Falling for my Stepbrothers

PART ONE CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

GOING AWAY TO COLLEGE

We have arrived, we are at college, and it's safe to say, we are all nervous as hell. It was our first time away from home, and we were all starting over. The only way Andrew would let me go out of state, was if he approved our apartment. The bastard denied every last one, except the one we wanted, thank god. We lucked out with this apartment. It's a 3 bedroom completely open concept with a wrap-around balcony on the tenth floor. The windows were floor to ceiling, and we were high enough that we could see the town below us. The only other thing visible was actually a few floors above us, but in a connecting building. Mike's apartment was the owner's penthouse, which came with a private entrance into the building, as well as a private elevator, off the private garage, for his personal use when he was in town. A damn good perk if you ask me.

Pressing the button for the elevator, and stepping in when the doors open, the ride up to our floor is quick since this is a dedicated elevator for the upper floors. The hallway is dimly lit as I walk the length of the corridor to the end where our suites share the same alcove, and flash my keycard.

The only way I could be happier is if the guys were here, I thought to myself, staring out my bedroom window. They are my family, and despite it all, I miss them deeply. However, I can't be there right now. I can't be there and not touch them any longer. I can't be there and not beg them to touch me. I can't be there and see what I saw that night.

My best friends, Tina and Mary, held the peace I was craving when I first found myself here, more lost than ever. Not that any of them are aware of that.

Mary and Tina saved me, dragged me from the darkness I’d been drowning in, since the night my life imploded. They are the people who brought me back to life. I’ll forever be grateful to both of them.

Concern pinches Mary's brows, as she finds me hiding behind the shower screen. The middle of it might be frosted, but you could still see plenty regardless. It’s not my curves I’m desperate to hide anyway. Mary and Tina have seen, touched, and kissed nearly most of me, so my body is the last thing that's concerned.

Coming closer, and hopping up on the counter. “Do you want to talk about it?”

My eyes find her kind and incredibly sympathetic ones, and I wonder what I did in the universe to deserve such an awesome and understood best friend. At least one of them. Anyway, I can't leave Tina out of the mix. They have both been very supportive, awesome friends. They didn't judge me or say I'm gross, or strange when I admitted my feelings for my stepbrothers. They guessed way back in school before I knew who they were. My obsession with them developed the very first time I laid eyes on them, and it's done nothing but grow every time after that, that I saw them. When our parents finally introduced me to them that night, I knew the boys saw the crushed look on my face before it disappeared, and I had to hide my feelings. When they got married, I had no idea what to do. The night I was told, I ran from the house, and spent the weekend at Mary's house crying. I hid my feelings from everyone. I had to, I couldn't tell my mom I had an obsession with all six of my soon-to-be stepbrothers. It was also plain to me that they didn't feel the same way. After our parents died, I thought that it was my time to show them how I felt. I did everything I could think of to get their attention, for them to see me. They never did. The weekend before leaving home was a nightmare that replays in my mind. That night, I was supposed to be at Tina's, but I had forgotten something at the house and had to go back for it. Noises coming from the basement are what drew me down there, to begin with. I will never forget what I saw when I turned the corner and saw what they were doing to someone else. I'll never forget the stab of pain in my heart, or the feeling of being punched in the stomach, of not being able to breathe. I remember that night vividly, I remember the feeling of needing to escape. I couldn't look any of them in the face the few times I saw them last week before I left. Now, I think I just want to go home.

It's been almost four years away, and my final year of college is here. I haven't seen them much, because I haven't been home, not since that night. The guys visit me, although never all at once, and we talk and text.

"I miss them so much," I said, admitting quietly.

"Maybe it's time to go home, and face them then," she says.

'Maybe," I said, but the decision was already made.

Later that day, my phone rang, looking down, saw Chance's name, answering quickly, before he missed the call, "Hey, are all your ears burning?"

"Not that I noticed, you're thinking about us sweetheart." He asks, sounding hopeful.

"You guys are never far from my thoughts, "I miss you guys, and Louise too." Telling him.

Taking a chance on putting her in a bad mood again, "Maybe you could come home for a break. If everything works out, and you're ready, maybe you could stay for a while this time. Or maybe not go back at all. You could transfer if you wanted."

His comment is left with silence at first, then I just reply with one word. The one word that will bring so much joy to this house.

"Maybe I'm thinking about it."

A smile appeared on his face, "Alex, that would be awesome, I'll let the others know you might be coming home, they're going to be stoked. "

"OK, I'll call again soon." Before hanging up, I quickly added, "I miss and love you all so much."

The line is dead, she's gone. Hanging up the receiver, turning around, and telling the others, "I think she might be ready to come home."

Smiles appear on the remaining five brothers' faces, "Finally," they say together.

Flynn continues, "We have to make sure she doesn't want to leave. I don't know about the rest of you, waiting on her to come home, to want to come home, has been hell, I can't do this again." Andrew looks over, "I know, we all feel the same, we have some plans to make."

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