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LUNCH ENDED QUICKLY, and normally I would leave with Marlene and Arlo but I told them I'd see them in Math's, and if Marlene could tell our Arts teacher that I will be up, I'm just meeting with a teacher first. I walked a different direction from my two friends and walked near the office until I found the room that said pupil family support.

That is when I met three supportive people; Anne, Maureen and Dave. Anne was my person that I would go to for anything that happens to me, or anything that I go through. She was there to support me, she was there to listen and help me with my studies, she was a lovely woman. I was very lucky to have her, she had called up my classroom teacher to speak that I was with her for the whole period.

Anne had brought out a board game as we got to know each other more, and she did this for what she called a trust exercise too. I had a good time up until I had to leave for math class, I ended up getting a five minute head start.

I was wandering past the lockers and past the football team who were bickering back and forth between each other. I turn to my left to head up stairs, but I bumped into someone; Parker who stares down at me in amusement wearing his football clothes. "We have got to stop bumping into each other, Jayden Lynch."

"How do you know my name? I didn't tell you my name?" I say in shock completely forgetting he had followed and messaged me on Instagram.

He smirks down at me, "I asked around. I found out pretty easily when I typed your name on Instagram and it gave me your weird username to your account."

"It's not weird!" Protesting as I felt embarrassed, I should've remembered we texted after all my name was in bold caps under my username.

"Sure," he says winking at me as he looks back to his team members. "So, where you headed?"

I licked my dry lips before looking down at my dirty converse shoes, "maths...you?"

Parker smiles, "practice. Y'know, you can skip class and come watch, could use a cheerleader." The smile turns into a playful smirk, I couldn't help but look at him in shock before I regained my composure since one of his friends came over.

"Oh, what's this? Is this your friend you've been eyeballing for the past few days?" The boy who was shorter that Parker said, "I'm Noah, Parker's best bud!"

"Jayden," I smile back, "I-I should go. Um, see you later!" I rush away from what nearly became an awkward moment. I could still feel the stares of Parker and his friends on my back as I wandered into the now busy hall full of student.

I couldn't stop thinking about what Parker said to me, I was unsure if he was joking or not, he didn't make any goofy emotion, he was just blank and I wasn't sure if he was being serious or not. I could feel myself getting rosy cheeks as my thoughts had wandered, maybe he was flirting? But, he couldn't, could he? Who would like an explosive mess like me? A boy who didn't know what he wanted to be, a boy who has meltdowns over nothing, a boy who overthinks over nothing, a boy with a secret. I was a nobody, and he was a football player, popular and had loads of people who support him, we are not compatible.

Soon enough, I got to maths, and went in to sit down besides Arlo, Wesley was on the other side of me, but I ignored for the time being. The teacher wasn't even here yet, I pulled out my phone and began checking Parker's Instagram account, there was pictures of his dog, friends and the football team.

I felt a nudge which made me flinch, Arlo was staring at the phone I held and started smirking, he nudged Marlene and whispers and both soon started to tease me about it, but both looked a little concerned at the same time, I turn to put my phone into my pocket when I make eye contact with Wesley who had a weird look upon his face, it was unreadable, but he stares at my phone before he turns away. Weird, anyways, class was a blur, it was pretty easy for once until it was time to leave, however, I wasn't heading home just yet because Marlene had said they were taking Arlo and I somewhere.

We began walking through the crowds of people after the bell had went, we finally got outside where everyone separated, Marlene's red car was in the distance as we walked there, I glanced down as my phone vibrated, it was Parker. I smiled before ignoring it, I walked to the car and Arlo pulled the seat forward to let me in the backseat.

Once, on the road away from school Arlo coughed, "so, you and Parker, that's new, when did it happen?"

I could myself getting warmer, as if Marlene had turned on the hot air from their air-con. "Well, theres nothing between us, we followed each other on Instagram and accidentally bumped into each other...but he's nice to me, I dunno." I shrug, I missed the part out when he asked me to be his cheerleader since I didn't want to make things awkward all because I didn't know it was a joke or if he was being serious.

