Mia
First, they were boys with their eyes full of mischief and taunting me. I knew that naughty look. I had seen it before. The look in their eyes made my skin crawl.
I inched backwards, moving away from them till my back hit the locker. I gasped as the three of them stepped forward, forming an arc around me. I felt my back against the hard wood of my locker and groaned as I stared at them, knowing that I was trapped. There was no way for me to escape. I had learned from previous episodes that they were stronger than I was and I couldn't run past them. I was at a deadend and I hated it.They seemed to know that as their eyes twinkled with mirth."Stop fighting this, Mia." One of them chuckled, his voice grating on my nerves. "You are ours. You can't escape unless we let you.""And we don't intend to." Another laughed.I snorted. I belonged to no one and certainly not to bullies like them. I told them exactly that.I spat at them, my eyes scanning around for a weakness in their formation that I could use to escape. "I'm not yours."The three of them started laughing, a deep belly one that sent shivers through me. I swallowed the fear pooling in my mouth and kept my face blank. I wasn't going to let them see that I was afraid. I knew enough of bullies to know that they fed on fear. I wasn't going to let them thrive on mine.The first one who had spoken moved closer to me, his eyes peering deep into mine. "It seems like we are going to make you believe how serious we are."They transformed into wolves and approached me. They looked wild and suddenly opened their mouths, revealing sharp fangs. Wild beast-like growls echoed, leaving me shivering against the locker.I woke up, breathing a sigh of relief as I realized that I was in my room.I hissed as I got up from bed. I was tired of having the same dream over and over. This nightmare had been haunting me for the past four years.I checked the clock by my bedside and noticed that I had just five minutes before my alarm would ring. There was no need to stay in bed any longer. I moved downstairs to where my mother was, already awake and making breakfast.It was a big day for me and more for my mum. I pushed the chills of the horrible nightmare from my mind. I wasn't going to let it ruin my day. It was my graduation ceremony from college and I must confess that I was excited. It hadn't been easy but here I was. My father had died five years ago while I was in high school and I had thought that the end of the world for me. My mother had never worked in her life and wasn't the best at pulling the financial baggage.I hadn't found it easy to get through high school. Everything had suddenly changed and I was on the brink of an edge. My mother was from a noble family though they had lost their status and wealth now. She had been pampered as a child and never had to do, work or worry about anything. She was a liability but it didn't feel like that because my dad was doing well. He doted on his wife and didn't let not even her fingernails get a scratch.Things were hard when dad died. My mum and I were thrown into a harsh reality. She didn't know what to do with herself and it took her a while to accept that life was no longer as she used to know it. She spent all the inheritance left by my dad and I didn't have to be told to know that I had to grow up quickly.I had to support both of us and also work to get myself through high school and college. I was glad I had finally achieved my dream and not even a repeating nightmare could ruin my day."Good morning, mum." I said as I made my way to the kitchen where my mum was.Thank goodness dad owned the house and it wasn't rented or we would have been homeless when he died. I looked around, feeling memories rush into my brain and blinked back the tears threatening to fall off my face.I missed dad and wished he was here with us. I pretended to be strong for my mum's sake. She was fragile and could start crying if she noticed the sheen of tears in my eyes. She was the reason I couldn't stay far away for college. I didn't want to study, deal with all my part-time jobs and still worry if she was getting herself in trouble."Morning, my darling." She smiled as she set a plate of pancakes before me.I sat at the table, smiling at her. "Thanks, mum." She had grown over the years. She didn't work much but she had learned to cook when we couldn't afford a maid like before. "Let's get ready. You don't want to be late for your own graduation."I scanned the hall for my mum as I stepped up the podium when my name was called. I saw my mum chatting with a man beside her and didn't seem bothered by it. She was a beautiful woman with a lively personality and men were naturally drawn to her but she didn't seem interested in her. I couldn't count the number of men who were trying to get closer to her that she had rejected over the years. I didn't blame her. I doubted that there was another man who could be like my dad to her.I marched straight towards my bedroom as we got back home at five in the evening. I was tired and needed a break. I was a graduate and I had to start thinking of where I would like to work. I already had two offers already and the interviews were the following week.An hour later, I heard a knock on my bedroom door. "Come in." I said to my mum.I was relieved to see her. I was just about to go to