Falling for my Stepbrothers

PART ONE CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER NINE

GRADUATION DAY

At 7 am my alarm goes off. Today is the last day that I'm forced to attend school. I may very well be attending college at some point, but that would be by choice.

Waking up this morning, I'm so excited, I can't believe that today is my last day attending high school. Mom and dad are due back from their last-minute vacation they took, as a sort of mini-second honeymoon to France, in a few hours. Andrew is going to the airport to pick them up, while I jump in the shower, and get ready. Hopefully, now that I am no longer a high school student, my stepbrothers will begin to realize I'm not a child any longer. A fat chance of that happening, but one could always hope.

Some people in town try to refer to us as siblings, but none of us ever let that fly. We are very quick to point out that, (A) There isn't a drop of blood to link us and (B) We met as teenagers. This means we met as horny, pubescent, teenagers, and we are most definitely not siblings. I make a point to call them my stepbrothers and emphasize the step, just to rile them up sometimes. It's fun. Walking upstairs to my room, I got out the clothes I plan to wear to graduation and proceeded to walk to the bathroom to shower. Of course, I failed to shut the door to the bathroom. I can't take the chance that one of the boys will walk by, and see my tight body without clothes on. I need a reaction from them. I know they want me as much as I want them. They aren't capable of hiding the hunger I see in their eyes, whenever I catch them looking at me.

The phone begins to ring, and one of the guys gets it before I manage to, so I let it go. A few minutes later, I heard something loud drop downstairs. Curious about what fell, throwing on a robe followed where the sound came from. Walking into the kitchen, all the guys except Andrew were there. The look on their faces is what brings me up short.

"What's wrong?" Afraid to ask, but knowing I have to ask. "Who was on the phone?"

They all looked from one to the other, visibly upset, "Andrew called", it was Doug who stepped forward. He took my hand, turning me towards the living room. Once there, sitting on the couch with my hand in his, he states, "Mom and dad's plane is missing". He squeezes my hand, in support and comfort. His voice is cracking though, I can hear it.

"What, what do you mean...missing?" I asked, not sure if I heard him correctly.

Chase and Flynn are sitting on the love seat, Blake and Erik are standing over by the fireplace, and Doug is still sitting next to me, holding my hand. All visibly upset, trying to be strong for me.

Chase is the one to speak when he says, "Andrew called, he said that the flight status was changed to delayed. After a little while passed, no more information was provided. He said he went to the counter to find out. He said, that there are a lot of people there wanting information. No information has been provided yet, so everyone is just waiting for news."

Grabbing the remote, I turned on the TV to the local news, and sure enough, Top Story: Flight missing on the screen.

The color draining from my face, as the tears well up in my eyes, "I'm graduating today. What do I do?" I asked shakily.

Blake steps forward, steel in his gaze, "You graduate, Alex. This will keep till after that. You worked hard to get here, you will walk across that stage, and accept your diploma." He said, "Go finish getting ready, we'll keep you updated on the news. Give me your cell, I don't want you watching the news on your phone or getting any questions from anyone about this today."

Realizing the logic in what he's saying, knowing it's because he cares about me, I handed him my cell and left the room.

Andrew arrived home a short while later. His eyes were red and puffy. I immediately thought the worst, but he stopped me before I could get a complete thought.

"There isn't any news yet, I know I look rough, the atmosphere at the airport is upsetting. It was hard not to feel for the families. However, we are not going to think it's bad news until we are told its bad news. In the meantime, today you graduate." Andrew states, "Are you ready?"

Taking a deep breath and nodding, "As ready as I'll ever be." I stated, grabbing my sweater as we head out the door.

It wasn't common knowledge, my parents were on the plane, and no one said anything as I approached my class, as we lined up to get our diplomas. I stood in an utter daze, literally just following through the motions of the person in front of me. Pretty soon it was my turn to walk across the stage, to accept the diploma, looking out at the crowd, I spotted where the guys were, my guys. My sight went to Andrew, who was looking down at his phone. After a moment, he looked up. I don't know what it was. Maybe it was the fact that his color got just a little paler, but I just knew that our parents were gone.

They found the plane. It had smashed into a mountain, and all souls on board perished, including our parents. Later that week, we arraigned a memorial service. They had to be identified by DNA, so there wasn't a body to have a funeral service for. Afterward, we were alerted by the lawyer that he would reach out to us to go over the will our parents left. The memorial service was nice, many people sent flowers, and it was nice to see so many people showing their respect for our parents. The whole day went by in a blur. I honestly can't remember how I got home that night, after the service, or who was even there.

A while later, I woke up, and found myself in my bed. Glancing around, I know I'm alone.

