What on this planet Earth did dad just say? Jared? My step-brother? No! No! No! That just sounds wrong. Oh my god. Imagine being good friends with a boy you went on a date with turns out to be your step-brother? How awkward is that?!
I had so many questions! Since Jared came along with dad, didn't dad mention that he was going to meet his daughter whose name was Ashley?
Jared stared back at me, mirroring my horrified expression. I glanced at Erica who stared back at me with shock.
Dad cleared his throat, breaking the silence, "Jared, this is Ashley, my daughter."
"I know," Jared said, not taking his eyes off me.
I turned in my chair and faced dad again. After a moment, Jared came and sat down next to dad, his face looked completely blank. He was speechless. So was I. Why did I agree with mom to come for this dreadful dinner? I should've just been stubborn and refused to come. Urgh! Kill me now. Erica, Jared, Abby and I always argued the most about the silliest things and now, sitting here on the same table, we were tongue-tied.
The dinner was absolutely weird. Dad kept talking about the most random and boring things which included the weather report too. Jared would just keep nodding occasionally and I tried to speak much less than I had planned to in the first place. Erica tried to keep things normal by just adding comments to everything my dad said. Honestly, if Erica didn't come along, this would have been much worse. I kept glancing at my watch and when I couldn't take it anymore, I excused myself to the washroom.
Entering the washroom, I threw my handbag to the floor and ran a through my hair. Splashing some water on my face, I took deep breaths and grabbed my phone from my bag.
Tell my dad that your mom just texted you and told you to get back home now because it's getting late and we have school tomorrow.
I hit send and waited for Erica's reply.
Forty-two minutes. Forty-two minutes. I suffocated out there for forty-two minutes. Urgh. This is so annoying. I actually went on a date with my step-brother. He took me on a hot air balloon and he kissed me on the cheek and made me feel special.
Yes! Good idea! I just told him and he asked the waiter to get the bill, come out now. We'll leave.
A shaky breath escaped my lips. Wiping my face and grabbing my bag, I walked out of the washroom to find Erica and dad standing with her sling back over her shoulder.
"We're leaving?" I asked, trying to sound disappointed but of course, it didn't work that well.
"Yup, mom wants us back home," Erica replied. Yeah, she sure does.
"Alright," I nodded.
"You girls can go ahead, do you need a ride?" Dad asked.
"No, thank you," Erica replied, giving him a tight smile.
I looked at Jared, who was staring at the table, lost in his own world.
"Alright, see you soon, thanks for the dinner, it was fun," I lied.
Dad pulled me in for a hug and kissed the top of my head. For a moment, I felt safe. It felt nice to have my dad's protective arm wrapped around me but sadly, it just lasted for a moment. It would never be the same again, not that I really understood the value of having a dad at the age of five. But growing up without a dad, I never really got to feel any true emotions that I should have felt towards my dad except rage.
"Jared?" Dad called out to him when he didn't bid us good-bye.
"Yes?" Jared asked, trying to avoid eye contact with me.
My dad gave him a look and Jared sighed, "It was nice to meet you."
I don't even know why we didn't tell dad that we're friends and already know each other. It just never came up. He didn't open his mouth and neither did I.
"Same here," I said softly and then we left.
On the way to the car, Erica and I started walking faster and faster, the cold breeze blowing the hair out of my face.
"I can't believe this! I went on a date with him!" I exclaimed, waving my hands around helplessly.
"At least now I don't have to give you the talk," Erica said with a closed-mouth smile and raised brows.
"What talk?"
"The one where I was going to tell you that Jared is a player and that I want you to stay away from him. Good friend but bad boyfriend," she said, sitting in the car.
My lips formed the shape on an 'o' but I didn't say anything. What could I say anyway?
*
After reaching back, Mrs. Wilson asked us how it was cheerfully, I basically ignored while Erica answered. Ethan wasn't there but if he was I am pretty sure he would have been as surprised as Erica and I were.
I went to my room after the little conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Wilson and stayed there. Erica came to talk to me for a while and then, I tried to sleep. But that didn't work well for me. For the past few hours, I've been trying to sleep but I just couldn't. I read for a while, listened to music, tried to cut an eraser into the most smallest pieces possible but none of them helped me feel sleepy.
Sighing, I grabbed a sweater and went to the balcony. The cool, silent night breeze made me feel fresh. Pulling the sweater over my head, I shivered and sat on one of the chairs.
"Not sleepy?"
I looked to my right instantly and saw Ethan sitting comfortably in sweatpants and a t-shirt. His hair looked messy like he had just gotten out of bed. There was a guitar on his legs which were outstretched and resting on the coffee table.
I shook my head, no.
"You?" I asked, pulling the sleeves of the sweater over my palms.
"I just don't want to," he said.
"Jared's my step-brother," I blurted out.
"What?" Ethan asked, stunned. Didn't Erica or Mrs. Wilson tell him?
I nodded with a sigh.
"But how?" Ethan asked, not convinced.
"You tell me. I went there and then my dad was just like 'Meet your brother, Jared,'" I said.
"Did Jared know?" he inquired.
"Do you really think he would take me out with him if he knew I was his sister?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.
"No," Ethan said slowly, "That's just sad, especially since you liked him."
