The Stepbrother - Noah Centineo (COMPLETED)

Shall we?

Arielle's PoV

There I sat in my bed with a feast of crisps, sandwiches, cake, chocolate and some strawberries. I was a fat shit but I didn't care. I was hungry. If Noah could eat before the food arrives then so can I.

I was currently surrounded by empty wrappers, my hand over my full belly. I don't know if I'll be able to eat a lot of dinner but I have to try so my dad doesn't think I ate so much now...

There was a knock at my bedroom door and I've never gathered up rubbish so quickly in my life. I stood up, rushing over to my bin and putting it in it before opening the door.
"I was just about to open it." My Dad looked shocked.
"Hi." I smiled innocently. He frowned, looking as though he was about to accuse me of something but didn't.
"Can you make yourself look a little more presentable please? I've decided that we're all going to meet in a restaurant instead of at home and we're going to eat out." He explained.
"Do I have to go?" I asked. I was so full.
"Yes. Now be ready by half six please." He said, walking away.

I shut the door, looking over at my clock. It's quarter to six now. I should probably shower, I stink.

———
"Yes! Ok, I'm coming!" I groaned, slipping my feet into some white heels after snapping a picture of myself in the mirror. Kelly was instructed by my dad to pick out a dress for me because I apparently can't make myself look 'fancy'.
Don't get me wrong, the dress was very pretty but 100% out of my comfort zone. I felt way too over dressed.

@ariellehartman

@ariellehartman sassy, classy and bad-assy 🤷🏻‍♀️

I shoved my phone in my bag, slinging it over my shoulder before running down the stairs. Well, I say running... I mean hobbling. Walking in heels is very difficult when you're so un-experienced.

As I made it to the last step, I noticed everyone was here waiting on me. My dad was dressed in a grey tux, Kelly in a red dress and Noah in a white shirt with black trousers. He looked very good right now but I'm not letting that distract me from what happened earlier. I'm still very annoyed at him.

"Aw hunny, you look gorgeous." Kelly gushed, a big smile on her face.
"Thank you." I grinned. I felt really self conscious but her words kind of helped me.
"I told you, she scrubs up nicely." My Dad nudged Noah's arm. Noah laughed a little, his eyes scanning up and down my body before they went down to the floor.
"Shall we?" My Dad asked, linking his arm with Kelly's.
"We shall." She nodded her head.

Our parents were out first then Noah and I followed shortly behind and to my dads car.
Once we were strapped in and we were on our way to the restaurant, my phone dinged with a notification.

@ncentineo I know you're not talking to me right now but you're beautiful

My heart fluttered at the words. I don't know what he was trying to do. If he's trying to make me forgive him, that won't do it.
I looked up at him, noticing that he was already looking at me.
He gave me a look, one that I couldn't quite read.

@ariellehartman I know lol

May as well make my response sassy, right?

I saw him crack a small laugh at my response and he looked at me, shaking his head with a smile.
The corners of my mouth were twitching, I was trying too hard not to smile right now so I turned my head away from him, looking out of the window.

Soon enough, we arrived at the restaurant. We got out of the car, me pulling down my dress as it started to ride up my thighs. Ugh, mid thigh dresses suck. Actually, any kind of dress sucks.
My dad and Kelly walked off ahead again, Noah walking dangerously close beside me.
"I'm sorry for earlier." He apologised, his voice quiet so our parents wouldn't hear us.
"I don't care." I shrugged my shoulders.
"Ari-" he started.
"I don't want to talk about this right now. Let's just get through dinner." I cut him off, sighing as we reached the glass door. Man, this place already looked fancy. I wonder what the inside will look like.

"Right, please just get on for a couple of hours. This could lead to something great." My Dad stopped at the door.
"Whats this for?" I asked.
"Your Dad could be getting a promotion to manager." Kelly answered, giving my dad a wide grin. She's very supportive of him.
"Oh, well done?" It came out as more of a question. I didn't know what to say.
"Thanks, now be good." He looked between Noah and I. Wow, we really sound like kids.

———
There was way too many of us sitting around this table, I was starting to feel a little claustrophobic.
The table layout went something like this;
My dads current manager, Paul, was at the head of the table with his wife, Julia beside him. They didn't have kids but beside Julia was Kelly, then my dad, then me, then Noah. Next to Noah was one of my dads colleagues, Ajax. Ajax didn't have a wife but he did have 3 kids. One boy and two girls. They were definitely younger than Noah and I. At the other end of the table, there was another guy, who I can't remember the name of. He had a girlfriend called Suzanne. I only remember her name because of her bitchiness. Gosh, she annoys me already. They had two kids, both girls who kept giving Noah the eye. I think they were twins. They looked kind of similar. Opposite Noah there was one of my dads female colleagues Becky, who I've met before and then opposite me was her son, Isaac. I'd be lying to you if I said that he wasn't cute. Next to him was his dad, Marcus and then next to him was an empty seat.
We didn't exactly fill up the whole table but I still felt pretty crammed in.

We had been here for about 45 minutes so far. I was on my fourth glass of wine already, meaning I was getting pretty tipsy. It probably didn't help that I didn't eat my starter. We were all waiting on the main course. I doubt very much I'll eat it all.

I turned my head to look at Noah and I smiled. I don't know what I was doing but my drunk mind did.
"You look hot." I whispered so no one would hear. I hope no one heard, anyway.
"I know." He smirked, mocking my words from earlier.
"Of course you do." I rolled my eyes playfully, taking another gulp from my wine glass.
"Hey, Arielle." My Dad caught my attention.
"Mhm." I lazily looked at him through my eyelashes.
"You should lay off the wine." He spoke lowly.
"Why? It's a celebration, we drink on celebrations." I grinned, finishing up my fourth glass.
"No more for now, ok?" He shook his head at me.
"I can do whatever I want." I whispered, calling on a waitress to bring me another glass of wine.

I'm going to be hammered tonight.