ELIJAH'S POV

"She knows Connor hates me, but she dates him anyway, and she's my step-sister. I guess it's convenient for her," I sparked, stomping my feet in a fit of rage.

"Pookie, do not give any attention to this matter. I already told you Connor would dump her soon, just like the others. I know him," Cathy said, rubbing her hands on my head sweetly.

I was angered Anna had made a fuss at the party and drawn attention to herself. It was exactly why I didn't go anywhere with her, or let her ride with me to school, but my dad always insisted she did.

Ever since she moved into our house with her mother, my father had always gone on and on about treating her like my baby sister, but gosh!

Yet everyone asked why I didn't like to have her around me. She had the worst sense of dressing, always looked tacky, wore those absurd glasses, and was unable to drive a car at nineteen. Those were more than enough reasons for me.

She stayed up all night studying, knew everything about history, math, physics, and chemistry, yet couldn't hold a decent conversation without being uncomfortable and shy around people. For a girl from Florida, she was greatly odd.

"I can't believe you let that weirdo piss you off like this," Cathy said, seeing I was still lost in thought.

"Back then in high school, no one ate at the table with her. They called her the night owl, because she had those weird-looking glasses and couldn't see clearly without them," she said with a mocking tone.

Cathy Mclerkin was my girlfriend, the prettiest girl in school, every guy's dream, with the body of a goddess, and she was mine. There was no way I was going to share her with anyone else. I had something Connor could never have; the thought of it excited me.

Connor could have Anna if he wanted. I had no business with it. He could take her away from my house also, so I wouldn't have to drive her to school every day or hear her weird laughter.

All I could think of was Connor having the last laugh, which meant I had lost to him. He was already leading with more points, because my girlfriend was his friend and now he was dating my stepsister. I felt cheated.

I received a text from my father, asking if Anna was with me. I ignored it once more. It was the fourth message in two hours.

I hated how they always asked me about Anna's whereabouts. For God's sake, I wasn't her guardian, and even if I was, I was sick of it. She was exhausting.

I saw how everyone looked at her weirdly the moment she walked through the door. I was embarrassed.

I still couldn't figure out why she had come here, or why she had chosen those tacky clothes.

When Father told me for the first time that I would have a step-sister, I was excited. I looked forward to seeing her. Every day my excitement grew, until they finally arrived.

When I saw her, I was disappointed. Everything about her blew me off: how she smiled weirdly at me all the time. I had never seen her angry at me, ever!

I could do the most bizarre things and she would try to make excuses for my actions. I hated it. She was weak and too tolerating.

"I need to go home now. I bet my dad would be worried about my whereabouts, especially because I didn't take Anna home," I said to Cathy, trying to convince her that we needed to leave. I would have to drive her to her suite before heading home.

---

ANNA'S POV

I stayed up, peeking through my window at intervals, hoping to get a glimpse of his car, but I would have to stay up longer if I wanted to see him.

I had snuck in without my mom and stepdad finding out I had been gone for some time. I was convinced I had succeeded in tricking them into believing I had been in bed all night.

I sighed heavily, leaning into my reading chair, staring at the colorfully painted wall. It brought back memories of how I had been welcomed into this house.

My eyes drifted to the picture frame sitting beside my laptop, holding a photo of me, my mom, and my stepdad. We had taken the photo back in Florida, when we had our first date together.

I was only fifteen years old then, and I never knew he had a son as unkind as Elijah. My mom had assured me he was a sweetheart, but he was always a jerk to me.

And then I felt my heart squeeze in sharply. The whole drama that had happened earlier flashed before my eyes. I thought deeply about Connor, his plan for me to be his girlfriend. I doubted if I could play along perfectly, if he was playing me or having his payback for our little fight days back.

Then I remembered that kiss. My stomach fluttered; my lips moistened. It was my first kiss, from an unexpected end, but it felt good.

I shook off the thoughts of kissing Connor. It was cheating, and I couldn't cheat on Elijah.

Despite the fact that we weren't dating yet, I still needed to be faithful to Elijah. He would come around someday, and I was willing to wait. It didn't matter if I had agreed to date Connor for the show.

He would definitely weary of Cathy soon. She wasn't the type to remain committed; she was a serial dater, and soon I would have Elijah to myself. He would be mine.

Just when I was about to fall asleep, I heard that familiar sound: the sound of his car engine running in the distance.

I jumped to my feet, grabbed my phone, and ran downstairs, excited to see him walk by, to see his handsome face and bask in his aura.

With everything that had happened earlier today, I ordinarily should be angry with him. I should stay in my room, read a book, and stay off his path, but it was difficult. I still wanted to see him walk by with his face hard as a brick. I didn't care if he ignored me like I was invisible.

