Fredrick’s pov“Why are you in my school? You didn’t inform me you would be coming,” I asked Sophia, but she remained mute as she drove; she had a latent smile on her face, which conveyed trouble. She was pissed but tried hiding it behind a smile."Talk to me; why come pick me up? You created a scene; now everyone is talking."“You never had a problem with that, so why today? Besides, I just came to take you gaming; I was bored and I needed someone to talk to, so I came to pick you up. Is that bad?”It has been this way for a long time. Sophia was too rich to be among us; she was way richer than my dad in person, and at first, it was the best thing to date the richest and hottest girl in the state. It came with its peaks and its odds; she was always right to do whatever; I never argued her decision; she was free to do as she pleases; and I had no say whatsoever.She was loving, caring, and more compassionate than I expected from someone who had access to other bedmates; she wasn’t ent
Joan’s povEverything sucked. I hated everyone. Yes, he was right. What was I thinking? I was a whore who begged for sex, one that wasn’t paid but enjoyed being used, and for all I care, I was done, totally this time.I would tell Mom everything. I would tell her about Fred and me. It might be the last time she wouldn’t trust me, but it was worth it.It was dinner time, and as always, this new fake family was down, all hoping we could pretend and look at each other's faces like nothing happened between us, and I was going to ruin it for everyone, including myself.Walking down the stairs, in a four-chair dining room, mom was sitting close to her newlywed husband, both of them holding hands together and whispering something in each other's ears, while Fred was at the left wind, already chewing the grapes like the pig he was—no single cutesy.I hate him, I hate myself.“Come join us; we have big news we would like to share with the family,” mom said.“This is not a family, and what’s so
Joan’s pov“Pregnant?” “Yes, we are pregnant; we don’t know the gender yet; since it’s not time, your dad and I just found out, and we decided to share it together with both of you,” her smile stoll handing, she was expecting a reaction of some sort.Fred I held my hands underneath the table so I didn't combust, but I pulled out anyway. Damn all of them, damn their stupid news. Mom isn’t supposed to be pregnant for him; it’s off the radar.Nothing was making sense, pregnant? It was too early to be pregnant, and she was pregnant for this man, this pervert."Aren't you happy, my love? You are finally going to have a sibling; it will be the beginning of our new family bond, and maybe we will grow to love each other as you help nurture your sibling.” She stares at him with spotless love in her eyes, and he smiles back at her.Pretense, all pretense—he doesn’t love her.“Is this what you really want, mom, a child?”“Yes,it will seal the family bond for ever,” she smiled at me. I knew what
Joan’s povI left for school early that morning, before Fred couldleave so I don't have to see his face or that of my stepdads; both of them were just pure enigmas to my existence. Throughout the weekends, I barely talked to him, and I locked myself inside all throughout."What is it, Joan? You don’t look so well." Anna asked, and I couldn't tell her what my problem was, knowing I had kept what had just happened between Fred and me a secret. She doesn’t even know that we were stepbrothers."Nothing; I am fine,” I replied, and as we walked down the hall, she wasn’t going to take that as an answer either. She knew when I was lying, but this particular truth can’t be told. Not even to her, we had to uphold this facade of ours till time do us part.“What is it? You didn’t sleep well, and guess what? I have a crush,” she said, bringing out a phone from her pocket. She showed me a guy and their previous text messages. I tried following her up, but I couldn't because my mind was too exposed
Fredricks pov“He’s the new boy,” Mark whispered in my ears. I saw the way she smiled and how this new boy didn't lose the slightest opportunity to touch her; she blushed countless times in my presence. Before, she could perceive me from a mile apart, but now she doesn’t even notice me two chairs away from her.What are they saying that’s so funny? She never had lunch with any guy, not even that nerd from the last time. He wouldn't dare come back to her again after last time, but this guy was new. Maybe I need to teach him a lesson, one he won’t forget."I need to know everything about him; whatever you can find, give it to me,” I said."Well, I know he’s rich, like very rich, but he doesn’t talk to anyone, and from what I heard, he is a transfer student. Some said he stabbed someone in his previous school and was expelled from school since no school would accept him; he was sent here as a last resort.”I gave it another thought: He doesn’t look like he can harm anyone, but he doesn’t
Joan’s povMom asked about everything that happened, if it was odd, but she asked only about Fred’s new bruise. I couldn’t tell her he fought a new kid; I had to play the role of a new stepsister who wouldn’t complicate herself no matter what.“He got into an argument, and you know, guys, they would probably hit each other.” She wanted to ask more questions, but I had more dare situations than answering her questions. Isaac demands I go out with him, but I can’t without permission, so I asked mom, and she agreed, which was nice till I saw him again.“So who is he to you, your new boyfriend?” Fred asked. He was seated on my bed, ice on his cheek and his legs crossed. I hated how he had access to my room, but gone are those days when I had a room all to myself with no sibling driving you to the verge of your sanity."I am talking to you, Joan; tell me, do you even know him?”“It’s none of your business. So get out of my room.” I walked into my closet, dropping my bag. I walked into the
Joan’s pov It was my first date night, and we drove all the way down to the community garden. “I hope you didn’t eat, because I brought a threat along,” he said, opening the door for me and leading me out, bewildered by the view.There was a blanket on the floor, and there was a basket on it. “I know it’s not much, but I just thought it would be better than just a normal dinner where we could sit and watch the sky together.” My heart welled up with so many emotions, and he was so considerate.“I love it!” I exclaimed.He took my hands, and we walked over to the blanket, bread, wine, some fruits, and a lot of chocolate. "I just want to get to know you more. I spent my time looking at you, and I might have made so many assumptions about you that night that are not true. So tell me yours, and I will tell you mine."I gave it some thought. There wasn’t much about me that I could tell everybody, "My dad died in an accident, my mom remarried, and I hate my new family so much.” I expected h
Joan’s pov Fear engulfed my senses as he walked into the room and locked the door behind him. “How lucky are you? Does your mom know you have three men in your pants?” he asked, closing the space between us.“Does she know how much of a slut you are?" He leaned close to kiss me, and I pushed him immediately. "I am not a slut.”"Yes, you are," he said, climbing on the bed. With my hands above my head, he kissed me, then down my neck. I tried to cry, but I couldn’t hold it, my body overwhelmed with so much disgust as he touched the mess.“Get out.” I pushed him away, but he didn't go, so I bit his ear immediately. He let me. “Feisty right, oh, you will pay dearly for it,” he said with a smile on his face. He walked out on me. What is he going to do this time?What’s going to happen to Mom? Once again, the night was long. I had no idea what he would do to mom, but he sounds really certain he was going to hurt her. What have I gotten myself into?I barely had sleep at night; everything p