My Stepbrother secret-possession

Avoidance

"My weekend was boring. I devoted all my attention to reading the new books I bought last week. On Sunday, I dragged myself to the Summerlin library, where I found solace among the thousands of books. I spent most of my time there until my mum called me for dinner. Although I didn't make it on time, I considered myself lucky because I didn't have to sit across from Leigh. I've been avoiding him and anything related to him lately, except for his father and sister.

"I can't believe you spent your time reading in Las Vegas when there are clear advertisements on every wall in Vegas," Sawyer shook her head in disbelief.

"Well, everything advertised on every wall in Las Vegas is meant for a twenty-one-year-old," I rolled my eyes at her. We're on a Zoom call on my laptop.

"Don't American kids get fake IDs?" she asked, perplexed.

Laughing at her reaction and words, I replied, "Sawyer, I don't know."

"I thought your siblings were getting you one," she recalled our conversation from a few days ago.

"Yes, I don't even remember any more until now. A fake ID isn't my priority," I mumbled. "And just to correct your reference, they're never going to be my siblings. If Mum marries Christian, I assure you the law will make us step-siblings, not full siblings. I still wish I could go back home, continue my life, and have Twinings, which I can't find around here."

"I am sure it's findable in some grocery shop around there; you just need to go shopping." She playfully started. "Are you okay?" Sawyer worriedly asked, just as someone said, "What does that mean?"

Looking up, I saw Lilith standing by the door, her expression unknown. For a moment, I tried to divide my attention between Sawyer, who looked concerned, and Lilith, who appeared possibly hurt by my words. How did she even get in here without me noticing? Well, either way, she's clearly angry.

"I'll call you back," I told Sawyer, who was utterly lost by my shocked reaction. Before she could say anything, I closed the laptop and stood up.

"You've been acting strange and pushing everyone away this whole week. You don't like it here," Lilith stated, glaring at me with intense disappointment.

"I didn't say that," I quietly replied, shaking my head.

"But you did say it. We're never going to be your siblings, and you want to go back home. You don't consider us family, do you?" She looked hurt.

For once, Lilith appeared vulnerable, and it was because of me. Why would she care? She had only known me for weeks. "That's why you've been acting differently all this time. I'm the idiot trying to make you feel better when I'm the reason for your attitude," she shrugged. "But you're right, this isn't your home."

With those words, she left my room, leaving me standing there without explaining myself. I guess I've ruined my only stable American friendship.

That night, I couldn't sleep. I was worried and anxious, waiting for my mum to angrily barge into my room. But of course, Lilith didn't tell on me, at least not yet. It was past two in the morning when I left my room and went to the kitchen. It was hot downstairs since the air conditioning system was off for the night.

I made my way to the kitchen to prepare a warm tea using my mum's TG tea. Despite receiving hundreds of negative comments, I vented my frustrations about not having Twinings tea and my happiness. As I steeped my tea, Leigh walked into the kitchen wearing grey joggers and a white shirt.

I immediately became tense. Being in the same place as Leigh was something I had been avoiding the entire week, and I was sure he had been doing the same.