MY STEPBROTHER, MY RUIN

JUNE;

My phone buzzed in my hand.

Mom.

Again.

I stared at the screen for a second before answering. "I'm still in line," I said softly, almost whispering.

"June," her voice came through, soft but tight, like she was trying not to panic. "You said it wouldn't take long. Your stepfather will be here soon. We still have things to pack."

I rolled my eyes, glancing at the front again, irritation rising. "It's not my fault this place moves like this... You wanted this college, remember?"

A pause.

"Then come home! We can't keep him waiting." She snapped. "You can go back tomorrow." The call had ended before I said any more words.

The queue wasn't moving. I glanced at my wristwatch for the hundredth time in a minute. Shifted my weight from one leg to the other, craning my head to see if there was any progress ahead.

Earlier this morning, I had tried to complete the registration process online but the network was down. I could tell a whole lot of other students were trying it out at the same time.

 I couldn't tell which was worse: standing in this long queue with my mother blowing up my phone, or being forced to attend this particular college in the first place.

What was so special? Nothing. Just a sea of expensive clothes, polished shoes, and bored expressions. Someone in front of me sighed loudly. Someone behind me clicked their tongue. I wasn't the only tired one after all.

How could she have referred to him as my stepfather? My jaw tightened. She knew exactly how I felt about this marriage thing. It's absurd! 

And to that Victor Grayson?! To think we would be moving into his mansion today. I wasn't even ready for this. The new life. The new home. The new college. And Mom had mentioned he had a son. An impromptu brother!

 Gosh! How do I move from being with just my Mom and me, in our own little world, to sharing a roof with the famous and dreaded Victor Grayson, and his son?

What was his name again? Mom had mentioned it, but the truth is, it wasn't necessary. I have no brother, and no father as long as I can remember.

For a moment, I just stood there, gripping my phone a little too tightly. Then I shoved it into my bag and crossed my arms, tapping my foot against the smooth, shiny floor.

Everything here felt... too perfect. Students shoved past me in expensive perfumes and fragrances. Of course, it was a private College, unlike the one I had wanted to attend alongside Mary, my childhood friend. 

I glanced down at myself. Simple jeans. Plain blouse. Worn sneakers. A simple tote bag with the leather peeling already slung over my shoulder. 

Yeah. I definitely didn't belong here. I could feel it in the way people looked at me. Subtle stares that say too much. The kind that made your skin itch.

 If Mr. Stepdad hadn't insisted and paid the fees in full, I would have had no business being here. I swallowed and looked away.

We didn't need anybody. We were doing fine before he showed up in Mom's life. It was always just the two of us. The memory hit me hard. Just last night, I tried to talk her out of it.

"I don't understand why you're doing this," I had said, holding her hands tightly. "It's been the two of us against the world. That shouldn't change."

I meant every word.

Fifteen years. Just me and her. No man. No complications. Just us. Now, she's taking the peace away.

"You need a father figure, June," she said softly.

I stood up immediately, the chair scraping loudly behind me. "I don't need a father! I'm twenty, Mom!"

I walked to the window, staring out at the dark sky, the stars scattered like they didn't care about anything happening inside that room.

"And that's not even the college I wanted," I added, my voice sharper now. "Everyone there is grumpy, and so is Mr. Grayson!"

Silence followed. I waited to hear her speak. Even though it was still the same thing we had argued over for weeks now. But the silence grew heavier.

I turned slowly. And froze. Tears filled her eyes, washing down her face.

My chest dropped instantly.

"Mom..." I ran back to her, crouching before her knees.

"I'm lonely, June," she said, her voice trembling. "For fifteen years I had taken care of you... lived for you..."

She squeezed my hands, her grip trembling. "Is it bad to finally want to live for myself a little?"

Her sobs filled the room. And just like that, my anger had nowhere to go. I had come to terms with my new reality. It wasn't her fault after all. If only Dad hadn't left the way he did.

A shove from behind jolted me back to reality.

"Move."

