I was slowly drifting off to sleep, staring sleepily at my phone when the text came in. It was the first time Damien was texting me after he thanked me for the ice-cream last time. I sat up at once.

He responded quickly.

I cleaned my eyes to make sure I was reading right. Damien wanted to hang out...with me of all people? I knew he kind of loosened up a bit around me after the ice-cream/movie night incident, but I wasn't counting on sweet, nice Damien lasting a while longer. It was so weird. Now that I thought about it, I kinda wanted thundercloud Damien back.

Well at least I wasn't the one initiating the friendship. If he wanted to hang out with me, then so be it.

Sure. I texted back.

It wasn't even barely two seconds before the door swung open and my stepbrother sauntered in shirtless, his faded jeans hanging low on his waist and rivulets of water dotting his torso. He was holding a towel which he used to dry his hair. I didn't let my gaze linger longer on the array of tattoos adorning his chest and arms. I was already drooling just looking at it.

The bed dipped as he clambered on, fluffing up a pillow then laying down silently. I placed my phone on the nightstand, suddenly self-conscious. No matter how many times we were this close to each other, I'd never live down the swirl of butterflies throwing a house warming party in my stomach. I didn't want to give it a thought but I knew it was true. I was having a crush on my stepbrother.

Oh Jesus. Just like in the movies.

My life wasn't a movie.

“Are you alright?” Damien asked, his vibrant dark eyes scanning my face and jerking me from my musings. “You've been staring at me for like three minutes straight. Does it surprise you so much that I dumped my friends and choosed to hang out with you.”

Uh...If he put it that way, then he just read my mind. “Umm. Kinda. I thought that the movie night was a one time thing.”

He shrugged. “Me too. But it turns out, unfortunately, that you are more real than those scumbags I hang out with.”

Well, colour me blue and take me to Antarctica. He was complimenting me? Seriously, Damien was saying something nice about me since the day he arrived. I didn't know how to feel. Elated or terrified, or both? Ugh, how did he always make me think so much with just a bunch of perfectly strung words?

I flushed, turning my face away slightly so he wouldn't see me reddening. “That's... that's so...”

“Nice of me?” He wiggled his brows mischievously. “Yeah. I just thought being nice would be good.”

“It is good.” I gulped, gauging my next words carefully. “Makes you less of a dick and more of a gentleman. Which isn't so bad.”

“Yeah right.” He snorted, plucking out a cigarette from his pocket with a lighter. He lit it, took a drag and exhaled softly from his nose. My eyes took note of every detail, the smoke swirling out entrapping me in some sort of dark spell. “So, I was thinking... would it be so bad if we host the next big Friday party next week?”

My mind blanched out for a moment, recognition of what his words meant kicking in slowly. No, oh no. “I'm sorry, what?”

“You heard me. We're hosting the next big Listhrough bash next week.”

I tilted my head. “We? I'm sorry, this is entirely your idea. Not mine.”

“Tuff. I've already included you in the scheme of things.”

“B-b-but my mom...your dad... have you informed them about it?”

“Oh Jesus.” He facepalmed, groaning. “And I thought you were the smarter company. They don't need to know about anything. It's not like I'm doing anything extreme. It's just a one night thing. A small party.”

“You have no idea how riotous Listhrough High parties are. Those kids could set this house on fire for all they care.”

The last social party I attended was hosted by Morgan Wallen, which I escorted Giordan to cause he had a big arse crush on the jock. It was chaotic, with loud banging music that could rip out eardrums, and lots of alcohol and drugs. Plus there was intense fucking everywhere. On the sofa. The cold floor. Counter top. Corridor... I saw a lot of junks to last me a lifetime.

But at least Giordan got to sleep with Morgan, even though Morgan couldn't remember ever doing that the morning after.

“Tick rock.” Damien flicked his fingers in front of my face to get my attention. “Quit spacing out on me and let's get planning. I'm aiming to make it the biggest, most memorable bash in the history of the school.”

I scoffed. Yeah right. Like Morgan's party wasn't memorable enough. “Well, I'm so sorry but I can't consent to this.”

His face darkened. “Well, I'm not asking, I'm telling.”

“Pfft. Got some dirt on me? Cause that's the only way you're getting me to agree to this.”

He shrugged. “Maybe I don't. But I could dig some up. Or... I could tell the whole Listhrough High population that you're gay.”

“You wouldn't dare. That's my sexuality. My business. You have no right to do that.”

“Well I don't see anything bad in it. Might save girls the stress of crushing on an arse digger.” He chuckled at his own joke. God, how I wanted to strangle him, and couldn't at the same time. My crush on him was the only thing keeping me from punching the daylight out of him. It was so unconventional. My anger brimmed closer to the surface. 

“Don't make me hate you already more than I do, Damien. Cause this house won't be the same for you if I do.”

He rolled his eyes. “Like I care what you think about me. I'm already having a field day having you hate me. Trust me darling it's cute. Now you gonna help me or nah?”

“No. Not a second thought. Not a pin to do with it. And just so you know, thanks for telling me this. I'm sure my mother and your dad would definitely find it useful knowing that you're planning to wreck the house while they're away on Friday. We might need a babysitter to keep an eye on you.” I curved my lips into a winning smile when I saw his face pale. We stayed like that. Glaring and smirking, and wishing we could tear each other apart.

Suddenly, his countenance shifted and he began smiling. His eyes lit up like sun pouring in from a window. He was having a light bulb moment. “Okay. Have it your way then.”

He swaggered over to the door, twisted the knob and slipped out smoothly. I stood there, dazed, confused and nervous. If I'd learnt one thing since I knew that stepbrother of mine, it was that he always geared up to do something extreme when refused. He always had his way. Always.