her."What are we having for dinner, mum?" I asked her. I had some change on me and I could make a quick run to the market if we didn't have it at home."We are not cooking dinner tonight."I smiled. "Are you giving me a graduation treat?" I blushed. "You didn't have to, mum."She shook her head and smiled at me. "I am getting married."I sat there for a while in stunned silence. "What!" I gasped after some minutes. Was she kidding me?"Mum?" I stared at her in disbelief."Yes, my dear. I want you to meet him. He wants to meet you too. I have been with him for months now but I wanted you to be done with your program before I tell you."I couldn't believe what she was telling me. I thought I knew everything about my mum. I didn't know she would keep a secret like that from me.She continued. "We are having dinner at his house. Be ready be in an hour." She said and walked away.Just like that? I stared at her retreating figure in disbelief. After she was out, I became nervous, fretting over what I had to wear. Was there a tip on what to wear when one had to meet their mother's lover?I was nervous all the way to the meeting place. I wondered what he was like. I never saw this coming and didn't prepare myself for it emotionally. The one hour notice mum gave me was too short, maybe I needed a year.A man waved and walked up to us as we walked into the restaurant and I gasped as I saw him. He was the same man my mum was laughing with earlier at my graduation. She had invited him. I couldn't believe it was right there in front of me and I didn't know.He seemed sturdy with a rough-looking face and I wasn't surprised. Mum had eventually told me on the way here that he was a retired soldier. He was tall, with muscles ripping off his body and had an aura around him that commanded authority. I swallowed. That was not helping my nerves. I was intimidated by his presence and I glanced at my mum, wondering how she wasn't. She looked delicate compared to his rugged appearance."Hey, sweetness." He smiled as he saw my mum, giving her a brief kiss on the lips.I couldn't deny that he was handsome and he seemed to like her. His eyes shone the way my dad's used to when he looked at mum.He turned to me. "You must be Mia. It's nice to see you."I nodded. "Good evening, sir."He laughed. "Sir? Oh, don't make me feel old. You can call me Albert if calling me dad is too much for you." He said with a wink.I relaxed. He seemed warm despite his strong appearance. I could see why my mum liked him. As the night progressed and I observed him and mother, I couldn't deny that they were deeply in love.I was happy for her. He seemed like someone I could like as well. I was glad she wasn't going to get lonely when I start working and got busier with life.MiaMy mum was excited, more than I had ever seen her. It was a week after we had gone to Albert's house for dinner and things for their marriage moved faster than I could think. It felt like the two were waiting for me to meet him and like him before rushing ahead with their marriage plans.The two were going to be married soon but mum didn't want to stay far away from her beau. Now that I knew of him, I believed she felt like she didn't have any reason to hide her relationship.She was moving into his house and I was going with her. I had done my interviews and waiting for feedback. I wanted to see where my mum was going to live for the rest of her days."Are you ready, Mia?" Mum shouted from the garage outside where she was with the driver.Albert had sent a truck to help us move and I was impressed at his thoughtfulness. He had also sent a small car where we would sit while the truck was only for our luggage. I wondered how rich he was.Whatever. I didn't care about that, as long
Five Years AgoMiaI was bored. I hated chemistry class the most and was happy when it finally ended though I couldn't say that this was what I learnt from the class.I had only heard non-metals and asides that, I didn't think that I had understood any of Miss Brenda's explanation. It was lunch break and I walked to the cafeteria, already thinking of what to eat.I needed a hefty dose of lunch after enduring chemistry. It always felt like the metals or non-metals dug through my intestines in class and made me hungry than I was meant to be.I scanned the cafeteria for Rose but I couldn't see her. I frowned as I patiently searched through the faces at the tables, eating and laughing and yet Anna was nowhere to be found. This was unusual. She was always there, waiting for me after securing the best spot.I walked out of the cafeteria and went outside, searching for her. "Have you seen Anna?" I asked around as I passed students going on their way to the cafeteria.Some of them shook thei
MiaI was glad that it was sports day in school. I was going to be free of them for a while. The girls and the boys were separated and didn't participate in the same sports. They weren't going to be able to follow me around and harass me. Even though we were all on the same field and I could feel their eyes on me, trailing after me everywhere I moved to, I still tried my best to ignore them and have fun.I wished that the games weren't going to end. Anna noticed where I was looking at as we jogged and winced. "I'm sorry I got you into this mess. You wouldn't be bullied by them if it was not for me."I waved off her apology. "Don't worry about that." I told her as I had been telling her for the past four months since the incident.She felt guilty and I hated it. I had enough negative baggage to deal with and I didn't need her guilt added to it. It had happened and I didn't blame her. I couldn't understand why she insisted on blaming herself.It had been long since I had talked with h
