Resist My Twin Stepbrothers

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

"Yeah."

I understood that part more than she knew. The relationship between my mom and dad had been unsta—ble for as long as I could remember. There were scenes I saw when I was a kid that I would think back on and cringe over. The memories just made me realize all over again that my parents might have never truly cared for each other. They held on, not for their kids, but for my elder sister, their favorite kid. Now that she'd moved away from home and had mentioned plans of living by herself after college, my parents really might end up getting divorced.

When the arguments first started, the idea terri—fied me, but now, I would feel relieved because it would defuse the tension at home.

"I almost feel sorry for my mom," she continued. "She was stuck with a man like that because he got her pregnant. I don't think he was ever in love with her, and there are times I wonder why he stayed behind at all. Mom raised me as a single mother long before he passed away, while he did odd jobs and used the cash for his alcohol, sometimes even taking Mom's money for it. We were both different kinds of parasites, but I always planned to make life easier for her later, when I could. That's why I take school very seriously."

Still, she took the fall for me for something she didn't do. At that moment, I couldn't help but feel guilty. We spent a long while in silence, even after the ice cream was long gone, both lost in our thoughts.

Anita broke the silence first.

"To be honest with you, I haven't talked to any—one before about the issues I go through at home," she admitted. "I don't even know why I blurted all that out. I guess it's just too easy to talk to you."

I smiled at her, a little sadly. "Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I haven't decided yet."

Then she jumped up and found a trash can near—by to throw the leftover cone in, and I followed. The smile she aimed at me was bright.

"I think we've stayed long enough. Mom said she'd be home early today just to make sure that I am, too. I don't know if she meant it, but I probably shouldn't risk it."

"All right," I said softly, leading the way back to the car.

Anita

"Would you mind if I came over?"

My head snapped around to stare at him. I was strapping myself into the seat, and I froze with the seat belt pulled across my body.

"What?" I said, stunned.

He smiled. "I'm asking if you would invite me over to your house. If your Mom is there, I'll just walk you over to the door. I still feel like I should apologize and explain things to her, though, if she was really mad at you."

Mom was never really mad, though, just worried. While the neighborhood we lived in wasn't the best looking of places, and certainly not at night with a lot of the streetlights gone, it was pretty safe. Still, Mom didn't like me being out late, especially after dark, which was why I didn't spend a lot of time on after—school activities. The walk back alone was pretty long, if I had to do detention or even an after—school club, I'd walk and arrive home late.

"I guess it's okay," I said slowly.

I didn't know what we could do at my house, but maybe I could just talk him into leaving at the doorstep. The apartment was clean, no matter who was out the door first in the morning, neither Mom nor I ever left the place dirty. Still, there were only three people I'd ever invited back, and two of them had moved out of the neighborhood while I was in middle school, and the third was my current best friend who didn't visit all that often.

Evan started the car and drove us back, and I re—membered to buckle the seat belt. My heart was thump—ing loudly in my chest, and I willed it to calm down as we spent the short drive in silence. We got there before I was ready for it, and Evan got out of the car. I scrambled to unbuckle the belt and stumbled out myself.

Then, I blinked when I realized we were in a bet—ter neighborhood some streets away from where I lived.