My Volatile Stepbrother

Spying?

Noting the level of panic in her daughter's voice, Audrey rushed into the room.

"What happened?"

"Somebody is in our front yard!"

"Where?"

"He went behind the front hedge, nearest to this window." Cassie pointed to the window left of the TV. Audrey marched toward the front door and opened it up. "Mom, be careful!" Cassie whispered.

Cassie watched her mother walk outside and investigate the shrub, turning on their bright outdoor light. Cassie heard her mother shouting. She tried to see who it was, but the lights inside made everything look so dark.

Audrey came back inside and closed the door, locking it. Without saying a word, she walked to the downstairs bathroom to grab a towel to dry herself off.

"Mom, what the f*ck? Who was that?"

"I have no idea. Nobody was there when I went outside."

Cassie wondered what she could have seen. There was a person that hid behind that shrub ... wasn't there?

"I could have sworn ... " Cassie trailed off.

"It's alright, honey. Let's just enjoy tonight."

Cassie sighed and nodded. At least they still had their girls’ night to look forward to.

A sudden knock on the front door startled both women.

"Angelo's delivery!" the cheerful voice said.

Cassie got up and opened the door. The driver gave them their order and thanked them. Cassie carried the two extra-large pizzas and set them on the dining room table. The two piled up their plates with pizza and Doritos, got a couple of sodas, and then sank into their comfortable couch.

Soon, they were laughing and enjoying their food together like always. It was in line with their Friday nights over the past couple of years. They forgot about the incident with the person outside and it also helped them forget about Richard.

Cassie didn't want to go to sleep because she knew once she woke up, it would be time for Chetum and Brad to move in. Audrey stayed in Cassie's bedroom and sang to her like when she was a little girl. Soon she was fast asleep.

***

Cassie awoke the next morning to the sun streaming upon her face. She had forgotten to close her curtains since the day before. Briefly she forgot about what was set to happen today until she heard beeping from a van outside. She rushed to the window and saw a U-Haul van backing up the steep driveway.

Brad was directing Chetum, who was driving the van. Chetum gunned it when he was too close and almost hit the house.

"D*mn it, Chetum!"

Cassie recognized her mother's voice. She peered down to the left and saw her mother with her hands on her hips, shaking her thick curly blond hair. Cassie locked her door and went into her personal bathroom to take a shower.

She rushed through washing her hair and scrubbing her body, not wanting to leave her mother alone with those two. What if Chetum hit her with the van? With haste, she threw on some jeans, a T-shirt, and a sweatshirt. Either way, she needed to be there to help her mom.

After she rushed down the stairs, she was greeted by Brad and Chetum, bringing in a framed picture of a nude woman. Cassie watched as her mom followed with a box. She walked over to her, and they exchanged glances.

"Seriously?" Cassie whispered about the picture.

"He says it looks just like me. I have to say, my body is pretty close."

"Mom!" Cassie whispered. She laughed at her and set the box down.

"Want to help?" she asked.

"I want to help you, yes."

"C'mon then!"

Mother and daughter headed outside to check out the moving van. It was a brisk fall morning and while the driveway was still wet, it wouldn't stay that way for long. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the sun felt good on Cassie's face.

"Wait, I forgot my sunglasses," Cassie said. "I'll be right back."

"Grab mine too, sweetie!"

Without glancing back Cassie gave her mom a thumbs up. As she entered the house, Chetum was passing by. He smirked at her and put his foot out to trip her. She fell forward onto the dining room table. Chetum laughed at her.

"What are you? Twelve?" Cassie asked. She couldn't believe it, but her anger had pushed her to say something back. She could be a little more assertive after all.

"No, but you look like you are. Have you even gone through puberty yet, nerd?" he asked, tilting his head back and forth at her.

"Chetum. Get outside and help Audrey," Brad ordered. Chetum promptly stopped teasing Cassie and did what his father asked. It was an interesting dynamic between Brad and Chetum. He was either barking at his son or ignoring him.

Cassie went upstairs to her bedroom to find her sunglasses. Once she retrieved them, she left her other regular glasses on her desk. Suddenly, she noticed she had left her door open. Alarmed, she realized she'd have to get in the habit of keeping it closed. Maybe they could change the knob to have a place for a key so she could lock it in situations like this.

After coming downstairs, she found her mother's sunglasses, went outside, and gave them to her mother. Audrey had stepped aside while the men carried more boxes inside.

"Just how much stuff do they have?" Cassie whispered.

"You can see how full this van is."

"So, they're going to take up one of the spare rooms with their junk. Great." Cassie exhaled.

"Breathe, Cassie," Audrey said, motioning with her hands to put air in her mouth. Cassie closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths and then nodded at her mom when she opened them.

"Are you two going to help or not?" Chetum questioned. Mother and daughter rolled their eyes and turned back to the van, each taking a box.

Cassie had a habit that not many people knew about. She had been lifting weights lately. With her small, thin frame, one would expect her to be frail, but she wasn't. She had managed to be inconspicuous and was using the school gym after Bio club, around 10 pm.

When she grabbed one of the heavier boxes and passed by Chetum, he paused and glanced back at her. She carried the forty-pound box with ease, winding her way through the trail of belongings in the dining room.

"You don't have to be a hero," he said.

Without looking back, she said, "I'll keep that in mind."

She could feel him staring at her back as she put the box down in the kitchen. When she returned for another, he was standing near the van watching her. She felt self-conscious as she reached for another box. This time, she took one that was very light. Chetum seemed satisfied, judging by the smirk he had on his face.

Secretly, Cassie was smiling to herself. She had surprised him and, even without knowing him well, she realized that it was a difficult task. She wondered if there was anything of substance underneath his jock exterior. There had to be, right?