Hate Me Harder, Stepbrother

R-I-P

Caitlyn's POV

By the time my last class ended, I was sure my soul had evaporated between the boring lectures. I didn't even have the energy to pretend to smile. My head was pounding, my feet hurt, and if I heard one more person whisper “that's her,” I might've actually screamed.

When the dismissal bell rang, it felt like being released from prison. I shoved my books into my bag, said bye to Vanessa, and practically sprinted for the exit, until I noticed James's car parked by the gate.

Gabe was leaning against it, texting, and as for James, he was nowhere in sight.

“Hey!” I called, walking towards him. “Please tell me I’m getting a ride home.”

He looked up from his phone and looked around. “James isn’t here yet but I can call him if you want.”

“No, thanks.”

Gabe laughed. “Don’t worry. I’d be the one asking, not you.”

“It won’t change the fact that he’d still find some way to make me feel like I begged him.”

Before Gabe could argue, Vanessa came jogging toward us, waving.

I turned to her, relief washing over me. “Yeah, I'm trying to figure out how I'm supposed to get home.”

That's when the idea crossed my mind: she could drive me home. "Vanessa," I said quickly, "please tell me you're heading home. Can I get a ride with you?"

She grinned, pulling her key from her pocket and flashing it in my face. “Sure, baby girl,” she said, popping the “girl” with playful ease.

I exhaled in relief. "Thank goodness."

Gabe chuckled under his breath. "Guess you're safe now. I'll meet you at home, yeah?"

“Yeah,” I said, smiling a little as he turned to leave.

Vanessa gestured for me to follow, and I trailed after her across the parking lot, expecting her to stop beside a car but she didn't.

She stopped beside a sleek black power-bike, completely not what I'd pictured.

My eyes widened. “Wait… this is your ride?”

Vanessa glanced back at me with a smirk, tossing me a spare helmet. “You were expecting a limo or something?”

I blinked, still stunned. “No, just… wow. This is actually kind of cool.”

She laughed and slid into the seat. “I only drive cool.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help grinning as I slipped on the helmet. “You're insane.”

“Maybe but you'll love it,” she said, revving the engine. “Hop on, princess.”

The ride was equal parts terrifying and exciting. I spent the first few minutes gripping Vanessa’s jacket like my life depended on it, but by the time we reached the mansion, I was laughing.

I pulled off the helmet and tried to flatten my hair.

Vanessa took one look at me and burst out laughing. “See? Told you you’d love it.”

“I did.” I handed her the helmet. “Thanks for the ride.”

“No need. It’s sisterhood.”

I watched her drive off. By the time I got into the house, I was tired enough to sleep in my clothes. I dropped my bag in the hallway, kicked off my sneakers, and dragged myself upstairs.

Mom's voice floated from the kitchen. "Baby, you are back? How was school?"

“Bad,” I muttered, too drained to sugarcoat it.

She peeked out, concern written all over her face. "What happened?"

I replied flatly. "I'm not in the mood to talk about it, Mom."

Ryssa looked like she wanted to push, but she nodded instead. "Alright, sweetheart. I'll save some dinner for you."

“Thanks.” I trudged upstairs and collapsed face-first on my bed.

~~

I must've dozed off because when I woke up, it was dark outside. My stomach growled, so I dragged myself downstairs, yawning, half-dead.

That's when I heard the voices of Mom and Gabe talking in the living room.

I paused near the doorway, invisible for a few seconds, catching bits of their conversation.

“…she really should go,” Mom was saying. “It'll help her make friends.”

“I don't think she would want to but you could ask her.”

“It's just the welcome gala. It's school stuff and it is for everyone.”

I coughed and both their heads turned.

Ryssa smiled immediately. “Hey, honey! We were just talking about you.”

“Uh-oh. That never sounds good.” I walked closer, rubbing my eyes. “What's going on?”

Gabe straightened up from the couch. “The Welcome Gala tonight at the university. I'm going with my friends. Thought maybe you'd wanna come too?”

“No,” I said instantly.

Mom frowned. Oh, come on, Caitlyn. It might be good for you. You can meet new people.”

“Mom, I already met people today,” I said dryly. “And almost all of them were annoying.”

Gabe chuckled. “Okay, fair but it's just one evening. No classes, free food, music. Plus, it's kind of a big deal. Everyone shows up.”

I groaned. I don't care. Besides, I don't think I'll be missing out on anything if I don't attend.”

“Caitlyn, you can’t hide from everyone because your first day was terrible,” Mom said. “Go. Stay for an hour. If you hate it, come home.”

I frowned.

The last thing I wanted was to spend another minute around people who had spent all day whispering about me. But staying home because of them somehow felt worse. Like they had already managed to scare me off.

“Fine,” I muttered. “One hour. But I don’t have a dress or a ride.”

