ACHING FOR MY STEPBROTHER

RACHEL 

I thought I could handle this. I really did.

But the truth? It was worse than I imagined. First, I had to imagine my everyday life in this big house that's as quiet as a graveyard. It was just so suffocating, like it was slowly swallowing me whole. 

And having to deal with him on top of it all? Thane? It was all too much.

I let out a sharp breath and adjusted my tie for the third time. I had already told Mum I wasn't changing schools. What was the point? I was graduating soon anyway. I just needed to survive a few more months.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed downstairs, already feeling my mum's presence waiting at the bottom of.the stairs before I even saw her.

The moment I hit the last step, her glare found me.

Great.

"Listen," she started, "I don't know what's gotten into you, but you need to stop all these acts. I thought we were fine. Didn't you say..."

"Please, Mum," I cut in sharply. "I don't want to be late for the bus. Whatever this lecture is, it can wait till I get back."

She scoffed, her hands sliding to her waist like she was holding back a scream.

She'd been like this ever since the whole mess with her company-snapping at every tiny mistake like the world owed her an explanation. I barely even cared anymore.

I turned for the door.

"Thane is going to drop you off and pick you up from school from now on."

I froze instantly. What?

Then I spun back around. "I don't need him to do that. I've been managing just fine."

"I only allowed it before because I was always busy," she said firmly. "That's not the case anymore."

You've got to be kidding me. The words burned at the back of my throat, but I swallowed them.

I grabbed the handle and slammed the door behind me. 

Outside, my so-called stepbrother was already waiting.

His sunglasses on. Two buttons of his shirt undone like he was heading to a fashion show instead of work.

I ignored the whole stupid display and walked straight toward the passenger door.

He stuck out his hand just before I grabbed the handle.

"Give me your phone."

I didn't answer him. I went for the handle.

He caught my wrist easily and yanked my phone from the side pocket of my bag.

"What the hell is your problem?" I snapped.

He powered it on like I was invisible, tapping through things I had no idea about.

"Thane!" I shouted.

He finally looked at me. "Wow. First time you've called my name. I thought you liked 'jerk' better."

That smug little smirk hit his lips.

What a jerk.

He shoved my phone back into my palm while I gave him a deadly glare.

"Pops says you get off by five," he said casually. "That won't work for me. So do me a favor, call me by four and I'll pick you up."

Then he winked and walked around the hood to the driver's seat.

I just stood there, stunned.

Did he seriously just say that?

I held a fist before opening the door. The moment I clicked the seat belt, he didn't wait before zooming off.

I hesitated before opening the door. The moment my seat belt clicked into place, he sped off as if he'd been waiting for it.

We hadn't gone far when his phone rang. He slipped an earbud into one ear and answered, his eyes steady on the road. At least he had that much sense.

"Hey, bro." His tone was relaxed, almost sounding bored.

"Slow down," he added after a second. "I can't hear you properly. I'll pull over."

That was when I turned to look at him. Pull over? You've got to be kidding me.

He pulled over the car to the side of the road, unbuckled his seat belt, and stepped out without saying a word. I stayed seated, watching the seconds pass, my irritation already building. When he finally returned, he didn't bother with an apology.

Instead, he glanced at me and said the one thing that snapped something inside me. 

"Erm, firecracker," his tone casual. "I've got an emergency."

I didn't respond.

"You've got two options," he continued evenly. "You either come with me, or you take a cab."

I stared at him, stunned. Like absolutely stunned he said that in the most natural way.

"You're joking." I said calmly even though I was about to explode.

His expression didn't change. "Look, I don't have time for this. A friend of mine's in trouble and needs me. I don't need a high schooler adding to my list of problems. So... are you in or out?"."

I scoffed. Great. Just perfect.

"So your solution is to abandon me halfway to school?" I asked, my voice still calm. I was trying as hell to keep it together.

He exhaled through his nose, impatiently. "You're seventeen, Rachel, not helpless. I'm giving you another chance to pick one."

I let out a short, humorless laugh.

"This guy's got to be kidding me." I glare at him. "Your father was very clear. You're supposed to drop me at the school gate, not wherever it's convenient for you."

He didn't argue. He simply buckled his seat belt back on and slammed his foot on the gas like I didn't even exist.

The car shot forward, faster than before.

"Thane!" I yelled.

But nothing.

"If I'm late because of this, I swear, I'm telling your father exactly what happened. Stop the damn car now!"

His eyes stayed on the road. "If that's your plan," he said coolly, "he won't believe you. He knows I'm not reckless."

I turned toward him. "Only a crazy person would think this isn't reckless. Please, just stop the car."

For a moment, I thought he wouldn't. Then he finally pulled over and stopped.

I took a breath, steadying myself.

