Anyone But Her

I wouldn't have bothered

Lydia pulled up and quickly but precisely parked outside Jackson's house and rushed to the front door, slamming her car door with her foot on the way there. She looked at his front door as she knocked loudly, even now it's still made her nervously excited, like she was just going to his house for the first time.

The door opened wide to an older women. Despite her age, it was clear to see that she was still very beautiful and Lydia always hoped to be as such when she grew older. It was Jackson's mother. She had auburn hair that fell straight down to just on to her shoulders and bright green eyes that captivated you. She smiled lightly, "Lydia! How nice to see you again!" She spoke cheerfully while pulling Lydia in for a hug.

"Always a pleasure Mrs Whittemore! You know how much i miss you guys!" Lydia replied back just as cheerful, but her voice was muffled by the hug. "Oh please Lydia you know to call me Jessica by now we have known you long enough, you're no stranger to the family and you know that you're welcome here anytime you're such a delight!" Mrs Whittemore replied happily while closing the door behind her and sitting down next to her husband on the sofa.

Lydia smiled thankfully and walked up to Jackson's little sister. She was only young, around 7 or so but she was definitely one of the smartest and sweetest little girls Lydia had ever met. Her name was Bella and she idolised Lydia and Lydia herself viewed her as the younger sister she'd always wanted. Bella was dressed in her favourite Disney princess costume, Belle.

"Hiya Bella! How you've been today? You're looking so beautiful in this dress may i add, i'll definitely be stopping for some afternoon tea later this weekend your majesty" Lydia said with a large smile on her face and she crouched in front of the little girl. The girl giggled excitedly and gave her a toothy grin. Lydia loved spending time with Bella as she knew it must be hard for the girl being in a house with only boy siblings. She spent this time mostly having tea parties with her and she loved them just as much as she did.

"I can't wait Lydia! i'll go tell Mr Bear, Mr Giggles and the other princesses!" Lydia couldn't help but smile at her adorable response as she stood up again. "but remember cutie it'll have to be later on i need to spend some time with that grumpy brother of yours first okay?" She asked sweetly and the girl nodded eagerly before running off upstairs.

Mrs Whittemore beamed at Lydia's interaction with Bella before speaking to Lydia herself. "Is he still not downstairs yet? That lazy sloth. Did i mention Lydia? never have boys they are an absolute nightmare." She laughed quickly as if thinking back until she spoke again. "He does know you're coming doesn't he dear? He seems so forgetful lately." Mrs Whittemore stated but before she could shout for him, Jackson came stomping down the stairs and walked into the kitchen, without acknowledging Lydia once and then came back and sat down with some biscuits in the front room watching the TV, still ignoring her presence.

"Jackson! don't be so rude your girlfriend is here!" Mrs Whittemore shouted at him and at his utter disregard for Lydia. Lydia felt her heart sink lower at Jackson's reaction to her being there, like he couldn't care less if she was there or not. She gave a small, fake smile to his mum and was about to speak to say that it was fine but before she could, heavy footsteps came down the stairs once more.

Lydia turned to see a tall, slim boy reach the bottom of the stairs. It was Stiles, Jackson's half brother. They were the same age but they only officially met each other when they were around 13, but now at 18 they barely spoke to one another. The subject of Stiles' birth was always mysterious to Lydia, she had guessed that Mr Whittemore must have cheated at one point which of course they all knew about but clearly was never talked about. She didn't know much about Stiles' real mom, apart from the fact she died before he went to high school, which led him to live here. Lydia remembered Jackson telling her when they first started dating that when Stiles first moved in, he refused to speak to anyone, clearly frustrated and resentful at the situation. Only after a few years he finally began to open up and accept Mrs Whittemore as his mom too, which Lydia knows meant a lot to her. But things were still hazy and uncomfortable sometimes between Stiles and his father, but it was often pushed aside. To put it clearly, Stiles was still a bit antisocial , even now, and never really left the house much but it was obvious that he definitely wasn't a people person. But the one thing you could easily tell was that the person he hated the most was Lydia, but she never could understand why.

