My stepbrother wants me

Maddie's POV. “Guess what, sweetheart?” my mum asked, and her voice was laced with excitement. I slid into the chair at the dining table, and I barely lifted my eyes from the cereal box I was pretending to inspect. “What, Mum?” I replied, grabbing my spoon as she served me breakfast, and then I munched on it. “I went out on a dinner date last night. "He's just so perfect for me, she said, squealing with Happiness, and I rolled my eyes at her. Perfect wasn't the right word to use. “Okay. ""That's good; I love that for you," I replied, and she didn't seem to notice the lack of enthusiasm. In my voice. She sat down on the chair at the dining table across from me as she bounced on the chair. “You know what, sweetheart? I feel so young and alive whenever I'm with him. He's such a kind man; I I mean, who wouldn't love him?” I slammed my spoon on the table as anger rippled through me. I didn't want to hear it; I couldn't. “Mum, you just met Jaxon last week, and you are already drooling over him. If that's not enough, you "Have taken it upon yourself to design him as your perfect and kind man," I said, my voice sharper than a blade as my mom stared at me with surprise displayed on her face. “I know I just met him last week, but I can't just deny the chemistry I felt between us. We had such a Great time, and it's like we have known each other forever. Trust me, Maddie. You will like him; he's Really nice, she expressed, and I felt my jaw tighten. Mum, you still don't get what I'm trying to say. You are throwing around the word-perfect for a man. You have known for seven days. Isn't it a little— “You are the one who doesn't get it, and not me. Jaxon makes me feel special, just like when your "Father and I first met," she said, and my stomach churned at the mention of my father. I didn't want to think about him or how he left us so easily when I was still a little kid. How I woke up One morning to find out he was gone, even without saying a proper goodbye. “Please, Mum, don't talk to me about love,” I blurted out before I could stop myself. The words left my mouth with a tone I didn't intend to use. “What did you just say?” Mum asked as her face stiffened, andch the excitement sparkled in her eyes. disappeared. “I said don't talk to me about love,” I repeated, as I pushed my chair back, and then I stood up. “You of All people should know what love means, don't you? It's all a fairytale; it's a lie! I screamed out loudly, My heart was pounding hard in my chest. “Just take a look at you, Mum. After everything Dad did, after all the pain he put us through. You will Sit down there and tell me you believe in love? After he walked out on us when I was just a little kid, "And you think love is real?” I asked as she stared at me with a flushed face. She stood up and Moved closer to me. “Maddie, you better not speak to me like that. You have no ounce of idea of what love is. You've never Being in love; you've never had anyone to teach you that love is real, and it can heal all open wounds, she divulged. “I don't need anyone to teach me. Love is just a joke. A story they tell you to make you feel better "About being abandoned,” I let out. “Maddie, I've been doing the best I can. You don't understand that I feel lonely. I need someone in my life to love me. I need a partner. It's not just about me; I'm also thinking about you. I need a fatherly Love to you, and I can't give that to you. That's why I'm trying to find someone who can, she Explained, and I could feel the rage boiling inside of me once again. “Fatherly love my feet,” I cursed. Don't make it seem as though Jaxon can fix everything. I don't "Need someone to act as a father figure to me,” I said, and she let out a loud sigh. “Please just trust me. You need to come back from school early today because we are moving in with Jaxon, and I want everything to be sorted, she announced, and I stared at her in disbelief. “Wait… what? Mum, you've already decided we are moving in with Jaxon? I mean, just like that?” I Asked, but she didn't give me a response as she walked away from me. I stood frozen on the spot as the weight of the situation pressed down on me. I didn't want all of this, Jaxon and his perfect little life or whatever fairytale my mom was living in, and then I grabbed my Bag and headed towards the door for school without finishing my meal. The entire drive to school was silent, and I finally arrived at school, but my mind was somewhere else. It replayed my conversations with my mum as I tried to make sense of everything. My eyes searched for my best friend Maya. I knew she was somewhere around the playground, and I I needed her so badly. I needed someone to talk to, but the crowded playground made it impossible for Me to find her right away. Just when I thought I would lose my mind. I spotted her; she was leaning against a swing, looking Down on the ground. Her expression seemed distant. “Maya,” I called out to her, and I waved my hands in the air so she could spot me easily. She looked up At me, and her face brightened up. “Maddie,” she called out, but before I could respond, a mocking voice broke through the air. “Here comes Maya the loser,” Chloe said from across the playground. Chloe. The girl in school who lived just to make everyone else miserable now had her eyes locked on Maya. She was the hit girl in school, and she stood there with her clique, a group of girls who Followed her every word. She placed her hand on her lips as she looked down at Maya like some dirt. Anger coursed through my veins as it began to boil within me. “You think you can just walk around like you own the place?” Chloe said. “Chloe, don't you dare—” I was about to say, but Chloe had already grabbed Maya by her arm, and She twisted it behind in an aggressive manner that made Maya wince in pain. “Don't, Maddie. "Please, we can avoid all of this; it's just not worth it," Maya said as she offered me a Sympathetic look, and I bit my lower lip, pulling it into my mouth, and then I sucked on it. Chloe finally let Maya go, pushing her away as though she was nothing. As the girls all laughed at her And walked out. I didn't want to argue with Maya. At least not for Chloe; Maya was right when she said it wasn't Worth it. I clenched my fists as I watched Maya walk away with her head down and her shoulders slumped in defeat. Later that day. In our general class, I found myself seated at my desk as I tried to focus on the Lecture, but my mind kept wandering back to Chloe's words and my mom. But then he walked in. Dylan Carter. The guy every girl in the school drooled over, and I had absolutely No interest in him. He walked inside the class as though he owned the place; his dark hair was Tousled behind just to make him look like he just came right out of a fashion magazine. His eyes scanned the room, and every female except for me leaned towards him as their eyes were Fixed it on him. He was the kind of guy that made a person feel invisible if you weren't pretty enough or popular enough. But to me, I didn't care about all that bullshit. I just rolled my eyes as I ignored the attention he was getting. Bringing to himself. All he was an attention seeker, and that is what he will always be. And just like I would expect. Ivy rushed towards him with a bright smile plastered on her face. “Dylan. "I have been trying to reach you. "How was your vacation?” she asked as she stood in front of him. “It was good. "Paris was amazing,” he replied without even looking at her as he brushed past her. Though she wasn't important, and I almost choked on my laughter. Dylan walked past my desk as his cologne filled my nostrils, and I felt a familiar irritation well up. inside me. And just as I had expected, Chloe followed him behind as she tried to catch up with him fast. steps. I had already calculated the perfect moment, and just when she reached towards my desk. I stretched Out my leg, and with perfect timing, Chloe stumbled on my leg and tripped off.