Stepbrother Secrets

by Bailey Hull

  “I’ll ask again…what’s this got to do with me?”

  “We’re hoping that you might help us change the hearts and minds of the student body at Lincoln high.”

  “I think you’re overestimating my influence over other students.” I reply.

  “Never the less, your new stepbrother, Brandon, his mother still owns a house there even though she and Brandon are living with you now. Your school is about to experience a huge divide between East and West and it’s going to get very ugly I’m afraid unless someone can stand up and unify the school. Brandon is going to gain a lot of new enemies with this victory Saturday, and he’ll make some new friends as well. In fact, he’s going to make some very powerful friends. His win Saturday has already put things in motion that cannot be unmade. I’m told he is going to be signing a contract to fight as much as a half dozen UCC fights. Your school may be in love with Chase Crawford now, but when a handsome rogue named Brandon the Beast Taylor starts winning UCC sanctioned fights against more experienced MMA fighters, they’ll soon begin to back your brother. That can’t happen. We cannot let him become a champion of the peoples living west of the river. Do I need to remind you that millions are at stake here? Have you selected a college yet?”

  I shake my head.

  “Well when you do let us know…or let Megan here know. Living in the dorms can be a real hassle but it’s usually required for first year students. If you were to have a house near your school I’m sure something could be worked out so you can live in your own free and clear home.”

  “Free and clear?” I’m not sure I’m hearing what this guy is saying.

  “All paid for Ms. Chouinard. No mortgage. That means no pesky house payments to pay. That kind of thing can be distracting when you’re trying to study for exams.”

  I wonder how far this guy or his group is willing to go for my help. Time to find out.

  “I actually have a couple schools I’d like to go to but my grades…well it’s not likely I’ll get my first choice…or my second actually. I was thinking I might have to go to a junior college and transfer after two years…”

  “Not the best way to go Jordan, but I’m sure you already know that. I’m sure that when the time comes to send off your high school transcripts we can…uh…assist you…”

  Wow…this guy and his group or whoever he is aligned with is diabolical. I’m quite…no, very sure I don’t want anything to do with his organization.

  “So what am I supposed to do at school now?”

  “Support Chase. There’s going to be a huge backlash against Brandon and the West side kids. Let that happen and continue to support the Eastside Pride cause. If you discover a West side student who is vulnerable feel out the situation. Find out everything you can so we can make the approach to his or her parents. We’ll let them know how much pressure would be lifted if they sold their home on the West side and moved to our affordable housing East of the river.”

  “Geez you sure know how to put the pressure on. I don’t know if I can do any of these things. I’m just a high school kid. I got problems of my own here.”

  “Which we are well aware of Jordan. We’re on the same side here. You need anything you just contact Megan here and she’ll contact us. We trust the Chouinards Jordan. Your father gave us some information about one of our company’s holding and we were able to liquidate before it took a 95% bath so to speak. Had we still been holding those investments we’d have gone bankrupt. It didn’t matter one bit that it was inside information he gave us. He knew who his friends are and he stepped in and helped us. Of course we would never say anything to the SEC about your father that would ruin him. I know the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree Jordan and we know you’ll do everything in your power to help your friends; right?”

  I’m in shock. He’s blackmailing me. In so many words he just told me he’d rat my father if I didn’t help him. The sound of his chair scooting backwards snaps me out of my head. I look up at him hoping the horror I’m feeling inside doesn’t show on my face.

  He looks at his watch, and then stands to leave. “Looks like the show’s about to begin ladies; don’t be late.”

  With a nod and a smile he turns and walks out leaving me stunned in his wake.

  “So what’s this huge plan of yours that requires a face to face talk?” I ask Megan after I finally regain my composure.

  “Once you hear this you’ll understand why. As you know, we have possibly been infiltrated so whenever we need the ultimate secrecy about a plan we have to meet like this. The only ones that know about what we are going to do are you, me, and Mark Brown.”

  “Why Mark? He’s not even an officer?”

  “Monday morning there’s going to be a locker check. The faculty and campus guards are going to be looking for drugs in everyone’s lockers. They’ll probably bring in a K-9 unite to help with the search.

  “Let me guess, you think Brandon has drugs in his locker?” I ask, growing very suspicious.

  “I don’t think Jordan, I know. They’re going to find marijuana in Brandon’s locker.”

  Suddenly my heart stops! They can’t do this to him. If he’s busted with drugs he’ll likely lose his sponsor for the UCC fights and he’ll be suspended from school. I really hope my face isn’t a reflection of what I feel inside right now. I can’t believe my so called best friend is behind this. Actually I can. Ever since she set her sights on becoming the next Mrs. Chase Crawford she has been a totally different person. And how’d that guy at Starbucks this morning get his hooks into her?

  “Why does Mark have to know?” I ask. “How do we know we can trust him with such a big risk? I don’t like it.”

  “He’s the one that’s planting the drugs.”

  “But why choose him?” I insist.

