39Chapter One
"Ah, Sleeping Beauty is finally awake."
The shrill voice-not really, as it actually came from my eighteen-year-old step-brother, making it in reality very deep-reaches my ears, causing me to wince. Despite the fact that it's been nearly two years since our parents tied the knot, I still can't bring myself to accept that he's officially "part of the family."
Without even a tired moan to aknowledge his existance, I limp over to the counter where the coffee pot sits and pour myself a mug, making sure to add a heaping amount of creamer and sugar to drain out as much actual coffee taste as possible. It's an aquired taste I've got from my mom, but it still gives me the boost I need to make it through the morning.
Once this is done, I reluctantly make my way back to the island where the step-monster is sitting. Much to my chagrin, most people don't realize that we're not actually related at all, often mistaking us for actual brother and sister. Something about sharing a ressessive gene like blonde hair seems to make everyone just assume they're siblings.
"Please get your skateboard off the counter," I grumble, eyeing the thing distastefully. It'd clearly been cleaned since the last time he'd used it, but the thought of how many dead bugs were now figuratively sitting where I eat my breakfast doesn't sit right.
Henry sighs, but does as I've told, "So, when is Erin getting back?"
"My mom's going to pick her up at three," I respond grumpily, glaring at him out of the corner of my eye as I lift the mug of coffee to my lips. We've sat at this island countless times before, and he never seems to learn that conversation is the last thing I want in the morning. Especially when it comes to him.
"You mean our mother, right?"
My eye ticks at his use of 'our.' It's somehow even more irritating that he doesn't seem to be purposely pissing me off. "My mother is a Grey."
"-Williams. Grey-Williams."
I groan, before tightening my grip around the handle of my mug and sliding off my chair. My two minutes of being able to stand him is officiallly up. I'm going to need at least seven to ten more hours to cool down before I can be around him for another one-hundred-twenty seconds.
"Remember, the plane for the cruise leaves tomorrow."
As if I could forget. For their two-year anniversary, the folks are jumping ship on a two week cruise, effectively leaving me stranded in a house with my siblings. Originally, they'd planned on all of us going but it would be an economic nightmare to buy eight tickets, plus the only thing worse than being stuck alone in the same house as Henry Williams is being trapped on a boat with him. At least this way I can sneak out and spend days at Kaitlynn or Marley's house.
My phone goes off when I'm halfway up the stairs, a quick glance at the screen shows that it's my father calling. I bite hard down on my lip, before answering it.
"Hey, sweetie," my father's voice rings through my ear, sending a comforting feeling to spread throughout my body.
"Dad," my bottom lip slips out from under my teeth so that my mouth can form a smile across my face. "I miss you,"
"I miss you, too," my father chuckles. He's currently on a business trip down in Vegas for a week, officially making us completely and 100% without parental supervision for a good five days. "I just spoke with Erin. She made it to her flight alright."
"You were really worried?" I can't help but give a loud snort at that. "I can't think of a single person who'd want to mess with her."
"I always worry about my children," he responds. "So, excited for some bonding time with Henry and Sara?"
"Sara? Sure. Henry?" I let out a loud groan as I turn the handle to the door to my room. "The thought alone makes me wanna hurl myself out the window."
"Well, it'll only be for a few weeks, most of which you'll be spent either sleeping or at work. And before long I'll be home and you three will be all mine for the weekend. So, you only have to deal with him for maybe a total of thirty hours, most of which I'm sure you'll be able to avoid the horrible teenage boy."
"That's still to big of a risk," I drop down on my bed and thrown my hands over my eyes. "I barely spent two minutes with him just now and I'm already pissed."
"Hey, that's almost four times longer than two years ago." he laughs, "Remember? You used to walk out of the room the second he entered."
"Sometimes I wish I still could."
"You'll get there, sweetie," my father heaves a sigh. "I'm sorry, but duty calls. I have to head out. Tell Blaine I say 'hi.'"
"Okay, Love you."
"Love you more."
"Not possible." I glance up at the screen until it flashes that he's hung up before dropping my hand back down onto my bed. My father is the only person in the world who doesn't immediately side against me when it comes to Henry. Even my best friends insist that I need to give him more of a chance, most likely because they both find him hot. Lack of real time spent with the boy has left them unable to see past his looks to see the irritating person he truly is.
I lay in my bed for another solid five minutes before finally pushing myself to my feet and making my way to the door. There's only two people who can cheer me up. And neither one of them are going to be found in this house.
MNSBSMFK
Kaitlyn Crawford is not one of my oldest friends. In fact, she's one of my newest. We actually met around the same time that my mother and Henry's father started dating. But she's still one of my best friends. Something most people can't believe, what with her intense... girlyness and my well... not. Sure, I like things like Disney and Bridget Jones's Diary, but my true passions lie solely with sleep and classics. Makeup doesn't even make the bottom of the shopping list.
Of course though, despite my intense dis... caring for the stuff, the brunette still insists on making me over. She's in the middle of curling my hair at the moment, something I have to admit I find oddly comforting.
"Five whole days alone with that hottie brother of yours?"
"Step-brother. On paper only." I cut in before she continue. The conversation on the other hand, I am not enjoying. "And we won't be alone. Erin, Blaine, Sara, and-"
"Fine, that hottie that just happens to live in the same house as you. For five whole days without parental supervision. Even you can't help but be a bit excited."
It doesn't take long for what she's implying to sink in with me. Once it does I jump back with a disgusted gasp. "Kate! Ew! He's my step-bro-" I cut off as a smirk crosses her face and fall silent. "Shut up. Whether or not I have any true familial feelings for him, on paper it's still disgusting."
"Then it's okay for me to take him?" she raises a suggestive eyebrow and wraps her arms around my shoulders.
"God, no." I shake my head even as a slightly playful grin works its way across my face. "I just hope to get through the week without killing him."
"Oh, I'm sure you won't." she chuckles. "That boy has a way of getting to you that even Marley and I can't understand."
"Oh," I sigh, "You have no idea."
And at that moment, I also, had no idea just how under my skin he could get.
Whoo, boy, Lenix came out a lot more moody than I'd planned. Don't worry. She isn't going to be like this throughout the whole book! I promise!
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