I put my hair up in a mini ponytail. I had short hair, so it wasn't a big deal. I looked prettier with my hair up, so my mom said.

I stood by the kitchen sink, pretending to get a cup of water, so I could see him get in and steal a glance at him.

I waited until it felt stupid. He never came through the door; it was almost like he was trying to avoid

ANNA'S POV

It was a Friday. Elijah would have to stay back in school for hockey practice. It was undoubtedly my favorite day of the week. I got to watch him practice.

I jerked up, realizing I would be late if I didn't hurry. He would abandon me with the excuse that I was too slow. I needed to match his pace.

I dashed into the shower, brushed my teeth, and dashed downstairs with my backpack hung on my back.

I saw him standing by the kitchen counter with peanut butter on his left hand. He was talking to my mom, who was having her morning coffee. I wondered what they were talking about.

I hesitated, wondering if he was telling her about what had happened last night, or if she had noticed I had been gone. I took in a deep breath.

"Good morning, guys," I said with a tight face, tossing my bag on the table.

They both looked at me, their eyes running down my body. Then their eyes locked, with an accompanying nod.

"You see what I was talking about, Penny? Just look at her," Elijah said suddenly, pointing at me while I stood there clueless. My mother looked at me in a manner that seemed loving but disappointed.

"Honey, you don't have to wear a yellow shirt to match your yellow hair clip. You're no longer in high school," my mom said softly, under her breath, with a smile.

I was right. They were talking about me, but now my mom was taking his side. Whatever I chose to wear was my choice. It was colorful and I loved it. Why was it a big deal to them?

"You'll have to take the bus. I have a place to be before classes," Elijah said to me with a frown, but I wasn't stupid. I knew it was because of what had happened last night. Of course he wouldn't want me riding with him. I had embarrassed him—his words, not mine.

"No, she won't!" Marcus, my stepdad, said, walking down the stairs. He always had my back, even in times when my mom took Elijah's side.

"Why should she take the bus when you have a car, Elijah?" he snapped, his tone on the rise.

Elijah was silent, his lips trembling, a fist clenched at his side. But I didn't care. I just wanted to ride with him to school. He didn't have to speak to me.

"I have somewhere to be. I need to get Cathy before riding to school. You could have the chauffeur drop her off at school."

"You prefer a chauffeur taking her to school over you?" Marcus asked, his tone falling this time, his eyes awakened.

Elijah looked at me, his eyes bloody. I bet he wished I had never come into the picture, but unfortunately he couldn't disrespect Marcus by leaving me behind.

The worst he could do was leave while I ate or say he had hockey morning skate, but those lies were overused. There was no way Marcus would believe that again.

"Hey, Step-dad," I greeted.

Marcus smiled at me, moving away from Elijah. He didn't like it when I called him stepdad, but he knew I was toying with him.

"Hey, Step-daughter," he said, planting a kiss on my forehead.

"You look like you had a good night's rest for hours," Marcus said further, his brows raised. He knew I had been out. But he wouldn't say anything. My mom would snap if she found out I had sneaked out.

"Honey, I need you. Could you excuse me for a second?" Marcus said to my mom, taking her out of the kitchen.

Now I was left alone with Elijah. My breath steepened. I could feel his dead stare crawl up my neck. My heart raced, scared that he would confront me about last night.

I needed to apologize for putting him in that position. But I was the one who had been humiliated. I could swear he would never apologize to me.

And now he had to wait for me. I was a slow eater, so he had to wait. It made me feel slightly better. It was a good punishment for how he had treated me.

Elijah turned to look at me. He didn't need words. I knew I was pissing him off with how slow I ate, but I didn't flinch. Marcus was home, so I didn't have to worry.

He picked up his hockey gear angrily and was about to storm off. He had waited just twenty minutes and he was already irritated. His temper was one of the things I found intriguing about him.

He would stomp his feet violently when angry, his forehead folding into freckles, and his lips always made a pout.

"Where are my damn keys?" he said, searching the room with his eyes.

"I put them right here. Where are they?" he said, looking straight at me with a scorch.

"I don't have them," I lied. I had hidden his car key under the table mat. I knew he was going to abandon me again, so I had taken action.

"Find your way to school. I'm out of here," he said, picking up the key from where I had hidden it. I had to abandon my food and go with him.

"Mom, Marcus, I'm off!" I said loudly as I picked up my bag and ran after him.

I stood in front of the door, my feet on the foot-mat that read "Welcome Home," trying to organize my books in my bag.

