My Future Stepbrother

Chapter 97

I didn’t realise how late it was until I saw all the lights in the Manor off. Dad had text to say everyone was going to bed and he’d left the door open for me.

My whole body hurt as I forced it into the shower. I’m glad the competition is tomorrow and my role as dance supervisor is over, I wasn’t built for this.

I wrap myself in a towel and poke my head into Jayce’s room, expecting to find him asleep but he’s sitting by his desk, the lamp over what he’s doing being the only light in the room.

“You’re awake.” I smile but he doesn’t even turn around.

“You’re late.” His tone harsh and cold.

“It was the final rehearsal, went on late. Didn’t get started on the Bio project until nearly seven. Are you okay?”

“Fine.” Okay. So I guess we’re doing this again then.

“Jayce, I’ve really had enough of this okay. I’m not going to be some pathetic little woman that comes back crying and begging you to forgive her every time I go out. Especially when I haven’t actually done anything wrong! I helped my friend, not wrong. I needed to finish some bio work, not wrong. I’m done with this shit. You don’t want to tell people about us? Fine. You want to act like I don’t fucking exist again? Fine. Just tell me what you want because all I’ve done today is think about you but clearly you’re just too busy being an ass to think about me.”

I wait for a response but he just keeps looking at his desk, like I’ve said nothing.

“Jayce I’m too tired for this. I’m going to my bed, when you’re ready to stop being a dick you’re welcome to join me.”

I walk back to my room completely defeated. I know he was struggling with all this but by Sunday I would be all his again. No dance, no project, no distractions. Just his. Was he seriously being like this just over that? Or was there something more to this..

No Aleah stop. He would never do anything like that. He loves you.

I climb into my bed and cuddle into my pillow. I wait, staring at the door and trying to wish it open but nothing happens. I fall asleep without Jayce for the first time since he told me he loved me. I wish I could say it would be the last time I slept alone.

********************* 

Brie had asked if she could pick me up this morning, she was a bundle of nerves and just wanted me with her today in case she tried to take it out on some poor kid for smiling at her too much or something.

I was grateful to see her. Jayce never came in last night and I hadn’t seen him this morning. Last night I was upset, today I’m pissed.

Kallie was buzzed, Brie had got her and Drew tickets to the competition and she couldn’t wait. The poor girl had never really had friends before and she was so grateful for every little thing we did. I just wanted to shrink her and keep her in a dolls house or something, she was so cute.

Brie got me a ticket too but she said she understood with everything going on with Jayce if I didn’t make it. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do yet.

I was pacing at the bottom of the hall trying to build up the courage to go into Bio. It was stupid but I didn’t want to see Jayce, I hated tension.

I finally went in to find his chair empty, was he somewhere pacing trying to avoid me too?

I sat down and Kallie swivelled to face me. “Want help with your project? Put me to work, I’m yours.”

“You mine too gorgeous?” Chad asked throwing himself down in the stool.

Kallie just glared at him. “Not if you were the last man alive.”

I snorted at her change in demeanour. I forget sometimes this is the same girl that slapped Jayce without a second thought and could hold more gin than a sailor. Not always the sweet and innocent chick I make her out to be.

“If I haven’t said it before Ally, you really do have wonderful taste in friends. Although I don’t remember this one being so vicious before you and Brie got your hands on her.”

Kallie flipped him off and for the first time today I actually laughed. I tried to level my voice to sound relaxed before I spoke. “Where’s Jayce?”

Chad pulled everything out of his bag and spread it out on the desk. “Went home after first period. Headache or something, I think that chick he’s banging is fucking with his head.”

Kallie’s eyes locked with mine and I shook my head begging her not to say anything.

I managed to get more work done with Kallie in one hour than I had in five with Chad. Mr body odour said he’d keep the classroom open until 6 for anyone still behind to have somewhere to work. I was grateful we didn’t need to fight through the Friday night crowd at Kelly’s but missed the caffeine buzz big time.

Kallie offered to stay but I knew she wanted to go home and get ready for tonight so I made her leave.

We managed to almost completely finish by the time 6 came around and I could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Me and Chad arranged for him to pick me up for an hour before the party tomorrow and I knew when I got back it would all be over. Maybe then me and Jayce can finally sort this shit out.

I got home just after 6 and was upset to find out dad and Tara had gone out with Milo, leaving me without a lift to the competition. I guess my choice on whether I was going or not was made for me.

I decided to get a nice bath since Jayce still wasn’t here, considering he was supposed to be home with a damn headache my mind started to spin on where he could be and I needed it to stop.
He came home just as I stepped out of the tub, I heard him walking up the stairs and decided we needed to talk this out whether he wanted to or not. Now.

I stepped out into the hall wrapped in my towel blocking his path. “Honey, you’re home.” I spat sarcastically.

“Lee can we not.” His voice low, although it didn’t stop his eyes wondering over my naked body wrapped in a small towel.

“Actually no, I want to have this out so all this shit can end. So tell me, what is your problem? If you want to break up with me or something just be a man and do it.” I really didn’t mean that. I was just done giving him space for him to turn around and use it to pull further away.

