Bullied By My Alpha Stepbrother

Amelia Forbes

I sat in the library all day solving Jason’s homework assignments. It was easy because I had done mine already, so I remembered most of the answers.

My chest was heavy and my eyes hurt. I was simply exhausted. I wondered again why I couldn’t just stay home and take all my tests and exams there.

School was the most exhausting place to be, for me. Topped up with the constant bullying.

I needed to get out of here.

Just 170 days left, Mel. You’re doing great. You’re doing great. Just. . . hold on.

All I had to do was stay out of their way. Jason and Kimberly. And avoid Adrian. I’d be okay.

I felt a second round of tears coming up but I shook it off and continued my work.

Almost as if Adrian had heard me mentioning him in my head, he walked into the library.

I said a silent prayer, hoping he wouldn’t notice me.

But he did, obviously. When had my prayers ever been answered.

He waved at me from the door and proceeded to where I was sitting.

My brain turned in circles as I contemplated on what to do. I wasn’t supposed to be talking to him. And I didn’t want to get into more trouble with Jason.

He got to where I was sitting and placed a hand on the free chair across me, asking, “May I sit here?”

I shrugged, trying to look busy.

“Um, okay.” He sounded unsure but still he took a seat.

After a moment of silence, he asked. “How are you doing today, Mel? And how’s your Nana.”

“We’re both good, thanks,” I replied quietly.

“Okay cool,” He said. Still sounding unsure. “Wanna hitch a ride home?” He offered, giving me his signature smile.

“No I’m good, thanks.” I replied.

He studied me from across the desk. “Did I do something wrong?”

I looked up from the books, fixing him with a blank stare.

“Yeah,” He continued. “You’re acting weird.”

“Nothing’s wrong, Adrian,” I said. “I’m just really tired.”

I gestured as the books. “And busy.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Okay then.”

He stood with a small smile and gave me a small nod.

Tears threatened to wash down my face as I watched him leave.

I’d finally made a friend who cared about my wellbeing. And all I could do was push him away. Because I was too scared to stand up to an asshole who hated me for no reason.

I caught the tears in my palm before they would stain Jason’s books.

Wiping them with my free hand, I concentrated on the work in front of me.

Amelia Forbes

I was sitting on a chair at the back of the school.

I should’ve been on my way to Jason’s house for the project but I was completely exhausted. My chest hurt and I knew I needed to rest.

But I couldn’t tell Jason that, of course. I’ll just sit here and rest awhile, I decided.

I placed a hand on my forehead feeling weak just as a very flushed looking Benson came into view.

He was making out with Katie as they inched their way to the back of the school.

A strange anger pumped through me as I saw Ben.

Did he even remember I existed?

After a few minutes of making out and roaming hands around body parts not worth mentioning, they finally noticed me.

With a yelp they tore apart, blushing furiously.

Katie Henshaw smoothened out her hair and offered me a wave. After a few awkward moments she kissed Benson on the cheek and whispered something into his ear before walking away.

Benson stood unsure for a while before walking up to me.

“Um, h-hey Mel. What’s up?” He asked awkwardly.

I had a lot to say but I decided it was best to keep quiet. So I just nodded.

He rubbed the back of his neck.

I don’t know what it was. Maybe it was the gesture that reminded me of Adrian. Or the frustration at everything that had happened to me. But I exploded.

“What’s up?” I gave a hollow laugh. “What’s up is that the person who’s supposed to be my best friend didn’t even notice I was gone for days with a terrible cold that could’ve killed me. What’s up is that you gave me hope. You acted like you actually cared. You knew everything that was happening, with Jason, with Adrian, with everything. And you left me, Ben.”

I felt like I was choking. And I could feel the tears streaming down.

“What’s up is that you made me believe that I had someone, even if it was just one person, that someone could really care about me. Really love me.”

He shook his head repeatedly.

“No, no, Ben. We were supposed to have our bestie time last weekend. You didn’t even remember, right?”

I laughed again as a look of realization materialized on his face.

“Mel, I’m so sorry.” His voice shook. “Katie and I-”

“Katie,” I repeated. “Everything is about Katie now. I understand that since you’re dating her you won’t have as much time for me anymore. But it was just one day. One day, Ben. You knew I was having a hard time.”

I sniffled, wiping my running nose with my sleeves.

“You didn’t even call to cancel. You just left me there. Waiting like an idiot. It hurt, Ben. It really hurt.”

His eyes were watering now. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” He kept on repeating.

I wiped my burning eyes with both hands, nodding.

“It’s a little too late for that now.” I smiled bitterly.

“I can see now that I’m nothing but a joke to you. I’m not that important. And it’s okay. It-it’s okay,” I whimpered.

Wiping my tears away for the fifth time today, I stood.

“I have somewhere to be.”

He held onto my sleeve. “Mel, please. I can fix this.”

I gently extricated myself from his hold.

“Take care, Ben.”

With that, I walked away to find a taxi to Jason’s house.

Jason Davenport

I sat out on the porch smoking. I wasn’t worried about getting caught because Dad wasn’t home.

It’d been nearly an hour since I left school. Amelia hadn’t arrived yet.

Adrian had dropped me off. Surprisingly, he didn’t offer to take her with us.

