A Deal With My Hockey Captain Stepbrother

ELIANA ONE WEEK LATER A groan escapes my lips when the alarm goes off, waking me up from a sweet dream and thrusting me back to the harsh reality, the reality that I have been trying to run away from for the damn week. Reaching for the alarm clock on the bedside table, I turn off the irritating siren noise with a grunt. I flip on my back and gaze at the ceiling for a minute way too long. I can't believe that it has already been one week since I began my senior year because it feels surreal. Blowing a breath, I toss away the warm blankets hesitantly and climb down from the bed, the cold marble tiles against my feet sending a shiver down my spine. Without wasting that much time, I grab a clean towel and head over to the bathroom. Turning on the shower, I step under the warm running water, shutting my eyes to feel the warm caress of the running water down my body and let my mind relax. My lips curve into a smile as I recount all the events that have happened over the past one week. Even though senior year has me on the chokehold since there's a lot to be done and there's high demand for PT, all is good so far. I have been concentrating on my studies just like I promised my mother and staying out of trouble. There's no way I'm allowing anyone to come between me and my goals. Not even Jackson. He's still annoying but I have been ignoring him just like I vowed to myself, except for a few instances when I couldn't tolerate and I had to confront him. I have been helping Ethan to train for the first hockey game of senior year because I know how important the game is to him. I'm also aware of his dreams of joining one of the top tier hockey universities because his dream is to become a professional hockey player and I want nothing but for him to reach his dreams. As his girlfriend, I'm ready to support him so that he can reach his dreams. I asked some tips from uncle James and he sent us a few clips of his hockey team training to help Ethan learn some new skills, drills and strengthen his weaknesses. I turn off the shower when I'm done in the bathroom, walk back into my room and change into uniforms. A white button down shirt, navy pleated skirt, navy blazer with white stripe on the wrist, navy tie, white socks and black loafers. I check myself in the mirror just to make sure everything is in place. I pick my backpack from the bed and head downstairs. While a few steps away from the kitchen, I hear people talking and my mother laughs at whatever the person she's talking to said. From her genuine laughter, I can tell that whatever the person said must be really funny. I can't help but smile too. It always warms my heart whenever my mother is happy because she deserves all the happiness the world has to offer. I have a big smile on my face as I enter the kitchen but then stop at the door. The smile fading away... My mother is flipping pancakes on the pan while Jax is lazily leaning on the counter nearby, sipping on his protein shake and they're talking like good friends. Honestly, I didn't expect it to be Jax of all the people. I thought maybe she was talking to uncle Robert. However, I can't help but wonder what he told my mother that had her laughing so hard. I clear my throat loudly and they both turn in my direction. My mother still has a big smile on her face while Jax raises his eyebrows at me, the corner of his lips tipping up into one of those smirks. I'm tempted to throw my backpack on his face but hold the urge to because it's too early to pick a fight. "Oh dear, you're awake." My mother says happily and can't help but smile at her, ignoring Jax. "Good morning." I say as I walk further into the kitchen, placing the backpack on the island table then walk to my mother and give her a hug. She hugs me back tightly, planting a kiss on my hair. After hugging for a while, we pull back and I turn to Jax. He's still leaning at the same spot, his legs crossed and a cup of protein shake in his hand. I can't help but wonder how many cups of those awful tasting shakes he takes every single morning. His black hair is messy like always and I can tell that he had run his fingers through it a couple of times. I notice he has a new hair cut too. "Morning," I say, putting on a smile and pretending that the greeting came from the good part of my heart. "Good morning to you too, sis." He replies, the corner of his lips curling up into a big smile. I bite back a curse, my jaw clenching. He knows damn well that I can't curse him at the moment or throw something at him because my mother is around. He's good at playing his games and I hate it! ___________ When I'm done with breakfast, I hug mom goodbye, pick my backpack from the kitchen island and leave. Stepping out of the mansion, I take a deep breath.. Just like the past week, I had to pretend that I was getting along with my stepbrother well like the perfect step-siblings that we're supposed to be. He tried to push my limits but...I didn't break. I put on a smiling face. There's no way I'm going to give him the satisfaction that he's looking for! "He's a jerk, don't mind him," I mumble under my breath like a mantra, reminding myself not to pay him any attention. I have survived one week already and I'm quite sure that I can survive a few weeks more. All I need to do is ignore him and focus on myself and the things that matter to me. Obviously, he's not on the list. Releasing a breath, I walk to my car. It's a gift from uncle James. He gave me the car on my sixteenth birthday when I got the driver's license. Even though it's a little old, I adore it because it's my first car and a gift from my uncle. I open the back door and toss my backpack on the backseat then lock the door. I reach for the driver's door but stop when a red sports car pulls beside me. Rolling my eyes, I turn to look at the car. He lowers the window and a smirk pulls up at the corner of his lips, " The car won't start?Need some help?" He jokes and I throw him a hard glare. "Nothing personal. I just wanted to wish your boyfriend good luck in today's hockey opening game." He says with a shrug and I raise an eyebrow at him because I don't believe him. He's on a rival team with my boyfriends. "Perhaps...you can remind him that HAWKS have a sharp vision and they usually keep a close eye on their prey. And they can be fierce too." The smirk at the corner of his lips broadens. I nod to his words, finding it amusing and the corner of my lips tips up into a smile. "Is that so?" I ask, pretending to be curious. "In case you forgot, Pythons can be equally fierce with their prey. Oh, poisonous too." His jaw clenches and the grip on the steering wheel tightens. "Good luck." I shrug and get inside the car and drive away, overtaking his car at the gate...