But he was already opening the door, then stepped out without looking back, walking away like I was a joke.

And the worse part? He didn't tell me where he was heading.

I just sat down, gripping my bag, realizing I won't last a week with Thane in it if this was ever to continue.

I checked my wristwatch again, and again. By the time I couldn't take it anymore, I swung the car door open.

I didn't get far before Thane appeared, his "dear friend" right behind him whom I didn't bother looking at.

I didn't hesitate. I stormed straight toward him.

"I'm really mad at you, Thane," I snapped. "And in case you don't know, I'm definitely reporting this..."

"Calm down, sis," he cut in casually. "If you wanted to tell on me, you would've done it already."

He tilted his head toward the car. "Now how about I drop you at school."

He checked his watch, then looked back at me. "We still got time, don't we?"

I scoffed, the kind that said you've got to be kidding me.

"Rachel?" someone suddenly called behind me.

I turned, still heated, and froze.

Noah? Tiara's boyfriend. What the hell was he doing here?

"Noah?" I frowned. "What are you doing here?"

"My God Rachel..." His voice cracked like he'd been yelling before. "Don't tell me you came here with Tiara?"

"You two know each other?" Thane cut in, clearly confused.

"Yes," I shot back. "He's my friend's boyfriend."

Then to Noah, my tone sharper, "I asked why you're here?"

"It's nothing you should worry about," he said quickly, already throwing an arm over Thane's shoulders.

"Why does that sound like it's exactly something I should worry about?"

He avoided my eyes. Before I could say more, two men came up behind us.

Both covered in tattoos. The kind of guys who looked like they'd just stepped out of a juvenile, except we were standing right in front of a police station.

One of them smirked at Noah.

"You got real lucky today, Chile." His face hardened. "That lawyer homie of yours ain't gon' save your ass next time. And don't get it twisted, this ain't me lettin' you off."

"How about you bounce, man," Thane said firmly. His tone was different now. Like a different person. "You're probably forgetting the Feds are still watching real close." He tilted his head when the guy hesitated.

I didn't need anyone to tell me Noah had gotten himself in big trouble again, something he'd sworn to Tiara he was done with.

The man's eyes flicked to me like he was just noticing I existed, then dragged to Thane again.

"A'ight, pimp." He faced me: "See you 'round, damsel."

And just like that, he walked off.

The second he disappeared around the corner, Thane's head snapped toward me.

"Looks like you're not going to school today, sis."

My brain short-circuited.RACHEL 

I thought I could handle this. I really did.

But the truth? It was worse than I imagined. First, I had to imagine my everyday life in this big house that's as quiet as a graveyard. It was just so suffocating, like it was slowly swallowing me whole. 

And having to deal with him on top of it all? Thane? It was all too much.

I let out a sharp breath and adjusted my tie for the third time. I had already told Mum I wasn't changing schools. What was the point? I was graduating soon anyway. I just needed to survive a few more months.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed downstairs, already feeling my mum's presence waiting at the bottom of.the stairs before I even saw her.

The moment I hit the last step, her glare found me.

Great.

"Listen," she started, "I don't know what's gotten into you, but you need to stop all these acts. I thought we were fine. Didn't you say..."

"Please, Mum," I cut in sharply. "I don't want to be late for the bus. Whatever this lecture is, it can wait till I get back."

She scoffed, her hands sliding to her waist like she was holding back a scream.

She'd been like this ever since the whole mess with her company-snapping at every tiny mistake like the world owed her an explanation. I barely even cared anymore.

I turned for the door.

"Thane is going to drop you off and pick you up from school from now on."

I froze instantly. What?

Then I spun back around. "I don't need him to do that. I've been managing just fine."

"I only allowed it before because I was always busy," she said firmly. "That's not the case anymore."

You've got to be kidding me. The words burned at the back of my throat, but I swallowed them.

I grabbed the handle and slammed the door behind me. 

Outside, my so-called stepbrother was already waiting.

His sunglasses on. Two buttons of his shirt undone like he was heading to a fashion show instead of work.

I ignored the whole stupid display and walked straight toward the passenger door.

He stuck out his hand just before I grabbed the handle.

"Give me your phone."

I didn't answer him. I went for the handle.

He caught my wrist easily and yanked my phone from the side pocket of my bag.

"What the hell is your problem?" I snapped.

He powered it on like I was invisible, tapping through things I had no idea about.

"Thane!" I shouted.

He finally looked at me. "Wow. First time you've called my name. I thought you liked 'jerk' better."

That smug little smirk hit his lips.

What a jerk.

He shoved my phone back into my palm while I gave him a deadly glare.

"Pops says you get off by five," he said casually. "That won't work for me. So do me a favor, call me by four and I'll pick you up."

Then he winked and walked around the hood to the driver's seat.

I just stood there, stunned.

