To Hate My Stepbrother

Ava’s POV

Class was soon over and since we didn’t have any other class to attend, I thought I was going to go with Xander to his house.

I pulled out my phone to text Nicole and tell her that she can just leave with Ryan and I will leave with Xander since I have to tutor him at his own house. She responded to my texts moments later.

‘Be sure to use protection. I love you. Xoxo.’

I read the text and I almost checked on my spit. I rolled my eyes as I wondered if Nicole ever thinks about anything order then sex.

“Hey, you’re ready?” Xander’s voice came from behind me and I locked my phone immediately as I turned to look at him.

“Yes, let’s go.” I answered as we both started walking out of the school premise, I looked around trying to catch a cab before Xander said something that caught my attention.

“I’m sorry, I don’t have a car.” Xander apologised and I laughed.

Why is he apologising for something like that?

“I don’t have a car either, do I?” I answered and we both laughed as we waited for the bus stop. I’d suggested we take a cab but Xander insisted on taking the bus and I couldn’t argue with him.

We finally got on the bus and soon we were at his house. He has a pretty small apartment and even our previous apartment was bigger than this but who cares about the size of his house?

We got in and I was surprised that the house was well furnished on the inside, it was also pretty. I looked around for a while and saw pictures of Xander at the orphanage and also pictures of him with other kids.

My curiosity grew and I wanted to know the story behind each picture. I asked and he happily answered with a slight smile but I knew his heart ached.

“They all got adopted except me,” he explained, staring at the picture and getting lost for a while before laughing slightly, “They all wanted a smaller kid and I was too old to be adopted.” He finished as he tucked both his hands in both sides of his pocket.

“I’m sorry.” I muttered but he only shrugged it off and told me he doesn’t want me to pity him.

“Well, after my high school. The orphanage got me this apartment and they also sent money for my upkeep but I still have to work to raise money to pay the bills.” He explained with a smile.

How is he able to smile after going through all of these horrible things? Losing his parents, friends, and rejection by foster parents?

I felt bad for him and I’d wanted to hug him while I tell him everything will be alright, I had everything while growing up except a father while Xander grew up with nothing.

“Stop that.” He said and I sniffed as I looked up to meet his gaze.

“Stop what?” I asked, oblivious to what he meant.

“The pity, the tears. I don’t want you to feel pity for me because I’ll be honest, I love my life the way it is and I wouldn’t change it for anything else in the world.” He laughed, trying to get me to laugh too but I couldn’t.

I still pitied him and I finally understood why he loved my family, while I have an annoying step brother, a stepfather and a mom to get home to. Xander always got home to an empty apartment.

We soon started studying and when two hours had passed, I decided that we should play a game to make it more fun for the both of us and Xander agreed as he was already bored.

“I’ll ask you a question and if you get it right you get to ask me a question but if you get it wrong then I get to ask you another question.” I explained and he seemed excited about what I might ask him.

The question and answers started and Xander proudly got the first question right and with a smile he asked his own question next.

“Do you have a dream?” He asked and after thinking about it carefully, I realised that I have none.

“No I don’t,” I answered and he raised an eyebrow, probing me to go further. “I like to go with the flow so wherever life pushes me that’s where I go.” I answered and he shrugged.

“Fair enough.” He answered as we both continued the game and when he got another question right he’d asked what I liked about him.

I liked everything about Xander but I haven’t gotten the chance to tell him yet, perhaps this game is to finally give me a chance to tell him.

“What do I like about you?” I asked again and he nodded as I smiled sheepishly. I suddenly felt shy as I took another look at him before bracing myself up properly to finally tell him all I liked about him.

“I like your attitude, you are a nice gentle guy unlike my jerky step brother and you do have a nice smile too.” I went on and told him everything I liked while he listened and I could see him blush a little.

The questions and answers went on for a while again and yet again, Xander got another question right.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” He asked and I wasn’t expecting him to ask that kind of question.

“No, I don’t.” I answered.

“Really?”

“Yes. But I liked a boy once but I don’t think that fits into the category of a boyfriend.” I added and Xander laughed at me.

The question went on and I made sure to ask him a difficult question and I couldn’t be happier when he got it wrong because I can finally get to ask him a question.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” I asked, placing my face on my palm as I braced myself to hear the answer to his question.

“No.” He answered and I was surprised. I wasn’t expecting him to not have a girlfriend.

“Why? You don’t like anyone?” I asked.

“No, I’ve liked girls and they liked me back or at least that’s what I thought but once they find out I’m an orphan they leave,” he explained.

Why would anyone want to leave him because he’s an orphan? That’s the most stupid excuse to leave someone.

“I guess no one wants to deal with the emotional baggage that comes with being an orphan,” he laughed. “That was why I told you I’m an orphan when we first met because I don’t want you finding out later and abandoning my ass.” He added and I laughed.

“I would never have left even if I’m just finding out you’re an orphan.” I said as I took his hand in mine and Xander lifted his gaze to meet mine.

We stared at each other for what seemed like minutes and I soon found myself leaning into him as I closed my eyes without thinking.

Xander is a great guy and I waa sure I wouldn’t regret it if he got my first kiss.

We leaned closer into each other and just when our lips were about to touch, my phone rang.

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