Beneath The Act

I Need My Step Brother

Kailee Bennett

If awkward tension could be served on a platter, my family would be the head chefs.

Breakfast was… painful. Like chewing glass while smiling.

Mom had made pancakes, all bright-eyed and determined to play happy families. Greg—Ryder’s dad—sat at the end of the table reading some business report like he was too rich for human interaction.

And then there was Ryder.

Sitting across from me.

Looking like sin incarnate in a plain black T-shirt, twirling a fork like he wasn’t the cause of my emotional breakdown yesterday.

“You two should hang out more,” Mom said cheerfully, slicing a strawberry like it hadn’t just sliced my soul. “Maybe go shopping or see a movie. Bond a little!”

I choked on my orange juice.

Ryder didn’t even flinch. “I think Kailee would rather set herself on fire.”

“He’s not wrong,” I muttered.

Greg looked up. “It wouldn’t kill either of you to try. You live under the same roof now. Might as well get used to each other.”

Yeah. Great idea. Let me just trauma bond with the guy who steamrolled my pride and accidentally made me ruin my life.

“I have rehearsal after school,” I said quickly, grabbing my bag and avoiding eye contact.

Ryder spoke without looking up. “If she survives another day as Juliet.”

My eye twitched. Murder charges were starting to feel worth it.

School was a battlefield.

I felt it the second I stepped through the doors.

The whispering.

The looks.

The poorly-disguised snickers.

“She really thought she had a chance with Noah…”

“…Did you see that outfit? My grandma wouldn’t even wear that.”

“She’s, like, delusional. Honestly.”

“It was brutal. I heard she cried in the bathroom.”

And the laughter.

Oh God, the laughter.

Each word hit like a pebble. Small, but adding up.

I was drowning in humiliation.

Every step felt heavier. Every glance like a dagger.

I wanted to disappear. I wanted my hoodie back. I wanted to crawl under a table and never resurface.

“Kai!” Char’s voice yanked me from my spiral. She caught up beside me, eyes wide and half-shocked, half-smirking.

“I can’t believe that I skipped school sick for just two days, and you have a hot stepbrother.”

I groaned. “Please don’t.”

The Ryder Vale that everyone’s been drooling over since sophomore year? The one with the lip ring, nicotine addiction, and permanent ‘I hate everything bad boy’ energy?”

I groaned and shoved open my locker. “Can you say it louder? I don’t think the janitor in the basement heard you.”

She gasped dramatically. “Kailee! You live with that and didn’t tell me? You’re literally one steamy shower scene away from a w*****d fantasy.”

“I. Hate. Him.” I said, punctuating each word like a curse. “He’s arrogant, infuriating, and thinks he knows everything. He just—he gets under my skin.”

She grinned. “That’s what makes it juicy.”

I scowled. “You’re impossible.”

She shrugged. “Just saying, if my stepbrother looked like that, I’d accidentally marry him.”

“Gross.”

I’ll admit he was hot but none of that mattered because he has a shitty personality.

I just want to go back to my normal life. Be invisible with less bullies.

I was going to give the role of Juliet back. I never wanted it. I never asked for it. And clearly, the universe agreed I wasn’t meant for it.

“I’ll meet you in class. Save a seat beside you for me. I gotta go do something real quick” I told Charlotte

She nodded

I turned toward the drama hallway.

But of course—the universe had more to say.

“Aww, going to cry to Ms. Langston?” Sienna blocked my path, all glossy hair and fake sympathy.

I stopped.

Didn’t even last a week as Juliet,” she said, eyes raking over me. “Honestly? I thought you’d break down mid-rehearsal, not try to flirt with”

I tightened my grip on the script I was holding

“You really thought dressing like one of us would make him notice you?” she sneered. “You’re a joke, Bennett.”

Something snapped.

Maybe—just maybe—I was tired of hating myself.

