The courtyard is quiet and empty, just like every other day. Sometimes I wonder why no one in the building uses this spot. It's the best place to bring my problems.

I sat on the bench beside the hebetudinous fountain, angrily wiping away the tears falling down my face. Two days ago, I was hopeful our relationship might improve. I thought we could be making dinner together and shopping for supplies, just like any normal siblings do. For a day, I thought we might have something in common. But yes, I will never have it.

Caden hates me; he has hated me since the day we first met. The words he used to approach me on that day are still fresh in my head. He called me ugly and nasty, instead of a simple hello or welcome. We were both thirteen, but he treated me as if he was older, as if I was some dirt in a dumpster. He made sure to convince me I was unworthy, stripping me of my courage and security, and leaving me with nothing a girl would need to survive her teenage years.

What have I ever done wrong to deserve such treatment? Why does he want me to be alone? How could he treat me so roughshod?

"Hey? Do you think I should just... do you need space?"

I looked up to my side and found a redhead, awkwardly weighing his choices.

"It's okay, you can use the place, I'll go for a walk." I briefly wiped my tears and stood up.

"You okay?" He seemed concerned. Should he be? I'm sure he's not used to seeing girls stranded in an abandoned courtyard crying their eyes out.

"I don't know," I replied, trying to appear stable.

"You wanna talk about it?"

I smiled to myself, sure that he wouldn't be interested in a story like Caden and mine.

"It's a long story."

"Then it could keep me company until Molly returns," he suggested.

"Mmm."

"So, tell me why a pretty girl is crying in an abandoned courtyard?" He intriguingly asked, sitting next to me on a public cement bench.

"My friend from school came, and Caden threatened to break his fingers and kicked him out because I thought I could resist his menace." I can't believe Caden threatened Asher. This shouldn't have happened. He can't go pushing away everyone good in my life.

"Is this friend harmful?" He curiously asked.

"No, he's just a simple guy focusing on his studies. He's the only friend I've ever had," I embarrassingly mumbled, though it didn't seem to surprise him.

"But why would your brother do that?"

Somehow I felt better sharing it with someone for the first time, even though I barely knew this person. I must be extremely angry.

"Caden's my stepbrother, and he's been cruel to me since our parents met."

I'd say he's still angry because my mom married his dad, but Caden had never complained about our parent relationship. He's never mentioned his mother, who's still alive and presently living in Spain after the death of her daughter, Caden's twin sister Cara.

I've seen Cara's picture; she was pretty, a cute female version of Caden. She had hazel eyes and a pretty nose. It's sad she only lived a short while-she died at ten. And no one in the family ever talks about her anymore. I know Mom and Dad sometimes visit her grave, but they've never taken Caden and me with them.

"Maybe he's looking out for you," Redhead believed. He has no idea that it's nothing close to that. I used to believe Caden was protecting me, but then I realized the more we grow up, the worse his attitude towards me becomes.

"By alienating me away from everyone? Bullying me in public and hating on me for no specific reason? That's not something you call looking out for. It's loath."

"You've considered talking with him and trying to discuss the situation?"

I snort. Does he have any idea who Caden is?

"You don't talk to Caden; he communicates in his understanding language. For instance, he glued a humiliating poster behind me some weeks ago, just for his pleasure. And let me ride around Palo Alto oblivious, with an abased sign on me." I sniffled and looked down at the grass.

"The infection thing?"

Oh no! I mortifyingly bury my face in my hand and whine embarrassingly. "You've heard too."

"It doesn't matter; no one believes the story anyway. They all think it's some attention-seeking kids doing anything for fame," he laughed.

"You think?"

"It's California; crazy things happen every day."

I should feel better.

"I still feel bad," I groaned.

"Don't let him get into your head; he is not worth it," he said softly, his eyelashes sweeping his cheeks.

Honestly, his beauty couldn't go unnoticed.

And for a moment, I felt relaxed.

"I don't know why our parents think living in the same place is a good idea. I wanted to live in a dorm room, that way I could've made friends of my own, and we wouldn't be poking noses in each other's business. You know, all this idea was mine. Everything... Caden just stole it from me," I sadly muttered.

