All Chapters of MY STEP BROTHER, MY RUIN: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

JUNE;“No, mom,” I said into the phone, “It's nothing I can't handle. Right now I'm headed to Mary's,”Her voice rose from the other end, concerned and worried. I knew how paranoid she could get about little things, and the last thing I wanted was to drag her through that route again. That part of her stemmed from Dad's abandonment and rejection, now that she was becoming alive again, I wouldn't stand in the way of that,“June… Mariah would give you a spare key once you return to the house… Your stepfather told me everything and he's truly sorry for Ronan’s actions,” she tried harder to pacify me.I nodded, like she could see me. My words had become hitched. “Your stepdad and I will be back in a couple of days… He’s setting up a new business over here. I miss you, my darling…”I tried to speak but my throat had gone dry. “I miss you too, Mom,” I managed to say. She ended the call after reminding me she was only a phone call away until she was back. I pulled the phone off my ear.

JUNE;The first class had ended a few minutes ago, and the hallway buzzed with students rushing to their next lectures or hurrying off to lunch. I stood outside the door, contemplating where to head. I had left the house too early, and Mariah had called out in her usual manner, but I was running late. And now? My stomach rumbled a little too loudly, I needed food and I also needed to see Teacher Harold afterwards. Matthew turned to me with that easy, warm smile of his and said, “Come on, let’s get something proper to eat today. My treat.” He stood, adjusting his backpack. I hesitated for half a second, Ronan’s words still clung to my mind, but he was already walking beside me, matching my steps. I couldn't say no, I couldn’t discharge him either. Unlike other days when I would quickly grab something cheap from the affordable side of the canteen, long wooden benches, simple tables with light linens, and food I could carry away in a paper bag, but today felt different. I usually

JUNE;My brain still felt heavy even after I had spent hours in the shower letting the water cool my head. I sat at the dresser in my room, books spread out in front of me like a fortress. My eyebrows were puckered tight as I scribbled notes, flipped pages of the textbook, and the pen scratched loudly against the paper. The lamp Mariah had given me cast a warm golden glow over the pages, but I could barely focus. I didn’t know what it was, Selene’s words? Ronan’s offer to drive me home? It was really much for a day.My phone beeped somewhere deep in the sheets of my bed. I darted my eyes toward it, then I looked back to my books, ignoring the phone.My pen kept moving. Scratching consistently, lips moving softly muttering some lines from the textbook opened before me.The phone beeped again. Then a third time, almost immediately.I spun fully on the low fur stool, my cream night robe swaying lightly around my thighs. The phone screen glowed from under the messy sheets like it was be

JUNE;It was the school's annual dance night. I had heard some other students talk about it with such excitement and anticipation all through the week. The girls were gearing up eagerly to look their best, and the boys… Simply being boys, talking about supposed dance partners.Friday night was here finally. The school gym had been transformed into something almost magical. Strings of fairy lights hung from the ceiling, soft blue and purple lights swept across the floor, and the DJ played a slow song that made the air feel thicker. I stood near the punch table in my new pale blue dress, the one I had finally taken out of the closet, torn out the tag. The fabric hugged my waist and flowed down to my knees. I felt pretty, but also completely out of place, because I had no one in mind to be my dance partner for the night, and after what happened at Selene’s party, dancing with Matthew would definitely be tagged as something else.My fingers twisted the edge of my dress as I watched ever

Matthew stormed out of the gym, the heavy doors slamming behind him with a loud bang that echoed into the night. His chest rose and fell rapidly, breath coming out in sharp, angry bursts. One would think he had lost something so dear, or lost a business battle with the way he raged.The cool night air did nothing to calm the fire raging inside him. He muttered curses under his breath as he marched toward his truck, fists clenched tight at his sides. The light and sounds from the gym now being used as a dance hall, faded slightly toward the parking lot.“Stupid girl,” he growled. “Humiliating me like that in front of everyone.”He stopped beside his black truck and began pacing back and forth like a caged animal. His boots thumped loudly against innocent stones. He ran both hands through his hair, pulling at the strands in frustration. Then, with a sudden burst of rage, he kicked the front tire hard. The impact sent a jolt up his leg, but he barely felt it. He grunted loudly, kicking