‘What is my problem? Okay where do I start. Firstly, I barely feel like I even have a girlfriend at the moment considering I seem to be so low on your list of priorities. Secondly you’re a fucking liar and Thirdly, I’m pretty sure you and Chad have way more going on than you want to admit. That about cover it?”

I stand shaking. I’m a liar? What the fuck have I lied about?

“Okay since we’re doing a point system, here we go. Firstly, I’m sorry if you feel like I haven’t made you a priority, I never meant to make you feel like that and if you said you couldn’t cope being apart instead of just shutting me out I could have included you in all the shit that’s kept me busy! Do you know Josh doesn’t miss a fucking rehearsal just to see Harley? I could have had you there but you instead decided to be the invisible fucking man! Secondly, I haven’t lied to you about shit. Thirdly, there is nothing between me and Chad but if you want me to be perfectly honest then he’s actually been a really good friend to me this week when you really fucking haven’t.”

I was trying to give level headed arguments rather than just lose it with him but it was getting hard as that damn face of his read like a stone.

“You haven’t lied?”

That’s seriously all he took from that statement.

“No.”

“So you went to Kelly’s last night with Chad just like you said you would?”

I can hear my phone going off in my room but ignore it.

“See, you can’t even answer me! I know you weren’t there Lee!”

“No because we.. wait. How did you know we weren’t there?”

He tried to get passed me but I pushed him back. This only seemed to anger him more.

“Because I was fucking there Lee! I went early to save you a table from the five o’clock rush! I actually did want to be with you, sat there for three fucking hours before I realised you weren’t fucking coming!”

Shit.

My phone is ringing again.
 
“Fuck, I didn’t know. We got there and there was a massive queue so we went to his uncles restaurant down the road. I’m sorry, if you’d told me you were there I would have come there I swear. So that’s why you were so pissed last night..”

He huffs. “Didn’t realise I couldn’t hold you to your word Lee. I-”

My phone starts ringing for the third time.

“Fuck. Hold on.” I run back into the room to grab it and see Brie calling. I answer.

“Babe, nows not really a-”

“AL! I need you to come here please. Fiona is fucked, she’s having like a panic attack or something and can’t go on for the last routine. I’ve tried calling Cindy but she won’t come. If we don’t go on with a full house they’ll disqualify us. Please please can you step in. Please.”

Shit. Fuck. Shit.

“Brie I can’t, not in front of people.” My hand starts shaking at the thought of it.

“Bitch, the lights are so bright out there you can’t even see the crowd, please Al. I’m begging you. You know what this means to us.”

Oh for..

“Fuck.... Okay, I’m coming.”

“I love you! Wear that red set you got for Jayce, we’re all in red under the black. I’ll get Fiona’s kit out of her bag for you. I love you so much girl!”

“When are you on?”

“I’ve made them push us to last so just get your stuff and get here. Stretch in the car or something.”

I run to my closet pulling out the red underwear I had bought for Jayce to see me in for his birthday. I throw it on and am grateful I didn’t wash my hair in the bath. I pull it out of the bobble and just let it cascade around my shoulders.

I step out of the closet and Jayce is standing there waiting for me.

“So I guess this conversation is ov-” His eyes bulge as he stops and takes in what I’m wearing. I can practically feel the waves of lust radiating off him.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” I tease turning to my drawers and making sure I lean all the way into the back to give him the best view. I might be mad at him but it doesn’t mean I enjoy teasing him any less.

“Um.. I was.. where are you going?” He stumbles out, all the aggressive tone he had earlier completely gone.

“Brie needs me to dance.” I finally find some black booty shorts, there’s no way in squeezing my ass into Fiona’s ones.

“Dressed like that?!!” He shouts, not removing his eyes from my underwear.

“No, I’ll have a t-shirt on.” I joke.

“You aren’t going anywhere with anyone looking like that.” He growls.

“Look you have two choices here. You can carry on with this alpha male hit me over the head with a rock and take me back to your cave bullshit. Which we both know I won’t listen to anyway. Or you can realise we both fucked up this week, kiss me right now, drop all the crap and come with me to watch me hopefully not fall from the stage as I give everyone the show of their lives. What’s it going to be?”

I stand holding my shorts in my hand as they rest on my hips whilst I continue staring at him.

He’s trying so hard to hold his resolve bit the longer he stares at me the quicker I see the cracks form. He doesn’t want to be mad, neither do I, its not who we are. I decide to give him five more seconds before I call a cab and get myself there.

I don’t even see him move. His hand is behind my head and his lips on mine before I even have time to process the information.

I’ve missed him so fucking much.

My fingers bury themselves in his hair, pulling him into me and allowing my body to push against his.

His hands run down my back, grabbing a handful of my ass and squeezing as his tongue teases mine. I want to wrap my legs around his head and ride his face until morning but we have to go.

He pulls away. “I’m sorry about everything, I love you.”

I smile. “I love you more.”

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