  “He’s the only one I know that’s into drugs and I’ve got leverage over him.”

  I force a smile on my face and pretend to be happy about the turn of events.

  “How’d you manage that?”

  “He stepped out on his girlfriend last year and I caught him. He loves his girlfriend. In fact they just got engaged. He’ll do anything to keep his affair from ever seeing the light of day.”

  “You’re a genius Megs.”

  If she’s blackmailing Mark for cheating on his girlfriend I’m sure she’ll either blackmail me about my father or tell that guy at Starbucks that I’m not cooperating. He’ll surely take matters into his own hands. And that’s the reason I can’t warn Brandon in time to get the drugs out of his locker. By telling only me Megan ensures that there is no leak and if there was, she’d know it was me. Mark’s not gonna rat himself out to protect Brandon. Makes me wonder if Megan suspects I’m the leak and is using this to flush me out. That’s a chilling thought. I wonder how many other people she has under her thumb besides me and Mark. Time to fish for information.

  “Megs, who do you think is the rat in our club? I know you have an idea swirling around in that head of yours.”

  She laughs. “You know me well girlfriend. There’s a couple possibilities actually.”

  Time for me to fill in the blanks…to plant the seed in other words.

  “Wait, don’t tell me. I can guess one person.”

  “If you can guess any of them you’re a mind rea-”

  “Kelly Emerson.” I snap before she can finish her sentence.”

  “OMG, are you freaking kidding me?”

  Oh shit! My heart sinks. Now I’m in trouble.”

  “How in the freak did you know?” She asks, much to my amazement.

  “I don’t know…just a gut feeling I guess. She just doesn’t seem to have any vested interest in the club. I don’t understand why she would want to be a part of it, especially as a VP when she’s crushing on Brandon.”

  “I actually didn’t think of that.” Megan replies.

  An idea suddenly springs into my mind.

  “What makes you think Mark won’t spill to his sister?” I ask.

 
Kelly is Mark’s older sister who has this huge crush on Brandon. That right there makes her suspect. She won’t want to see Brandon ruined.

  “You think he’ll tell her so she can warn Brandon about the set up?” Megan asks. “That way Brandon will be open to her advances?”

  “Yup.”

  “Way ahead of you Jordy. Mark and I already had the, don’t spill your guts to sis, conversation. He knows that if Brandon is tipped off I’ll know he was the source and I’ll tell his fiancée about his affair.”

  “Good thinking Megs.”

  I get up to go. I’ve had enough. She gets up as well and gives me a hug.

  “See you tomorrow Jordy.” She says as we walk to our separate cars.

  As I walk to my car my heart is in my shoes. There really is no way I can warn Brandon. She knows she has it locked down tight. There’s no way Mark will tell. If I warn Brandon, suspicion will fall directly on me seeing how Brandon is my stepbrother.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Locker Check

  Monday Morning after the Fight…

  Last night was hell! And to make matters worse, Brandon wanted to get busy but there’s no way I could do it. I couldn’t even look him in the eyes for fear he would see the betrayal lurking behind my own eyes. If there’s such a thing as an award for the worst girlfriend of the century I’d be a shoo-in. After I brush off Brandon I toss and turn the entire night. I go over and over in my brain looking for a solution that doesn’t involve me losing the best thing in my life. Yeah he may lose his deal with StrikeForce but it’s only six fights I think and a few thousand dollars. Brandon’s an amazing fighter. There’ll be other StrikeForces in his life and many other fights if that’s what he wants for his life. He’s only eighteen after all. That’s very young for an MMA fighter. On the other hand the perfect man or woman doesn’t come along very often. I can’t imagine being with another guy. I have known Brandon since I was around three or four years old and we were tight from the get go. I’m told we were inseparable. Two peas in a pod we were and when we were separated I felt like a part of me had just been carved out. Or a part of me died and since that awful day and I have felt like something has been missing ever since. When I saw Brandon again it was an awakening for me. That missing body part suddenly reattached itself. I’m not losing that again. Every person is a complicated jigsaw puzzle and that last piece I need has been missing for like…eleven years I believe. I can’t give him up now, not for any reason or price.

  Those grim thoughts were my company last night from the time I crashed at eleven until I dragged my sorry ass into the shower at 6:15 this morning. Brandon tries to engage me in conversation at the breakfast table and in the car on the way to school but I just can’t be drawn out. I even consider running my car into a telephone pole just to keep us from going to school; that’s how desperate I have become.

  I walk through the school doors just behind Brandon and side by side with Megan. The whole atmosphere in the school is like a funeral parlor or something. All the top brass from the school district is here; the superintendent, the principal, vice principal, and others I don’t even recognize. I’m surprised at today’s turnout.

  “Brandon stops and turns around. “What’s going on?” He asks me.

  I shake my head. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

  “Well it looks like a locker check.”

  A campus security guard stops us as we enter the building. He puts a bullhorn to his mouth and begins his instructions.

