Bully Me (Bully Me #1)

by C. E. Starkweather

"A friend? Really?" Her dad asked.

  "Yes, dad," she snapped. "Is that so hard to believe?"

  Her dad held up his hands in surrender. "Not at all. You don't usually go out, is all. So who's this friend?" He asked.

  "Her name is Lucy. She goes to my school. She's new. And the best part is that she has a pool. So now you don't have to put one in."

  "Oh, good. I was running out of excuses." He teased.

  Kaine rolled her eyes. "Why are you still dressed?" Her dad was usually out of his suit and into sweats within 5 minutes of getting home.

  "I'm going out. I left you food in the fridge," he said, checking his watch.

  "Nancy again?" Kaine asked. His father has been seeing a lady named Nancy for a few months. While Kaine didn't like the idea of her father dating, she realized that it was selfish of her to get in the way of her father's happiness. She had met Nancy once and she seemed nice enough.

  "Yeah, Nancy again. We're going to try that new sushi place by the mall.

  Kaine wrinkled her nose. "Gross. Hey, can I have like $30? Lucy and I are joining a gym tomorrow."

  His face lit up. "Of course, honey." He ruffled through his wallet. "Here's $50. In case it ends up being more."

  "Thanks, dad," Kaine replied dryly.

  "That's not what I meant, Kainie. I'm just happy you're doing anything."

  "I know, daddy." She kissed him on the cheek. "Have fun tonight."

  Kaine opened the refrigerator and sighed. "Dinner" was half of a cold pizza. How was she supposed to lose weight when there was so much junk in the house? She grabbed a small piece of pizza with an apple and a banana. After eating it, she was still starving. She laid down and willed herself to sleep, thinking about the cookies in the downstairs cabinet.

  5

  Kaine limped out of the gym, covered in sweat. "That was fucking horrible."

  Lucy was in better shape than Kaine. "Come on, it wasn't that bad. Even though you feel awful, don't you also feel good?"

  Kaine had to admit that she did. There was a certain feeling of accomplishment that came with pushing your body to the absolute limit. They spent the rest of the day relaxing in Lucy's pool.

  The next few weeks fell into a comfortable routine, with Kaine and Lucy going to the gym 5 days a week and hanging out by Lucy's pool the rest of the time. They were spending most of the summer together and having a blast. It was by far the best summer of Kaine’s life. The best part was that she could feel herself losing weight. Her stomach was flatter, her legs were starting to look leaner, and she had stopped craving junk food all the time. Her pants were staring to get baggy, and she swore her cheekbones were more prominent. Better than that, she felt good. She had more energy and self confidence than she had ever had.

  Saturday morning, Kaine rolled out of bed and threw on her jogging suit. She galloped downstairs to her dad and Jay sitting at the table. "Morning!" She said cheerfully. Her dad gave her a half hearted smile. "Morning, sweetie."

  Jay was glaring at her dad. Something was wrong. "What's going on?" Kaine asked cautiously.

  "Sit down, Kainie. We need to talk," her dad said.

  Kaine reluctantly sat down, bracing herself.

  "I have some news," her dad started.

  Kaine's heart started to pound. Was he sick? She had already lost her mom. She couldn't lose her dad too. Jay was 20, but where would she live? With her Aunt Teri?

  Her father interrupted her thoughts. "Nancy and I have decided to get married."

  "What!?" Kaine shrieked. Her dad sighed.

  "I was hoping you two would be happy for me."

  Kaine was stunned. "I'm sorry daddy. I'm just surprised is all. I mean, we don't even really know her. What's her last name? What does she do? Does she have any kids? Are we moving? I don't want to move."

  "Is she a gold digger?" Jay interrupted.

  Her dad held up a hand. "No, Jason, she's not a 'gold digger'. She's a lawyer at my firm. Her last name is Marcucci. She has two boys, one about Kaine's age and a six year old. And we're not moving. They'll be moving in here with us."

  "Moving in here?" Kaine cried. "Where are they going to stay?"

  "There's plenty of room, Kainie. There are two spare bedrooms that nobody uses. Besides, you're going to be going to college next year. I realize that this is a big change for you. But Nancy and I are in love."

  Kaine blew out a breath. "When are they moving in?"

  "Sooner rather than later. We're getting married at the end of August."

