The Stepbrother - Noah Centineo (COMPLETED)

I'd rather not.

Noah's PoV

I can't believe she threatened to kick me out until I sorted out my ways. It was this one fucking time, it's not going to happen again. Well, I hope not anyway.
I was kind of relieved when arielle's brother turned up at the door, stopping my mum from saying any other mean things. I had never seen her that angry before, I thought maybe she'd feel a little bad for me, considering my state, but no. 

I was looking over myself in my mirror, the bruise around my eye seems to have gotten worse since I woke up this morning. I brought my finger up and I traced around it with a wince, it was tender to touch. I didn't even realise that they had managed to get my eye, seeing as I hunched myself up whilst they beat the living shit out of my body. I gulped, lifting up my shirt. I had noticed a few bruises on my stomach earlier whilst I was changing but I couldn't bare to look anywhere else. I hated to see myself like this, I didn't recognise myself and I'm sure Arielle thinks the same.

I turned my back to the mirror, cocking my head to look at it in the large standing mirror. It was one of the items Arielle was persistent on that I purchase. She said it might come in handy one day and well, she wasn't wrong. My back was scattered in different sized bruises, one especially that was in the shape of Jude's stupid heavy doc martens. I'm such an idiot for thinking that I could hang out with that lot and get a distraction. Then again, it led me to make somewhat amends with Arielle.

I sighed, releasing my grip and letting my top fall back down to its natural sitting on my hips. I picked up the Vaseline Arielle gave me last night before we went our separate ways into our own rooms, only to end up back in hers. I put a generous layer over my lips, making sure to smother the cut in it. I don't know if it'll really help but its so sore and dry right now, anything would surely feel better than it currently is.

I didn't want to go downstairs just yet, maybe not at all. I could sense that this George instantly started to judge me. The way his eyes scanned over my appearance with disgust. Ugh, I hate him already.

As I laid on my bed, my door slowly creaked open and Arielle stood on the other side of it. 
"You not coming down to introduce yourself?" She asked softly, leaning up against my doorframe. She looked so cute.
"I'm sure my mothers already done the honours." I rolled my eyes. I can already picture her apologising to this random guy about my attitude and appearance.
"You don't like him do you?" She sighed, stepping in the room and shutting the door behind her. I sat up on my bed, watching as she rearranged some bits on my chest of drawers.
"I don't even know him." I lied. I did in fact hate him, for no apparent reason. Its just how I work.
"Then come and get to know him." She suggested, looking at me with her lips pursed, the dimple on her left cheek showing slightly.
"I'd rather not." I shook my head, pulling my gaze away from her. If I looked at her any longer, I would grab her by the waist and press our lips together. It's what I'm desperately trying not to do.
"Your mum would really appreciate it if you came down and socialised for a bit." To which I scoffed.
"You're really selling it to me here, Arielle." Her name rolled perfectly off my tongue.
"Okay, I want you to come down and meet him." She looked at me with a glint of hope in her eyes.
"Why? So I can chat with your brother and feel even more guilty about us? Or are you trying to make me understand that we're a happy little family and we're completely fucked up?" I snapped, instantly regretting it once her face fell into a frown.
"No. I just thought maybe you'd like to come down and sit with us all instead of being lonely up here but I get it." She barked back, turning on heel and leaving my room.
"Arielle!" I called after her but it was too late, she had already ran off back downstairs.

I whacked my palm to my forehead, wincing as I hit the cut in my eyebrow. Fuck sake, when will these heal?

----------
Arielle's PoV

That boy could be so frustrating at times. I wish he wouldn't shut himself away all the time. I could imagine that if the dinner wasn't held at mine the first time we met each other, he definitely would have hidden upstairs in his room.

When I entered the livingroom and sat back in my same seat, which had now gone cold from my disappearance, George turned to me.
"Dinner out on me tonight." He grinned.
"My gift to Dad and Kelly." He added.
"I insisted to pay some of it but he wasn't having any of it." Kelly pouted playfully from the sofa opposite.
"I can go halves with you?" I offered.
"No, don't be silly. Its my treat." He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into his side. If he had done this back when we were 12, I would have pushed him away but now I welcome it. Its only once a year I see him yet every year that goes by, he resembles my mum so much more.

I let out a happy sigh, relaxing into his touch, my eyes falling heavy. After eventually falling asleep last night, I still woke up super early resulting in four hours sleep. I'm tired. A little nap wont do any harm and being here in George's arms will help aid that.

Before I knew it, I fell into a deep slumber.