Teen Drama: A Forbidden Romance with My Stepbrother

11

“Don’t even think about getting up,” I warn Dane with a sinister glare as he shifts in his seat and then moves back down. Knowing better than to rile me today. I’m still sore at him for what he did last night, and soon as I get him alone, we will be talking about the damn racing. I barely slept from nightmares about him crashing his stupid bike.

“My head is killing me.” He implores my sweet side with a pathetic pout, but the mood today is vile. Suffering from lack of sleep due to emotional fragility, exasperated by my mom getting up at 5 am and informing me she was heading off for a weekend spa and Bryan taking off on some business trip. So obviously, they aren’t talking and taking time apart. We have been left alone with our housekeeper.

I blame Dane for all of it and how hellish I feel today.

“Whose fault is that?” I snort, picking up the notebook from the table in the middle of the four of us. I start jotting down notes as Elisa picks out key points from an article she is reading with her pointer finger on the laptop beside me.

“Weren’t you supposed to be at the shelter… why are we doing this? I could be upstairs vegetating with a movie.” Dane moans, slides sideways and attempts to put his head on the armrest of the chair he's slumped on. Sunglasses are sliding down his face even though we are sitting in the shade, and he looks annoyingly sporty in a white tee over white shorts. Hardly the picture of a suffering guy.

He fell out of bed at noon and found us sitting here waiting for him after I summoned them both to get this started. Tyler isn't any better, but at least he has the foresight not to make a fuss and is sitting drinking water. Looking green like he's about to throw up, Elisa seems less petrified of his presence for once. I think having the distraction of work to do helps her relax.

Her head is on work, so she’s sat up, staring at the screen and engrossed in finding us good info on how to write this topic essay. She loves problem-solving challenges and is oblivious to the fact when she works, she sits upright proudly with a bright expression and her hair back out of the way. I have caught Tyler appraising her anytime she brushes her hair to one side in a sweeping bang to see the screen, and I can tell he’s a little surprised at how pretty my friend is.

With her delicate features, flawless pale skin, and spatter of faint freckles that always seemed fairy-like to me or some magical enchantress. Elisa has beautiful ethereal features when she forgets about hiding and relaxes. Her glasses make her seem mature, but her braces add an adorable cuteness.

“They called and told me not to come in. Most of the staff have come down with some virus and don’t want volunteers to spread it further. As for this….. you said you would try.” I add pointedly, locking a gaze on him with meaning, and I catch him falter, a frown evident over his shades, and he looks away.

There’s been a weirdness between us since he showed face, and I am uber-aware that he keeps avoiding my direct gaze. He also sat opposite me instead of anywhere close enough to prod and annoy me for once.

“Whatever….. so what’s the plan? Wanna ditch this s**t, and the four of us get down and dirty and fake date for a week. Maybe we can write it like an experience diary.” He smirks, and I can tell without seeing he winked too, simultaneously earning a kick in the shin from Tyler and me. Elisa’s face turns crimson, and she lowers her chin and engrosses herself in typing. Tyler frowns his way and mouths the words ‘cut it out’ silently at him.

“Be serious,” Tyler warns, unusually grumpy today and lacking his normal bro humor since he sat down. I don’t know if it’s hangover related or connected to how much he keeps staring at Elisa and seems to be toning down his behavior. He’s picked up on how easy she is to scare in a short time, and I noticed he’s been painfully polite and almost soft when talking to her about the project. Like most people who start to spend time with her, I guess he sees that she’s a precious gem and should be treated as such. Elisa is a rare being who brings out the fierce protective side to most who know her.

Or maybe he’s just hungover.

“We should interview couples who seem happy… ask them for tips.” Tyler shrugs, yawning, pulling the topic back to intelligence. Balling a fist in his mouth, he rests his head back at a breakneck angle and sighs heavily. He looks fit to go to bed and sleep the rest of the day.

“That’s a good idea.” Elisa takes my pen and notebook without lifting her eyes from the screen and adds it to the list. Tyler looks instantly smug at that.

“I can’t believe we are writing an essay on f*****g dating… what’s wrong with the professor? What has this got to do with English?” Dane huffs, swiping his glass of water, and takes a drink. I feel his gaze land on me and glance up to see him look away again, tighten his jaw, and clear his throat. I know he senses I’m pissed at him, but I'm not sure if he cares about it. I don’t know how much of last night he remembers, as it’s not like we have been able to bring it up.

“Here… here, my loves…. move your computer.” Monique's sing-song tone butts into our circle as she appears inside the open patio doors with a tray laden with sandwiches and tropical juice. She slides it into the middle as Elisa makes space. It’s not the biggest table in our house, but as it’s shaded and by the pool in the quietest part of the yard, it's perfect for a study group. It’s a cooler day, not too sunny, and a gentle breeze is out here.