Did he seriously just say that?

I held a fist before opening the door. The moment I clicked the seat belt, he didn't wait before zooming off.

I hesitated before opening the door. The moment my seat belt clicked into place, he sped off as if he'd been waiting for it.

We hadn't gone far when his phone rang. He slipped an earbud into one ear and answered, his eyes steady on the road. At least he had that much sense.

"Hey, bro." His tone was relaxed, almost sounding bored.

"Slow down," he added after a second. "I can't hear you properly. I'll pull over."

That was when I turned to look at him. Pull over? You've got to be kidding me.

He pulled over the car to the side of the road, unbuckled his seat belt, and stepped out without saying a word. I stayed seated, watching the seconds pass, my irritation already building. When he finally returned, he didn't bother with an apology.

Instead, he glanced at me and said the one thing that snapped something inside me. 

"Erm, firecracker," his tone casual. "I've got an emergency."

I didn't respond.

"You've got two options," he continued evenly. "You either come with me, or you take a cab."

I stared at him, stunned. Like absolutely stunned he said that in the most natural way.

"You're joking." I said calmly even though I was about to explode.

His expression didn't change. "Look, I don't have time for this. A friend of mine's in trouble and needs me. I don't need a high schooler adding to my list of problems. So... are you in or out?"."

I scoffed. Great. Just perfect.

"So your solution is to abandon me halfway to school?" I asked, my voice still calm. I was trying as hell to keep it together.

He exhaled through his nose, impatiently. "You're seventeen, Rachel, not helpless. I'm giving you another chance to pick one."

I let out a short, humorless laugh.

"This guy's got to be kidding me." I glare at him. "Your father was very clear. You're supposed to drop me at the school gate, not wherever it's convenient for you."

He didn't argue. He simply buckled his seat belt back on and slammed his foot on the gas like I didn't even exist.

The car shot forward, faster than before.

"Thane!" I yelled.

But nothing.

"If I'm late because of this, I swear, I'm telling your father exactly what happened. Stop the damn car now!"

His eyes stayed on the road. "If that's your plan," he said coolly, "he won't believe you. He knows I'm not reckless."

I turned toward him. "Only a crazy person would think this isn't reckless. Please, just stop the car."

For a moment, I thought he wouldn't. Then he finally pulled over and stopped.

I took a breath, steadying myself.

But he was already opening the door, then stepped out without looking back, walking away like I was a joke.

And the worse part? He didn't tell me where he was heading.

I just sat down, gripping my bag, realizing I won't last a week with Thane in it if this was ever to continue.

I checked my wristwatch again, and again. By the time I couldn't take it anymore, I swung the car door open.

I didn't get far before Thane appeared, his "dear friend" right behind him whom I didn't bother looking at.

I didn't hesitate. I stormed straight toward him.

"I'm really mad at you, Thane," I snapped. "And in case you don't know, I'm definitely reporting this..."

"Calm down, sis," he cut in casually. "If you wanted to tell on me, you would've done it already."

He tilted his head toward the car. "Now how about I drop you at school."

He checked his watch, then looked back at me. "We still got time, don't we?"

I scoffed, the kind that said you've got to be kidding me.

"Rachel?" someone suddenly called behind me.

I turned, still heated, and froze.

Noah? Tiara's boyfriend. What the hell was he doing here?

"Noah?" I frowned. "What are you doing here?"

"My God Rachel..." His voice cracked like he'd been yelling before. "Don't tell me you came here with Tiara?"

"You two know each other?" Thane cut in, clearly confused.

"Yes," I shot back. "He's my friend's boyfriend."

Then to Noah, my tone sharper, "I asked why you're here?"

"It's nothing you should worry about," he said quickly, already throwing an arm over Thane's shoulders.

"Why does that sound like it's exactly something I should worry about?"

He avoided my eyes. Before I could say more, two men came up behind us.

Both covered in tattoos. The kind of guys who looked like they'd just stepped out of a juvenile, except we were standing right in front of a police station.

One of them smirked at Noah.

"You got real lucky today, Chile." His face hardened. "That lawyer homie of yours ain't gon' save your ass next time. And don't get it twisted, this ain't me lettin' you off."

"How about you bounce, man," Thane said firmly. His tone was different now. Like a different person. "You're probably forgetting the Feds are still watching real close." He tilted his head when the guy hesitated.

I didn't need anyone to tell me Noah had gotten himself in big trouble again, something he'd sworn to Tiara he was done with.

The man's eyes flicked to me like he was just noticing I existed, then dragged to Thane again.

"A'ight, pimp." He faced me: "See you 'round, damsel."

And just like that, he walked off.

The second he disappeared around the corner, Thane's head snapped toward me.

"Looks like you're not going to school today, sis."

My brain short-circuited.