I stumbled forward slightly, catching myself before I fell. I turned, ready to snap, but the girl behind me just rolled her eyes and looked away like I wasn't worth the effort. Just a set of cold, grumpy people. I sighed. Unbelievable.

I checked my watch. Time was running out. Mom would be pacing by now, checking the door every few seconds, her blood pressure might be over the roof now. Wanting everything to be perfect for him.

Mr. Victor Grayson.

Even thinking his name made my stomach twist. A ruthless billionaire. Mary had thought it was a good change. But that's not how I see it, I detested men. A whole bunch of them, only good at ruining things, ruining good people. Just as Dad ruined Mom.

My fingers curled slightly. I had seen what men like that did. I remembered everything, even though I was only five. He had walked out that door and never returned.

The tension in the air shifted suddenly. Voices dropped. Heads turned. Students spoke in hushed tones. I frowned slightly and followed their gaze.

And then I saw him.

He walked past the line like it didn't exist. Like we didn't exist. He stood tall, confident, and completely unbothered. Backpack hung over one shoulder.

He didn't even hesitate. Just moved straight to the front. My eyes widened at such guts. Seriously?

I glanced around. No one said anything. If anything, they looked... impressed. That annoyed me more. I hadn't got a minute to spare. There's a freaking queue. 

Before I could stop myself, I stepped out of the line.

"Excuse me, Mr." My voice rang out louder than I expected. Startling me even.

Every head turned. Including his. 

He turned slowly, an ID card held loosely between his fingers. His eyes landed on me, dark, calm, and completely uninterested.

For a second, my heart skipped. But I held my ground.

"There's a queue right here," I said, pointing behind me. 

Silence fell. Students stood watching. No one supported me. No one added his voice to mine. Just watched us.

Then he scoffed.

"Then stay in it quietly, Meanie." He snapped. My mouth fell open slightly.

Meanie? Did he just call me mean?

Before I could respond, he turned back around like I didn't matter and walked straight to the counter, sliding his ID card across.

Laughter broke out around me. My cheeks burned instantly.

"Hey, " I stepped forward again, moving right behind him. "You can't just..."

More laughter roared up in the air, deafening me. My skin crawled. 

"I'm talking to you," my fingers brushed against his skin. 

He turned again. And this time, he walked toward me.

"Did you just touch me?"  Each step slow and deliberate.

The students went agog, cheering him on. For a moment I felt he would pounce on me. Then his feet halted right in front of me. Too close. I swallowed.

His dark blue eyes locked onto mine, and I felt like he could see straight through me. Then his hands rested on the cape of my blouse, massaging it a little.

"You don't fit in here," he said quietly. The words landed heavier than they should have. My throat tightened.

Around us, people laughed. My brain paused for a long second, before I could even think of a comeback,

"Ronan." The voice was soft, smooth like warm milk on a sore throat. Everything went quiet. 

I turned. And saw her. She walked like she owned the place. No! Like the place existed for her.

Her heels clicked lightly against the floor, each step controlled, elegant. Her jewelry caught the light. The bag on her arm looked like it cost more than everything I owned combined.

People moved out of her way without her asking. Her eyes landed on me. Measured me up in a second. Like she was examining something... small. Maybe an ant.

A smirk touched her lips. Her brows drew together.

"Who is she?" she asked, slipping her hand around his arm.

My stomach dropped. I tugged hard against the rough handle of my tote bag. Knuckles turning white instantly.

He didn't even hesitate.

"She's nobody." The words hit hard. "Just a fly that doesn't know her boundaries."

The laughter came back. The walls felt like they were closing in on me. My chest tightened painfully. My vision blurred at the edges. I couldn't stay there. Hundreds of pairs of eyes peeling on my skin.

Before I even realized it, I turned and ran. My footsteps echoed loudly against the floor as I pushed through the crowd, ignoring the stares, the whispers, the laughter that followed me.

My chest rose and fell rapidly, my heart pounding like it was trying to break out of my ribs.

I already hated this school. Hated that boy. And I hated the girl who walked like the entire world bowed at her feet.

Then my phone buzzed again. Mom.

"On my way," I gasped as I pressed the gadget against my ear.