Quickly before I could turn around, Leigh's arm came over my shoulders, squeezing me into his sturdy, muscular physique, and his lips met my hair for a quick kiss.
In his free hand is a plate covered with a silver cloche.
"I made you something." His rich baritone voice whispered in my ear.
In his arm, he ushered me to the open air, where I embraced the awkwardness and prepared for Princeton Claire's smugness.
"Ava!" Julian grinned and began stuffing berries in his big mouth.
I return a polite smile at him, then situated myself on the free sofa, alongside Leigh, who's wearing a grey sleeveless shirt and black shorts.
"Good morning, guys." I flash a tight smile at the two classy girls.
Yes, tight.
After the epic theatre quality drama my mom pulled before the very eyes of my adversaries, I feel so vulnerable and small right now. Not that Lilith was supposed to be counted in since it seems like we were getting along just fine. But then again, it is hard not to think of that pessimistic stare she had put on when she found me in Leigh's bedroom last night.
So I will lie if I say my nerves hadn't scattered, generating anxiety that overwhelms all of me as I sit around the four glamorous people on my patio.
"Babe, it's noon." Lilith bitchily chastised. Not even looking up from her mobile device.
She and Princeton Claire were shamelessly enjoying the weather in bikinis, stretching out their long legs over the coffee table, with twin tinted shades that protect their eyes from the sun.
Very glamorous, to the extent I feel like screaming my throat out.
So instead, I called Lilith, and when she peeked up at me, I gave her a middle finger and a tight smile that restrained my anger, uneasiness and mostly my jealousy.
"Here." Leigh nudges my side with his shoulder, a crook smile playing on his smooth red lips. "Check it out." He pulls the cloche exhilaratingly, disclosing a presumably delicious porridge and berries.
Thrilled, I threw my arms around him, kissing his neck that carried a scent of solid serenity. He stiffened for a second but held me back shortly after the rigid reaction had dissolved.
Then, it tumbled into my head; bloody hell, we weren't alone. It wasn't impossible to not notice the hint Leigh body was quietly reciting.
I pull back gradually, mentally cursing myself for losing control and not keeping my hands to myself.
The searing sensation of every eye pouring heat upon me brought a harsh flow of blood at every ounce of my being; I can swear I'm entirely flushed with shame.
"Just what I need." I offered a nervous laugh and brought a spoon full of porridge to my mouth.
Lilith glare was heavy and itchy from above her shades. It got me fidgeting.
As I shoved spoon after spoon of porridge in my full mouth, I noticed the milk and sugar balanced the taste and gave it an even better flavour.
Leigh's a confection, and anything he touches turns to candy.
"You like it?" He asked, next to me.
"Uhm, mmm." I moan in-between full mouth.
He let out an adorable, rich chuckle, leaving me lost at how bloody charming he is. Until he leaned forward, bringing his thumb to my lips and the rest of his fingers under my chin while cleaning something that must have stained the edge of my mouth.
My body stopped dead at that instant, having every organ in me react to the contact of his finger tenderly moving next to my lips and his penetrating brilliant emerald eyes that spoke silent words in my gaze.
"Is the cream satisfying?" He softly asked, in a low voice, that was thick with emotion.
Goosebumps pricks my skin, and my heart rate accelerated at the eruption of millions of butterflies in my stomach.
Leigh's eyes gleaming with fervour told he didn't intend to break our passionate eye contact.
"Yes. Thank you." I mumbled so softly; I doubt he heard.
An outbreak of cough from the opposite direction brought back Leigh and me from a world where only he and I existed, and he immediately snatched back his hand from my face and exhaled roughly.
When I looked over to the person clearing their throat, I found Princeton Claire. Her glare toward Leigh and me was so harsh; it effortlessly sent the message.
Dang, did we give away too much?
When Princeton Claire ceased the fake choking show after Julian provided her with a bottle of water, Lilith's study eyes came back to her brother and me.
"It's weird that you remember to show gratitude and regard. You seem to abandon that on the way through adolescence." She thoughtfully asserted and took off her shades, now curiously observing me with those usually striking eyes that were an enthusiastic green, just like her brother's.
Afraid she could tell every lie and deceit running in my veins; I couldn't help casting my eyes to the ground and working on my appetite for the next full spoon approaching my mouth.
"You know, Ava used to be uneventful; she was all thank you, I am sorry, and please, every often before bitch grew a tail and began barfing all over people."
Fucking slag.
"Thanks for the appetite. Lilith." I practically threw the plate of half untouched porridge on the coffee table and sat back on the sofa.
Lilith rolled her eyes to the back of her skull and went back to her social life.
"What are you two watching?" I scooch to see for myself what Leigh and Julian were fascinated by on the iPad screen.
"Reels from the school media page," Leigh answered before his friend could.
A short video of a brutal football game, with six bulky men after a tall, lean familiar figure, wearing an accurate number and uniform so damn perfect, as though football was made for him alone.
"Is that you?" The smile on my face couldn't be suppressed.
