Jade's POV
The following morning came and it felt like I hadn't slept a wink.
After realizing that I needed to go school, when morning came, I had rushed down stairs to carry my luggage to my room.
Then, I knew I needed to look good since Andrew would definitely see me at school.
"You can't blame a girl in love, can you?" I said to myself as I rummaged through my belongings, trying to find a decent and attractive outfit.
"Wait! A girl in love? What is wrong with me?" I stopped in the middle of my search and queried myself, as I remembered something important that I seemed to keep forgetting.
"He might have been my crush for some years but now that he has become my step brother, overnight, he is completely off limits, for me. I have to stop loving him. For my mother's sake!" I reminded myself, solemnly and I immediately lost interest in finding an attractive outfit.
There was no point trying to look attractive for someone who was off limits for me.
Absentmindedly, I pulled out a baggy jean shorts, a tank top and a light jacket. It was summer.
I heaved a deep sigh and fell back into bed, then I started thinking of how happy I would be, if my mother hadn't cross paths with Raymond Peterson, and Andrew Peterson had noticed me at school and I had confessed my feelings for him.
"I would definitely be in his room right now, sitting on his masculine laps and kissing him deeply ..." I trailed off when I realized what I was saying.
Kiss? Did I just mention kiss?
Well, I did. And I wouldn't even say no to other things, beyond a deep kiss, as long as it was with him.
Although, I hadn't gotten my first kiss, I was legally an adult. I was eighteen and I knew since Andrew was older than me by two years, he would definitely have useful knowledge in that area.
I would gladly let him be my first in every aspect, with reckless abandon.
"That dream would never come true!" I muttered, sadly and bit into the apple he had brought for me.
The feeling of sadness had made me remember how hungry I was, so I ate the apple hungrily.
Afterwards, I laid in bed but couldn't sleep. I kept thinking of a particular handsome guy who was probably sleeping already, in the room opposite mine.
Andrew!
The only name on my tongue!
And with that, I didn't even remember when I fell asleep. I just woke up and realized it was dawn, already.
I got dressed immediately and headed downstairs. I actually opened my door and looked around silently, for traces of Andrew. I didn't want to bump into him, shirtless, again.
I might lose my fragile decency just by staring at his perfect, sinful body.
And of course, my mom and her boyfriend were already at the dinning table, having breakfast.
"Hey, good morning!" Raymond had said to me, with a smile as he saw me.
"Good morning to you two!" I replied him, greeting my mom, also, in the process.
Using a stone to kill two birds!
My mom, definitely still sulking over what had transpired between us last night, mumbled a simple 'morning' to me and I nodded.
"You are ready for school? Won't you have breakfast before leaving?" Raymond asked me, while my mom refused to look at me or say another word.
I was unfazed by her attitude. I was already used to it. Whenever I turned down her favorite food or something else, she would sulk and give me attitude for a whole day.
"The house chef prepared a delicious sandwiches for breakfast. Sit down and have a bite." Raymond insisted and I sat down, in order not to seem rude. And on the other hand, I couldn't deny feeling hungry.
"Of course, you would eat it with a huge appetite, since it is not my favorite meal." My mom stated, and huffed, as I dug into the food.
I didn't know she was looking at me eating the sandwich, deliciously. The first bite I took tasted so good, so I hadn't hesitate to take more bites, repeatedly.
I didn't reply her and thankfully she didn't say another word after that. Maybe because Raymond had put a bite into her mouth, lovingly.
I kept my eyes on the food and kept eating, away.
I had just taken the last bite of my sandwich when Andrew walked in.
"Morning!" He stated, loudly for everybody to hear. His dad and my mom replied him, warmly and my mom decided to exaggerate by dropping in some words of compliment on how he looked great in his outfit.
I rolled my eyes at her obvious lame attempt at impressing her boyfriend's son.
"You should have breakfast before leaving!" My mom told him, warmly.
"I guess my dad hasn't been telling you things about me. I wonder why, especially when you seem so interested in what I do." Andrew replied my mom, with a flat expression.
I almost felt embarrassed on my mom's behalf but she didn't seem to care. She actually smiled at him.
"Of course, I am very interested in what my stepson does. If I am not, what kind of a stepmother would that make me?" She replied him, all smiles. I couldn't believe her.
"You are not ..." Andrew was going to reply my mom but I guessed his dad knew what he was going to say, as he cut him short.
"Andrew!" His dad called out to him, warningly.
"What dad? I was just trying to tell your girlfriend that she won't be able to know much about me, like my dos and donts since she isn't my mother. Or is she?" Andrew faced his dad and asked.
Before his dad could reply him, my mom spoke up, first, with her pretentious smile.
"I can be the mother you have never had, if only you would allow me. I can give you all the love she couldn't give you. I am here for you, while she isn't, you know." My mom said and I couldn't take it anymore.
"Mom!" I yelled out, uncomfortably. She was being a bitch and it was sickening.
Andrew grunted angrily, gave his dad a knowing sad look and walked out of the house.
My mom eyed me scornfully, then faced her boyfriend. I couldn't say whether he was angry or not. His expression was flat.
"Darling, did I say something wrong there? I mean, I was just trying to let him know how much I am going to love him as my stepson. He is your son and I want him to approve of our relationship. I won't be happy if he isn't. That is why I am trying to show him how much I care." My mom told her boyfriend and sniffled a bit.
She was trying to play the victim. I sighed.
"Not really, darling. He is just very sensitive about his mother. I would appreciate it if you refrain from bringing up his mother. And you should know that I appreciate your effort in trying to show him love. Thank you, darling." Raymond said to my mom and held her hand, tenderly.
He seemed like a great man and I instantly knew he didn't deserve my mother.
My mom sniffled more and the man looked apologetic. He kept caressing her hand.
"I am going to talk sense into him. Don't worry, he will come around." He promised my mom.
I knew I had heard and had enough. I stood up.
"I am leaving for school. Thank you for breakfast." I said to no one in particular and wanted to take my leave but Raymond stopped me.
"Do you know how to get to school from here? You don't even have a car." He expressed concern. Something that my mom hadn't even think of doing.
"I am going to find my way. Thank you for your concern." I told him.
"Let me call Andrew to come take you along. You guys are going to the same school, after all." He said and took his phone.
"No, you don't have to do that. I promise, I will sort out myself." I protested wildly.
I couldn't go to school with Andrew.
"Okay, if you insist. Do you need some pocket money then?" He asked me and was already opening his wallet.
"No, I am totally fine. Please don't worry." I told him and rushed out before he could protest.
I wasn't going to be taking money from him. That would be shameless of me, I believed.
Moreover, I worked part time and earned some money. I had been working to support my mom so then that we would no longer pay for house rent and living expenses, I knew I would be able to take care of myself with my hard earned money.
"Been waiting for ya." I got outside and heard Andrew say to me.
"No, I can't do this!"