  "Dad, are you sure about this?" Jay asked. "This is kind of sudden, don't you think?"

  "I'm sure," her father firmly replied. "I don't want you to think that I'm trying to replace your mother. I could never replace her. But Nancy and I have fallen in love, and this is going to happen, whether you want it to or not."

  Kaine jumped up and hugged her father tightly. "I am happy for you, daddy. It's just...not what I was expecting. I'd like to get to know Nancy and her sons." It was the last thing she wanted, but she did want her dad to be happy. And if this was what he wanted, then she would try to play nice.

  "Thank you, sweetie. Nancy and the boys are coming over tonight for dinner. I need you both to be here and on your best behavior."

  Kaine looked around the kitchen. "Dad, this looks like a bachelor pad. And what are we going to eat? You don't cook."

  "He can make frozen pizza," Jay interrupted, with the first hint of a smile Kaine had seen all morning.

  "Very funny, Jay. I was hoping you all could help me. We need to get this place cleaned up."

  "No can do. I work until 4." Jay stood up.

  "Perfect," her dad replied. "You can pick up groceries for dinner. Kainie, you can help me cook. You've gotten pretty good at it."

  Kaine had developed a newfound love for cooking, realizing that most healthy meals required certain spices and seasoning to taste good.

  "Fine," Jay muttered. "Text me what you need. I think the only reason you made me take this job was to make me into your personal shopper."

  Her dad ignored Jay as he left for work. "Kaine, what do you say? Help me clean up?"

  Kaine sighed. She was looking forward to spending the day with Lucy. "Can I just go out for a few hours? Lucy and I were going to go shopping. None of my clothes fit me. I want to make a good impression on Nancy's family." That last part wasn't entirely true, but it might help her case.

  "Just a few hours, honey. If you're back by 1 that should give us plenty of time." Her dad smiled. "I'm glad you're taking this so well."

  Kaine shrugged. "I just want you to be happy, dad. If getting married is what it takes, I'll support you."

  "That's very mature of you, sweetie. I'm proud of you." He ruffled her hair.

  Kaine showered and changed, grabbing a banana before walking over to Lucy's house. Lucy was waiting for her outside.

  "What took so long?" Lucy asked, bouncing up.

  Kaine shook her head. "You wouldn't believe the morning I had. My dad is getting married."

  "That's great!" Lucy exclaimed, getting into her car. Kaine didn't smile. "Or not. Aren't you excited?"

  "I don't know, Lucy. I barely even know this woman. I'm happy for my dad, I guess, but she has two kids and they're moving in with us. It's all just...crazy."

  "How old are her kids?"

  "One boy is around my age, and one boy is six."

  "A boy around your age? Is he cute? Do we know him?"

  Kaine shook her head. "I've never met her kids. But I don't think we know them. Her last name is Marcucci. It doesn't sound familiar to me."

  "Well maybe he's cute. And maybe you'll fall in love with him."

  Kaine laughed. "Yeah, maybe." She honestly hadn't thought about that part. Sharing her house with a boy her age wasn't something she was looking forward to. Lucy pulled into the mall parking lot.

  "This sucks," Kaine said. "I have to go home after this and help my dad clean the house."

  "It's cool," Lucy replied. "You'll feel bet
ter after you spend some money."

  Kaine and Lucy spend the next two hours shopping, and Kaine was having a blast trying on clothes that she wouldn't be caught dead in before. She found a pair of dark skinny jeans and a cute shredded black top to go with them, with some strappy black wedges. She also bought some make up, after the girl at the MAC counter gave her a lesson on how to apply it.

  Lucy dropped Kaine off at her house. "Let me know how it goes. And if you're done early enough come over. Kelsey is coming over tonight." Kelsey was another girl who was Lucy's and more Kaine's friend. Kaine had known her from school, but had never talked to her. They had hit it off immediately.

  Kaine trudged inside and put her new clothes away before joining her dad in the kitchen. "Looks great, dad."

  The counters had been scrubbed and the floor was vacuumed and mopped. Kaine's family could easily afford a housekeeper, but her father didn't believe in wasting money on unnecessary expenses. Unfortunately, that meant that the house rarely got cleaned.

  "Thanks, honey. I need you to clean the downstairs bathroom, then we'll tackle the living room."

