My Stepbrother-Too Hot To Handle

Dabby:

When he was asked to go and sit down after the teacher introduced him, he ignored the willing eyes that urged him and came to sit in the empty locker space next to mine. He gave me a wink when I gave him a confused but timid too, and my heart almost melted.

‘It was really him. Was I dreaming?’

I couldn’t focus for the next two classes, because my mind was filled with the fact that I had talked so much about myself, with a stranger that turned out to be real. And he was in my school.

“I.. cannot believe this is really you,” my voice came out so timidly, and fearfully too as I looked at the tall guy standing before me outside the classroom.

He looked more handsome and manly than he did in his pictures, that it was difficult to believe that I had been friends with this hot guy all along. His pretty green eyes were really charming, and even his new style of hair was stunning.

‘Just how could things take this kind of turn?’

“It is more nice to see you, Dabby. You are really adorable,” he said with a cute smile, and pulled me closer for a warm hug instead without minding my awkwardness.

‘How could he smell so good? How come he is so nice in real life? Was he not weirded by me?’

It took quite an effort to steady myself after the cool hug, but the stares I was getting from every corners was the most choking out of all. It was so overwhelming, to just accept that my online friend had come to my school, recognized me, and was glad to see me.

His appearance was totally perfect. His vibes? More better than texting him. His hair was shining and nicely waxed, which made him look too good to be real.

I was about showing him around and where we usually had lunch, when I suddenly remembered that I would never want to go for lunch. Showing him around the school would be really cool, but never the cafeteria.

“It is time for lunch. Let’s go to the school cafe and talk some more,” he said, and I tried not to look at him. I wondered if it was possible for Damien to ever be as cool, and soft as this new friend of mine. But I had a greater fear.

‘How was I supposed to tell this cool guy that I avoided the cafeteria, because I was scared of being bullied while eating. That I was the nerd girl whom no one really liked. What if he detest me too because of that, like Damien?’

“I…I don’t really go to the cafe. Besides I’m not hungry,” I replied nervously trying hard to sound so persuasive, and my stomach decided to disgrace me amidst my lie by rumbling so loudly.

“I think your stomach says otherwise,” he smiled, and grabbed me by the arm before I could even protest. And in a few minutes, we were in front of the glass door of the huge room, that didn’t hide my mortification last week from anyone.

“Wait. I thought this was your first…..”

“I have the school map with me, and I am quite good with directions,” he answered the question I had not even asked, and it made me chuckle unconsciously in amusement to this new guy, that was certainly my very own friend.

‘How could all this just happen?’

Like everything would go perfectly just the way I would have wanted it, we were able to collect our own tray of food in less than five minutes. Though I was still so wary of anyone I could encounter that would cause me problems, I felt more secure being with someone and not by myself.

“Is there anything you would like to ask me? You look like you have so many unsaid questions,” Mason asked in a very cool manner, when we sat down with our tray of food, probably because of the way I was acting around him. I could not even hold a gaze.

“This is actually too much to take in, Mason. That we would actually meet in real life, and that you will end up being my classmate in school. It is really…… I don’t know,” I answered honestly, trying so hard to hide my nervousness, shock and inability to comprehend everything that was going on.

‘Felt like I had probably wished for it, and my wish decided to come true out of the blue. Like some fairy tale.’

“Do you think it is a good thing? I am more than happy to be here, and seeing you too. Thought I’d have a hard time adjusting to a new grade and environment, but now I think everything is going to be more than okay.”

“It is really nice to see you Mason. This surprise you pulled, really got me. And I am glad too,” I smiled excitedly as I turned my head, which freezed the stretched mark across my lip immediately. Madison and her friends were here right now.

“Why do you look startled and out of it?” Mason snapped his fingers when I blacked out for a second, in fear that I would be humiliated right in front of my new friend. I really sucked.

“I….. nothing. Are you full already?” I asked instead, because I wanted us to leave the cafeteria instantly.

“You have barely eaten your food. Do you not like it?”

‘Gosh! If it were not for Mason, I wouldn’t be here in the first place no matter how worse the hunger got. And now we cannot leave because he thinks I’m acting weird.’

Quickly, I rushed the food I was eating into my throat so fast, like it would make us leave the cafeteria sooner. And as I struggled to put too much food in my mouth, I choked on pepper in my food and started coughing frantically.

I searched the table to see if I could get water to suppress my cough, but there were only two packs of yogurt on the table that came with our lunch menu. Eyes were on me already because of my cough.

‘Shit. I would be discovered in no time.’

“Are you okay?” Mason asked in deep concern, as he stood up from the table immediately and scurried over to the food counter.

I tried to hold my mouth to stop coughing, but it seemed as if the piece of food that hooked my throat was already on its way to my nose. My eyes had become so watery that I wanted to cry.

Still trying to get myself out of the mess I had caused, the next thing I could feel was a white and thick liquid gushing down from my face. That was when I realized that something was traveling down every part of my head, and it was yogurt by the taste and smell.

“This, is for making noise in this cafeteria. Next time, I wouldn’t be this nice,” I heard the bitter voice in my ears, and I knew that I was fucked. She had messed me up before everyone, and poured the entire yogurt content on my face. I was so mortified and I started sobbing without a filter.

“What are you doing?!” I heard the sweet but angry voice above my head after Madison spoke, and I could probably not mistake it for another’s even if we just met for the first time in hours.

Mason had grabbed Madison by the arm to stop her from pouring the remaining content, yanked the box of yogurt from her hand, and tossed it against the floor. He was pissed and I became scared.

“Who… Who are you?!” Madison demanded shakily, shocked that someone would stand up against her for me. Looking at the face from a closer view, she probably recognized him as the new guy from morning class.

“Is it nice that you treat someone like this?” He asked again and I was inwardly elated amidst my tears.

‘Someone was standing up for me.’

Madison, as usual, made to slap Mason across the face for challenging her and he held her second hand so firmly. She struggled in vain and began to wince.

“I can also see that you are also rude,” Mason uttered, and I could see the slash of shock that glinted through Madison’s eyes. Everyone was now watching in delight to see what would happen, and she was so embarrassed at that point.

“Damien…….” She suddenly called out in a crying voice, and jerked free from Mason as she ran to meet Damien. My heart skipped a thousand beats.

‘OMG. This was getting bad,’ I panicked in fear.

Damien strode closer to where we were standing and casted a wicked look on me, as I gasped silently and turned my face to the other side. Madison was standing beside him with a confident look that overshadowed her crocodile tears, and I really hated her so much for it.

“What is going on here?” I heard Damien demand calmly with authority in his voice, like a prince who was coming to save his lady in distress. My heart broke.

‘There was no way he wouldn’t have known what happened, seeing my messed up hair and body. The fact that I was somewhat related to him, even made it more painful. How could he hate me so much?’

“Perhaps, you should teach your rude girlfriend on how to be a better person,” Mason responded coldly, and I froze on the spot. There was a collective gasp too from people, across every direction in the room.

My neck instinctively turned to look up immediately and at Mason, only to see Damien glaring at him so much with hatred. It wasn’t some kind of intense look that sprouted just because he was challenged, but some kind of scary look like it was an already brewing anger.

Things had gotten more messy and complicated, and I was the one at the receiving end. Nevertheless, I loved the stupid look that Madison had on her face.

“Come on, Dabby. Let’s get out of here,” Mason turned to me and grabbed me by the arm, as he pulled me out of my sitting space and dragged me away from everyone’s sight in the cafeteria.

‘A deviant protective friend and an intimidating stepbrother? I was just about to become squashed.’