“Thank you. This looks amazing.” I beam at her and start helping offload the plates so she can take the tray. Hungry now, I see this gourmet feast she has prepared us. I am determined to be productive today to fill the hours I should have worked.

“Thanks.” The other three answer in unison.

“So good to see my little babies playing together, so nice. Be good and eat it all up.” Monique strokes the hair on top of Dane’s head and gets no rejection before patting me on the shoulder, turning her curvy ass our way, and shuffling off.

Monique was the original housekeeper for Dane’s mom, so she has been around him since birth. She is the one constant in our lives, even though she lurks in the background. I adore her, and Dane does, even if he won’t admit it. She’s the first person he went to see when he permanently moved here.

Tyler and Dane stare at the food as though it’s the most disgusting thing ever to be laid before them, and Tyler visibly gags. It’s not even cooked food or smelly, but both push away their plates in sync and pick up water to stop the dry wretch. I shake my head, pick up my sandwich, and bite before leaning back over to Elisa, who is back on notetaking.

It's their own fault. They deserve to suffer.

“If we do some research on basic love sites about implementing behaviors into relationships and pair that with real anecdotal advice from people we know in long-term happy relationships, I feel we could write a great thesis.” Elisa smiles to herself before sitting back to admire her list and pushes it back to me. I scan the page with my food in one hand and relax into my chair.

There are many resource websites and tips on the demographic of couple's ages, genders, and who we might include in our interviews.

I love that our brains are also alike in this kind of thing. She has outlined even the structure of how we should write the essay and bullet points on topic sections.

“Do we know anyone that fits those criteria?” Dane shrugs at me, a veiled sarcastic comment that makes me tut at him. Watching me eat with mild unease and seemingly trying to get involved without actually being helpful.

“My Parents…” Tyler points out. Throwing him a questioning glance like Dane must be stupid not to think of them.

“Mine too.” Elisa chimes in and then reddens when Tyler casts a glance back at her and catches her eye with a soft smile. She tips her head down and pretends to be back on reading her website page.

Something they have in common, I guess. Both come from unbroken homes and parents who are sickeningly in love even though they were all high school sweethearts. Much like Dane and me, they are both also only children.

“We know plenty of functioning humans with good relationships. We just need to decide who to interview and in what format….. Do we have a sit-down and take notes interview… a paper questionnaire, or a video interview we can submit as research data.” I flip to the next clean page of the pad and pick up the pen, poised to continue. Laying down my half-eaten sandwich as work takes over.

“Is this how you always are?” Dane asks in what seems to be awed dislike…. “It’s just a shitty school project. We could casually ask for tips and write the damn essay.”

“This shitty school project contributes to my grades… I know you don’t care, but Harvard isn’t easy to get into without my grades being good.”

Dane and I lock glares for a long pause, something static between us as stubborn meets stubborn, and I am surprised he's the first to break and look away. He leans his head back with a sigh and carries on lounging.

“Harvard?” Tyler cuts in before Dane can make another smart-ass remark, saving us another bickering war. “Nice choice…… I haven’t picked one yet, but it’s on my list.” Tyler sits a little straighter, engaging with more interest than i***t Dane and Elisa perks up. She always had a weakness for smart people, and I wonder if this is one of those hidden traits in Tyler that calls her subliminally.

“You are going to college? I just thought you two….” She trails off, embarrassed at saying it out loud and sounding dumb, but Tyler grins at her. Elisa’s face is peeking at him enough from behind her screen that we all see her cheeks deepen in color.

“Just because this loser is anti-school and anti-effort doesn’t mean I am. My grades are pretty good. I want to study law….. I have plans.”

“LAW??” I almost choke on my food and gawp at him as though this is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. “Since when?” I can’t see it, especially when he’s sat in a basketball shirt over shorts, all muscles, and tanned skin, nursing a hangover with some ray bans.

I have known Tyler since infancy, and not once have I heard him talk about the future, college, or freaking law school. Dane doesn’t seem shocked, so I assume this is genuine and something he's already known about. Not a joke or them trying to fool us.

“Since forever… my dad’s a lawyer… so are my grandad and uncle. I like it…. I have the brain for it.” He shrugs casually.

“That’s insane….. you wanna study law, but last night were out breaking them and jeopardizing your future?” I just don’t get it at all.

“Hey, don’t lump me in with this i***t. I merely watched… although, yeah, I did get tanked at the after-party. You only live once.” He and Dane fist bump in male solidarity and give a little head nod as though these are the wisest of words, and I eyeroll at them.

