stepbrother kiss

Chapter 2

Westwood High looked like something out of a movie. Red brick, massive columns, a fountain in the courtyard. Kids pulled up in cars that cost more than houses. I got out of Mom's Honda and felt every bit of cheap my clothes were worth.

"You'll be great," Mom said, squeezing my hand. "Just be yourself."

Right. Because being myself had worked so well at the mall.

I grabbed my backpack and headed inside. The hallways were packed, everyone hugging and laughing like they'd been apart for years instead of a weekend. I checked my schedule. Locker 247, first period English in room 302.

I found my locker and started working the combination. Someone bumped into me, didn't apologize. A group of girls walked past, looking me up and down. One whispered something. They all laughed.

Great start.

"You're the new girl."

I turned. A short girl with dark skin and box braids stood next to me, smiling. She wore ripped jeans and a vintage band tee.

"That obvious?" I said.

"I'm Riley." She leaned against the locker next to mine. "Let me guess. Scholarship kid or someone's parents got transferred here for work?"

"Neither. My mom married someone with money."

"Ah. The Cinderella story." She grinned. "Well, Cinderella, you picked the wrong school. This place eats nice girls for breakfast."

"Good thing I'm not that nice."

Riley laughed. "I like you already. Come on, I'll show you where English is."

We walked through the hallways, Riley pointing out important places. The cafeteria where only seniors sat by the windows. The parking lot where people hooked up between classes.

"And that," Riley said, stopping at a corner, "is where you don't want to be during passing period."

I looked. A crowd had formed around a group of guys. At the center was Kai, laughing at something on his phone. The guys around him were all athletic, all good-looking.

"Kai Blackwood and his disciples," Riley said. "Soccer gods, every one of them. Kai's the captain. Also the biggest player in school, but girls don't seem to care."

I watched as a blonde girl approached him. She said something, touched his arm. He smiled, said something back. She walked away looking like she'd won the lottery.

"He's dated half the school," Riley continued. "The other half is still hoping. He's also—wait, why are you staring at him like that?"

"I'm not."

"You totally are. Don't tell me you're already falling for the Kai Blackwood charm. New girls always—"

"He's my stepbrother."

Riley's mouth fell open. "What?"

"My mom married his dad. We live in the same house."

"Holy shit." Riley grabbed my arm. "You live with Kai Blackwood? Does he walk around shirtless? Please tell me he walks around shirtless."

"Riley—"

"Wait. Does anyone know? Have you told people?"

"No. He said we should control the narrative or something."

Riley's expression changed. "Matea. Listen to me. Whatever Kai told you, don't trust it. These people—" she gestured to the crowd, "—they're sharks. And you just became the most interesting thing in the water."

The bell rang. The crowd dispersed. Kai walked past us without looking, his friends following. I caught a glimpse of his profile, the set of his jaw, the way he moved like he owned the building.

He didn't acknowledge me at all.

"Come on," Riley said. "English with Mrs. Peterson. She's cool, but she assigns way too much reading."

First period was fine. Second period was fine. Third period, I had chemistry.

And so did Kai.

I walked in and saw him in the back row, surrounded by his friends. The blonde from earlier sat next to him, laughing at something on his phone. I took a seat in the front, pulled out my notebook, and tried to pretend I didn't feel his eyes on me.

Mr. Chen started the lesson. Something about molecular structures. I tried to focus.

"Matea Rodriguez?"

I looked up. Mr. Chen was checking attendance.

"Here," I said.

"Rodriguez?" someone behind me said. "I thought you were a Blackwood."

"No, dumbass," another voice said. "She's the stepsister. My mom told me. Her mom married Kai's dad over the summer."

Whispers started. I felt my face get hot.

"That's so weird," a girl said, not quietly enough. "Living in the same house as Kai? I'd die."

"I'd do more than die," someone else said. More laughter.

"Alright, settle down," Mr. Chen said.

The whispers followed me through the rest of class. When the bell rang, I grabbed my stuff and headed for the door.

"Matea, wait up."

I turned. Kai was standing there, backpack over one shoulder.

"What?" I said.

"Just wanted to make sure you found everything okay. First day and all."

His voice was friendly. Casual. Like we were just acquaintances.

The blonde appeared next to him, linking her arm through his. "Kai, we're going to be late for lunch."

"Right." He looked at me. "See you around, Rodriguez."

Rodriguez. Not Matea. Not sis. Not even stepsister.

Just my last name, like I was nobody.

He walked away with the blonde. His friends followed. I stood there feeling stupid and angry .

"Told you," Riley said"sharks"

By lunch, everyone knew.

I walked into the cafeteria and felt a hundred pairs of eyes turn toward me. Riley guided me to a table in the corner where a few other kids sat—artists and theater kids.

"Ignore them," Riley said. "They'll get bored by next week."

But across the cafeteria, I could see Kai at the center table by the windows. The senior table. He sat with his back to me, surrounded by beautiful people, laughing like he didn't have a care in the world.

A girl at his table stood up and walked over. Tall, red hair, legs for days. She wore a designer dress and heels.

"You're Matea," she said.

"Yeah."

"I'm Madison." She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Kai's girlfriend."

"Ex-girlfriend," Riley muttered.

"We're working things out," Madison said, still looking at me. "I just wanted to introduce myself. Since we'll probably be seeing a lot of each other. You know, at Kai's house."

The way she said it made it sound dirty.

"Nice to meet you," I said.

"I'm sure." She looked me up and down. "Cute outfit. Target?"

"H&M, actually."

Her smile got sharper. "Close enough."

She walked back to her table. The girls around her leaned in, whispering. They all looked at me and laughed.

"That's Madison Sutherland," Riley said. "Her dad owns half the city. She and Kai dated for two years, broke up last spring. She's been trying to get him back ever since."

"Good luck to her," I said.

But I couldn't stop watching Kai's table. Couldn't stop wondering why he pretended not to know me. Couldn't stop feeling the sting of being dismissed like I was nothing.

When the bell rang, I threw away my barely-touched lunch and headed to fourth period.

My phone buzzed.

Unknown number: Sorry about lunch. Had to keep up appearances. - K

I stared at the message. Then I deleted it.

If Kai Blackwood wanted to pretend I didn't exist, fine.

Two could play that game.