Stepbrother

Chapter 6

I panted as I jumped off my skateboard. Jeremy was standing behind the building, sweating slightly. He waved slightly and tossed his bike over. I threw my skateboard down and wiped sweat from my head.

Then I noticed someone standing behind Jeremy. Jeremy turned and looked at him. "This is Neil."

"Hi," Neil said, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"And Neil, this is Lendzie," Jeremy said.

"Hi," I said. Neil smiled awkwardly. He's kinda cute... No Lendzie, shut up.

Jeremy sat down and pulled out his phone, which was vibrating rapidly. I sat down at a safe distance from them both.

"I can't stay long.. I just um, wanted to meet you," Neil said, squatting down and staring at the ground. I nodded slightly.

"You guys are so awkward," Jeremy mumbled, staring at his phone. Neither of us replied.

"I need to go before my parents notice.. um, I'll see you guys," Neil said. "Bye Lendzie," he said, looking away as he picked up his bike. He took off before I could reply.

"He likes you," Jeremy said, looking at me. I shook my head.

"No, he doesn't."

"Yeah, he does," Jeremy smiled. I rolled my eyes and shook my head, grabbing my phone and looking down to see who was calling.

"Hi Gabe," I answered.

"Hi. What's up?"

"I'm kinda busy right now.. I'll talk to you tomorrow," I said. He just hung up. I shrugged slightly and put my phone down next to me on the grass.

"So um... It's what? Thursday?" he asked. I nodded. "Ew... It's even closer to Saturday than I thought."

"I know. I was terrified when I forgot what day It was earlier. I thought it was Sunday!" I laughed softly. He smiled.

"Ya know.. you're pretty cool," Jeremy said. "You're just.. um.. I don't know. I just don't get along easily with people I've just met and this relationship confuses me."

"Me too. I have legit one friend, if that says anything," I said. Jeremy shook his head slightly.

"It's just my band and I. Neil is our guitarist," he said, pulling at a piece of grass. I nodded.

"That's still more friends than I'll ever have," I said.

He shook his head. "No. You'll be friends with them soon. Trust me. They're cool," he said. "Then you'll have one more friend than me."

I smirked. "So, how was your day?" I asked.

"Awful. My dad got drunk the second he got home," Jeremy sighed. "And he uh, hit me with a chair."

"What?"

"He threw a chair at me," Jeremy said, shrugging. "Twice...." My eyes widened.

"Where did it hit you?" I asked.

"Once in my stomach then in my back."

"Did it bruise?" I asked. He nodded.

"I'd show you but like.." He waved his arms, eventually giving up on his words and standing up. He yanked his shirt over his head and showed me his bruises.

My eyes widened. "Damn, what kind of chair did he hit you with?" I asked, standing up and walking up to him. He swallowed hard and tensed as I got closer.

"Um.. a wooden one," he said, stuttering slightly.

Jeremy had a large purple imprint of the top of a chair on his stomach. I grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him around, I felt him tense at my touch. He had multiple smaller bruises on his back, as if his dad stabbed him with the chair legs.

"A-are you done?" hee asked. I nodded slightly. He slid his shirt back on and sat down awkwardly. "I'm sorry, that was just," he attempted to explain, "um.. I just don't like being shirtless around girls. Sorry.."

"It's fine.." I said, "but um, anyway, why was he mad?"

"I don't even know. He's just a violent drunk," Jeremy said, sighing. "Probably something about my mom. Or how the neighbors dog barks too loudly." He rolled his eyes.

"Do I really have to live with him?"

"'Fraid so," Jeremy sighed. "How was your day?"

"Better than yours," I said. "I played Family Reunion on the way to the restaurant," I smirked. Jeremy busted out laughing. "Mom yelled at me, but it was so worth it."

He smiled and laid back on the grass. "You're gonna get fire ants in your hair and I will laugh," I said. He quickly sat back up.

"No, thanks," he said, looking down to find his phone. "Dang, it's already 11:30," he said.

"We better head out so we can get home by midnight," I said. Jeremy nodded and stood up. He offered a hand, which I took and pulled myself up.

Jeremy smiled slightly and hugged me, it was slightly awkward. He pulled back and avoided eye contact, grabbing his bike and heading for the road.

We waved slightly and took off in opposite directions.

-

I slid in the back gate and grabbed Lola. Why didn't I just do this last night? I'm slow..

I went in the back door and put down Lola. I ran up to my room and tossed my skateboard and Converse into the closet.

I glanced over at my clock. 12:03. I sighed and kicked my jeans off, sliding a pair of sweatpants on. I put my phone on my nightstand and climbed into bed.

My phone vibrated.

Jeremy- Did you make it home okay?

Me- Yeah, why?

Jeremy- No reason.. just making sure you didn't die or something.

I smiled and put my phone on my nightstand. Well, someone cares.