Gabe smiled. “I’ve got the ride covered. My friends and I are heading there soon.”

Mom immediately brightened. “And I’ll handle the dress. Come on. Let’s find you something to wear.”

I followed her toward the stairs before glancing at Gabe. “Is James going?”

“Doubt it. He went out with Ethan earlier and said he wouldn’t be home tonight.”

Good.

At least there was one person I wouldn’t have to deal with.

I wasn't sure how long I spent in front of the mirror, but when I finally stepped out, I actually didn't look bad.

My dress was light blue, soft, and just elegant enough to pass the “Beauvein family” vibe Mom wanted. My hair was in loose waves, and I went with nude heels that I prayed wouldn't kill me.

Gabe whistled when I came downstairs. “Wow. You look breathtaking.”

I almost wanted to recoil. “Stop, don't compliment me; it makes me shy.”

He laughed. “Duly noted, Caitlyn. Let's roll.”

~~

The gala was insanely crowded.

There was champagne everywhere, and people were dressed like they were attending a royal wedding instead of a university party.

I stayed close to Gabe at first while he introduced me to people whose names disappeared from my head almost immediately.

The worst part was that some of them already knew mine.

A few people mentioned the press conference. Someone asked what it was like living in the Beauvein mansion. Another girl complimented my dress before asking where I bought it in a tone that made me wonder if it was actually a compliment.

By the time Gabe left to join his friends, I was exhausted from smiling.

I escaped to the refreshment table and reached for a drink.

“Wow. Didn’t think you’d actually show up.”

I knew that voice.

I turned and saw her. Clara.

“Hi.”

Before Clara could respond, someone across the room called her name.

“Coming!” she called sweetly, stepping around me. But as she passed, something tugged sharply at the back of my dress.

I heard the rip before I understood what had happened.

I spun around.

Clara was holding one of her bracelets, calmly untangling a small piece of blue fabric from its clasp.

My stomach dropped.

The back seam of my dress had torn open.

Clara looked at the fabric caught in her bracelet and covered her mouth.

“Oh my God. Caitlyn, I’m so sorry.” Clara feigned shock, placing her hand over her mouth. She looked at the torn fabric again. “But I barely touched you. I didn’t realize the material was that… delicate.”

One of the girls behind her snickered.

Clara gave me a sympathetic smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I guess moving into a Beauvein mansion doesn’t automatically upgrade the wardrobe.”

She blinked at me innocently. “Don’t give me that look. It was an accident.”

Laughter broke out behind Clara. Heat rushed into my face as I grabbed the back of my dress, trying desperately to hold the torn fabric together.

“You did that on purpose; stop lying.”

My voice wasn’t nearly as steady as I wanted it to be. My eyes were already burning, which only made me angrier. I hated crying. I especially hated that my body always seemed determined to do it when I was furious.

Clara glanced around at the people watching us, then blinked. “What? Why would I deliberately tear your dress? Maybe next time wear something that matches your new status.”

More laughter.

I wanted to say something back. Anything. But nothing came and I hated myself for that almost as much as I hated her.

“Picking on a freshman now? How low can you go, Clara?”

The laughter died almost instantly. I recognized Jane’s voice before I even turned.

Of all people.

He walked toward us in a dark suit, his expression unreadable. My stomach twisted.

I didn’t know whether I was relieved or humiliated that he was the person seeing me like this.

“James? Don't be unfair,” Clara cried. “This wasn't intentional.”

Almost everyone was looking at us now.

“Save the innocent act for someone who doesn’t know you,” James said.

Clara’s face tightened. “James—”

He ignored her, his eyes dropping to the hand I was using to hold my dress closed.

Before I understood what he was doing, he shrugged off his jacket and stepped toward me.

I stiffened.

James draped it over my shoulders, covering the torn part of my dress.

For several seconds, I couldn’t speak.

This was the same person who had spent two days making it painfully clear that he couldn’t stand me.

So why was he helping me?

“James?” Clara called after him.

He ignored her and looked at me instead.

“Go.”

I didn’t need to be told twice.

Clutching his jacket closed around me, I pushed through the crowd and headed for the nearest exit.

I could hear his footsteps behind me.

Once we were outside, he threw my hand off.

“Thank you.”

The words felt strange coming out of my mouth.

James shoved his hands into his pockets. “Don’t make this a big deal.”

I frowned. “I’m not.”

“You look like you’re about to.”

There he was.

I rolled my eyes and pulled his jacket tighter around myself. “Trust me, this changes absolutely nothing. You’re still an asshole.”

“Good.”

Something about his expression changed, but it happened so quickly I couldn’t understand it. “Return the jacket tonight."

I stood there watching him, still angry, still humiliated, and now irritated for an entirely different reason.