I stepped closer, chin lifted. “At least I’m not scared to try. You walk around this school like you own it, but deep down, we both know the only power you have is built on fear. You don’t lead. You intimidate. You mock. But you know what? You don’t scare me anymore.”

Sienna’s smirk faltered.

“I may have flopped,” I said, voice rising, “but I got back up. And you? You’re still standing in the same spot you’ve always been—saying the same tired crap because you’re too scared someone like me might actually outshine you.”

She stepped forward, eyes narrowing. “You’re going to regret that.”

“No. I’m not giving the role back. In fact, I’m going to rehearse harder, louder, and better. And you’re going to watch. Front row.”

I said, turning toward the auditorium doors. I didn’t give her a second glance.

I walked straight past the drama room where I planned to quit and shoved the crumpled script back in my bag.

She wanted me to fail?

Then I’d make damn sure I didn’t.

Even if it killed me.

I pushed open the auditorium doors like I belonged there.

Even if I didn’t feel it yet, I was going to fake it until it stuck.

Ms. Langston gave me a quick nod when I walked in. The rest of the cast barely glanced at me. No whispering. No laughter. Just the usual chaos of teens forgetting lines and tripping over props.

Good. Let them forget. Let me vanish into the background until I could own the spotlight.

I found my mark, clutching my script like it was a lifeline, and when rehearsal started—I gave it my all.

I raised my voice. I planted my feet. I locked eyes when I spoke.

Was I good? I don’t know. But I was trying. And that had to count for something.

“Good projection, Kailee!” Ms. Langston called. “Let’s see that same fire in Act Three!”

I was halfway through a line when the doors creaked open.

Noah stepped in.

I faltered.

He approached the stage and apologized for being late and of course it was no problem.

He looked different. He looked more hesitant. Guilty???

We ran lines despite the awkwardness

Ms. Langston continued calling scenes, and I pushed through, but I could feel his gaze the whole time. It wrapped around my words, crawled under my skin, and somehow made me feel… noticed.

And I hated that I still cared.

When rehearsal wrapped, I grabbed my bag and headed straight for the doors—because I wasn’t doing the whole awkward run-in thing again.

But Noah caught up before I made it out.

“Hey,” he said, gently. “Kailee.”

I paused.

Not because I wanted to, but because I couldn’t help it. His voice was soft, almost like he actually meant it.

“I just… I wanted to say I’m sorry,” he said. “For what happened. The guys were out of line. I should’ve said something.”

I blinked at him, heart doing that annoying flutter thing. “You think?”

He winced. “Yeah. Look, I’m not proud of it. I was stupid.”

“And silent.”

He nodded. “I deserve that.”

We stood in that weird space between tension and understanding. I didn’t know what to say.

Because part of me still wanted to scream.

But the other part—the stupid, pathetic part—was looking at his jawline and remembering every photo I’d scrolled through that morning.

“I guess… thanks for saying that,” I muttered.

He gave a small smile. “You were good up there today.”

And just like that—he had me again.

“Kailee!” Ms. Langston called from the front of the stage. “Quick announcement before everyone leaves.”

I turned toward her, grateful for the interruption.

“We’ll be practicing the kissing scene next rehearsal,” she said cheerfully. “So come prepared, folks. Confidence, chemistry, and lip balm!”

I blinked.

What?

Kissing scene?

Already?!

Panic clawed at my stomach. I felt my eyes widen, my pulse spike, and my feet go numb.

I wasn’t ready.

I wasn’t even close.

Noah turned to me with a raised brow, clearly trying not to smirk before he walked out

“Oh God,” I whispered, backing away.

I haven’t even kissed anyone before.

I don’t want rumors going around that I kissed like a washing machine

I needed help.

I needed someone to coach me through this.

I needed someone who knew the lines, the scene, and unfortunately… me.

I needed Ryder.

Fuck.

The idea alone made me gag, but desperation was louder than pride.

This wasn’t just a scene anymore. It was my first kiss.

And I wasn’t about to let my lips betray me in front of half the drama club.

No freaking way.