Chapter 4: In Her Room

Isabel 

"Good night, everyone." I yawned sleepily and walked toward my room. As soon as I'd put on the lights, I found Mavis standing by the wall of my room. 

"The heck? You are joking, Mavis. What do you want here? You just crossed your limits."

"I'm in my step-sister's room to say that I'm sorry about what she saw in my room some moments ago,"

"That's your business and none of mine. See, I don't care about what you do, I've always known you from high school."

"You do care Isabel. You suddenly changed toward me after you walked in on us. But, I'm sincerely sorry, I can be the man you want me to be, just for you."

"Fuck you, Mavis, in the ass. Are you kidding me right now? Why do you feel that I care about you? And, did you say you want to be the man I want you to... Hey, Mavis, are you insane? You are now my step-brother and we should mind the kind of conversations we have to avoid getting into trouble."

"We ain't getting into any damn trouble and please, those were rumors. I can be a clean man for who I love, for Isabel. You are judging me based on what you heard about me, about what you feel."

"What? You have no regard for me, that's why you're spilling bullshit. There were no rumors. If you could hurt Estelle, you are without love. I don't want to have this conversation with you, please leave. We'll have to pretend that we never met at college, okay?"

"I never wanted Estelle. Also, I just wanted to get rid of the slut completely tonight, that was what I was trying to do. Isabel please."

"Please? For what? How's that any of my business?" I gesticulated with my hands. 

"I'm afraid that I've crumbled my plans for us,"

I chuckled, "Plans? What plans, please?" I asked in amusement. 

He heaved and took a deep breath. "Can I make a confession?" 

I paused, looked around, and made it toward my bed. "Now, you are getting me scared Mavis," I jumped and sat on the bed feeling tensed. My God! What was he up to? 

"You are saved, you have no reason to be scared." He moved toward me. "Can I sit on your bed?" I shook my head. "Please, can I?" He asked, pointing to the edge of my bed. 

"Fine! You are free to sit on the chair." With disgust, I directed him elsewhere. 

He got seated and began, "I knew you from the very first day when you joined our school as a student on scholarship."

I suddenly looked up with a surprised face, my right leg hitting the silver bed frame rhythmically. 

He exhaled and continued, "I've been pretending all along since I couldn't identify with you. My friends were ready to mock me. So, I had to withhold myself from approaching you." He paused and searched my face probably to know if he should continue. "Your beauty is next to no other. Estelle had rich parents and I just had to play along with her.'

I breathed out with a dropped jaw. "What are you trying to say? I don't get you. You pretended the whole time as though I didn't exist because I was a low-class? Is that it?"

"Yes but, I've always wanted you... " He paused and rubbed his lips, knowing that his statement wouldn't come out well.

"Mavis," I knew that by calling him, I would disrupt him from thinking about a proper way to present his statement. "You have always done what?"

My eyes went up and down his body in scrutiny as I thought about what he was going to say. 

"I've always wanted you badly for me, you can ask my friends about this. Jackson, Anthony, and Michael knew how much I brooded over you so much that after the prom night, I fell sick briefly because you didn't show up." He said with an unwavering tone. It appeared that he was ready for the outcome of what he'd just said. 

I was still, my eyes traveled through his hairy chest, down to his arms, and back to his face. This guy, he looked as hot as hell. Goosh! In a bit to wave the distraction aside, I quickly switched back to our conversation. "Jackson? A brother to a cheating scumbag?" I sighed. "Jackson's twin brother is now my nightmare." 

"You are now enemies with Jason? Why do you say so?" He asked curiously and I looked up at him, shook my head, and lowered it again. "Please, don't be concerned, I'll pay Jason in his coin when the time comes." My eyes steadied on the cup of wine on the table as I ruminated over my ugly past. 

"Anyway, I'm serious about you, Isabel." 

"Mavis, this revelation must be a joke. We both know that you are fond of joking,"

"I'm not joking right now, Do you mind checking my room? I have your pictures displayed on the walls of my room. I fantasize about you daily after high school. It was worse when you didn't show up at the prom and, I'm still wondering why."

I raised my face a little, my eyes looking elsewhere. "What are you up to, Mavis?" I asked with my face buried in my palm. His revelations affected me and it was obvious. 

"I just thought to let you know that it was you I wanted from the beginning."

"Get out of my room, now or I'll scream down this house," I said in bitterness, whimpering in pretense. He wasn't coming closer to pamper but rather, was making himself ready to walk out of my room.

"You are heartless, Mavis!" I felt my heart being broken by his revelations. The thought of what happened a few days before the prom night, how I'd kept my favorite dress just to look pretty for him. Maybe, we would have ended up in bed that night as I was ready to walk up to him and face Estelle. I would have told her that I deserved him and not her. 

I was a weakling I know, the thought of her embarrassing me before everyone scared the shit out of me. My life was never the same after college, as I packed my bags, knowing full well that I was never going to set my eyes on Mavis' pretty face again. 

"Well, goodnight. We'll see by tomorrow." he walked out of my room and sneaked into his' since our rooms were directly opposite each other's. 

I jumped out of bed shortly after, grabbed the wine cup on the table and tiptoed out of my room. My adrenaline soared as soon as I got to the door of his room.