"Yes, our star quarterback." Julian was quick to answer, flashing a proud wink as he spoke.
I force a humble smile, even though my mouth itches to advise him to stay back, as all I need right now is Leigh's euphonious voice. His scent that was my oxygen and had filled up my windpipes. Literally, everything about him that gives aesthetic pleasure.
"You still wear number three." I turned my eyes to him. His glinting green eyes were so radiant; they could glow in the dark.
"What game was it?" Princeton Claire asked from where Lilith minded her phone business.
Can everyone just shut up and let who is supposed to answer speak?
"Semifinals." Said Julian before his eyes came back to me, and he boasted even more. "He destroyed our opponents. That game, he scored touchdowns like some he was a machine." Julian finishes, proudly slapping Leigh's arm.
It's obvious; he had been doing what he was designated for. And everyone in his school was proud of him.
I couldn't be any more happier.
"I swear, you already have a spot in professionals. You should see the faces of the observers and professional officiating crew that attended that game." Princeton Claire laughs and tosses a grape into her mouth.
My natural face was burning with plain pride for the man next to me.
I slapped a dampened smile on my lips to conceal my true excitement. I couldn't think of what to say when I whispered only to him. "I like the uniform; it looks good on you."
His piercing eyes found mine, hope twinkling in them as his lips pulled into a soft smile.
"Maybe someday you will come to watch me play?"
That saccharine sweet lips were hard to resist; I almost say screw the company around us and take him right there. His eyes moved back to the screen, playing something that got the commentators going crazy. I averted my gaze back to see what got everyone in the video exaggerating. And I became abruptly tensed as I was greeted by Leigh hazardous field tricks.
He won a touchdown, but I wouldn't say I like that. He almost got hurt.
"Leigh, no way you did that. You almost..." My voice trailed off; I couldn't say it out loud.
He smiled charmingly and brought a hand to stroke my back. "Some risks are worth taking." He simply said and looked away, like he didn't get me all rosy at the memory of the homecoming game almost two years ago.
I was gone into a trance, my gaze upon him so intense, blushing deeply, myself, when Lilith broke into my most benign comfort.
"I don't even understand. The two of you didn't talk when he was away, and now you're suddenly BFFs.?" Her voice was jammed with contempt.
All I thought some minutes ago was, look, my stepsister had finally grown up and learned to slide out of things that were not her concern, but of course, it was temporary. Lilith would always find something to condemn.
Okay, I will make it clear, Lilith can not manifest what this is that is between her blood brother and me, her stepsister. Out of everyone, I don't think gaining her approval is even possible to begin with. I've lived with her under the same roof for almost two years, and I will guaranty you, Lilith isn't the girl who would support a romantic relationship between Leigh and me.
Granted! She wanted Leigh to find his happiness, but not with her stepsister. And I am not insensitive to claim that she did not most certainly want me to find happiness too. Believe me, she does. You should hear about the abundance dates she had introduced to me for last year's homecoming dance.
But this? Leigh and me?
For her, it will be like setting a wildfire. Then letting her find out will be nothing more than the rapid spread of hatred, disgust, rage and even worst that only she can assemble. God knows I am not ready to face that phase. I am doing good right now, finally finding back what I lost for almost four hundred days, not under any circumstances should I have that slip away.
"We are family, Lilith. We can not stay mad at each other." I bit each word, avoiding capturing her gaze.
"Remind me again why you two weren't getting along?" She pressed and set aside her mobile phone when she sat forward.
I became mute. My heart started to pound in my chest in fear of the possibility...
"What is it with the interrogation?" Leigh sternly asked his sister.
"Jeez." She shoots. "Is just a question meant for Ava. Unless..."
"Unless what?" He interjected as I had become totally fragile beside him.
"Easy, bro. I'm Lilith. Ring any bells?" She derisively challenges. "Your Actual sister, to be exact, so try and be nice as you're to Miss English."
Fucking bitch.
That part brought tears welling in my eyes. I don't know why. Maybe being around Leigh makes me so vulnerable, I no longer have that gladiator shield anymore? Or perhaps because it truly hurt to be discriminated amongst the family.
"Seriously?" Leigh breathed out; he must be surprised at her bold guts.
But he shouldn't be. He had no idea how much of a bitch she had been to me the past year when he was gone.
Biting hard on my inner cheeks to lessen the aching her words had caused, I disappointedly looked over to her.
"Is not like I want to be his actual sister." She has no idea. "So chill. You can wear that title on your head if it makes you feel on a throne."
It washed that arrogant smirk off her face, and she blinked, but her emotion was blank. "What does that supposed mean?"
I shrugged and followed the notifications from my mobile phone. It was a text message of books recommendation from Evie.
While scrolling through some recent adventure fictions and their summaries, I replied to my stepsister, who was left hanging, eagerly waiting for my response. "Just making you less dumb around here, Lilith."
I was sure she had a comeback ready, but this familiar ear-splitting voice took precedence over hers. "Oh my God! look who's here?"
And the day keeps getting worst.