Hearing voices downstairs, and heading that way, going to the living room, I spotted a few of the guys there, not sure where the rest were. I walked over to the couch, sat down, and Flynn came over and sat down next to me. Pulling my feet into his lap, he started rubbing my feet, "The lawyer who was at the service called, he's planning on coming by the house to speak to all of us tomorrow morning."

Not having anything to say about any of that, I asked, "Where are the others?"

It was Erik who spoke up by saying, "They went into town, they should be back soon. Are you hungry?"

"No" is all I say.

I can feel their eyes on me. I haven't cried yet, I think they're waiting for me to fall apart. I have no one left. My dad has been gone for a long time, and now my mom, I'm not even eighteen yet. What will happen to me now?

Sensing my internal struggle, Doug says "Stop thinking so hard Alex, your ears are smoking."

"Don't look so concerned, nothing is going to change," Flynn says then.

Ignoring them both, closing my eyes, I began to drift back to sleep.

Feeling like I'm floating, I realize I'm being carried upstairs, wrapping my arms around the neck of whoever has me. I realize it's more than once when I hear someone else open my bedroom door. Laying myself on the bed and pulling the covers up, one by one I felt all six lips kiss my forehead. The last one, not knowing who it was, stayed behind a moment. I felt his fingers glide along my cheek and chin. I felt his breath in my ear, I heard his deep voice when he whispered," We will always protect you, baby girl, I promise." With those words, I heard Andrew turn and leave my room.

Walking into the kitchen the next morning, I found not only all the guys but also the lawyer that was at the service yesterday. He stands and greets me with a sympathetic smile, "My name is Mr. Donald Wagner, You may not remember me from yesterday, understandably so. I realize it must have been a very tough day for you all. I was your parent's attorney. Because of the delicate matter of both of them passing, I needed to read their wills asap."

Looking up at Mr. Wagner I state, "I didn't know mom had made a will."

Glancing at one of my stepbrothers, I said, "Let's go into the living room and talk. I'd like to be a little more comfortable before we begin if that's OK with the rest of you?"

Once comfortable on the couch, the lawyer begins to explain that had it been my mom who passed, per mom's will, I was left to Steve along with a hefty sum of money as an allowance per year. The fact that both of them passed together makes the situation different, especially given the fact that I'm not a legal adult yet. Looking more and more uncomfortable, I state "Could you just get on with it please?"

Mr. Wagner clears his throat and states that since both of them passed at the same time, Steve's will is the dominant will, not that I understand what that means. He continues saying, "Your guardianship is passing to your stepbrothers. They have been left with your entire estate until which time you either reach the age of thirty or you get married, are until that time, Andrew, Blake, Chance, Doug, Erik, and Flynn will provide anything you need. This is the final wish of your parents."

Numb, I stare at him blankly, "They left me in their care, why?" I asked.

"Because they knew we'd always care for and protect you, Alex," Blake says "And we will, No matter what, your needs come first, you have to know that, now," he says.

"We'll discuss all this later, Alex, but nothing is going to change. This is your home for as long as you want it to be. When you're ready to go to college, you just have to let me know where, clothes and food. You know we have that covered as well," Andrew said sternly. Willing me to listen.

I looked up at him and saw his eyes. I know he won't stand for me fighting this, and the truth is told, I don't want to fight it. I just wonder why it was put in place, to begin with. Looking at Mr. Wagner, then, at each of my stepbrothers, then back to the lawyer, "Is there anything I need to sign?"

Doug speaks up and says, "We told him we'd look over the papers and get them back to him later today."

"No", I quickly said.

They all turned to look at me, not saying anything, just waiting.

"I would rather do it now, I'm OK with what you've read, I just wondered why it was stated the way it was?" Looking at them again I say softly, "There isn't anyone I trust my life and welfare more to than them."

Chase puts his arms around me and pulls me into a hug and states, "We appreciate your trust, we can do it now if you want. Then we could see Mr. Wagner on and we can begin our futures."

Looking up at him, wanting him so much at that moment, trying to tell him with my eyes what I was feeling. He looks into my eyes then down to my lips and I think for a second that he can read my mind and is going to kiss me, but then he kisses my forehead and walks away.

After reading all the paperwork and putting our signatures where appropriate, Mr. Wagner was shown out and I went upstairs. Deciding to take a bath, running hot water in the tub and dropping a vanilla-scented bath bomb into the water, turning around to go into my room to get out of my clothes, I find Blake standing there.

Looking at him, really not in the mood to play games and not having the energy to tempt him either, I just began to take my clothes off with him openly standing there. Once nude, I turned and step into the tub, settling down into the hot vanilla-scented water, I lay my head back and close my eyes, willing the world to leave me be for a little while.

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