Hating, Hurting: A Stepbrother Bully Story

by Iris Taylor

  HATING, HURTING:

  A STEPBROTHER

  BULLY STORY

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

  HATING, HURTING: A STEPBROTHER BULLY STORY

  First edition. July 1st, 2020.

  Copyright © 2020 Iris Taylor.

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Cruel Bully

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Prologue

  Cole

  I stood in the dark shadows, watching her as she tossed her gym bag into the beat-up station wagon that she and her mom drove. It must have been painted a horrible toad-green color once, but now had fading patches of brown, as if it was trying to blend in with the dense forests that surrounded Gray Lake.

  Hers was the only vehicle around, everyone else having left a while back, and I had to salute her for her bravery. Or maybe it was her naiveté – who knew with someone as green as her? She was new, a fresh lamb unaware of the monsters that lurked in the area. She needed to be brought up to speed with that, and soon. It was getting dark, with dusk setting in, bringing with it unspoken promises and threats.

  Her damp blond hair whipped in the wind, freshly washed golden silk that had no right to shine the way it did. Not when she had so much to pay for. And pay for it she will. My jaw clenched thinking about how her blue-green eyes lit up when she saw me that first day, as if I was some long-lost cousin she had always hoped to meet. The girl needed to know she had turned my life upside down, and that was something I would never, ever forgive. Not when she had put the final nail in the coffin.

  Life had been tolerable before. True, I hadn’t been the most appreciative of people, but that wasn’t the point, was it? No fifteen-year-old knew to appreciate life’s little joys. Not when there was stuff to do, a life to live. But of course, life had to let you down. It always did - it was a matter of when and not if. And mine had crashed the moment my mom walked out the door and left without looking back. I didn’t blame her one bit, not if I had me and my worthless father to deal with. Hans was her favorite, and she’d left him behind, too.

  The blond she-devil I was watching startled, her posture wary, and I slowly shifted back farther into the shadows as she looked up and looked in my direction, her eyes searching. She hurriedly stepped into the car and after revving the hesitant engine, slowly drove away. I wondered how long I should wait before sabotaging her ugly ride. Soon, I promised myself. She needed to feel perfectly safe again.

  Run little one.

  Run, but don’t expect to escape from my clutches.

  I will make you pay.

  Chapter 1

  A few weeks prior...

  Ella

  I watched my mom’s face light up as Marcus held her hand and told her about his day at work. He was a distinguished-looking man with salt-and-pepper hair, still heartbreakingly handsome for someone who was approaching fifty. And he looked at my mother as if she was his whole world.

  Marcus owned a marketing company and it was during one of their numerous interagency conferences that he and my mom met and hit it off. Mom looked younger than her forty-two years, but especially so now that she had met Marcus. She had quit her sales job with the rival company where she had worked for the past decade and was now working part-time under him. It worked out well – she had more time for herself and me, as well as for her soon-to-be role as Marcus’s wife here.

  “Do you think we should order in tonight?” Marcus asked. The Isaacs had a wonderful housekeeper who cooked marvelous dishes, but I guess for him the novelty had worn off.

  My mom smiled. “What were you thinking of?”

  “How about some Thai? Som tam, maybe?”

  My mom laughed. “I’d love that, but I’m not sure your stomach could take it.” She turned to me, her blue eyes twinkling in mirth. “The last time we had Thai food, Marcus spent the entire afternoon in the washroom.”

  Marcus opened his mouth to protest but then shook his head and nodded. “Ok, I’ll ask for less spicy.”

  I laughed and replied, “Order me whatever you’re having, mom. Just not the shrimp.”

  I had a shrimp allergy – one that caused me to break out in hives and the occasional swollen lip. Which was sad, because I loved shrimp. I hadn’t had it in years, it was just simply not worth it. I smiled, thinking of how life had treated us since we arrived at Gray Lake a few weeks ago. Sure, I had had to sacrifice my last year of high school and leave Melissa and Tony. But there was always FaceTime and my best friends had promised to drive the three hours it took to get here during school breaks. And maybe now that I’m leaving them both alone, they will finally acknowledge those sparks they have. I smiled at the thought. We had grown up together, and it would be the cutest thing if they started to date.

  Tony was possessive of Melissa, who turned a blind eye to his jealous side and continued to date different guys every other week. Unlike me, she had a penchant for the bad boy types. I just couldn’t see what was so fascinating about guys who smoked, skipped class, and spewed curse words with every breath. But according to Melissa, they were the hottest ones in bed, and I took her word for it, since I had no experience on the subject. It made me wonder though – why change guys every week if they were that good?