Dane seems uncomfy with me bringing up the law-breaking topic, picks up his glass, and seems focused on watching his ice melt.

“Aren’t you a little too….. frat boy to be a lawyer?” I ask in half jest, half seriousness, because the all-American football-type bro Tyler is, does not scream lawyer to me. Ignoring Dane’s aloofness.

“You realize that I am the standard for most law students. You would understand if you saw how my family kicks back and parties on vacation and the s**t my dad did as a kid.” Both of them grin without looking at each other, and I assume it’s because they have shared knowledge of those stories. I know Dane has vacationed with them, too, so there’s no telling what he’s seen.

“I now understand why you two are so in love.” I nod at Dane and get a side head tilted eyebrow raised back from him. Not impressed, but he lets it slide without a verbal rebuff. Elisa giggles at my funny and then blushes again, hiding behind the laptop screen. Sometimes she forgets to be shy and petrified, and you see glimpses of how warm and cute she is.

“What about you?” Tyer leans in, sitting higher to peek at her over the MacBook. Drawn by that unadulterated little laugh of hers. “Elisa? What are your plans?”

She pauses, swallows hard, and raises her face only an inch, so all he gets is the top of her eyes and nothing more.

“I want to be a Cosmetic Chemist.” She answers quietly, chewing on her lip like it’s something stupid and mockable.

“A what?” Tyler seems intrigued and leans forward, resting his elbows on the table and inching closer to get a better view of her. It’s getting painfully obvious that Tyler has a new interest in someone previously not on his radar, and he’s intrigued that someone so pretty has been hiding in plain sight. His predatory hormones are firing on full cylinders. I can almost smell the increase in testosterone.

“She makes beauty s**t from scratch…. lotions, shampoo… all that stuff. Vegan or whatever. Kayla walks around smelling like a tropical rainforest half the time when she tests it.” Dane pipes in, giving insight I never even knew he had. Shocked he had even the slightest clue about what Elisa did for fun and wanted to do with her life. I gawp at him. I know he’s observant, but this…. that’s weird. The fact he even notices when I smell of it.

“That’s pretty cool… do you make any stuff for guys? I want to try it.” Tyler is in the charm offensive, and I narrow my eyes at his sudden niceness towards her; why he is so invested after arriving here in such a foul mood.

Yesterday, she was just ‘redhead,’ and today, she has a name that he swore he couldn’t ever remember. I’m onto him…..I know he and Dane have a competitive running list of who can bang more new girls they come across. Elisa is not making it onto that list – now, in the near future, or ever.

“She’s not one of your hoes. Back off, Romeo.” I warn, claws coming out at the mere sniff of him getting amorous with her. Elisa may be blinkered and lovesick over Tyler, but that does not mean I would let him use and abuse her like every one of their playthings. She would be drawn in easily, and the encounter would break her gentle soul.

“Calm down, Koala. I’m just taking an interest seeing as we have to all be playmates for the next week and work on this together.” He smirks my way, only strengthening my suspicion.

“Finally noticed her, huh… realized our little Leese isn’t repulsive when she comes out of her hair.” Dane mocks and shoves him back with a shoulder push before sitting up, pushing his shades to the top of his head and propping them in his hair. Dane has always been semi-civil to Elisa and sometimes even a little sweet. At least he remembered her name and sometimes acknowledged her presence, unlike some.

“Tyler gets a hard-on for a whiff of a clever girl that’s easy on the eye… our school doesn’t have many. Better hide your brain, Elisa, or he might be dry humping you whenever you turn round.” Dane ducks away from a hand swing aimed at his head from Tyler and shoves him back with a laugh. Tyler, however, isn’t denying anything from what I can see.

“Why do you always lower the tone… stop being disgusting.” I slap at him, stretch out across the table, and he edges back with a grin to avoid my hand.

“Just stating facts. Tyler has a fetish for the school librarian type…. you know, if you tied your hair up, Elisa…” he jests.

“Enough…. That’s just …. oh my god. Why are you this way?” I flick some of my juice at him from my cup and catch that devilish twinkle in his eye. His headache tablets are obviously kicking in and improving his mood. I don’t know which version I prefer.

Hungover, sulking, and quiet, or this jerk with his constant s****l narrative and cheeky rudeness.

“Says the guy with a severe fetish for step-sister porn.” Tyler shoves him sideways with a hint of warning in his tone, and I choke on the air in my mouth. My eyes widening in shock, and I flush with heat from head to toe.

Coughing into my juice as I catch Dane throwing a serious pissed-off glare at his friend, Elisa dives down and hides behind her laptop with an equally shocked expression, and everything gets very uncomfortable real fast.