"He might be all that you've said, but I don't see any reason I shouldn't be your friend."

"You don't want my problems loaded on you."

He leaned in with a gorgeous smile playing on his lips and dared, "Try me."

I shook my head hesitantly. "Caden's not like anyone you've met."

"I'd like to see what he's got," he whispered.

"He's got a lot," I smiled.

"Then why do I have the feeling it's not true? Otherwise, he would've left a number on you, but all I could see is a beautiful girl with pretty eyes."

Dang it. I gave in and went in, attaching my lips to his smooth ones. It was a brief kiss, but it could count as my first kiss. There wasn't a significant taste or flavor. It was like sucking moist skin.

I pulled back instantly, panicked. I gave away my first kiss to a stranger, more panicked, I kissed someone's boyfriend.

"Oh, I'm sorry... I-I shouldn't. I'm sorry," I stuttered, staring at him, anticipating his reaction.

It took almost ten seconds before he leaned further and bound our lips once more. This time, more intense. He nibbled my lips like they're meant for him, his tongue slipped into my mouth.

After a whole minute of devouring each other, I pulled back again when we could barely breathe.

I watched him smile at me, revealing a single dimple on his right cheek.

"Your girlfriend would kill me if she found out," I timidly whispered.

His eyes hooded, confused, he asked, "Who?"

"Molly?" I countered.

That's when his eyes arched before his head fell back, and he burst into a peal of loud laughter.

"What?" I embarrassingly asked the man.

He struggled for a while before calming his breathing. "Molly's my dog."

My eyes widened at first. Then the embarrassment flowed through every pore in my body.

"Oh..." I muttered, biting my upper lip as I lowered my gaze to the plants.

His hand grabbed my chin, making me face his sincere smile. "There's no girlfriend, just me and Molly," he assured softly. His voice suddenly became the sweetest thing I've ever heard.

"Cool." I gnawed on my bottom lip.

"Does that mean we could kiss more some other time?" He queried.

I rolled my eyes at him and shifted back. "I don't do friends with benefits."

"Says who this is a friends-with-benefits situation?"

"You. Earlier you said we could be friends, and now you want us to kiss often. Sounds like friends with benefits to me." I sighed dramatically.

"What if we hang out together? Get to know each other more, like more than friends, you know? That way, we could have bonuses instead of benefits from the process?" He offered with that infectious smile on his face.

"Do you mean date?" I curiously questioned.

"Adequate. I mean date."

I don't know how the time went by, but I know I spent hours sitting there among dried flowers with a guy I finally got to know after weeks of being rude to.

I learned his name is Caleb Hunter; surprisingly, he's a junior and an engineering student at SU. His family lives in San Diego, and sometimes he spends the weekend at his family house. We discussed California weather and New York's, our favorite places, and things we'd rather do.

Around ten, some younger kid brought back Molly safely, and Caleb introduced us. For weeks, I believed Molly was a human being with long blonde hair or perfect brunette waves.

But right now, I got to know that Molly is a yellow Labrador dog; Caleb says she's four years old and always wants everything on his plate rather than the dog food he always makes for her.

I went back upstairs after midnight and wordlessly ambled to my bedroom, even though Caden's fully awake, sitting on the couch in the deafening silence with no television on or his mobile phone.

I felt his eyes on me while I headed for my bedroom, but I didn't glance his way. He thought he's my parent? It's something dad always does when Caden stays out late, back in New York.

The next day, I showered after Caden left for whatever took him hours until late afternoon. I even made some brown rice for myself and did my homework.

I was feeling better, even more, extra after receiving some funny gifs from Caleb this morning. He said he had some things to do for the day, but we would get to spend more time together later.

Therefore, when Caden returns with some half-naked teenage girl, aiming for his dick, I know it's time to leave the apartment.

I wandered around the quiet street on my bicycle ride, hoping Caden will be done with his sultry before family video call time.

With that, I pushed back the tears, not knowing the cause, and embraced the chirping of birds around the tree-lined canopied street and the sound of bicycles grazing against the pavement.

Something aches in my heart, and I wish I knew why.