My Stepbrother-Too Hot To Handle

DABBY:

I do not know where the idea came from as I continued to say whatever came to mind, when I knew that I could not take it any longer. I had to say something to clarify the relationship between I and Damien, before the last straw of pressure from everyone breaks the camel’s back.

I didn’t know how, but everything became settled in that manner and I was proud of myself. Mason signaled to me from where he stood, and that was what finally pushed me to continue talking. I was tired of being a pitiful person to him.

“Oh Dabby, I am so proud of you,” he commended and smiled after I went over to meet him, and we both walked to the classroom together. The news about the truth I told everyone, had spread so fast.

“I am finally glad that I can have a normal life back. Thank you for your support, Mason,” I appreciated him genuinely with a smile, and he patted my head.

If I didn’t have anyone who supported me to be honest, I would have been thrown off by everything that had happened in just a few days. I was really glad that I didn’t push off the matter till it got worse, and then have to deal with it after a lot of damage.

“I met with the guy that built the school forum, and he has taken all the hate comments down too. We even became friends,” Mason informed me as we took our seats, and I widened my eyes in surprise to what he was saying.

“A student built that? That is really brilliant,” I commended with a ponder in my heart.

It was surprising to know that someone around our age could do something like that already, when most of us had not even had their lives planned.

“His name is Jeffery, and he is outstanding. He challenges me to try to be better at what I do,” Mason said honestly, and brought out a book from his bag. The only one he had.

“I just feel like, we all do not have to get our lives fully planned early in life. We can just take risks, try new things and see what’s best for us.”

“Oh dear, Dabby. Not only are you beautiful, you have brains too. A very good combination,” Mason flattered, and I rolled my eyes.

‘Others say that I was a ugly freak. How did I suddenly become beautiful overnight?’

“You don’t believe me?” He asked with a puzzled look on his face, which was trying to scan through the doubtful look I had on my own face.

“Yes, I don’t. Don’t lie to make me feel better okay,” I answered him, and he frowned. Still, he looked cute.

“You allow the words of these jealous people to get to you, and that is bad, Dabby. You are obviously brilliant, and at the top of the class just in a few months of joining this school. They would surely pick on you. Bring a kindhearted person, even made it easier for them to mess up with you,” Mason pointed out the truth one after another, and it really amazed me to know that he remembered little details of what I had told him in the past.

Though I didn’t tell him about being bullied, I told him about how I became a new student and topped the class. Soon, some girls started to pick on me because of that and I couldn’t fight back. And that I didn’t have any friends either.

Mason did something unexpected, as his hand reached out to my glasses and he pulled it away. He brought out a mirror from his pocket and handed it over to me. He instructed me to look at myself.

Deep down, I knew that I was pretty. My features were as detailed as that of mum’s, and I shared a resemblance with her too. But the many thoughts I have heard and hurtful words that people had said to me, made me feel ugly and useless even without pondering deeply, about the real person that I was.

“Now that is the real you, Dabby. No one should define you differently than what you really know and affirm,” Mason said into my ears, and I jumped because it felt ticklish. He was too nice to be my friend.

‘Be nice to yourself. You deserve good things too,’ his voice rang in my head.

“Yeah. I am beautiful and I am brilliant. I am going to become a medical doctor by profession, and have them all get their treatments in my hospital. I am a wonderful person too,” I affirmed so confidently to him, and he nodded at me with a proud look.

“Now, to the notes you told me to take. It was really crazy trying to write them, as the teacher explained, because I wanted to write a detailed note. So, here are the notes. Turns out that it wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be,” Mason muttered his last sentence, and I chuckled at his manner of sulking.

“So, would you like to study?” I tittered, and he shook his head. He totally was not buying my conviction skills.

“Nah. I’ll pass.”

The bell rang for lunch time, and Mason dragged me to the cafeteria before I could even object. Two of his new friends, Greg and Edward, came to join us at the table, and I was really surprised that I could ever talk to other people. Mason could make people like him so quickly.

They were both cool and in the drama club, which made it fun because of their funny nature. That was the first day in Ryder high, that I had the best lunch ever while talking with people. It was really cool.

After lunch ended, it was time for another class, and it was a joint class with the other classes of my grade. I was going to be taking the same class with Damien too.

I took my seat beside Mason at the farther part of the class, and it was kind of difficult not to notice Damien, who was in the same room with me. I began to wonder what exactly would be going on in his mind, if he witnessed the scene in the hallway in the morning.

‘Well, it didn’t matter because I was at least able to solve the problem, when he did nothing to help me.’

We were having social sciences and the topic that was being taught was about social interaction as a different individual to another. The class went on and on for minutes with so many explanations, and it finally came to an end just twenty minutes before the real end time.

‘Oh dear. I really hope it is not what I am thinking.”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

“And with his topic coming to an end, we are going to be doing a project. A practical project,” our teacher, Mrs. Davison said, and pushed two boxes that were already placed on the desk forward.

There were quite some grumbling that was heard from people, who hated being paired with other people they had no idea of from another class. I also hated projects, because I was always the odd one out. It really sucked.

“Now, girls would pick from the boxes that have the names of every guy wrapped in paper. The guys would be informed of whoever picked their names. Now, ladies,” she instructed, and everyone soon got moving to the front to go and pick a name.

Mrs. Davison was a really strict teacher, who never hesitated to give an F if deserved. It made students that were always suck ups hate her. As they picked, she would write the name of whoever they picked in front of their own names, so as to make the entire selection fair.

I could hear a lot of grumbling from behind which were from girls who had probably picked a guy they hated, and I really hoped that I would pick Mason. We would be the perfect duo, because there was no way I would get an A if I got to pick the name of the wrong guy.

I made sure to stand up with the last batch of girls, because I didn’t have the nerves to go outside and choose the name of a person I had probably never talked to in my entire life, for a project. I mean, we would have to meet during the weekend to finish it together.

As I proceeded to the front, the mean girls who also took their time to come forward pushed me backwards, and I ended up being the last person on the line. After I picked the paper that was the last one in my hand, I unwrapped it to see the name of my project partner.

Clearly and boldly written on the paper to my shock, was DAMIEN ANDERSON as I tried not to panic so that no one would notice. I wanted to cry so badly on the spot so pitifully, as she ticked my name as the last girl with the guy I had chosen.

There was no need to meet because we would be in the same house. But how on earth was I supposed to meet Damien for the project?’