  I was Melissa’s polar opposite. Where she just wanted to keep her head above water in all her classes, I was a studious nerd, and had straight As in all my classes to show for it. She was a social butterfly, whereas I was a self-proclaimed introvert. You’re a virgin too, my mind added. Not that it matters, I reprimanded the nosy voice in my head. It was by choice, really. There simply wasn’t anyone I wanted to be that intimate with. I wasn’t the most outgoing of people, and kept close to my small circle of friends. The only reason I got into the cheerleading team was because of Melissa, who dragged me to the tryouts at the same time she tried for the team in freshman year. That and how flexible and lithe I soon found out I was. I also enjoyed it thoroughly - being an integral part of keeping up the school spirit, cheering our football team on. Parties and the associated social life were a different headache altogether, but I had been quite insulated from it all by Melissa and Tony, as well as Randy, my ex, whilst I was still dating him.

  “Ella honey, I hope the twins will treat you right,” Marcus’ voice jolted me out of my thoughts. I looked up, startled by his choice of words. I hope they will like you would’ve seemed more appropriate. “They can be a little, uh, aggre
ssive sometimes.”

  I smiled with a calm surety. Life always turned out okay, even when it seemed bleak at times. And I had never made a single enemy in my life. “I’m sure we will hit it off, don’t worry.” I wanted to reassure Marcus, who treated me like his own daughter from the moment he and my mother started dating a year back. We were both lucky to have him. His desire to have us all as a family together showed in the way he spoke highly about Cole and Hans, as well as trying to connect me – unsuccessfully - with the twins several times in the past few months. I had both their numbers but after a passing hi to both of them in the new group chat Marcus had set up – with zero reply from Cole and a wave emoticon from Hans – the chat was basically dead. Not that I was expecting much from two strangers who lived several hours away. I believed relationships could only be built once you spent enough time with the other person, and now that we were all going to be living together, I was looking forward to getting to know my future stepbrothers better.

  My mom nodded with a smile, massaging Marcus’ forearm as he drove us to the airport. “Ella’s got a special touch with people. I don’t think we have to worry about her.”

  Marcus still appeared unsure. “It’s not her I’m worried about, it’s Cole and Hans. But you’re right, if anyone can bring out their good sides, it would be Ella.” Doubt still laced his tone.

  If I wasn’t nervous about meeting my mom’s fiancé’s twin boys before, I was now. Their own father was worried, and Marcus was not one to think the worst of people, at least not that I could see in the time I knew him. The twins had gone to their mom’s place in SoCal for the long break, so I had yet to meet them. I would be joining them in my senior year at the Gray Lake Academy, where they were both attending.

  I knew a little about them from what Marcus had told me – both were football players, with Cole playing defense and Hans being the team captain. They were good enough that they were considering going professional. That was pretty much all I knew, except for the few pictures of them I had seen around the house. Tall, dark-haired, identical twin athletes. Mentally, I tacked on: Do not respond in group chats.

  The nervousness that I had suppressed from the moment I learned about them bubbled up in my chest until it made me nauseous. I had never had any siblings before, let alone two guys my age. Everything will be fine. Everything will be fine. After a few deep, calming breaths, I was able to plaster a smile on my face and convince myself it was the truth.

  Mom’s and Marcus’ wedding was in three months, giving us some time to adjust to our new life here. We had already picked out her dress, a dreamy white gown with a long train and a bodice that showed off just enough of her small waist and décolletage. Looking at her glowing skin and hair, it was no wonder Marcus Isaac fell in love with her at first sight. She had a peaceful radiance about her that I hoped to have, despite all the hardship she had been through.

  The BMW cruised into the huge parking lot in front of the airport where my mother and I had landed a couple of weeks ago. I remembered the sense of unease I had experienced the moment I stepped out of the glass doors and into the chilly breeze that welcomed us to Gray Lake. I wasn’t superstitious, but the icy prickle I had felt just beneath my skin made me want to turn back. Thankfully, Marcus’ warm smile had greeted us then, and the sensation was soon forgotten. It came back full blast now, probably because of the dark clouds hanging low in the sky, bringing with it an unforgiving wintry wind. I shook my head, clearing the weird feeling out of my mind.

  Marcus stepped out of the car. I was about to do the same when I heard him say, “Oh, there they are!”

  The sounds of the car boot being opened and loaded reignited some of my earlier nervousness. I stroked the sterling silver drop necklace my mother had given me for my sixteenth birthday, reassuring myself that I was worrying for no good reason. It didn’t stop me from giving a brief cry of surprise when a head poked through the car window and looked straight at me. A very, very good-looking head.

  The slow, lopsided smile when he saw my reaction made my heart stutter into an unsteady rhythm. Wow.

  “Hey, Dad. Who’s the little mouse?”

  I could almost imagine Marcus’ weary sigh. Little mouse, huh? You’re a full-grown woman, Ella. Well, almost. My eighteenth birthday was two months away. Not that that would change all of five-foot-three me into something more substantial.

  “Hans,” Marcus said in a warning tone.