"Are you interested in him?" Marlene asks me they looked at me through their review mirror, "he seems interested in you."

"I don't know...I'm not sure I'm his type." Hm, the weird freak with a secret and a popular football player, ha! What a joke.

"Oh, c'mon, Jayden! You are everyone's type, you're cute, handsome and a very genuine person who acts like himself." Marlene rolls their eyes, "what's not to like about you?"

"Aye, he still needs to watch out and be wary of Parker since you know what he did to that one kid.." Arlo was cut off by the redhead, "hush! This is great, it's like one of those fanfics from those book sites, 'the new kid and the popular footballer,' I can see something definitely happening!" Marlene grins at Arlo as she stops at a red light.

"That's the thing Mar, we can't let Jay be hurt by him. He's popular and his friends are dickheads, they're guys who catcall girls and are the stereotypical assholes. They would eat Jayden alive and not to mention his jackass step-brother is on the team too!" Arlo rants, he had a point, they would eat me alive.

"See, Jayden, I was right, Arlo is very protective of you. I mean- I'm always right," Marlene shrugs and drives on as they turn around the roundabout and drives towards the city centre. "Wait, do you think he's gay, but hides it?"

"He could be bisexual," Arlo mutters as he's on his phone, he started following Parker too and did it with Marlene's phone, he turns to me and give me his mother hen look; "I'm keeping a close eye on him."

"You're being a stalker," I say to him with a playful smile upon my face as I chuckle, "you're going to embarrass me."

"No, I'm looking out for you." He sends a smug look, "oh look at that, he followed Marlene and I back."

God dammit...

Marlene had soon parked, and to my surprise we weren't going to the centre to shop, the three of us were going to TGI Fridays, which is such an amazing restaurant. My favourite thing about it is that it looks like an old diner from the 50's, I absolutely love the design and the food; which is so fricken good.

We only had to wait fifteen minutes before the server had asked us for what we wanted, Marlene asked for a coke and chicken strips and fries, Arlo asked for a coke and chicken burger with fries, and he soon got to me and I asked for a lemonade with a beef burger and the bacon and cheese fries, he took our menus from us and walked away.

The three of us talked more about the girl Marlene was chatting to, they had gotten embarrassed and red in the face, now they know how I feel. Turning my eyes from the teasing Arlo, I looked around the restaurant and found myself staring at one of my step-brothers; Wynter who was with a girl..shit, it seems he's on a date, I quickly look away and cough into my hand as drinks came pretty quickly, we thanked the man as he left.

"Fuck," I grumbles and turn away as I did this Marlene and Arlo glance to me and then to Wynter before looking at me with glances of laughter; "why is it wherever I go...there always seems to be one?" I ask them while they snickered away at my expense.

"It's sheer dumb luck, I guess." Marlene grins into their drink, "maybe that's supposed to happen...because maybe you're supposed to talk to them..I dunno." They shrug, Arlo just chuckles.

"Marlene, last time you made a prophecy it came true, if this is the truth with Jay I will give you my money. All of it." Arlo grumbles and grins happily when the meal arrives.

I had to let them try some of my fries, they loved them, they actually ordered two loads of it making me sigh and laugh...I'm honestly just happy that they didn't steal my food, I become very feral when someone tries to take more bites of my food.

The food was fantastic, we chatted about other things and Arlo got Marlene to admit that they liked Stranger Things after we had made her practically binge watch it and miss a few hours of sleep due to it.

It had been a moment before I excused myself so that I could go to the bathroom, I walked away and pushed open the men toilet door, and then went into one of the cubicles, did my business and when I walked out, I bumped into someone, "sorry!" I wasn't looking where I was going, I gave a smile not knowing who I bumped into, and before I could make it to the sink to wash my hands, a voice stopped me in my tracks.