Good. He was probably learning that she wasn’t worth it. And that’s exactly how it should be.

She had to find her way here. But I didn’t care. She was wasting my fucking time.

It was almost baffling how someone could be so dumb. You’d think by now she’d learned her lesson and consequences of keeping me waiting.

Feeling my temple throb and trying to get rid of the irritation, I scrolled through my phone.

My eyes narrowed as I sighted a message from Kimberly. I tapped on it and a pic of her in a revealing dress popped up. I swallowed and put my phone on sleep.

Bitch. She was doing this on purpose. Teasing me. Because she knew I couldn’t have her.

Placing my phone down I checked the time. 3. 15pm.

As I was about to say something, a small figure emerged from the gates.

Took her long enough.

She took her time walking from the gates to the porch.

I stood as she got to the porch. “Traffic,” She mumbled, wiping a drop of sweat from her face.

I cocked an eyebrow, observing her. Deciding to let it go, I shoved her towards the stairs.

“You know the way to the living room don’t you?” I barked at her.

She nodded and proceeded up the stairs.

As we got past the second flight of stairs, Amelia nearly bumped into Ashley who was coming from the opposite direction.

I shut my eyes, starting to fume. The last thing I needed now was these two dumbass bitches in one room.

I would fucking lose it.

“Sorry!” They both said at the same time.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Grabbing Amelia, I prodded her toward the stairs.

“We have work to do, Mel,” I said, giving her a look she very well understood.

Ashley wouldn’t let us, of course. “Who’s your pretty friend, Jace?” Ashley asked sweetly.

My face reddened as she used the nickname she knew I despised. But right now, I was wasn’t in the mood for Ashley’s drama. So I swallowed the anger and answered straight. “She’s a girl from my class. We’re paired for the project.”

Ashley’s face froze in surprise. This was the first time I’d answered her clearly and with no trace of contempt. Most times I just ignored her.

She recovered quickly, offering me a large grin. “Well she’s so pretty,” Ashley squealed in glee.

Amelia looked on, giving a polite smile at intervals.

I tried to control myself. My patience was running out.

“Would you like anything to drink?” Ashley was asking Amelia. Amelia stood helpless, looking at me.

I sighed inaudibly. “Water,” I answered for her. “She’ll take water.”

Ashley smiled and clapped both hands together. “Would you like to stay over for dinner. . .” She trailed off.

“Amelia. Everyone calls me Mel,” Amelia answered for her.

“Oh my gosh. That is such a pretty name.”

Amelia gave another polite smile. “And. . . thanks for the offer but I’m having dinner with my grandma.”

“Oh.” Ashley’s face fell. “Okay maybe, next time?”

“Sure.” Amelia smiled.

Her smile didn’t look so forced this time. Actually it looked kinda warm.

Was this bitch having fun? I frowned.

“Well I’ll leave you two to it,” Ashley said smiling even harder. If that was possible.

Finally.

Ashley gave Amelia a side hug as she walked past us, while Amelia looked on in horror.

If I wasn’t so angry I might have laughed.

I dragged Amelia up the remaining stairs. As we got to the living room, I backed her in a corner.

“What the hell was that?” I demanded.

She stared at me, looking confused. “I don’t understand-”

“Shut the fuck up.” I spat. “So now you think you can carry on conversations with anyone you meet here?”

She cowered murmuring. “You didn’t tell me not to talk to your cousin.”

My hand froze in the air.

My cousin.

The reality of it all was so annoying. Anyone would even take her for my sister.Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

But no. She was my stepmother. That word always left a bitter taste in my mouth.

In anger, I grabbed Amelia. “You’re not here to make small talk. You’re here to work. Understood?”

She nodded weakly.

“Good. Now sit,” I ordered.

She walked to the tiny chair she’d sat in the last time.

“Not there,” I barked. “I gestured to the larger chair and table. “Sit there.”

Ashley had seen her already. It’d look odd if she happened to see her sitting there. And it would attract a lot of questions.

To keep up appearances, I abandoned the couch I lay in and took a seat three chairs from the one in which she was sitting.

Her eyes widened in surprise and she wasted no time to get comfortable on the chair, obviously grateful for it.

I watched her take her time to get comfortable on the chair.

She took off her school bag and placed it in front of her, pausing halfway to make sure I’d actually told her to sit.

As she did her skirt rode up a little exposing one clear, creamy thigh.

I swallowed involuntarily, forcing my eyes off her and gluing them on my phone screen.

After a while, my eyes wandered back of their own accord. I couldn’t take my eyes off her thighs.

So she had nice legs. . .

Shit. I stopped myself. The only time I’d ever gotten close to Amelia was the night of the party when I played that prank on her.

And it was nothing exciting. It was merely to teach her a lesson.

Giving up, I tore my eyes off her legs and focused on her face instead.

She tucked her hair behind her ear, chewing on the end of the pencil she held. She flipped through one page of the textbook on the table, using her index finger to trace the words.

I sucked in a sharp breath. I’ve never found Amelia attractive.

So why?

In anger I banged the table and stood. “Finish up and get out. I have stuff to do.”

She looked up questioningly but didn’t complain.

I spun round and walked out fast enough to conceal my erection.