  The door behind me popped open, jolting me. I whirled around to see an unsmiling, grim-faced carbon copy of the grinning guy I just saw on the other side. He sidled in, his tall, muscular frame making my breath catch and banged the door shut. I willed myself not to stare and instead gave him a halting smile, which he ignored. Continuing to stare straight ahead, as if I wasn’t within a fingerbreadth of him, he made no move to greet me or my mother, who was standing in front next to the open passenger door. Her own unsure smile reflected my thoughts – what did we get ourselves into?

  “Hi,” the guy to my right said. I took his outstretched hand and shook it, feeling foolish as I did so. “So you’re the new stepsister. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

  “Ella.”

  He nodded. “I’m Cole. That’s Hans.”

  “Hans,” Marcus repeated in that same warning tone. “I guess turning eighteen changed nothing.”

  His smile was blindingly white, and I wondered how long his list of admirers was. He had strong, buff shoulders and that dark, dreamy eyes that would easily make girls swoon. Even those who never showed much of an interest in the opposite sex – a.k.a. me – was unlikely to come away unaffected.

  “Just kidding. Let’s start over. I’m Hans. The cooler of the Isaac heartthrobs. That’s Cole. Good luck getting an introduction from him.”

  I braved a glance at the twin to my left, whose jaw tightened at his brother’s words. For some reason, the sight made my pulse race. His unsmiling face was all sharp lines and planes, and his lips were full and now pressed into a displeased line. “Are you done gawking?” he bit out in a tone low enough that only I could hear. My head snapped forwards so fast I swore I could hear my neck crack. My cheeks heated up and I sat up stiffly, focusing on remembering the way to my new home, barely daring to breathe and doing my best not to lean into either twin as the car went around corners. My stomach rumbled and I tried my best to silence it, to no avail, as I had missed breakfast earlier.

  The drive back wasn’t as unpleasant as I expected it to be, with Hans filling in the silence with stories of their visit. From the way he spoke, it seemed as if there wasn’t any bad blood between their divorced parents. But I could feel Cole becoming more and more wound up as Hans continued to talk, and wondered if he would uncoil and finally snap.

  About halfway through the ride, just as I was beginning to relax and lie back into the cushy leather seat, I felt a large hand slide onto the small of my back, causing me to jerk straight up and sit up as stiff as a board like before. I waited for it to move away, assuming it had landed there by accident, but the slow and sure way with which it inched up my skin, as if it had every right, made my mouth dry. I was too close to either twin to be able to tell for sure whose hand it was just by looking out of the corner of my eyes. Hans had his eyes shut, and was leaning back into the seat appearing fast asleep, and Cole, from what I could see, was looking out the window, jaw still set in a hard line. Frozen, I waited with bated breath, wondering what the hand would do.

  It slipped under the hem of my floral chiffon top, a favorite of mine as it was both feminine and modest at the same time, and I felt a shiver as it slowly, sensuously caressed my skin, a touch between lovers. I squeezed my eyes shut, unable to comprehend the burning it caused within me. More, I wanted more. Then I felt a finger pull back on my bra strap and snap it, causing me to let out a muffled cry and snapping me out of the trance I had been placed in. Neither my mother nor Marcus seemed to notice, and the twins remained in the same positions, giving me no indication as to which of the
two perfect strangers were harassing me. As soon as it happened, the hand withdrew and I was left unsettled, my heart beating fast for the short remainder of the ride, unsure of what had just transpired, and why.

  Chapter 2

  Hans

  The play of emotions across Ella’s face was a dead giveaway of how unsettled she felt. She was too easy to read, an open book, demure in the too-formal full-sleeved blouse that should have been worn by her mother instead of her. Even now, with Cole’s hand inching towards her bra, she did her best not to react. But her eyes squeezed shut, and her breath caught, and I was enjoying every second of it. I didn’t blame her – facing one Isaac twin was formidable enough, let alone two. And Cole was being his usual impenetrable, unforgiving self today. I didn’t want our soon-to-be stepsister to hate us right away, which would be a given if I didn’t step in.

  “So you’ll be joining us for senior year,” I said, hoping small talk would relax her after the rubdown Cole had given. Judging by how stiffly she sat, she looked ready to pounce out of the car as soon as we got home.

  Hesitantly, her big, ocean blue eyes looked up at me. “Yes, I will be. Hope people there don’t bite.” It was meant to be a joke, I was sure, but Cole snorted and her smile quickly turned into a frown. A bite is the least of your worries, princess. But she didn’t need to know that. I leveled a look at Cole as a thinly-veiled warning.

  “You don’t have to worry. Once they know you’re with us, they’ll leave you alone,” I reassured her smoothly. Her eyebrow cocked up but she didn’t ask the inevitable question my words led to. I sighed inwardly. We would have to loosen her up further then. I was the more patient of the two of us, but even then not by much more.

  Give her time.

  I felt Cole’s reproachful look before I saw it, and glanced up in mild surprise. He was playing the patient one now?

  “I’ll take a look at your schedule and see which classes we share,” I offered. “Cole and I can tell you which ones require pre-reading, and who is easy enough to impress.”