"What are you doing here, freak?" Fuck off.

Turning, I face Wynter who watches me with his steely eyes, "out...with friends." I say before giving him a look, I went over to the sinks and soaped up my hands, "I didn't think I needed to tell you where I was going."

"Well, David wanted us to look out for you, he's convinced you're up to no good." He stuffs his hands into his pockets, but what made me look up was at the fact he called dad by his name.

"Whose fault is that?" I ask, "telling him that I don't want a relationship and how I've made everything hard?" I state the obvious to him, "but don't worry, I'll make sure to tell you where I'm going next time, now if you'll excuse me I'm going back to my friends."

I went to walk around him before I was pulled back by my hoodie and shoved back in front of him almost making me loose my footing. I glare up at him as he glares down at me, "what? I thought you wanted me to tell you-" "shut your ass up before I give you something to complain about."

I shut up. I stare up at him, I could feel my confidence leaving me, I stare up at him with slight fear, growing nervous, I just listened to him.

"Don't be a smart ass, don't answer me back either. Y'know, we never wanted another brother, we never wanted you, so why don't you just get lost already or do we have to go to the extreme to get you to move your ass out of our lives. We were doing so well without you, nobody wants you here, your dad doesn't want you here and our mom, she just pities you, she doesn't actually want you here either, nobody wanted to take care of you, you fucking junkie." Wynter sneers, I tried not to show that he got to me, his words hurt, of course they did...I didn't care about them either, I didn't want to live with them either...I missed my mom..

"Anything else?" I could feel myself just wanting to leave, I wanted to go home already....but where was home? It wasn't in these fancy rich suburban houses where he was living now...

"Get lost." He practically sneers, he went into one of the cubicles, I left slowly and sat down, the table had been cleared and the two seemed to have been waiting on me, they'd already paid, and I soon pay too.

"Can we go?" I asked, "I'm just super tired." I could tell they knew something was off, I could see Arlo's eyes travel to where Wynter was recently seated.

"Yeah, let's go." Marlene smiles and pats my back and as if they were trying to cheer me up, they mumbled, "also, glad you're our friend otherwise we'd be stuck on plain boring old chips."

Cracking a smile for them, "you're welcome." I mumble as we walked out to the car park, I couldn't help but feel like I ruined the mood, that I ruined the day over something as small as this.

The drive back to my dad's house was silent, I could see Arlo and Marlene look at me from time to time, I'm happy that they care for me, grateful even, but I feel like they could do better than someone like me, they're so patient with me, and for that I feel like I could maybe drop my walls and trust them.

I watch us pass streets and shops, I could tell that the seasons were soon changing, the summer skies were getting darker, and the street lights were turning on. I hum when I see the familiar house that Marlene soon pulls up at, "thanks Marlene. I'll see you guys tomorrow!" I wave and before I could turn Arlo gave me a hug, a long one at that.

"Jayden call or text later, I know that Wynter being the asshole he is said something to you in the bathroom, you don't have to tell us, but at least call tonight, don't want you alone feeling like shit." He mumbles, and then ruffled my hair.

"Thanks, bud." I whispers as I give him a pat on the back, he soon got back in the car and both of them left with the peep of the horn.

my step-brothers don't do love

"Highschool sweethearts," I hum to the Melanie Martinez song that had come on through my headphones as I do my homework, I was sat on my bed, back against the wall, I was nodding my head and bouncing my foot.

It must've been around 7pm, I could smell the food that Prinrose had made, but I wasn't hungry and I had already texted her that I had eaten before I came home, I still thanked her for her hospitality and kindness, I honestly just wasn't hungry.

I was doing my usual math equations, and when I was finished with that, I ended up doing my history leftovers that I didn't get to do, but Arlo was filling me in by sending screenshots of his work. It was based on the fall of the Berlin Wall, something that we've been working on for weeks in history class, I continue to hum the remainders of the song as it was coming to an end.

