Stepbrother//Jack Avery

Chapter 4

*Lia's POV*

  I woke up to the sound of my phone going off. I blindly searched for it, finally locating it and opening my eyes. I turned on my phone to see a missed call from Gabbie. I started to text her.

                                     Lia☀️: Hey Gabbie! I saw you called.

Gabbie🌷: Yeah. I was wondering if you wanted to go skating later today

                                     Lia☀️: I'd love to! We can meet at the beach, I like skating there😂 Meet at 2?

Gabbie🌷: See you then!

  I put my phone back on my nightstand and got out of bed, heading towards the bathroom to shower.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

  I grabbed my skateboard out of the trunk, heading towards the sidewalk to wait for Gabbie. In the meanwhile I took my phone out of my pocket and texted my dad.

           Lia: Want me to pick something up for dinner when I'm done skateboarding?

Dad: Actually we are going out to eat with Kristin and pick her son up from the airport. He is getting home today.

Lia: Oh ok. Do I have to come?

Dad: I'd like you to meet him and be at dinner so yes. Be back at home by 5

Lia: Ok, see ya soon dad! Love you❤️

Dad: 😘

"Lia, hey!" a voice from my left said cheerfully.
I looked up and saw Gabbie approaching me, skateboard in hand.
"Hey Gabbie! I'm glad we could meet up. I can't stay to long since I have to be home to meet my dad's girlfriend's son," I smiled as we began to skate.
"Ok, that's fine since I told Lavender's babysitter I'd only be gone for about three hours," she replied.
I nodded as we grew silent, though it wasn't uncomfortable. We were both just enjoying the wind in our hair, the rush you feel when your on the skateboard, and the smell of the salty air.
We skated for about an hour and a half when we finally became tired and said our goodbyes, heading home.
I began to drive towards my house which would take about half an hour. I turned on the radio and sang along to the top hits as I drove.
Finally pulling into my driveway, I grabbed my stuff and headed inside, going into my room to change out of my skating clothes.
Once I was changed I check the time to see it was a little after 4:00. I had an hour to do whatever I wanted.
"Lia!" my dad yelled from downstairs.
"Yeah?" I called back.
"We are actually leaving earlier to pick her son up, then we are going out to dinner so please come downstairs," he responded.
I slipped on my checkered vans and looked at myself in the mirror. I was wearing black skinny jeans and an orangish brown colored t-shirt. I shrugged and headed downstairs, following my dad out the door.
"So we are picking up Kristen and then we are going to the airport," my dad explained as he opened the door to our bigger car.
I looked at him, confused, "Why the big car if it's just Kristin?"
"We also have to pick up her son's band mates since they are spending the night at Kristin's. Sorry I forgot to tell you all of this. Sydnie and the other girls won't be at dinner either since they were busy which gives you a chance to get to know her son."
"Oh," I said, disappointed that Sydnie couldn't make it.
We drove in silence the rest of the way to Kristin's. When we arrived at her house I got out and moved to the back seat and we headed towards the airport.
"Just a heads up Lia, Jack's bandmates are quite a handful," Kristin chuckled.
I let out a chuckle too as we parked.
We began walking towards the entrance, my dad and Kristin talking about work as I stayed quiet. We walked through the entrance, following Kristin to the gate her son was arriving at.
"Mom!" a voice shouted over the crowd.
Kristin turned around and her eyes widened as she probably recognized her son. She immediately opened her arms as a boy who looked around my age ran into her arms. He had curly hair that resembled noodles.
They separated and I stood by my dad, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. Kristin linked her arm through my dad's as he introduced himself. I saw as his smile faltered slightly as my dad said boyfriend but he quickly smiled again and nodded.
"And this is my daughter, Lia," my dad turned towards me as I waved shyly.
"Cool" was all he said before turning around and talking to a group of boys that had gathered behind him, most likely his friends.
Kristin pulled me aside, "I'm so sorry about him, he usually is much more friendly. Maybe at dinner you can get him to open up."
I nodded as we headed back towards the group. I really wasn't excited about having to come to dinner and now I was even grumpier because of the way her son was acting.
A few minutes later we were in the car driving again. I was sitting in the middle row of the three row car next to Jack. He was in the middle between me and one of his friends who I still didn't know the name of. As I scrolled through Instagram, liking Quinn's most recent post, I saw out of the corner of my eye Jack frowning at me. I rolled my eyes and proceeded to look at other people from my college classes posts.
When we arrived at the restaurant we all stumbled out of the car, walking inside.
"Hello, we have reservations for Kristin, party of eight," Kristin told the front desk.
"I'm so sorry ma'am but there was an issue, you can either wait an hour to be seated or sit at two different tables," the woman spoke.
Kristin looked at all of us, expecting us all to be starving, and made up her mind, "We can just sit at different tables."
The woman nodded and grabbed menus, guiding us to our two tables. I was about to sit with my dad and Kristin when he told me I should socialize with Jack. I groaned as I headed towards the table filled with boys.
As I sat down Jack shot me a glare.
"Ok, what did I do to you?" I snapped at him.
He stared at me, dumbfounded and shook his head.
"Exactly, that's what I thought," I huffed as I opened the menu.
I felt the other boy's stares and I slammed the menu onto the table.
"Seriously, is there an issue?"
  They all shook their heads.
  "Listen, I'm sorry about being rude to you, it's just hard to adjust to the fact my mom is dating again," Jack shook his head, embarrassed.
  "Just because your having trouble adjusting doesn't mean you can give my dad and I looks. But I guess I accept your apology," I shrugged.
  With that I went on my phone, ignoring the boy's gazes. I think this is why I've never had a boyfriend, I get extremely closed off and defensive.
  "Lia, I'm really sorry," Jack says, breaking the silence.
  He really does sound sorry. I nod.
  "I accept and forgive you. Let's start over again. I'm Lia, twenty years old, go to college locally."
  "I'm Jack, also twenty. These are my bandmates."
  "Corbyn," one of them spoke up.
  "Jonah."
  "Zach."
  "And I'm Daniel," the boy with beautiful eyes smiled brightly.
  I returned his smile and faced Jack again.
  "So Lia, any interesting stories?"
  I choked on my drink, the boys all stared at me, confused.
  "Uh, it's personal," I muttered.
  I did not want to bring up my mom, especially since I just met these boys.
  "Oh, sorry," Jack apologized.
  I shook my head, "It's fine."
  The rest of the night was mostly just Jack and I talking, the occasional words from Jonah and Daniel. But Daniel, he was the one I was thinking of when I lay in bed that night.

  Daniel.

      A/N- Hey! So school just started today and that's why this was published so late. I might not be updating everyday but bear with me since I have a lot of homework. Anyways, hope you enjoyed!