  “Ladies, gentlemen, may I have your attention please. Everyone is to go to their locker and wait for a teacher, guard, or police officer to come by before opening it. I repeat, do not open your locker until instructed to do so by a school official, guard, or peace officer. In addition each of you must pass before a police dog that has been trained to smell out drugs. You are to keep your hands at your sides and do as the K-9 officer instructs you. Thank you.”

  Soon as he’s finished talking, everyone else starts. Presently a police officer enters the hall from the faculty lounge and walks with his police dog to the entrance where hundreds of nervous students are gathering. I’m guessing they’re going to find a few kids with pot but nothing more. This school is pretty straight laced when it comes to things like drugs. The only person I know who may smoke pot occasionally would be Mark Brown. If he wasn’t in on this I’m pretty sure he’d be busted with marijuana either on his person or in his locker. I’m shocked to find that my chemistry lab partner from last semester is one of the first person’s busted with pot on him. I took him for super straight. I wouldn’t have even though he even knew what pot looked like much less have ever smoked it. I also know that he is pretty good friends with Megan and that surprises me. I would have thought Megan would have tipped off her friends just to make sure no one is hurt by her little scheme. Clearly the only person she’s even thinking about is Brandon.

  As luck would have it, Brandon’s locker is across the hall from mine so I’ll have to watch him get busted; not something I’m looking forward to. It falls to one of the three security guards on duty to search his locker. Brandon opens it and steps back so they can search. I can tell from his expression that he is supremely confident that they won’t find anything. He looks over at me smiling and I smile back, then give him the universal crazy signal, twirling my index finger around my ear. He nods then returns his attention to the guard searching his locker.

  “What the fuck?”

  Hearing Brandon swearing, I look back to him. The guard is holding a baggie in front of his face. I don’t know how much it is but it can’t be more than I don’t know. You could maybe make a couple of joints with that amount.

  “This ain’t mine!” Brandon continues. “I’m an athlete not a freaking druggie. Do you even know who I am?”

  “Yes, you’re Brandon Taylor the MMA fighter and you need to come with me. Now put your hands behind your back.”

  As the guard proceeds to put on the handcuffs Brandon continues to protest his innocence.

  “It’s a set up!” He claims. “You can ask my sister. She’s the…the Sargent something in that club the East side something. She’ll tell you I’m innocent.”

  He points in my direction and the guard looks at me. “Maybe we should check her locker next. I hope you’re not mixed up in this.” He says to me.

  “I don’t have anything in my locker.” I say to the guard. “And I’m shocked you found anything in Brandon’s. I’ve never seen him stoned at home.”

  The guard just looks at me, then radios for someone to bring the peace officer and the K-9 to do a more thorough check on the locker and its contents.

  Brandon is standing facing his locker with his head up against the locker and muttering under his breath. I can just imagine what is going through his head right now. Knowing he is innocent and being framed has to be the worst feeling in the world. At least if you are guilty you know that you have done something wrong and are completely aware of the possible consequences of your actions. But when you’re innocent and have to pay a price you’re not ready to pay? I’m just guessing, but that has to be the worst feeling in the world. After a few minutes the K-9 unit comes over and the dog checks Brandon again, then the locker which he alerts again and presently uncovers another joint. Wow…at least Megan had the good sense to not ruin his life by planting cocaine or heroin. Since he’s eighteen that would have killed him.

  For the duration of the locker sting I stand with my head in my own locker, too miserable to look at anyone near me and especially not Brandon. My cheeks are burning up. I can see them in my compact. They’re burning up with shame. It’s all I can do to keep from running home and burying my head under my pillow. If I gave in to that temptation I doubt I’d ever leave the safety of my bed either. I gotta think about something else here.

  As I stand here in my misery, misery brought on by myself, I wonder if the price for my silence is too high to pay. What if I had tipped off Brandon? No way can I do that. That guy from
the coffee shop would rat on my father and he’d go to jail and Brandon and his mom would have to move out and go back to the west side of the river and back to Jefferson High. It would be the end of me and Brandon too I’m pretty sure. No, the stakes are just too high. I will not put my own father in jail.

  The more I look at Brandon the more want to bail him out though and tell him it was a set up. There are some very bad people behind this mess and who knows what other things are on their agenda. No way can I find out unless I’m still on the inside of the Eastside Pride movement. I can’t afford to be on the outside looking in. I need to figure out how I can get to the number two seat. Megan is a little suspicious of Kelly. Maybe I can fan those flames somehow and take her spot.

  “Oh my god what happened?”

  I turn around and Megan is standing there with Kelly and Chase. Megan has her arm hooked around Chase’s and they look the happy couple.

  “Brandon got busted.” I reply, feeling like such a fraud for keeping up the charade in front of Chase and Kelly.

  “Are you serious?” Megan gasps. “What did they find? Was it steroids…heroin, no crack?”

  “Pot actually. A couple joints I guess.”

  I can tell from Kelly’s expression that she is delighted. She’s holding back but I know how she feels. But that’s not what really bothers me. Megan and her charade are killing me.