Chapter 4 My new stepsister

Kendrix

“I heard the students from Bradford High smell like ham. I bet your stepsister does too.” JJ said as he tried to sink a putt and missed. He swore viciously.

Cisco laughed from where he sat with Brooklyn, who was frowning down at her phone. He gave his girlfriend a quick kiss and snatched the cue stick from JJ.

“We play against their school's team every year before the championship, JJ. They certainly don't smell like ham.” Cisco said as he managed to sink a putt.

The four of us were hanging out at Benny's, a popular hangout spot for students of King's School for Elites. The hangout was supposed to be a team bonding exercise for the entire football team, like Coach had asked, but after the morning I had, I wasn't in the mood for any bonding activities. So I had cancelled it and only invited my closest friends.

“I can't find anything about Stephanie Scott on Instagram, not any that fits your description anyway. The only account that seems to fit has only five followers and no post.” Brooklyn said, finally raising her head from her phone.

“Sounds like you found her.” I chuckled, taking a sip from my drink.

Brooklyn glared at me and continued typing furiously on her phone. I sighed, wondering if I should have taken a nap instead. My friends company wasn't boring, but their questions were pissing me off.

I couldn't blame them. I had been in their position few weeks ago after my father announced that he wanted to get married again. There was no word to describe the shock I had felt that day.

It's not that I didn't want him to get married—we didn't have such a strong bond for me to care—it's that I hadn't thought he was capable of it. William Sinclair only cared about one thing: his empire.

In the eight years since my mother had left us, I had never seen my father date. But somehow Jennifer Scott had changed that.

I didn't have a problem with the woman. She was nice and seem into my father as he was in her. Her daughter, however, was a different story. Stephanie Scott was definitely not like her mother.

I ran my tongue over my teeth as the memory of the car ride flashed across my mind. When my father had asked me to come with him to help his new stepdaughter move, I hadn't object.

I had been curious about Stephanie since the first time I saw her, when she had glared at me like she thought the absolute worst of me. It wasn't the introduction I was used to receiving.

I found out this morning that she actually did think the worst of me. I didn't expect the confirmation to piss me off the way it did. I had never cared what anyone thought of me. Until today.

A tap on my shoulder jolted me out of my thoughts. I turned to find JJ beside me.

“Dude! What the hell are you thinking about? You completely zoned out.” he frowned.

“Nothing.” I shook my head. “What's up?”

“Brooke found your stepsister.” Cisco answered. He and JJ peered over Brooklyn's shoulders to stare at her phone.

“She doesn't look like she smells like ham.” JJ muttered.

Brooklyn glared at him and I knew she was contemplating smacking him in the head. I have no doubt she would get along well with Stephanie. They both had that murderous looks.

“How did you find her picture? Thought she had no post.” I asked.

“I checked her followers and the posts she was tagged in. ‘I_am_Emily’ tagged her in joint pictures multiple times. I think they're close friends.” Brooklyn explained. The three of us blinked at her in surprise.

“Don’t look so shocked. They don't call me the queen of insta-stalking for nothing.” she chuckled and flipped her hair dramatically.

JJ snatched the phone from her and Brooklyn squealed angrily. “Bring that back here, Jordan James, or I swear, I will cut you to tiny pieces.”

“Dial back the violence, babe.” Cisco snorted and made to kiss her. The glare she gave him was enough to make him retreat.

“I think Ken forgot to mention that his sister isn't just hot, as in Sabrina Carpenter hot, she's a biker as well.”

That got my attention and I snatched the phone from JJ.

My eyes zeroed on the picture. Stephanie way leaning against a motorcycle, a helmet in her hand and a hesitant smile on her face. Just like she had this morning.

‘my best friend and her best friend. I feel so left out lol’ was the caption with lots of crying emojis and hearts emojis.

I scrolled past the picture but I only saw multiple pictures of Emily. There was none of Stephanie's until their junior prom. Stephanie was smiling tightly again, her arm looped with a boy's, probably her boyfriend.

The caption read, ‘they’re so cute. I'm crying.’ followed by lots of hearts emojis.

I stared at the picture closely. Her eyes, the emotion in them were so different from the rage she had shown me hours ago. She seem … uncomfortable in the picture. The boy seems too excited to notice her discomfort.

“She's got a boyfriend, JJ. Doesn't seem like you can try your luck with her.” Cisco clicked his tongue.

“It doesn't matter. Not if Ken invites her to the tournament.” JJ muttered. He turned to me with a sly smile. “You will, won't you, Kenny boy?”

“No, I'm not going to invite her. And don't call me that.” I groaned.

“You have to invite her. We're still short a biker since Rick moved to London. Ronnie is still insisting on not letting us participate in the tournament if we don't find Rick’s replacement. He might just kick us out of the Vault if he finds out you deliberately didn't invite a biker in your family.” Cisco explained.

“Ronnie wouldn't do that.” I snapped.

But even I knew that wasn't true. Ronnie, the founder of the Vault, hated when people didn't stick to his rules. And the rules of the tournament implied that four bikers in a squad competed. Brooklyn didn't race and Rick, our fourth, had moved to London this summer.

The Vault was a motorcycle club in our zip code. Aside from Benny's, it was the other place we loved hanging out. Our parents didn't know of it, of course. The place was illegal and full of criminals or teenagers seeking thrill. My friends and I fell in the latter.

I had discovered the motorcycle club during the summer before sophomore year. The four of us had frequented the place since then. To be kicked out … I couldn't imagine it.

“Yes, he would. Unless you want Sebastian to break your winning streak when you get kicked out, you have to bring your stepsister to complete our squad.” JJ smirked, knowing fully well that he had gotten to me.

I glared at him, half contemplating what the consequences for killing one of my oldest friends was. Jail couldn't be that bad, right?

“Incase you're wondering if she's good, her skills doesn't matter. We just need to have a complete squad.” Cisco added.

Another truth.

“Alright, fine. I'll invite her. But you will not be trying anything with her, JJ.” I warned.

“Not fair. I let you hook up with my cousin last summer.” He groaned.

“You hated your cousin. This is different.”

“How? You've complained about her since you got here. Doesn't seem like you're a big fan of her. And she's hot.”

“It doesn't matter how I feel about her. You're not hooking up with her. End of story.” I cringed at the thought of that happening.

Cisco and Brooklyn stared at each other, engaging in some silent couple's conversation. I wanted to interrupt them when my phone pinged loudly, a text notification.

I pulled it from my pocket and rest the message from my father, reminding me not to be late to the family dinner.

“I have to go now.” I stood up and gave Brooklyn a side hug and a handshake to my two other friends. “I'll see you guys at the tournament or when school resumes next week.”

“Don’t forget to invite her.” JJ yelled after me.

I didn't give him a response. As I drove back home, I couldn't help but wonder how the hell I was going to get Stephanie to the Vault or even convince her to participate.

Especially after the promise of death she'd made me that morning.