Evangeline
Max and Chris's classes for the morning are all conducted in the same classroom, located on the third floor of the school. My cheeks burn. In all my life, I'd never have imagined ever being in this kind of situation.
Max raps on the closed door, and a muffled 'come in' can be heard in response. We enter the classroom. Eyes downcast, I walk by Chris's side, using his body as a shield from the prying, curious stares of the class, whose gazes feel like needles on my skin.
Max goes first, handing the teacher the late pass before slipping into a seat in the middle of the classroom. Chris strides forward confidently and briefly explains what's going on to the teacher, who nods with a confused expression on his face as he scans the passes.
"Evie, this is Mr Armstrong." My stepbrother nudges me.
I bow my head respectfully, twisting my fingers together nervously, feeling only the heat from Chris's hand. "Good morning, Mr Armstrong. Our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience. I hope I won't be a bother." The teacher, a kindly man in his sixties, smiles warmly. "Pleasure to have you here. I heard you skipped a grade?"
I nod in confirmation. "Please continue with your lesson." Mr Armstrong motions for us to sit. Someone in the back gets up and switches seats, but I can't see who it is. The tables are in threes, with five rows horizontally. As we make our way to the back where Christopher's assigned seat is, the eyes of the class follows us. I spot Daniel's ruddy hair and meet his brown eyes. I give him an awkward smile and turn my gaze away. Thank god Jessica isn't in eleventh grade.
The class resumes, though the students still throw glances back. Chris whips out a notebook and begins scribbling down notes. His left hand jostles against my right occasionally, but I don't mind. I've got the worksheets for each lesson today to complete. I'm also super grateful that Chris and I don't have the same dominant hand. That would be a hassle to manage in these circumstances.
I zone out, concentrating on the work. Before I know it, two and a half hours have gone by. By then, I've done nearly three quarters of my work for the day, and attended my classes via Zoom. I felt a little embarrassed at first, but quickly lost myself in the lesson absorbing what the teacher taught and blocking out the whispers and stares from pupils, online and on site. The presentation I have has been postponed to the next day, since I can't very well waltz into the class, dragging my stepbrother with me and having him miss his important lessons.
The teachers that took the periods after Mr Armstrong each had different reactions. Mrs Nolan, who did Calculus, shot looks with thinly-disguised judgment, while Madam Conley, the Bio teacher laughed and said her kids got into lots of sticky situations too, and Professor Ren from English didn't give a single shit.
Chris pokes me. "Done with your work?" He leans over and scans the page. "Wow, you got them all right."
Professor Ren seems to have departed, and students are filing out of class. "Not yet. I still have three more pages and I'm finished!" I sigh, leaning back in my chair. Chris's usual desk partner probably vacated this seat for me. I should go thank him or her.
Someone's shadow looms over us. I look up to see Daniel, the track captain. "Hi, Daniel." I smile. Chris smirks at Daniel. "Sup. Sorry Evie stole your seat." My brows go up. "You gave the seat up for me? Thanks for the trouble." Daniel chuckles. "No issue. Really, whatever it takes to make it convenient for y'all, seeing your situation." His gaze lands on the handcuffs. "Looks like you won't be able to join our training sesh today. Anyway. How did that end up there?"
Max comes up next to us and coughs. "Well..."
-
"Asher, that little bugger." Daniel chortles after Max regales him with the tale. It is nearly time for lunch, but the twins have P.E. before that. Anyway, once I see Asher, I am so going to get back at him.
We stop by the locker rooms so the twins can change. Male voices sound from within. Chris starts to stride in confidently, seemingly forgetting about the fact that I'm attached to him at the wrist. "Hold on..." Daniel grabs my wrist. My steps slow. I hesitate. Chris stops as we linger at the door. I glance at Max and him doubtfully. "Are you sure?" This is the boy's locker room, where the opposite gender is technically forbidden to enter. "I'm not too sure if the principal's pass accounts in this situation, or if it occurred to her at all."
Chris grunts. "We're gonna be late for class. Hurry up!"
Panicked, we all brainstorm silently. Max taps a finger against his thigh. "If that's the case, we could try hiding you? It's not the best idea, but it'll draw less attention to you." He points to Daniel's navy blue and white letterman. "You mind, Dan?"
Daniel shrugs off his jacket, dropping it around my shoulders. The material is soft and warm, the sleeves nearly hanging to my knees. It always amazes me how even though they're only two years my senior, they're so much bigger. What do they eat?
Chris pulls me flush to his side, flanked by Daniel on my right and Max on the other side. The plan is to keep the guy's attention away so Chris can do his thing.
We slip in, and calls of 'hey' and shouted other greetings follow. i smile a little to myself. My brothers have many friends.
As planned, Daniel and Max engage in conversation with the people in the locker room as Chris quickly changes. Luckily, the shirt id fine to leave on for him, or else removing that would be troublesome as fuck. I avert my eyes, blushing hard, back facing him as he swaps the tailored black school pants for matching black sports shorts. Every movement, the clank of our cuffed hands, hearing the rustle of fabric sends electricity zapping though my body, every nerve. I try not to let my mind wander, but it proves to be a difficult task. More challenging than that advanced-level algebra question my father made me attempt when I was 12.
I've seen my brothers shirtless before. Of course! And I touch them all the time. (No, not in that way!) hugs, cheeks kisses. But now, my heartbeat quickens as I think about the twins' hard chests, Asher's soft hair and pretty eyes, Lucas's strong arms. I slap myself mentally. There is something seriously wrong with me!
Thank god he doesn't take long. I snap out of my reprieve when someone wraps an am around my shoulders. I grip the edges of Daniel's jacket, numb as we walk out, listening to the boy's chatter at the success of our plan. Fuckfuckfuck. I have feelings for my stepbrothers. Why else would I think about them that way?