Present DayMiaI turned back to the table and hissed as I angrily removed the hand on my head and glared at Jack. I lowered my gaze, afraid of making him angry and annoyed with myself that I was still afraid of them after all the years that had passed.John smiled and crossed his arms. "It seemed like the little sister doesn't like brother very much."I glared at him. The pretentious little bastard. Who gave them the right to call me little sister?I couldn't wait for dinner to be over and I breathed in relief when it finally was. How I had cleared out my plate, I had no idea. I rushed to my bedroom as soon as I could leave, counting down to when I was going to leave and already thinking of the excuse I was going to give mum for leaving earlier than planned.I heard a knock on the door and rushed to it, thinking it was mum there to ask if I was enjoying my stay.I stared in surprise as I saw Quinn at the door and winced as he pushed his way and closed the door."What do you want?" I
MiaI was shocked when his eyes suddenly softened at me, gazing at me with affection unlike the cold ones staring back at me a while ago."What?" I asked, tired of all the confusing emotions that they wrought in me.I wondered if they had a particular gift for that. Making people like them and hate them at the same time. I wasn't confessing to liking them, I was just annoyed. After all, what was there to like in them?I would be a fool if I ended up liking the boys who had bullied me and treated me like I wasn't worth shit.His eyes gleamed with amusement. "Are you still angry?""Don't I have the right to be?""It happened years ago, Mia." He said as if I didn't know. "You should have moved on. We have."I snorted. "Easy for you to say."Easy for them to do. I was the one bullied, it wasn't them. I was the one with sleepless nights and nightmares and not them. I bet that they slept fine on their beds. It wasn't like that for me. I couldn't sleep unless the bed was soft enough and even
MiaI couldn't calm down when I got to my room, no matter how hard I tried. I paced around the room, biting on my lip as I thought. I cringed as I stopped biting my lips, remembering that Quinn had just kissed me.I was disgusted as much as I was annoyed and went to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth as if I wanted to peel them off and it wasn't until I was satisfied that I had washed him off that I stepped out of the bathroom.I knew Quinn, regardless of his speech that we should let sleeping dogs lie, wasn't someone who was going to let things go. He would get back at me for what I had done, for daring to bite him.I remembered the way his eyes had sparked open when I had bitten his lips and they had turned yellow before I ran away.Yellow. Just like they were years ago in high school. Just like the ones of the wolves in my dreams sometimes.Werewolves. I realized that there was a theory there I needed to go after.I brought out my laptop and began to search for werewolves. I was amaz
QuinnI hadn't liked it when I had heard, of course, but I liked and respected dad a lot. I couldn't deny him anything and knew that Jack and John couldn't as well. Even if the other two didn't want to go somewhere, I could convince them to as the eldest. That was why we were always found at the same place at the same time. We were never far from one another.Looking at my new step-sister, I was happy that I had decided to come back home. Our boring lives were about to become interesting with her arrival. She looked beautiful and I hoped that she was still as interesting as she was years ago. I couldn't forget the way she had charged boldly at us in order to save her friend. That was hot and even though it had been years, I felt the same jolt of desire I had felt for her then.I briefly glanced at her mother and let my hands wander back to her. I lowered my gaze to her wavy long hair. I wanted to pull her away from her middle-aged mum and thoroughly kiss her, slipping my hands into h
JackGazing at my beautiful step-sister, I couldn't control my inner joy. I couldn't believe that I was going to see her again and it was so good to see her.Of all the girls to be our sister, I couldn't believe that it was her. I was happy at my dad's marriage but now, I was excited. I wanted to run to him and hug him for letting us meet Mia again.I wanted to thank him for falling in love with Mia's mother. I grinned as I remembered how fun it had been with Mia then, I couldn't deny that life was about to be a lot more fun than it was, for me as well as my brothers.I didn't like staying at home and preferred the seas. I always counted down to when I was going to leave and go back to the shores, whenever we were at home but I didn't think that was going to be the case now. Staying at home always brought out memories that I would love to keep buried but it wasn't going to be the same now. Mia was going to change that with her interesting and unpredictable ways. There was no doubt a