  Kaine gathered cleaning supplies and opened the bathroom. "Oh my god," she muttered. She rarely ever used this bathroom, as she had one attached to her bedroom where she spent most of her time. The toilet was disgusting and the garbage can was overflowing. The shower was caked in grime and the floor was covered in dirt. Kaine grimaced and pulled on the rubber gloves, starting with the toilet.

  It took over an hour, but by the time she was done the bathroom was sparkling. She washed her hands and went downstairs to find her father started on the living room. "That bathroom was pretty gnarly, dad. You know you can't live like this when you have another woman here, right?"

  He grinned at her. "With four capable kids in the house, there's no reason for the bathroom to be that gross now, is there?"

  "Well, I'm not doing that again. That can be the boys' job."

  "Fair enough," he replied. He threw her a rag. "Get to dusting, woman."

  They cleaned the living room in an amicable silence. Kaine dusted and vacuumed while her father put away all of the books and papers that littered the table and floor.

  "Maybe now you'll actually use your office instead of the coffee table." She checked her watch. It was after 3. "I have to tell Jay what to get for dinner. Is chicken ok?" Her dad nodded. Kaine googled a baked chicken recipe that looked easy and healthy, texting the ingredients to Jay. She had just finished cleaning the bottom floor with her dad when Jay came home. "Holy crap," he said, looking around. "It looks like a new kitchen."

  "I cleaned the bathroom, too," Kaine replied. Jay winced. "Yeah. Pretty fucking gross. And I'm telling you now that I'm never doing that again."

  Jay laughed as she ran upstairs for a quick shower. Wrapping her hair in a towel and throwing on her bathrobe, she ran downstairs and threw together the ingredients for the chicken dish and put it in the oven. She had purposely chosen a dish that required minimal effort because she couldn't stop thinking about what Lucy said. What if the boy was cute? She only had one chance at a first impression, and she wanted to make sure she looked good. She carefully applied her makeup the way she had been taught, highlighting her cheeks with a little bit of bronzer and adding a smoky grey coat of eyeshadow to her lids. She finished it off with a few coats of mascara and sat back, studying her face. She looked like a different person. She looked...hot.

  She blow dried her hair straight and curled it, making soft curls around her face. She put on her new outfit and stood in front of her full length mirror. Being 5'10, she had never really worn heels before, but the small wedge on her shoes made her legs look a little bit leaner and were easier to walk in than heels. Her stomach looked pretty flat. She still had a long way to go, but the difference was definitely there.

  Kaine checked her makeup again and, deeming herself appropriate, headed downstairs. Nancy should be here any minute. Her dad looked up and whistled. "Wow, Kainie, you look great."

  "Thanks," she replied shyly. Her dad had never seen her in makeup and hadn't seen her in nice clothes in years.

  "They'll be here any minute. How's dinner coming?" He asked.

  Kaine checked the thermometer. "Should just be like 10 minutes or so." The doorbell rang and Jay came downstairs, dressed in the same sloppy clothes he had gone to work in. "Nice of you to dress up," her dad mumbled. Jay shrugged. He clearly wasn't looking forward to meeting his new step family. Her dad opened the door and Nancy came in, kissing him on the cheek. "Hi, Tom. I hope we're not late."

  Nancy was an attractive lady, almost as tall as Kaine with long brown hair and clear, friendly blue eyes. "Hi, Kaine. Hi Jason. Boys, come on."

  Nancy walked in the house, followed by a cute but impish looking little boy. Kaine already knew he was going to be a handful. Walking in behind the little boy was a tall, muscular boy with sparkling blue eyes. He saw Kaine and smiled. "Kaine! How's it going?"

  Kaine was frozen. Was this a joke?

  "What are you doing here, Shane?" She blurted out.

  Her dad looked between them with his eyebrows raised. "You two know each other?"

  "We're friends from school," Shane answered.

  Kaine looked at Nancy with wide eyes. "I thought your last name was Marcucci."

  Nancy chuckled uncomfortably. "After I got divorced, I went back to my maiden name."

  Everybody was staring at Kaine. She took a deep breath and let it out. The last thing she wanted to do was make a scene. That was exactly what Shane wanted. "Sorry," she said, smiling. "You just caught me off guard. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes." She turned and busied herself with pouring the wine. She poured an extra large glass for herself. She was going to need it.

  They sat in the living room, sipping their wine in an awkward silence. "So Shane," Jay finally said, "Do you pay any sports?"