Stiles had messy but fluffy hair that lay on his head, like he couldn't even be bothered to touch it and unlike Jackson he had a more olive skin tone with moles scattered over his face, where as Jackson was more pale and clean cut. Clearly showing the differences between their mothers, and Lydia guessed that from Stiles' appearance, his mother was probably a very beautiful woman. At the sight of Lydia, his eyes widened and he looked between her and Jackson before groaning loudly.

"Ughhhh you should have told me she would be here and i wouldn't have bothered coming downstairs." Stiles sighed heavily again before coming in to sit down in the seat furthest away from Lydia, he placed his feet upon the coffee table and got out his phone. In Lydia's opinion, he wasn't what you'd call a slob but he definitely didn't care much for his appearance, or it at least looked that way. He wore a baggy white t-shirt with his infamous grey sweatpants hung low on his hips, that she presumed he never took off cause that's all she ever saw him wear.

"Stiles! Don't be so damn rude and horrible! Lydia is our guest and Jackson's girlfriend and she has much of a right to be here as you do so stop your complaining at once!" Mrs Whittemore shouted at him before tutting and turning once more to Lydia. "I'm so sorry Hunny i don't know why's he's like this with you he's never this mean to anybody else." she gritted her teeth and turned to him as she finished her sentence, giving him devils. Stiles rolled his eyes at her in response and turned back to his phone.

"Oh it's no worry Mrs...i mean Jessica he really doesn't bother me one bit. He doesn't mean a thing to me. So he can't get to me. " Lydia spoke confidently and turned to Stiles as she did, flashing him a devilish smile. As soon as she spoke, he'd turned his head back to her and narrowed his eyes at her. As if her voice grated against him and what she'd said had rubbed him the wrong way. As much as she didn't understand his hatred to her, she wasn't going to let this boy ruin her day or her time with Jackson and she definitely wasn't going to let him get the best of her.

"Well good! I'm glad you don't let him get to you he's just probably annoyed because he can't get a girlfriend himself anyway!" Mr Whittemore had spoken up, surprising Lydia and making her giggle at what he'd said. Stiles scoffed instantly and pulled a sour face. Lydia noticed that the only time that his father spoke to Stiles was to tease him or insult him and it kinda made her feel sorry for him. "As if! i'm sorry but i don't want a girlfriend if they're like her and i'll have you know that i can pull girls just fine anyway thanks" Stiles replied quickly before standing up to go to the kitchen. Lydia grinned sarcastically and rolled her eyes at his insult towards her.

Mr Whittemore laughed at his response. "I'm sure you could son, but i mean it's not that you've ever really spoken to a girl outside of the family apart from Lydia." Jackson finally joined in and laughed at his fathers jokes before returning back to his biscuits and the TV. Lydia giggled too at his playful banter but just as she did, she heard Stiles shout back angrily. "Shut up yes i have!" Stiles returned with a sandwich before returning back upstairs, but not before shouting after him "i don't need to take this abuse no more i'm off!" as he stomped back upstairs in protest.

The family laughed at his reply before Mrs Whittemore announced that her, her husband and Bella were off shopping today and they would return later. Lydia has waved them off with a hug and a huge smile before it soon faded as she closed the door. She turned to Jackson. "So what do you want to do babe?" Lydia called out to him, looking for any response at all but he just rolled his eyes. Lydia grew sad as she remembered the days where the two of them could barely keep their hands off each other and would love it whenever his parents left the house, but now? now he could care less it seemed.

His refusal to acknowledge her even further upset her and she gave up trying after a while, so she decided to head upstairs to the bathroom.  With every step she took upstairs, her heart felt heavier and heavier at the thought that Jackson no longer cared that she was there or that he no longer got excited and rushed to hug her when she stepped through the door. With a heavy heart and gloomy eyes, she headed to open the bathroom door but not before bumping into something hard.