"What?" I asked instantly, my eyebrows knitting with confusion.
"You like him, right?" he asked, sitting up straight and placing the guitar on the coffee table.
"Like-like?" I asked, wrapping my arms around me.
He chuckled, " Yeah."
"No! What's wrong with you?" I exclaimed. Did Ethan really think I liked Jared all along?
"You did go on a date with him," he stated.
"I told you! Jared tricked me into going out with him!" I exclaimed, frowning.
"That doesn't mean you had to go with him," Ethan said, shrugging.
"I wasn't going to go anyway! Abby forced me into it," I complained.
Ethan just nodded.
"Seriously! I was not going to go!" I repeated.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it!" he said, rolling his eyes.
A few minutes of silence fell between us. I rubbed my palms together; I never liked cold places much.
"The play's tomorrow," Ethan said.
I gasped. I completely forgot about the play. Yes, I did rehearse my lines the entire day but after having dinner with my lovely father and brother, my mind was not focused. "Yes, damn. What if I screw up?"
"You won't," he said confidently.
I rolled my eyes, "I'm pretty sure it's going to be bad, the dialogues aren't easy."
"But that doesn't mean you're going to screw up," he said, looking at me.
I sighed.
"Let's try it now!" Ethan suggested.
My eyebrows knit, "What?"
"Yeah! Let's do it now! I'll go down in the lawn, you can stand up here in the balcony and we can do it now!" Ethan said, already getting up with his guitar.
"Ethan, this is crazy! Everyone's sleeping," I responded, staring at him with wide eyes.
He smirked at me and walked out of the balcony with his guitar. What is wrong with him? He wants to act like Romeo and Juliet at 12 am? Before I knew it, a small stone came flying into my balcony. Placing my hands on the railing, I looked down at him. Romeo in sweatpants and a T-shirt- quite an unique combination.
"Ready?" he asked, smiling up at me.
"No!" I whispered loud enough for him to hear.
He grinned. "It is my lady. Oh, it is my love! Oh, that she knew she were!"
I glared at him for a moment but then I took a breath deep and said softly, "Ay, me."
He took a step forward, "She speaks. Oh, speak again, bright angel."
"Oh Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" I said slowly and softly, trying to express every emotion that I could to make the scene intense and honestly, this is the first time I actually nailed it. I didn't know if it was the fact that I was standing in an actual balcony or the fact that I was enacting the scene with Ethan.
Ethan's lips curved into a perfect smile. He stared up at me and his eyes were dark but glassy with a different type of shine to them.
"I told you! You're good at this!" Ethan exclaimed.
I smiled, "Thanks Ethan."
He winked at me, "You and I both know that your true emotions always come up to the surface when you act with me."
There we go. That's the cocky Ethan which was gone for a while.
I scoffed, "Oh puhlease."
He nodded with a smirk.
"Come up now!" I said softly.
*
"Erica! I'm freaking out. What if I mess up my lines? Or trip and fall on stage?" I exclaimed, exaggerating a bit.
"You care about falling on stage? And not the kiss with Michael?" Erica inquired, raising her eyebrows.
That shut me up. Oh my god! What am I going to do? In about 15 minutes, we're supposed to start dressing up and then, we just wait patiently for everyone to arrive. Why did I have to agree with Abby in the first place? This is what I always do; agree with everyone without thinking and then I regret it. For example, the dinner I had with my dad last night? You know, the one where I found out that Jared was my step-brother all along and he was flirting with me thinking that we were good friends. Urgh. Life is just unfair.
"Erica, isn't Abby back yet?" I asked, feeling nervous.
Abby had gone to get me a flower crown. Yes, that girl actually did that.
"Nope," Erica said casually, looking around and chewing on gum.
Erica was so relaxed but she wasn't a part of the play so there was no use panicking anyway. Sighing, I grabbed Erica's arm and dragged her along with me. I couldn't stand in the auditorium, it was too huge with people running around with lights and arranging everything which was making me more nervous. I walked to the dressing room which had much less people compared to the boy's dressing room.
Sitting down on a chair, I asked Erica if she could get my red gown. She nodded lazily and went to get it. Was Michael freaking out as well? Couldn't Abby be my understudy? I would've just faked an injury and let Abby take on my role as Juliet.
Where are you?
Waiting for a reply from Abby, I went to change. Adoring the gown for a moment, I pulled it over my head. Is that the right way to wear a gown? I suppose not but who cares? I walked out of the cubical and a few people turned towards me. Ignoring the constant stares, I settled down on a chair and stared at myself.
The gown was enchanting with sparkles and a few flowers whereas I looked like a dying hamster. Staying up late was definitely not the best option.
Got you an awesome flower crown! On my way!
Sighing with relief, I just sat there. I looked in the mirror and saw the door behind me open and a panting Michael step in.
"Ashley, I have to go. It's urgent. Ethan will play Romeo," he said between breaths.
What?
A/N: Hiiiiiii :3 Did you like this chapter? Did you? Did you? Please comment and let me knoww! ^_^
OMG. Has anyone watched the latest Romeo and Juliet with Douglas Booth?? I saw the trailer and I reallllyy wanna watch it! If anyone has watched it, tell me if it's good!