HELLO, STEPBROTHER

OLIVIA'S POV

It had been three years since I last came to Colorado. I took off the sunglasses I had on which I would constantly wear when outside in Mexico. I squinted my eyes as my eyes adjusted to the brightness. The world out here looked different.

The announcement of moving back to Colorado made me really happy. I might have gotten used to the people in our home back in Mexico, but there's nothing that can beat going back to where you grew up. It meant that I would be able to see Alicia again and the familiar neighborhood. 

I stared at Mom from the corner of my eye, she looked so happy. 

“I wonder who this guy is that has got you this happy.”

She laughed heartily.

“I’m being serious! You're gonna like him.”

“I still hate you for keeping it from me for so long.”

“I’m so sorry.” She pleaded.

I didn't respond so she hugged me from behind.

“I hear you, mama.” I said smiling at her reaction.

I knew I was going to like him. 

I trusted my mom's judgement but getting engaged so quick… oh well!

Mom recognized him from our previous neighborhood when we lived in Colorado and they had hung out a few times and kept in contact since then. 

“He is very fond of his son,” Mum was saying, “You have a new stepbrother, can you believe it?” She sounded way more excited at the thought than I was.

“Mmhm…” I hummed, not really caring.

“I was told that your stepbrother went to the same high school as you. I'm sure you guys will have so much to talk about.”

“If you say so…”  I was actually really curious to know who it was.

I caught sight of Alicia who was waving like crazy at me and mum. I smiled. Oh, how I missed her!

There were many things I didn't like about this place when I lived here— the bullying in high school, the obvious class difference that made people think they were better than you— but one person I didn't forget was Alicia.

We had managed to keep in touch all this while, and I allowed her to boast about the fact that she had a friend who was living in Mexico. I waved back at her and my mum cooed.

“Aww… look how mature she's gotten. I remember when you two were this high.” 

She motioned with her hand towards her waist region and giggled at her own joke.

I had already texted Alicia our flight details the night before because I was sure she would love to pick us up as my new stepdad was unavailable. 

We hugged and mom did too.

I sighed audibly, as I got into my friend's car. We would be moving into my mom's fiance's house and I didn't know how I felt about it.

Mom gave the address to Alicia and she looked at me with a strange expression. 

"Are you sure that's the address, Rhonda?" She asked and my mum simply nodded with a smile. I was caught off guard momentarily by the use of my mum's first name, then I remembered that's the way it was when I was back here. My mum was still smiling. She must have been so happy to get to see him again. 

I looked at Alicia wondering why she had reacted like that. She gave me that look as if to say, ‘later’.  

We passed by our old neighborhood and Alicia gave a running commentary on everybody. 

“You won't believe who got pregnant?”

“What? Who?”

“Clara!”

I gasped, “The nerdy one?”

“The nerdy one!” Alicia affirmed.

“You can't be serious!”

“I’m telling you Olivia…. No one knows the father!”

Our conversation went on that way with shocking revelations on the happenings in town since I left.

I was so jetlagged that I felt like I would sleep for two days. I couldn't help the recurring question in my mind. It was on the tip of my tongue.

 Was Dante still dating Linda?

 I decided against asking because my mum was there and it could lead me to reveal how I still sometimes saw him come to make love to me in my dreams.

Alicia seemed to talk about everybody's lives except his and I was beginning to think she was doing it on purpose. I didn't want to have to ask.

It was a lifetime ago. I had traveled, seen places, people and I had liked guys. But, I didn't want her to know that I still had a crush on Dante. It would make me look pathetic. I had boyfriends in Mexico ofcourse, but I still thought of Dante once in a while. His boyish grin, charming demeanor, tan complexion, messy dirty blonde hair, his ass— oh how he walked in his loose jeans— with that flat ass begging to be touched. I caught myself before I started drooling just by thinking of him alone. I shook those naughty thoughts off my mind and focused on what Alicia was saying.

Finally, she turned and entered one of the fancy neighborhoods I remembered from back then.

“Here we are!” Alicia announced.

I gaped at the view of my surroundings.

“No way!”

“Uh… yes way!” Alicia exclaimed back and giggled.

I turned to look at mom at the back seat.

“Mom looks like you struck gold.”

 The people who lived here were extremely rich. I'd never been to this part of town.

“Ugh… lucky you! I am so jealous.” She rolled her eyes dramatically.

I laughed at her reaction.

I looked through the window, smiling as the wind blew my hair.

“Remember how we were never invited to the parties the rich kids held here? I get to live here now?” I was still in awe.

“Yes dear, this is now your home.”

I smiled. 

This was now my home.

As we halted to a stop in front of one of the biggest houses in the neighborhood, I couldn't help but wonder which of the kids from my former school lived there. 

Mom must have been given a key because she let us in. It was dark inside which meant no one was home yet. I don't know how Mum managed to know her way around but she led Alicia and me to a room and said I could drop my stuff there. Then she disappeared somewhere inside the house. I didn't mind. I wanted to get my things in order and sleep.

I was not entirely sure her fiancé knew we were here because no one was here to welcome us but it was just as well. I was not sure I was mentally prepared to meet anyone just yet. 

Alicia didn't get to stay for long as she had to run off to her work shift.

I couldn't seem to fall asleep because it was a new place and my body hadn't gotten used to it yet— new place syndrome or whatever they call it. 

Mum was already in the kitchen looking to fix us something to eat. So, I decided to study the pictures that lined the walls in the hallway. 

The first picture was of a man and a kid. The man had to be my mom's fiancé. He was really handsome. I see why my mum took interest in him and the young kid… he looked familiar. I mean he had to be if we had gone to the same school. I squinted and tried to guess who it was but it wasn't coming to me.

The next picture was a graduation picture. From high school. As soon as I saw the kid, looking more grown up in the picture, I stepped back.

My heart started racing. 

It felt like a dream.

I now understand why Alicia had looked at me weirdly when Mom gave her the address. My soon-to-be stepbrother was none other than the boy I had a massive crush on in high school. Dante.