My Stepbrother secret obsession

I fake a smile

The final bell rang, signalling the beginning of senior year summer break.

Just like every other student in the hallway, I excitedly exit the school building with my backpack hanging over my shoulder. By my sides are my two mates Evie and Tori, twinning the same cheetah tee shirt; we make our way to the car park and climb into my magnolia Bentley Bentayga.

Yes, I've gotten my driver's license and my very own vehicle. The luxurious car was my sixteen birthday present which I wasn't so excited about given the time and circumstance, but all I did was fake a smile and say 'thank you,' and no one noticed I was struggling with pain inside.

"Why isn't the air conditioner functioning?" Evie complains and proceeds to poke every operating button with her finger.

I yank her hand off the control panel and assure her: "Calm down, don't break my car, just give it some time; it would cool."

Evie groans and droops back into the passenger seat before letting out: "I swear Las Vegas can be brutally hot. I need a vacation, or I might turn into a roasted fish just when I thought this year would be fair."

"I'm gonna stop you right there." From the backseat, Tori said. "I can not visualise that. All I see is us with olive skins and a healthy lifestyle as soon school resumes."

I hold up my palm for a high five, and she reciprocates while I praise her: "I like the way you think."

Victoria had joined hills high on the first day of junior year; she's from Florida. The kind everyone wants to hang around, she's fun but flawed at the same time. On the other hand, she's one of my best flyers. Did I mention I'm presently the cheer captain of cheetahs? Well, I am thanks to Sofia Halt who has graduated last year.

Anyway, back to Tori; We call her Tori because it's better that way. Tori is pretty and slender, though a little shorter than I am; we have almost the same hair colour and food interest. Even more interesting, we live on the same street, so we found ourselves bonding easily.

"I don't get it. You guys really aren't feeling the heat?" Evie confusedly turns back, shifting her eyes between Tori and me.

I have to admit the weather isn't at all friendly. I can't even imagine what it will feel like in the near future.

But I playfully shook my head while Tori said: "Nah, Evie, we're supposed to feel like ice inside and volcano on the outside, didn't you hear Lucas Nelson? He says the temperature increases whenever we walk into the homeroom. So the weather shouldn't have an impact on us."

"That idiot would say anything to get to Ava." Evie rolls her eyes and uses her phone case to fan herself.

"Apparently, all Summerlin boys would, but unfortunately, I don't do toads," I smirk, pulling out of the school.

It's the last day of school, that means there's too much to do for the holiday. Yes, Lilith just graduated high school, but that's not it. I am officially a senior. I can either live the life every teenager would kill for or go back to that unsophisticated child I used to be.

"We should stop by creamery and grab something cold," Tori suggests.

"By something, do you mean ice cream?" I winked at her through the rare mirror.

"You know me." She trills.

Driving downtown after school closes to grab some ice cream has become our routine for almost a year, so I am quick to point out an excuse before one of the girls could. "That means I am not driving; anyone among you shall do that while I enjoy the company of my ice cream since I won't be having it for some weeks."