Chapter 5

　　I stood there, frozen, as the sounds continued. My hands curled into fists at my sides, nails biting into my palms.

　　He had brought me here. Rode me around for an hour, teased me, made me feel like maybe this was something… and then he'd gone into a bathroom to fuck a girl.

　　The anger hit me like a tidal wave, hot and vicious and all-consuming.

　　I turned on my heel and walked back into the main area of the shop. My hands were shaking as I pulled out my phone and opened a ride-share app. Three minutes away.

　　Perfect.

　　I grabbed my bag, left the half-eaten food on the table, and walked out into the night air. It was cooler now, sharp against my skin, but I barely felt it.

　　I stood on the sidewalk, arms crossed, staring at the road. My phone buzzed with the driver's update.

　　Two minutes away.

　　Behind me, music from the shop drifted out into the night. Laughter from inside. Normal people having normal nights.

　　And Dylan fucking the slutty bitch called Becca.

　　One minute away.

　　My jaw clenched. I refused to cry. I refused to let this mean anything.

　　A car pulled up to the curb. My ride.

　　I opened the door and climbed in.

　　"Where to?" the driver asked.

　　I rattled off Richard's address, my voice steady despite the rage burning through my veins.

　　The car pulled away from the curb, and I didn't look back.

　　Why did it hurt? I was aware of his playboy lifestyle in school, I knew he had fucked almost all the girls but why does this one hurt?

　　"Ma'am are you okay?" the driver asked, handing me wipes.

　　That was when I realized I'd been crying.

　　DYLAN

　　I came down the stairs Monday morning, my gym bag slung over one shoulder, expecting to find Moana in the kitchen. Maybe we'd ride to school together. Maybe she'd still be pissed about Saturday night. Either way, I needed to see her.

　　But when I walked into the dining room, only my father sat at the table, coffee in one hand and his phone in the other.

　　"Morning," my dad said without looking up. We don't have the best relationship.

　　I grabbed an apple from the counter. "Morning. Where's Queens?"

　　"Moana left for school already. She followed Rosa early in the morning for a meeting while she went to school." My father finally glanced up.

　　"Oh." I turned the apple over in my hand. "I'll be going then."

　　I headed out before he could ask any questions I didn't have answers to.

　　The drive to school was longer than usual, traffic crawling, and my mind kept circling back to Saturday night. I'd gotten home around eleven to find Moana's bedroom door locked. Not just closed. Locked. I'd stood in the hallway for a solid minute, staring at that door, before retreating to my own room.

　　Sunday had been worse. I'd barely seen her. She didn't even come down for meals. I hadn't heard her voice either. It was like she'd vanished.

　　And I didn't know why.

　　Sure, I'd gone into that bathroom with Becca. I'd let Moana think whatever she wanted to think. But that was the point, wasn't it? I was playing a game and till I got what I wanted I wouldn't stop. I have always had my eyes on Moana, I like her fierceness and teasing her is fun but now that she's my step sister there are lots of things I can't do to her… but who cares, she isn't my sister by blood and even before my father's stupid engagement I have always felt whatever I feel for her.

　　Now she was avoiding me, and it bothered me more than it should. I did what I did on Saturday night purposely just to confirm something but not only did I confirm what I wanted, there's so much more to it.

　　I pulled into the school parking lot and killed the engine. I sat there for a moment, hands on the steering wheel, before grabbing my bag and heading inside.

　　The hallways were packed, students clustered in groups, talking and laughing. I navigated through them until I spotted Asher leaning against a locker near our usual spot.

　　"Yo," Asher said, straightening. "You look like shit."

　　"Thanks."

　　"Rough weekend?"

　　I shrugged. "Something like that."

　　We started walking toward the senior hallway, and Asher shot me a sideways glance. "You gonna tell me what's up, or do I have to guess?"

　　I exhaled. "My dad got married."

　　Asher stopped walking. "Wait, what? When?"

　　"Well, not married yet. Engaged. They moved in this weekend. Her and her daughter."

　　"Her daughter." His eyebrows shot up. "You have a stepsister now?"

　　"Yeah." I replied.

　　"Is she hot? With big ass and big boobs? You know you like big boobs though only the one on the Queen's chest and I know you know she wouldn't let you…"

　　"Shut up."

　　Asher laughed. "Oh shit. She is hot. Who is it? Do we know her? Did you fuck her already? Sorry she's your step sis you can't possibly shove your cock inside her."

　　I glared at him, shutting him up immediately.

　　"Sorry," he raised both hands. "Just answer me already."

　　I didn't answer right away. We reached the row of lockers where we usually kill time before the first period, and I dropped my bag at my feet.

　　"Moana Queens."

　　Asher's eyes went wide. "Moana Queens? As in sassy and sexy Moana, cheer captain, ice queen Moana Queens?"

　　"That's the one." I confirmed.

　　"Dude." He let out a low whistle. "You're living with Moana Queens. That's insane."

　　"Tell me about it."

　　"Wait." His grin turned wicked. "Aren't you two, like… rivals or type shit? And you have a thing for her… I'm not saying love but it's… you know something going on between you two."

　　"Just shut the fuck up, Asher."

　　"And now she's your stepsister." He laughed. "This is the best thing I've heard all year. How's that going?"

　　I ran a hand through my hair. "It's complicated."

　　"How?" he arched a brow.

　　"Just complicated." I grabbed my bag again. "Come on. We're gonna be late."

　　Asher didn't push, but the smirk on his face said he knew there was more to the story.

　　I was going to find my little flower later.