Honestly, I jumped when I seen dad standing there, "Jesus.." I whisper as I put my jotter down, I sat up, my headphones now around my neck, the song had changed to Cry Baby by Melanie Martinez and I could hear it faintly as I say there staring at dad.

"Hey, need something?" I asked quietly to him, I could see him looking around my room at everything before giving his usual sigh of disappointment.

"Primrose made dinner, why aren't you downstairs like everyone else?" He asks, crossing his arms as he now glares daggers at me.

I gulped slightly before shrugging, "I already ate, I was out with my friends earlier. I'm not hungry." I explain, it was so simple, and I'm sure Primrose had already told him this, but it seems he came up anyways to probably start an argument.

He sighs through his nose, "you should be more grateful, she made dinner for you, and you're not even coming down to eat it?"

"No, she made dinner for everyone, she asked me already if I was hungry and I told her I ate. She's probably already told you this, but you had to come see for yourself, right?" I ask, I didn't care if I was being disrespectful.

"She did, but I still think you should show more appreciation, I don't care if you're not hungry, I'm telling you to get down those stairs and eat." Dad says condescendingly, I knew what he was doing, he wasn't asking, he was telling me.

I was getting fed up of him too, I could feel my anger rising, "I'm not hungry. I appreciate everything she does for me, but if I don't want to eat something, then I'm not going to eat anything, not when I've literally eaten earlier."

"She's welcomed you into her house, given you a roof under your head, looked out for you and you can't do a simple thing and go to dinner?" He argues, I stare at him with a glare upon my face.

"She's done all what you've failed to do." I bite back, he stops and stares at me, "I'm guessing it was her that wanted me here, not you. Listen, dad, I've known since you left that you wanted nothing to do with me or my mom, you literally left her in debt and with nothing, didn't even call once or pay child support, you just left." I say fully sitting up now, "I couldn't care less about you or your new family, I don't even give a shit about them, you're right about that."

I could tell he was fuming, his jaw was locked, "get down those stairs and show her that you're grateful."

"She's not my mom." I state loudly, "she will never replace my mom, so stop trying to constantly make it seem like she is."

He was about to raise his voice if it weren't for Dylan walking in, he'd obviously heard every word, the older out of all the step-brothers turns to look at me, I was angry, I didn't even care I just stare right back at him, "looks like your needed, dad." I say to the man who had never been a father figure to me in all my days of growing up.

I knew what I said was wrong but it was true, Primrose will never be my mom, my mom actually raised me, and being sweet and kind, doing things for me will never persuade me to call another woman mom. I felt like dad needed to know that because he was acting as if my mom had done nothing when she'd done everything, this was his family, he grew up with them, because a dad to all of them, but where was he for me? Absolutely nowhere, he didn't even care, he'd just admitted to me that it was Primrose who wanted me to live with them, and when I say I don't care, I do, because it hurt like hell to know that I mean nothing to someone who was supposed to be loyal to my mom...and not abandon her.

I turn back around to finish my history work and ignore the both of them, I was too overwhelmed to even speak to them right now, I put my headphones back on and continue, my phone vibrates with texts from Marlene and Arlo, but I didn't reply or read their messages, I needed space for myself right now before I do something I will regret later. I glance up and notice they weren't in my room anymore, the door was shut, and I again was alone.

• • •

Authors Note

Guess who's back with another chapter! This chapter was a whirlwind of emotions, I do hope you guys enjoyed! If you'd like me to put up another character chart I can certainly do that, again if you're confused by his actions; he's autistic. I've noticed a lot of comments questioning his behaviour and characteristics!

I know there hasn't been a lot of age regression but there will be, it's kinda slow burn! Also, yes to answer all the dms I'm probably gonna make Parker his caregiver and his boyfriend, their dynamic will be seen more in later chapters!

Slow updates! But the chapters will keep coming! Please don't ask for me to update I'm very busy with being an 18 year old living her life! Thanks for being very patient and understanding!

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