  "I wrestle," Shane replied.

  Jay nodded, followed by more awkward silence. Finally Kaine got up. "I'm going to check on dinner."

  Kaine was trying hard not to think about what this meant. Shane was going to be her new step brother. He was moving in here. Living with her.

  "Need any help?"

  She spun around, glaring at Shane. "Did you know about this?"

  "Sure," he said casually. "I've known about it for awhile. By the way, you look really nice." He ogled her chest. "REALLY nice."

  She crossed her arms over her chest, getting an awful feeling of deja vu. "If you ever touch me again, Shane, I swear to God I will chop off your balls in your sleep and shove them down your throat."

  Shane laughed. "Don't be do dramatic, little sister. I told you I won't touch you again. Not unless you want me to." He took a step towards her.

  "Almost ready, sweetie?" Her had asked, walking into the kitchen. Shane took a quick step back and sat down at the table.

  "Um...yeah. It's done." She pulled the chicken out of the oven and set the dish on the table. "This looks great, Kaine," Nancy said, smiling at her. "Thanks, Nancy," she softly replied. Nancy seemed like a sweet person. How had Shane turned into such an asshole?

  Kaine took a small portion of chicken and picked at it, having completely lost her appetite. "So dad," she started. "Did you pick out Nancy's ring all by yourself?"

  "Of course I did," he answered. "Why are you so surprised?"

  "You did a good job. It's beautiful." She gave Nancy a small smile. "Congratulations, Nancy."

  Nancy beamed happily at Kaine. "Thank you, Kaine. That's very sweet of you. I know this must be hard for you."

  You don't know the half of it, Kaine thought, glancing at Shane.

  Kaine was determined to ignore Shane and act like his presence didn't bother her. "So where are you guys getting married?"

  "Were getting married at the congregational church," her dad said, swallowing. "And we were thinking we would have the reception here in the backyard. By the way Kainie, this is fantastic."

  "Yeah, Kainie," Shane chimed in.
"Good job."

  Kaine ignored him. "Here?"

  "Well why not? It's certainly big enough."

  "Well yeah, but..."

  The backyard was almost in worse condition than the bathroom. Overgrown shrubs and a lawn in desperate need of mowing, Kaine wasn’t sure that a team of experts could get it ready in time.

  "It just needs a little bit of work," Her father insisted.

  Jay snorted. "Have you ever seen the backyard, dad? It's a fucking mess."

  "Language," dad snapped, gesturing to Logan. Jay sighed. He had no filter and would have a hard time controlling his mouth. At least he only had to be here for another month and a half before he went back to school. Kaine would be stuck here all year with Shane and Logan.

  By the time they left, it was almost 9pm. Kaine didn't care. She texted Lucy.

  Emergency. Coming over.

  She didn't wait for a response. She changed into shorts and a tee shirt and ran to Lucy's house. By the time she got there, tears were streaming down her face. Lucy opened the door to a sobbing Kaine. She gasped. "Oh no, what happened? Come on." She led Kaine into the living room, where Kelsey was sitting in front of the TV and staring at her, wide eyed. "Kaine, what happened?"

  Kaine put her head in her hands and sobbed until she had no tears left. Sniffling, she sat up and looked at Lucy and Kelsey. "Shane," she choked out.

  "Shane?" Kelsey repeated. "What did that asshole do now?"

  Thankfully, Kelsey hated Shane too. He had tripped her on purpose once and laughed as she picked up her books.

  "Nancy's son. Shane. Going to be..." She hiccupped. "My step brother. Moving into my house."

  Lucy and Kelsey stared at her, speechless. "Shane Ellery is moving into your house?" Kelsey repeated.

  Kaine nodded. "I can't...I can't be there anymore. I don't trust him. This is the worst thing that's ever happened to me." She started crying again. "It's not fair. He's the reason I hate going to school. Now I have to be scared in my own house?"

  "Oh, shit," Lucy finally mumbled.

  The girls sat in silence for a minute, none of them quite knowing what to say. Finally, Lucy broke the silence. "You know you're always welcome here. If it gets to be too much. And your brother is home for the rest of the summer. And you can put a lock on your door that locks from the outside, too. That way he can't go through your stuff when you're not there. And he'll have wrestling like every day after school. So it's really just at dinner you'd have to see him."