My Heartless Stepbrother

MEGHAN One year later... "I'm serious. your mother and I are very excited to have you back." I looked at my stepfather Steve and smiled. It was the end of my first year in college, and things were going well for me as far as my social life and school goes. I fell into a routine, and it was fine with me. "Thank you for saying that. I was nervous about coming back to live with you guys. Are you sure I won't be a burden to you?" I asked him. I couldn't get over my insecurity so easily. Steve wasn't my real father so it was hard to imagine him being so okay with me living there. "You are not a burden, sweetheart. It has been lonely since you left. Adrian hardly stays home anymore. Always out and about, wildin' out with his friends," Steve chuckled. I thought I could stay with my father for the rest of my college year, but everything changed when he suddenly decided to remarry too. I could not stand my new stepmother, and frankly, my stepmother felt the same way about me. All we did

MEGHANI don't know why I accepted Tiffany's invitation. Our first meeting wasn't exactly pleasant. Sure, she acted all sweet and friendly afterward, but her initial greeting of me was cold, especially when she saw me sitting near Adrian.I suppose that's understandable, considering she was his girlfriend. I hadn't thought to ask if he had a girlfriend."A party sounds great. It'll give you a chance to make some new friends," mom said.I nodded in agreement."Besides, Adrian will be there, so you won't be alone," she added.I wasn't so sure about that. It seems that Adrian hated me, so he would be less than thrilled to have me around. He did not like it when I talked to his friends."I don't think he likes me anymore," I laughed and tried to make it out to be a joke but deep inside, I knew it was the truth."Don't be silly. Why wouldn't he like you? You guys were so close before you moved out! I told you, he is going through something, so he was just in a bad mood. It'll pass, and the

MEGHANI was so stunned by his words that I couldn't speak the entire time.I just stood there, frozen while he said those nasty words to me. I couldn't even shed a tear.I watched him slam the door on his way out and then burst into tears. My body shook as I attempted to choke back my sobs, but I couldn't stop. I have never felt so humiliated, so small.So I made one mistake a year ago? Don't I deserve a chance to explain myself? And what was that about him 'almost not making it?' What did he even mean by that? I was so confused.I didn't know how I would go back to the party and have a good time after he made me feel like shit, so I decided to look for Luke. He promised to drive me home after all.I went to the living room and looked around, my eyes frantically searching for Luke. Maybe I should call the rideshare company again."There you are, Maggie. I was looking for you."I released a sigh of relief. Luke found me again. "Did you find Adrian?""Yes," I said meekly. I had wiped m

MEGHANHow was this fair?I was being ganged up by two other girls who looked older and possibly stronger than me. This was such a fucked up situation, I thought. Even if I knew how to fight, which I didn't...I couldn't fight them off both as I was outnumbered.And what are we even fighting about anyway? For a guy I didn't even like?"This is stupid," I said. I shook my head as they were gaining on me."Are you calling me dumb? You slut?" Rita snapped."No, I am not calling you dumb. I am saying this whole thing is dumb. This is a big misunderstanding, that's all. I don't want Luke. I already told you this a thousand times," I said."We don't fucking believe you," Rita's minion barked.Twirling her hair on her finger, Rita stepped even closer to me. So close that I had a hard time breathing as the stench of alcohol in her breath overwhelmed my senses. "I think a lesson needs to be learned. What do you think?" She placed her indexed finger on my chest and then poked it hard, making me

MEGHAN I rolled to my side and groaned as the entire side of my face hurt. I tried to open my eyes, but it was too painful to open my right eye, so I closed them again. Why does it hurt so much? I touched my aching face and the memories from last night came flooding back. Then, thinking about the party, I laughed bitterly to myself. Oh right. How could I forget the beatdown from Luke's number one fan already? Damn Rita and her temper. Maybe I better stay away from him for a while. I had enough problems of my own already. I needed to figure out how to fix things with Adrian. He was still too angry at me, and I wanted him to stop hating me. "Maggie! Are you up?" I jolted up into a sitting position as I heard my mother's voice. Shit...I wasn't ready for her to see my battered face. I knew she would be disappointed once she saw how her daughter was getting into trouble already. I didn't want her to regret inviting me here to live with her again. "Y...yes, mom," I replied. "It's a