We heard a loud honk of a car right outside the house, by the curb, under the oak tree. We both turned around to see where it had come from.

It was Connor. He had come to pick me up for school. I missed a step in shock and almost tripped.

Oh my God! He meant it—everything he had said. A smile escaped my lips. I had never imagined him coming here to pick me up.

I saw Elijah's eyes. They went flat. I didn't know what he thought of it, but I knew for sure he didn't like this.

Connor honked again. That was my cue that he was waiting for me.

I walked past Elijah and gave him a single wave before walking toward the car to join Connor. I knew he was enjoying the view of Elijah's anger.

ELIJAH’S POV

Was she really going to run off and get into another man’s car? She had the boldness to even give a wave before running to him.

My cheeks turned red. My fists clenched . I could feel my heart pounding as I watched her run to him.

A sinister smile escaped the side of his lips—I saw it. He was mocking me.

I told myself I didn’t care what happened between them, but my stomach turned,because she disrespected me. I was a year older. She had no right to leave with him. She knew how much I didn’t want him around her. Well, she would have to continue with him now, because I had decided she was never going to ride with me again. Ever!

I stood right there, watching him reverse his car out of the curb, and secretly wished it would drive straight into the oak tree sitting at the center of the front yard.

They drove off and left me a honk in the distance, which made my stomach turn even more.

A call came into my phone. It was Cathy, nagging about me being late. I dashed into my car and hit the road to her suite.

“Connor really did that?”

Cathy laughed. I had told her about what happened with Connor and Anna.

“Why are you bothered about her? Just let her enjoy it while it lasts. We’ll have the last laugh,” she said, stretching her beautiful legs on my dashboard. Those legs were so perfect. Straight and toned, without hairs on them, beautiful to the eyes—I could eat them for dinner.

That was exactly what I needed to worry about. Not some weird-looking girl who eats like a sloth and jumps into random cars whenever she gets the chance.

My face tightened at the thought of her kinky laughter. My dad insisted I protect her, but how was I supposed to do that when she was all over Connor? I hissed.

Today was practice. I couldn’t wait to play dirty, ring one off his face, and tell Coach Hendricks, “I lost control—the puck rode up my stick and hit him in the cage.” It was my favorite line in the books.

Then I quickly recalled: practice was rescheduled for Saturday. The school project was still on. Everyone had been paired with someone. Connor and Anna were teammates. They met at the library after school every Friday.

I don’t know how I remember that, but I hate it—the fact that I remember relevant information about them.

Maybe they spent so much time together that they began dating behind my back.

My thoughts hovered. Cathy could notice the concern on my face and tried to make me feel better.

She was busy having her makeup done. I could only admire her beauty while I drove.

The way her full lips curved outwardly, her perfectly straight nose shaped like a chisel, her doe sized eyes, and clustered curly eyelashes.

We arrived on campus early enough for my first class, HIST 101. I hated Professor Benson, but I had to be there—and early. The last thing I wanted was to be dragged out of class and humiliated like others who slept during lectures.

Cathy gave me a wet kiss as she left for her classes.Her hands placed on my chin, pulling me in.She didn’t have History as a major like the rest of us.

I looked around, hoping to find Connor’s car parked somewhere. I’d park right next to him—he hated it, and I loved it.

His car was missing from its usual spot, the spot he’d earned from the parking police. I rolled my ears. I needed to know that my stepsister was well—for Penny’s sake.

She had run off so quickly into a stranger’s car without looking back. She deserved whatever she got.

I walked halfway down the hallway when I was called back by the sound of chattering and screaming.

I didn’t look back, I continued my eyes unwavering. I moved further, but then I heard someone say, “They’re so perfect together.”

My heart raced. I could hear my heartbeat—loud and unsettling. I had a familiar metallic taste in my mouth. I recognized that taste.

I walked back with a unsettling feeling in my chest, to the open field, my backpack weighed down by my laptop and notebook.

My face burned with a scorch. There they were, alighting from his car—her hand in his, taking pretty steps.

My breath came sharp, uneven I forced it slower. I knew he was going to break her heart and make her miserable. He’d make her feel small, he made everyone feel small eventually.

Those dumb freshmen kept drooling over them like some high school prom queen and king. Ridiculous!

I walked away, my teeth gnashing. I finally recognized that metallic taste. It was the same taste I had in my mouth the other day when I threw her out of my car near the bus station—when she wouldn’t stop laughing like a hyena. I hated the sound of that laughter.

I didn’t care what would happen to her. She was close enough—she could have taken the bus for all I cared.

I only felt guilty when I heard that Connor had picked her up and gotten her home.

“Typical playboy. Always trying to antagonize me.”