His step brother.

Sally’s POV.

Cole hovered over me; he was wearing a leather armless jacket with baggy jeans and a trucker hat.

His dark brown hair fell across his face messy in that effortlessly attractive way some boys seemed to wake up with. A slight smirk on his lips.

“Don’t you watch where you are…”

He paused. “Oh, it's you."

I frowned.

It's me? What is that even supposed to mean?

He stared intently at me. His blue eyes pierced into mine. "Are you crying or something?”

“No!” I snapped, looking away and wiping at my wet cheeks with the back of my hand.

He had an accent. A strong British one. The type that girls wanted to listen to over and over again at recess.

"What's this?” I heard him say.

By the time I turned around, he had bent down and picked up a piece of paper.

Heat crawled up my cheeks as I realized that was the handwritten letter I had crafted for Justin.

"No, please, give that back!”

He straightened, stretching his hands above me, and of course he was taller than me, so I couldn't reach.

I jumped slightly, trying to snatch it from him, but it was no use.

He turned around, clearing his throat dramatically.

“Dear Justin,” he began in an overly serious voice.

My stomach dropped.

“Please don’t—”

He ignored me.

Ever since the first day I saw you leaning against your car in that tux, with your hair slicked back and that calm resolve of yours, I knew there was something different about you. The way you don’t smile at anyone but still somehow look like you’re hiding one…”

“Oh my God,” I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut.

He kept going.

“and the way your voice sounds when you say my name makes my heart do this stupid thing where it forgets how to beat properly…”

“Stop!” I jumped again, trying to grab the paper again.

He lifted it higher.

“—I know you probably don’t see me the way I see you, but I just needed you to know that if you ever looked my way, even once, I’d—”

I covered my face.

“This is so embarrassing,” I muttered into my hands.

He lowered the paper slowly.

Then there was silence.

Then Asif just realized; he gasped.

“Waittt! You don't mean it," he said.

“Justin?” he repeated, brows knitting together.

I said nothing.

He took a step closer.

“Like… Justin Justin?”

I nodded slowly.

He stared at me.

“My stepbrother Justin?”

“Could you stop, please?”

His smile faltered. His eyes darted behind me towards the door.

“Darn! You must have been going to give him this, and I am sure you saw…”

He shook his head.

Ughhhh. I wanted to scream. The tears threatened to spill again, and here he was, making everything worse.

“Go ahead, laugh all you want. I am used to it.” I reached for the paper: "Just give it back, please."

This time, he didn't fight it.

I took it and pushed my glasses back up before bending down to place everything carefully back into the box while he hovered over me, probably judging.

I didn't care. When I was done, I straightened

“I would really appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone about this."

He scoffed, “What's in it for me?"

“Basic human decency”

I sidestepped him and walked past him. I was going to call Michael, my junior brother, to come pick me up. He had brought me here. Mum and Dad only allowed me out when they thought he would be with me.

I walked farther away from Cole and stopped at the sidewalk.

I dialed Michael.

He wasn't picking. He had probably gone to one of his stupid game nights with the boys and couldn't hear his phone ringing.

I sent him a message instead.

‘Come pick me up, turd.'

I dropped the box heavily on the floor and closed my eyes shut.

I couldn't believe everything that happened.

“I wouldn't make fun of you for being courageous."

I heard a voice say behind me.

I turned sharply.

“Huh?” I really wasn't in the mood for his shenanigans. I had heard a lot of stories about him.

“Takes guts to hand someone your heart on paper.”

I blinked. That wasn’t what I expected.

“Love doesn’t exist,” he added lazily. “But still. Points for effort.”

I almost laughed.

“Why are you talking to me right now?”

He shrugged, hands in his pockets. “I don't know, maybe because I can help you, and I am bored. I guess”

My eyes narrowed. “Help me how?”

He leaned forward.

He was close.

So close I could perceive his intoxicating perfume.

My heart rose and fell so fast.

“I could help you get Justin wrapped right around your fingertips." He swirled his index finger around.

I swallowed, "How?"

He stepped back a little.

My shoulders relaxed instantly; relief washed over me. "You ask a lot of questions, don't you?”

"Justin's my stepbrother; I know what he likes and what he doesn't. I can put in a good word or two and make sure he starts noticing you.”

I folded my arms over my chest. “Really? And what's in it for you?”

He grinned widely, taking a step forward. "Now… we are talking.”

I took a step back.

“I heard you are really smart. Like, smart smart. You help me graduate from senior year of college. Help with assignments and projects. Basically teach me the basics.”

"Huh?" Like tutoring?”

He winked, “Exactly!”

I scoffed, "Thank you for your offer, but…”

“Sssh,” he placed an index finger over my mouth; he leaned in even closer. "Think about it."

Just then, a loud horn sounded from across the street, making me jolt.

It was Michael. Thank goodness. I have never been relieved to see him in my entire life.

I took a step back from cole, but his grin only widened.

Micheal didn't stop horning. “

"I am coming, Timmy Turner," I yelled at him.

He threw me a fuck-you finger and wound up the glass. My eyes rolled.

“Your brother?” Cole asked.

“Unfortunately”

He took my phone from me and hovered it over my face to unlock the Face ID.

“Here, this is my number. Call me whenever”

My eyes narrowed as he handed it back to me.

Then he tipped my chin with his finger. "See you some other time, Sally. I have a party to crash."

Before I could speak again, he turned to leave.

But he paused after a few steps without turning back.

“And by the way, a letter is the shabbiest way to confess your feelings. What are we in the 90s?

I caught the tug of his lips before he walked away and disappeared through the door.

“Uggggggggghhh. Cocky bastard.”

****

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