Caught between my bully and my step brother

Chapter 16

Stop hating them ? Why would he want me to stop hating them ?

How could I ever stop? They made my life hell. I didn't like this shift in behavior. It makes it hard to know what they were doing. In all our years of back and forth, they had never pretended to be nice. They never hid who they were and how they felt about me. They hated me. I hated them, it was simple. We all knew where we stood. I had thought as I drifted to sleep that night that maybe, maybe they were lining up their ultimate game. Trent's behavior in my room and in the ally well it was flirty. He acted like he ....well. Like he liked me, maybe.

Now Toby was being nice too. I think I finally know what they are doing. I have read books and seen films about this. Guys making bets , make the nerd fall in love with them only to humiliate them that sort of thing. Is that what this was? Were they about to pull the ultimate prank? Were they finally playing the long game? They knew this little dynamic of ours was closing in, only a few years left. Then college would be over, and I would move away and never see them again, hopefully.

I felt like a broken record, it's all I had been thinking these last few weeks. The big question was this their ultimate game ? Their grand prank of all pranks. The ultimate embarrassment that would finally break me. It had been a few days since then and still I woke up from broken sleep of over thinking.

So by the third morning, I'd had enough with myself.

I had let them consume me too much.

It was what led me to pick up my phone and finally say Yes to Liam.

He had been asking me out since that night at the chill party and I hate to admit it, but I had been bailing with one excuse or the other. Too nervous to go for it because he was in on it with them. But I had to take that chance. If he was, then it would get this over with quickly whatever they had planned, so I could then try to piece back my self-esteem and heart all over again. If not, then maybe, just maybe I would actually get to experience dating. He seemed more keen than any guy ever. He wasn't scared of being seen with me like the guys back home, because I ruined his reputation. In case he got laughed at for dating the laughingstock of the school.

Lacey is going to be so proud of me. She has been telling me to go out with him since the party. So when he texted back saying he would meet me at seven outside my building. I felt somewhat lighter. He did seem like a nice guy, and he looked shocked when I asked him if he was in cahoots with Trent and Toby.

I went about my day, getting dressed and going to classes and also dodging where I thought they would be. Until lunch, that was when i met up with Lacey like usual, and we headed to the cafeteria. It was pizza day and there was no talking Lacey out of not going in there today. She has an addiction to the crappy pizzas they serve. She said they were the best pizzas ever. I had to disagree.

" So your actually doing it ? " She beamed at me as we walked down the hall to the cafeteria.

" Yep we are going to the movies tonight " I stated.

He had texted me again when I checked my phone after first class and asked if I liked horror films and said there was a new one out he would like to see. I do like them even if I have to sleep with a light on after watching one. In the moment, I liked the thrill of being scared. It was just after when imaginary shadows appeared on my wall I didn't like.

" Yes "she fist pumped the air, and I had to laugh at her.

Shaking my head at her enthusiasm, we pushed through the doors and the first thing my eyes did was flick to their table. And my eyes automatically clashed with them, and they were both already staring at me. Of course they were.

I avert my eyes quickly and head to the line as Lacey practically bounces their" Food is good for the soul" she squeals as her excitement for the mediocre pizza intensifies.

I feel their gazes on my back. I know they're looking at me without me even turning around. It's like over the years my body has become hyper aware of them.

As I get in the queue, my eyes dart back towards them and yep like I suspected they are still watching me.

Trent leans into Toby not once taking his eyes off of me and murmurs something to him. Then Toby nods and Trent smirks. I take a shuddering breath because, for some reason, I also know whatever Toby had just agreed to involved me somehow.

" So next week there is a week's break. My parents have sent me flight tickets and mom is packing for me. They're heading out a few days earlier. We are heading to Tenerife for a week. What are your plans ? " Lacey asks.

It takes my attention away from them. I noticed we were now at the front of the line and I placed one slice of pizza, unlike Lacey's four, and then I filled my plate with salad to make up for the lack of food.

" Heading home for a week, Mum is only going to be home for the first day I am home though. Dean's aunt is ill, and they're going to help out potentially. They are bringing her home with them to live with them. She is at home at the moment, but she the carers are struggling. Dean had to wait for Toby to get home to leave work. Apparently, it's busy, and he needs Toby to watch over it while they go up and try to sort out what the next steps for her are " I tell her.

Dean's aunt has dementia, but she had refused to move from her home when it all started. So Dean got carers in. But now she needed more round the clock care. Mum had told me on a call a few days ago on our daily check-ins. My immediate thoughts were, I was going to be home alone with them. Because no doubt Trent will be round. I planned to lock myself away. If I could stay here I would. But it wasn't allowed. The dorms closed down during breaks, sadly. Safe to say I wasn't looking forward to this break. Not only do I have to go home to be alone with them, I also have to ride back with them too.

I turned and nearly dropped my tray when I screeched, both Trent and Toby were standing right there. Both with smirks on their faces.

My screech had paused the entire cafeteria and now all eyes were focused on us. Great.