Deceiving My Bully Stepbrother
Chapter 21

(Johnnie)

After Capsian left, I waited outside, too embarrassed to go back in as I looked down at my phone sadly.

I guess I should call an Uber or something...

I was about to open the app when someone stepped in front of me.

"Hey, you aren't going back inside?" Freddy asked, his green eyes searching mine as I tried to hide the tears that threatened to fall any moment.

"Oh, umm..I was just going to head back early. I'm not feeling really well." I lied..well kind of..I do feel sick now.

Freddy glanced back towards the restaurant before slipping his hands into his pockets. He wore a grey polo shirt and dark blue shorts..I can honestly say every guy here had some type of polo shirt on.. Freddy had light blonde hair, his eyes were the same green as his sisters, and his nose was slightly crooked. I think he might've broken it at some point.

He had a sharp jawline but he looked pretty..if that made sense..he reminded me of a young Leonardo DiCaprio...so you can see why he was popular with the girls around here.

"Would you like a ride?" He suddenly asked, making my brow furrow, his offer surprising me.

"No, it's okay, I was going to just order an uber." I explained.

That's when a lopsided grin pulled at the corner of his mouth.

"Come on, it's no hassle at all..actually your mom asked me to come out and check on you." He admitted, causing embarrassment to flood through me.

"Oh, I see..okay, yeah sure..I would really appreciate it." I agreed before standing and smoothing out my skirt. I had a feeling he wasn't going to give up anytime soon, so I might as well just agree.

Freddy and Heaven's mom, Patricia actually plays tennis with my mom, so I'm not surprised she sent Freddy out here to check on me..not like she would do it on her own..

I followed Freddy towards the valet as we stood there awkwardly, waiting for the attendant to get the car as Freddy kept stealing glances at me.

"So..are you and Caspian a thing or something?" He blurted, making me almost choke on the gasp I inhaled.

"W..what? No..we aren't..I mean..not that I know of.." I rambled, trying to not fall apart completely.

Freddy just laughed, his head turning to face forward as his white jeep pulled up in front of us.

"Good, because this summer, Heaven plans to make it official." He stated casually, causing my heart to drop as his words echoed through me..she wants to be his official girlfriend?

"You coming?" Freddy asked while holding the door open for me as I nodded my head softly.

I slid into the jeep, watching as Freddy shut the door before coming around and got into the driver's side before pulling away from the country club.

"She plans on transferring to WSU next year. Johnnie..I don't want to be that guy..but you and Caspian..it doesn't really make sense." Freddy stated, making my heart sink even more as I looked out the window..

Why was he even saying all of this? I'm starting to think maybe Heaven asked him to warn me off or something.

"You don't have to worry, there is nothing between Caspian and me..and I'm sure he is making it official with your sister right now." I mumbled numbly, trying to push down this horrible feeling that kept threatening to come up.

I should've never let my walls down..now look what happened and it's only been two freaking days..

"Good, because I like you Johnnie..I think you are a good person, but if you get in the way of my sister's happiness..there are things I can do to make your life not so great." He said firmly, making me turn my head to meet his gaze..the threat was clearly obvious as I no longer felt comfortable.

"Noted." I quipped, looking straight ahead as he turned down the street to the house, making me feel like I wanted to jump out of the damn car right here.

We didn't say anything else until he pulled up and I reached for the handle to get out.

Suddenly I felt his hand grip my arm, causing me to freeze in place.

"No hard feelings, right?" He asked, prompting me to nod my head and turn to leave once again.

Freddy's hand continued to hold my arm for a few seconds longer until he finally let go. I pushed the door open and ran to the house, not even bothering to thank him for the ride as I rushed inside. I could feel his eyes staring into my back, making a shiver creep down my spine as I shoved the front door and almost fell in.

My breathing became labored, my body trembling as all of those feelings finally rushed through me before I broke down into sobs.

What did I do in life to deserve this? I just don't understand..now I have Freddy threatening me to stay away from Caspian when he clearly already made his choice.

I slowly stood up, letting my purse fall to the floor as I dragged my feet behind me.

I walked towards the back of the house..to a room I hadn't been in for a while as I creaked the door open. Then the beautiful sight of the smooth black Steinway Grand Piano filled my vision.

This was a library in the back of the house where Dave had a piano bought for parties.

I crept through the room, the smell of books filling my nostrils as I inhaled deeply before sliding my fingertips across the smooth black surface of the lid.

A rush of adrenaline coursed through me, a feeling that only this beautiful instrument could bring me as I walked around to the front.

I sat on the wooden bench, my hands rising to the keyboard cover, seeing those beautiful ivory keys reveal themselves as my gaze wandered down the length of them slowly.

I took a deep breath before fluttering my eyelids closed, and dragging my fingers across the keys..the perfectly tuned notes filled the air as I drifted to another place.

A place where everything was perfect..a place where my dad was still alive..where my mom and he would laugh endlessly, chasing one another around in the kitchen..I thought of a time when Caspian was still my friend..a time when he would always be there for me and would never speak a single bad word about me.

I felt the music wrapping around me in a warm embrace as time ceased to exist. I slid my fingers back and forth, playing a piece I knew by heart as the notes flowed out effortlessly, and then I felt it..that stare that always seemed to burn into me.

I glanced up, locking eyes with Capsian as I let out a gasp and jumped away from the piano like I was just caught doing the worst crime possible.

"Don't stop..please.." Caspian slurred, his frame swaying as I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Are you..drunk?" I asked, seeing his hair was all disheveled and his eyes bloodshot. How long had I been playing for?

I glanced over at the clock above the fireplace and realized it had been three hours since I left the restaurant.

"Play something for me..please." He begged, making my heart ache as I looked away from him.

"I think you should go lay down." I stated, going to walk past him as he suddenly collapsed to his knees, startling me. Without warning, he reached his arms forward and grasped around my waist before burying his face against my chest.

"I'm sorry....I'm sorry..I didn't.." He muttered, causing me to freeze as I stood there in shock.

"Caspian..what are you doing? I think you are confused." I said, not sure what had come over him.

"Johnnie..you have no idea how hard it has been..how treating you like s**t slowly killed me.." He confessed, his words seeping into me as I couldn't believe my ears.

"Caspian please stop..you clearly don't mean that..because you wouldn't have left if.." I stopped myself, not wanting to say something I might regret..something he could use against me.

"I just..I didn't want you to think any worse of me..I didn't want you to see how f****d up I really am.." He whispered, emotion filling his voice as I peered down at him.

"But..you went with Heaven.." I whispered, making him pull his head back and meet my gaze.

"I had her drive me to the liquor store and leave...I have been drinking up in my room for the past two hours..then I heard the music..I thought it was a dream.." He stated, causing my mouth to drop open. I wasn't surprised he was able to buy liquor on his own, there were a few places where if you paid more than you owed, they wouldn't bother checking IDs...well that's what Ben always said.

"So you..you didn't want her to stay?" I blurted, making him shake his head no.

"I didn't..I don't want her..I don't want anyone else but you. I only want you, Johnnie Turner." And with that, he pulled my face down, his lips crashing to mine as he kissed the freaking life out of me.