Daniel
Owen Carter Hale. His name is one I absolutely despise.
Standing here, in the same house, just inches away from my mortal enemy, my dormant rage is rekindled.
I faintly hear Max and Chris laughing and thanking their siblings and Evangeline, yet it's like Owen and I are the only ones in the room. I hold his gaze, hoping the fire in my eyes burns him from the inside out.
Just like what he did to Lara.
Our intense stare-off is beginning to attract the attention of the others. I want to storm out of here and act like I never saw him, perhaps throw a punch or tow. But under the eyes of others, I cant do that. Especially not in front of my track junior and my friends.
It's the twin's birthday. I can't ruin this for them. Hence, the other option I have. its the least Owen can do after what he did.
My lips barely twitch as I mouth at Owen. It is a single hiss of breath, the word itself concentrated with pure hate. "Leave."
Owen's face pales visibly. He understands the assignment. Pretending he received a message on his phone, Owen brushes a hand trough his disgusting dyed hair, plastering a fake smile on his face.
"Oh, sorry guys. Ive go to go. Ora and Penny want me back asap."
The twins pout. "Won't you stay for cake?"
Lucas glances at me, unsure, before returning his gaze to his best friend. I may hate Owen, but Lucas is a good guy. So are his brothers. "Yeah, man. You did help us with all this."
"Nah, its fine." Owen smiles shakily and holds up a hand in farewell. "Great work today. And, happy birthday once again." He flashes a somewhat genuine smile at the twins. "I'll see myself out."
Good riddance.
Evangeline smiles awkwardly at the tense atmosphere. She's probably in the dark about this, unlike the guys. "I'll go with."
She and Owen walk briskly out of there. When they're both out of sight, the front door clicking shut, the twins eye me disapprovingly. "Come on, Daniel. We need to talk."
-
"Tell Ora and Penny I said hi! I'll drop by with some cake tomorrow morning." i wave to Owen as he hops over the high fence separating our houses.
"Kay. Thanks." He grins and disappears from sight.
At home, everyone is packed into the living room. Lucas and Asher idly kick at the numerous balloons on the floor, while the twins seem to be in heated discussion with Daniel over something, whose face is rosy with an angry flush. Could it be about Owen? They guy seemed pretty hasty to leave when Daniel appaered.
Once they notice my presence, the twins and Daniel pause their debate and smile brightly.
"Thanks for everything! That was awesome."
I dip my head. "It was nothing. Luke and Asher and Owen and Daniel helped out, too." At the mention of Owen's name, Daniel stiffens but quickly relaxes when he catches my curious gaze.
"Have you guys cut the cake yet?"
"No. We were waiting up on you." Lucas rises and heads to the kitchen to retrieve the cake. "I'll go get it."
Asher sniggers. "I can't wait for you to see it!"
The twin's cake, specially ordered from The Bluebell, the café Lucas works at, is half chocolate, half vanilla sponge topped with two number candles. On the top, drizzled in messy blue icing are the words 'you're old' by Asher.
Max smirks, while Chris laughs in amusement. "Well get you back on your birthday, little brother."
Asher sticks out his tongue. "As if."
The twins cut their cake. We sit at the table, joking and laughing. Daniel, seemingly back to normal, makes snarky quips from time to time, clicking away at his phone. At the rate he's going, he must have at least a thousand pictures by now.
A little past eight, its gift giving time. Lucas presents them with matching watches from a store at the mall. Asher gives them a pair of socks. "For your stinky, sticky feet." He claims. Sportswear from Daniel. My gift for them are two little wrapped boxes.
Chris shakes the box and looks at it quizzically. "What's this?"
I grin. "It's a surprise."
They both smile fondly, and, to my surprise, each press a chaste kiss to either side of my cheeks. At the same time, the camera of Daniel's phone flashes, catching the moment in perfect sharpness. He grins and flashes the screen to all of us briefly. "Y'all's. This is probably one of the best pics you'll have."
I hold onto each of my twin stepbrothers' hands tightly, heart warm an fuzzy, committing every minute of the present to memory.
Today has certainly been eventful.
Either way, I've realised something. Aside from the multiple embarrassing situations I've coincidentally gotten into with my new family, or the fact that one of my stepbrothers drunk-confessed and kissed me, or that I'm shamefully in love with my stepbrothers, I want to cherish my time with them.
Past midnight, after Daniel has long left and all of us are piled on the twin's bed watching a movie, I whisper. "I love you guys."
I don't know if they can hear me. But I think they know.
I nestle deeper into Max's side, curling my legs around Asher's. Lucas's hand ghosts over my hair, and I stroke my thumb across the back of Chris's hand, closing my eyes.
