Sutton’s stepsister

Corleone pov

Morning came, like every other morning. But something felt different.

The first knock came from a maid that reported my mom had asked me to come down for breakfast.

I groaned, simply uninterested. Breakfast at 6am? It should be called dawn breakfast then.

All of a sudden, the door was thrown open.

"Corleone Audril!" She called out my full name.

I flung the pillow off my face, opening my sleepy eyes to stare at her lazily. Why was she disturbing my beautiful sleep when she could spend the morning with her husband?

"Good morning, mom." I mumbled out a greeting before turning my head to the other side, ready to continue my sleep.

My mom snatched the pillow that covered my face and threw it off. "No, Corleone. It is almost noon." She said,

"What?" I jumped out of bed, almost hitting my head on the wall.

She shrugged, her hands resting on her waist. I pulled the curtains open. The sun was up high like it owned the sky.

"Oh my God, mom. My first class starts at eleven!" I screamed, starting to scramble around.

Mom laughed, leaving the room. I sighed, dashing into the bathroom immediately. Chronicles of sleeping so late.

I didn't have the time for makeup. I threw on the first decent clothes I laid my hands on. I carried my backpack and hurried downstairs without bothering to shut the door of my room.

"Breakfast, sweetie?" Mom called out.

My eyes caught the dining table. Martil was absent. Was that supposed to be a good thing? Honestly....maybe.

"I am late, mom." I shouted back.

To my relief, a car was outside waiting. It must have been arranged by Mr Sutton. I didn't have the time to think much about it.

School buzzed with life. Everyone was hurrying around. Students laughed, gossiped and did some other things I couldn't catch while I dashed through the lecture hallway alone.

I threw the lecture room door open, breathing hard. "I am so sorry --" I froze.

Cold eyes locked on me. Martil.

My poor heart hammered in my chest. He was the one taking my first class? Jesus Christ.

Over fifty students stared at me caught between my disruption and Martil’s undeniable hotness.

"You are late, Miss." Martil's deep voice ran out. His gaze pinned me in place.

I bit my lips softly, blush creeping up my cheeks in embarrassment. I hated being the center of attention.

First day back after suspension and I was screwing things up again.

"I'm sorry." I said quickly, and made my way up the small stairs that led to the lecture chairs.

I found a space and got comfortable.

Ten minutes into class and I was barely listening. I was struggling to concentrate. Scratch that! I couldn't concentrate at all.

I hated that I couldn't focus.

The way his lips moved slowly while he spoke, barely parting but perfectly audible. Two buttons of his shirt were undone again. Why was he always dressed like that? Showing off, probably.

Finally, the class ended.

I was the last person to attend the class and I was the first to leave. It wasn't boring. I was just distracted.

As I stepped out, someone stopped me. "Girl, you look like shit." Her eyes raked my outfit.

"Excuse me?" I blinked, taken aback. Do people normally use cuss words around here?

The girl had a purple tint on. She titled her head slightly. "Relax, girl. That wasn't a shade. You just look like you overslept, ran through a tornado and showed up late to the hottest class on campus."

I opened my mouth, then closed it again. Was that a compliment? An insult? Or a mix of both?

Before I could respond, a boy slid beside me, his short curls bouncing at his steps.

"Davin here." He introduced himself with a playful grin, "That's Percy." He nodded toward the girl who waved like we were already friends.

We started walking together.

"You are Sutton's stepdaughter right?" His eyes raked me like a magazine cover, "Corleone?"

I nodded slowly, "Unfortunately."

Percy chuckled, "Girl, you just made a dramatic comeback. Everyone was expecting a girl with sunglasses and a clean record."

I laughed despite my silly self. "Sorry to disappoint y'all."

"Nah. You didn't disappoint at all." Davin said, nudging my shoulder. "You came late, disrupted the perfect question class, and somehow got Mr Dead-soul to speak more than two words. That's a good one."

I glanced at him. "Dead soul? Who's that?"

"Martil," they said in unison.

My smile faltered a little. "You know he is my –"

"Stepbrother?" Percy interrupted, lips curling into a smirk. "We know. It's all over campus. Hottest guy here. Cold reputation. Campus gossip exploded when we heard he suddenly has a stepsister."

Great. Not what I needed at all.

"Looks like rain," Davin said, glancing up at the sky.

The clouds had rolled in thick gray.

"We are heading to the café before the next class. Are you coming?" Percy asked.

I was about to say yes when the first drop splashed against my shoulder. Then, another. Within seconds, it was pouring.

"Nice meeting you guys. I might need to get home now." I pulled my bag over my head and bolted toward the nearest shelter where I would wait for my ride.

I stood under the small shed. Water dripped down my legs. My shirt clung to my skin. So much for the tornado look. Now, I looked like a drowned kitten.

I pulled out my phone to call mom. Unavailable. Not now. I stomped my foot on the mushy ground in annoyance, only to see a message waiting.

“The driver's car broke down. He won't be able to pick you up. So sorry, sweetie. Be safe.” I saw my mom's texts from twenty minutes ago.

Oh my god. Seriously? It shouldn't be now. If the driver's car had a problem, why can't she pick me up? I was definitely stuck here.

I should probably go back to Percy and Davin, maybe I could tag along. But that was a bad idea.

Cold seeped into my skin like an ice plunge. I hated being in the rain.

Just then, a familiar black motorcycle rolled to a slow stop in front of the shelter.

I froze. It was him. Again.

Black helmet. Leather jacket. Silence that pricked my skin.

Martil..

He didn’t say anything. Just sat there, staring at me from beneath the visor like he was waiting.

The rain hissed off the pavement, but everything else went still.

My heart was punching against my ribs. What was he doing here?

Martil flicked his fingers toward me – a silent command.

"I am not getting on that." I muttered, speaking to myself.

I stared back at him. His presence – acting like he ruled the place. His demand was crushing enough to send my knees wobbling.

My feet moved before my brain could warn me of my decision. I stepped into the rain.