My Stepbrother secret-possession

You Said You Would Never Cheat On Me

Depression is real, for I'm experiencing it. The dysphoric feeling permeates every fibre of my being as I sit by my bedroom window, watching the sunrise. In fact, I maintained my position until noon, until someone finally succeeded in opening my locked door after numerous attempts.

I tilt my head to find a concerned mum standing beside her fiancé. "I'll give you two some space," Christian tells us and leaves. I suppose he has a spare key to every door in this house. Of course, he does; this is his house.

Swallowing, I shift my gaze back to the window as Mum approaches and sits next to me. "Hey, honey." I only notice the mug in her hand when she holds it out to me.

Without answering, I simply stare at my tea, my eyes down on the tea.

"How are you feeling?" she asks with concern.

"Good," I reply, my eyes still fixed on the tea.

"What happened?" Her voice is filled with concern.

I can't bring myself to look my mum in the eyes because I know I can't cry about something I brought upon myself. "Just teenage drama, Mum, it's nothing," I lie.

"You know you can tell me anything, right?" Her voice is sincere and reassuring.

With my head bowed and still staring at my tea, I say, "I know."

If only I could discuss this with my mother, the person I'm betraying by keeping this from her, the person who still sees me as the innocent and naive person I'm supposed to be.

I don't know when the tears started flowing again, but I almost choke on my breath. "I'm sorry, Mum."

And I truly am.

Suddenly, I feel her arms around me. "Oh, Ava." Her words only intensify my sobs as I let my tears freely spill onto her shoulder.

My head is pounding, every part of my body hurts. "Whatever you're going through, I know it will be alright. I'm here for you." Her voice is soothing, just like her hug and the gentle strokes of her hands on my back.

***

I decide to have a shower, hoping it might help me look less like a zombie. But it doesn't. Nothing does. I still feel disconnected from my soul.

With that in mind, I leave my room and notice that Lilith's bedroom door is slightly open. "Ava," she calls out desperately as she rushes through the door. "Can we talk?"

What does she want to talk about? Did they figure out the reasons behind my unexpected reaction and departure? Did Leigh spill the beans?

I don't reply to her. Instead, I meet her nervous gaze with an intense glare, for the more I think about it, the more I realise I'm starting to despise her. She is the reason I had to endure this unbearable pain. Not only did she insist on me spending the day with the girls, but she also did everything in her power to bring her brother and Embry together.

"Shit, you look pretty miserable," Lilith says. I can't quite tell if she's joking or genuinely throwing yet another jab at me.

But I know I look miserable. "Look, I'm sorry about yesterday. I shouldn't have chosen you. It's just that you're my sister, so it was easier," she says.

So that's what she's sorry for? Yes, that warrants an apology, but there's a long list of things she should be sorry for, like Embry humiliating me in front of everyone. "So you could also kiss and flirt with Leigh? Because he's your brother?" I raise my eyebrows at her.

Her expression instantly turns to disgust. "Ewww, gross." Her response hits me in different ways.

"That's what I thought." Disappointed, I shake my head and turn away from her, but she's quick enough to grab my wrist and stop me.