Stepbrother ✔

3.5

❀Courtney's P.O.V❀

"Welcome home, Em." I say, wrapping my arms tightly around her.

"Thank you. It feels so good to be back. They had me in bed for most of the day and I grew tired of laying down, which is something I thought I'd never say."

I laugh softly, "I love you, Emily."

"I love you too." She smiles.

Her eyes trail up the stairs and she gasps before she fixes the beanie on her head. I frown in confusion before I follow her trail of vision and watch as Damien steps down the stairs, a happy grin on his face.

"Damien, I want to break up."

He immediately stops in his tracks as he furrows his eyebrows and I turn to look at her, confused.

"Emily—"

"I don't want to keep you in this relationship when I know I'm not the prettiest girl out there. You deserve better."

He continues to go down the stairs and approaches her, holding her face in his hands. "What are you talking about?" He asks, wiping her tears. "You're the most amazing and beautiful girl in my eyes."

She sniffles as she looks into his eyes and he reaches up for her beanie, but she pushes him away. "Don't."

He frowns, "Your hair is not what made me fall in love with you. It was your smile, your personality, your kindness. You made me fall in love with you, Emily. Your hair doesn't add on or subtract from your beauty."

He succeeds in taking off her beanie and kisses the top of her head, making me shed my own tears.

Emily looks down at her hands and I look around to see Julien, Blake, and Nichole watching in admiration as well, their own tears in their eyes.

Emily wraps her arms around Damien and let's out a broken sob as he holds her closely.

"I love you, Emily."

Julien takes his place beside me and I turn to him, furrowing my eyebrows as my tears blur my vision. He opens his arms for me and I gladly take them as I cry into his chest.

He rubs my back and I let out a broken sob.

"Emily," Blake interrupts the couple, catching all of our attention. "I have a surprise for you, princess."

She furrows her eyebrows as Damien helps wipe her tears away and Blake holds out a hand for her, which she hesitantly takes.

He leads her up the stairs and we all follow them into the guest room, where the golden fluff ball is scratching at the door and whimpering.

Emily looks at his dad in surprise and he turns to smile at her. "I know how long you've been wanting a puppy. I want you to meet Lucy." He opens the door and the puppy comes running out of the room.

Emily gets down onto her knees and the puppy runs to her, jumping on her and licking her face. She smiles wide as she carries Lucy and Nichole approaches her, petting the dog as she kisses the top of Emily's head.

"I hope you liked your surprise."

Emily turns to her with a wide grin on her face, "Like? I love it! Thank you so much!"

We all smile at her and she carries Lucy out into the backyard, where we all take some time to play with her as she chases us around.

***

"You can look now." I speak up, holding up the wig as Emily removes her hands from in front of her eyes.

She blinks a few times to get accustomed with the lights before she looks at the wig, her eyes widening. "Courtney, oh my goodness!"

I smile, "Do you like it?"

"I love it! Thank you so much!" She touches the strands of hair and smiles wide, "It's so soft."

"Here, let me put it on you."

She sits in front of the mirror as I remove her beanie and kiss the top of her head before I fix the wig onto her head.

I look at her through the mirror and she admires herself in it, running her fingers through her new hair.

"Courtney..." she trails off, turning to me.

"Yes?" I smile.

"Thank you for being my best friend."

Tears once again fill my eyes and she stands up to give me a tight hug, one in which I return without hesitation.

"Girls, I hope you didn't forget the boys' graduation. We're heading out the door right now." Nichole speaks up as she enters the room and we both gasp loudly. "I knew it. Hurry on now, get ready. We'll be waiting in the car."

She walks back out and we quickly begin to get ourselves ready for their big day.

***

"Alexander Mendoza." Mr. Sandoval (the principal) calls out into the mic and I clap and cheer loudly as he steps up onto the stage, grabbing his diploma and shaking his hand.

He looks in my direction and I wave frantically as he smiles wide, stepping off the stage along with the rest of the graduated students.

"Alexandra Mendoza." He calls out next and I once again clap and cheer loudly as the process is repeated.

Moments pass as more students are called up to receive their diplomas but when a specific name is called up, we all stand up and cheer loudly.

"Julian Ryder." He looks in our direction as he walks up to receive his diploma and waves at us, a wide grin on his face. He then draws a heart with his fingers in the air, earning a number of aww's from the crowd.

"Damien Smith."

Emily claps and cheers loudly with this name before Blake and Nichole tell her to take it easy. "That's my boyfriend right there!" She lets everyone know and he turns to smile at her, blowing a kiss in her direction.

The rest of the students get called up before the last speech is spoken, finally letting all the students meet their families.

Julien is the only one who comes to us, since Alexander and Alexandra met up with their own parents and Damien met up with his family.

"Congratulations, big brother! You did it!" Emily hugs him.

"Thank you, sis." He hugs her back, "By the way, did you change up your foundation? You look beautiful." He asks with an amused smile and she laughs.

"Courtney got me this beautiful wig. Isn't it amazing?"

He gives me a quick glance, smiling at her. "Wig or not, you will always be my beautiful little sister."

"And our beautiful daughter." Blake speaks up.

"And my beautiful little niece." My mom says and I turn to smile at her before I turn back to Emily.

"And my beautiful sister from another mister."

She giggles as she spreads her arms and we all squeeze up into a group hug.

"I love you all so much."

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Sweet chapter to make up for the last one. Hey, I finished this fairly quickly. Same day update, everyone? I think yes. Also, sadly this story is coming to an end. It may seem that it's rushing and that's because it is. Maybe two more chapters and then an epilogue. High school is coming to an end and then college will be the beginning of another chapter to my life (Hehe get it? Chapter? I'm a writer? Okay, I'll stop). I know I won't have much time then so I am trying to write as much as I can now and I'm quite happy how far this story has come along. Therefore, I don't think adding any more to it is necessary. I hope you're not too upset at me. Just know that when I have time, I will come back to edit and maybe add on more chapters. For now, this will do. I love you all so much!

Sorry for the mistakes.

❤︎Much Love with Hugs & Kisses❤︎

Kimmy Herz 💋