Forbidden Fruit •Timothee Chalamet (Stepbrother)

16. Tension

I feel the air fill with tension, because even though Timothée is going along with this, I make no mistake that it's still grueling to him.

"He should probably start driving me to school." I say in reference to Jacob.

"That's not happening!" Timothée snaps.

I know for Timothée him not driving me school means letting go of control, and he's not about to allow that. I watch him walk over to the pack of cigarettes on the counter, grabbing it in his hands.

"Come on,We have to make this as believable as possible!" I plead.

"I don't think lack of believability will be much of a problem with the way Jacob gawks at you." Timothée rolls his eyes while pulling a cigarette out, and he walks over to the kitchen window above the sink and cracks it open.

"Are you really about to smoke in the middle of the kitchen?" I ask as I wrinkle my nose.

"Yeah. This is what you do to me." He smiles sadly and places the cigarette between his lips, before lighting it.

I watch him inhale the smoke as my eyes travel to his chest.

Honestly, Timothée in his boxers while smoking a cigarette after making you breakfast, is any girls literal wet dream.The image of him right now infront of me makes me realize how I'm in so many other girls ideal position. They would do anything to have a gorgeous step brother, who would do anything for them. It's euphoric and I can never truly appreciate it because of all the darkness and anxiety that hangs over our family..and just who Timothée and I are as a whole. It depletes me of all the joy that I would be able to feel if this was a somewhat normal situation.

"I get 3 days of driving you to school, he gets 2." Timothée says while exhaling, and the vapor from his cigarette caresses his face.

"Deal." I roll my eyes and laugh a little, which causes him to smirk before his expression turns to seriousness again.

"I need to take some time to think, just uh-break down all of this." Timothée grabs the back of his neck and chews his lip.

"You mean you're going to disappear for a couple days again?" I ask bitterly.

I hear Timothée breathe in rapidly and it looks like he's about to speak but he parts his mouth,just to close it again.

"Where do you go when you 'take time'? This isn't something you would would ever normally do. I'm not...used to it."

I look weak. Cause I am weak. For him.

His eyes lock into mine with a remorseful look but he still won't give me an answer.

"Okay..I guess we have secrets now? See you whenever you decide you want to come home." I stand up from the kitchen bar, pushing in the chair aggressively.

I put down my history book beside me in bed because it's so hard to concentrate. I can't help but think of where Timothée is? Who is he with? Where is this secretive place that he runs away to when things get tough? Usually if Elle and Mom are away we would be inseparable. I wouldn't be able to keep him away from me...or off of me for that matter.

His attention is addicting and exhilarating and when its not in reach,I crave it so fucking much.My phone vibrates on the bed.

Jacob: I'm outside.

He's outside? Why is he outside? We didn't make any plans. I texted Jacob earlier today that Timothée agreed and that the plan is in action, but there was defiantly no indication of him and I making plans. All I can think now is, thank god Timothee isn't here.This wouldn't go down well.

I crack our front door open, and see Jacob walking from his car in our driveway to me.

"What are you doing here?"

"We're dating now.Don't girls love spontaneous visits from their 'boyfriends'?It's supposed to be romantic." He jokes.

I bite my lip and a small giggle escapes my mouth, as I open the door wider so he can walk in.

"I was driving by and saw Timothée's car was gone. Thought I'd make a stop to see my favorite girl."

My heart did a little flip flop.Favorite girl? Oh god,why do I feel like this? Why did I like the way that sounded when it came out of his mouth.

"You stalking me now?" I tease.

"I'd call it being protective." He says with a smile so big it reaches his eyes.

"If Timothée were here..." I sigh.

"Well..we're in luck he isn't then aren't we? Where is he anyways?" Jacob looks around.

"I don't know actually." My face showing clear annoyance.

"Aren't you two like...bonnie and clyde? Erratic but super close and tell each other everything?"

"Yeah that's what I thought.I guess I'm mistaken. Maybe he has someone else who's his bonnie now."I grimace at the thought.

"You say that like you don't have someone else too."

I feel myself get flustered with the thought.He's right. He's at my house while Timothée is gone,and I'm stuck in some victim complex as if I'm the only one going through this.

"Jacob, I wasn't trying to be a bitch. I know I sound like a total hypocrite."

"No, I get it. Timothée has been your constant and I know it's not easy for either of you right now.I'm just happy I get some type of shot. He's been hearing about my embarrassing obsession with you since we were kids...Can't blame him for hating me." Jacob rasies his eyebrows and shrugs his shoulders.

Obsession? Timothee said that Jacob would always talk about me but I thought he was exaggerating like he always does.Now when I hear it come out of Jacob's mouth,I realize it was no exaggeration at all.

"Amelia don't move." Jacob says while getting closer to me.

I feel his body get closer to mine in the hallway that leads to the living room. I stand still wondering whats going on.

"Now that it's just us. No music. No screaming drunks and you're sober, there's been something I haven't been able to stop thinking about." His face starts to inch closer as he pulls me in, and places his lips on mine softly.

He kisses me and it feels good.He smells good, but when I kiss him back the haunting thought enters my mind. He will never be Timothée.He can't even compare.