have my word, Auntie Susan. Your daughter is safe with me," Evie grinned, while I smiled.

Mom scoffed at my friend. "My dear, I meant both of you." She clarified, gesturing to the two of us with her fingers.

Restlessly, Evie smiled. "Believe me, I'm no trouble. I'm the least visible human in my school," she mumbled under her breath, intending not to let anyone hear her. But I did, and I chose to shelf it for later.

"Mom, you're running late. You have a life to save," I reminded her of the emergency call she received just three minutes ago.

"Yes, exactly. Please get home before 9."

"10?" I innocently batted my eyelashes at her. It's something that has never failed me for years when it comes to enticing or persuading my mum. She just can't refuse her baby looking at her so innocently.

"Alright, that's it. Not a second should be exceeded. I'll be back as soon as work allows me," she firmly announced, and we both nodded at her as she grabbed her handbag and suitcase before escaping through the door with a quick 'I love you.'

While waiting for our Uber, we used the last few seconds to take a final look at ourselves in a wall mirror.

Evie was warming up in a sweatshirt and oversized jeans, while I wore a black longline quilted jacket over my clay corduroy boilersuit and my new solid white Nike Air Force One shoes. I gathered my hair into a rough centre bun before we headed out of the house.

It's the first week of February, and the kids from school decided to have an actual bonfire on the last Friday before the fourteenth. Kieran Lorenzo, a basketball player, had arranged it, and the park manager agreed to let my schoolmates set fire under some adult supervision. Rumour has it that Brandon, the notorious criminal, will be the lookout. If so, I already feel sorry for the parents who entrusted their children under his protection, including my oblivious mum.

The funny part about the event location is that it's five minutes away from my mum's job. If only she knew.

"You're smartly dressed, but didn't you wear any mascara?" Sawyer asked from my mobile phone screen.

"I did," I lied.

"I might be five thousand miles away, but I'm not blind, Ava."

"I believe I look great. Can we stop talking about me?" I pleaded, with Evie next to me as we rode in the Uber to the bonfire location.

Sawyer rolled her eyes before heading into her toilet. "I hope those girls haven't been bullying you," Sawyer asked with a toothbrush in her mouth.

"It's not like they bully me," I embarrassingly muttered. "They just despise me."