MY STEPBROTHER, MY RUIN

CHAPTER 008: WHISPERS AND TROUBLE

The morning sun felt too bright as I stepped out of the sleek black SUV in front of the school gates. Was it really the morning sun? Or was my brain reacting to what stood ahead of me in this school?

I spun a little, watching Mr. Grayson drive away with Mom, with her hands waving at me. I gulped hard, managed a smile. I had joined them in the car. Mr. Grayson had insisted, my mind had been too occupied that I had forgotten to ask where they were headed. Lovebirds. Who dared ask them such questions?

I was only grateful for one thing, Ronan hadn't joined in the ride. When Mr. Grayson asked, Mariah had said he left early for school.

I watched Mr. Grayson’s mouth tighten for a second as he muttered “That boy,” but that feeling had disappeared almost immediately the moment Mom stepped out.

Only if he knew how much I loved that he wasn't there. Wait? I think this is actually mutual. Yeah! He had left early because of me. Perfect! That was better than having him think he could intimidate me.

But now, the SUV disappeared through the gates, I moved my eyes back, the tall building stood before me like a curse, and students were already passing by me, whispering.

My stomach twisted into tight knots. After the bathroom disaster, I had spent the whole weekend hiding in my room, avoiding Ronan like he carried some kind of plague.

Every time I closed my eyes or picked up a book, the image flashed back, him naked under the shower, water sliding down his hard body, hand wrapped around that thick c**k.

My cheeks burned just thinking about it again. My body kept reacting in ways I didn’t understand, a warm flutter low in my belly that made me press my thighs together even now.

“Come on, June… You have a lot more to handle here,” I bluffed.

I kept my head down and walked fast toward the main building, hoping no one would notice me. But the whispers had already started.

“There she is… the meanie girl.”

“Did you hear what she did on registration day?”

“Ronan, that fine boy, he called her out in front of everyone.”

I gulped hard, my throat dry as it could break. My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag until it hurt. I didn’t look left or right. Just walked straight, eyes fixed on the Admin block door ahead. Please let today be different, please let them forget. I pleaded in my mind.

Luckily, there was no long queue like the first day. The lady at the counter barely glanced at me before stamping my ID card and handing it over with a quick smile.

“Welcome back,” she said. I nodded, grabbed the card, and hurried away, heart beating too fast.

But the hallway wasn’t kind. Small groups of students stood around, and as I passed, more whispers floated my way.

“She’s the one who made a scene, the one I told you about…”

“Ronan’s new tormentor. The mean one.”

“She looked like she was from the slums. Slum Girl would have been a better name.”

Oh my God! That last one that reached my ear, it made my heart ache. I tilted my neck toward where that voice had come from. Of course, that was her. The girl who had popped her arm around Ronan. The glitz and glamour one. But looking at her now, she wasn't wrong. Just her bright green blazer could buy everything in my box.

Talking back would mean more disaster. She was there with her friends. They must have heard the news from the other. So, I scurried away. Keeping my pace quick.

The classroom would be a better place to stay until the lectures begin for the day. I tilted the tiny-strap wristwatch on my hand, there were still a whopping thirty minutes before the first lecture. I hope I don't get roasted before any lecturer shows up.

My old sneakers squeaked almost too loudly as I moved like air on the polished floor. I had lost count of how many times I had had to fix those particular sneakers. Well, it was still serving, or so I thought.

As I reached the door, I paused for half a second. My eyes accidentally met Ronan’s across the room. He was already seated like a good boy, backpack on his desk before him, his phone in his hand.

He sat near the middle, chestnut hair still a little messy, his fingers seemed to pause on the gadget. The moment our gazes locked, my heart gave a crazy thump.

A weird mix of feelings rushed through me, anger and embarrassment, and something warmer that made my n*****s tighten under my uniform blouse. Thank goodness the sweatshirt would be enough to hide any misbehavior.

But I hated it. I hated that seeing him made every single image fresh in my mind. Right now, though, I choose hate. He was the real reason I had to scurry into class like a scared mouse drenched in the rain, instead of walking in normally like everyone else.

Because of him, the whole school still remembered my face for the wrong reasons. Girls especially, and maybe that one boy at the end of the hall, darting me a steady look, like he had known me from Adams.

I was sure the ugly whispers had pulled his eyes off the book in his hand and onto my face, because when I walked in, his brows were puckered in concentration.

I lifted my feet and stepped inside, scanning for any empty seat far away from Ronan and his troubles. Two chairs sat empty at the very end of the back row. Perfect. Quiet. Safe. I started walking toward them, moving as fast as I could without running.

Then the worst happened.