My Jealous Stepbrother
UNCONDITIONAL

Emily had always been cunning and had her unique way of solving problems, so I was confident she had something up her sleeve. However, her focus on keeping Zack out of our secrets intrigued me even more. "And how are we going to get his help without telling him the whole story?" I asked, seeking clarity in the midst of my confusion.

"Trust me, Sam. I have a plan. I know Zack better than anyone, I know how to convince him without revealing all the details. We can get his help without him meddling in our affairs."

"And what's the plan?" I asked anxiously, waiting for Emily to share her strategy for involving him.

"As I told you, I know my brother. If you ask him directly, he won't ask too many questions," she replied confidently. "You can't be serious!"

"Of course I am! He'll do anything if you ask him, he's been in love with you for years, you seriously never noticed?"

My eyebrows rose in surprise at his response. "In love? With me? For years?" I was surprised that I could have missed the signs, thinking they were just a figment of my imagination. The way Zack's eyes sparkled every time we talked and those warm smiles that could make anyone blush, I had ignored them, or at least not given them much thought.

"Exactly! And I think now is the perfect time to use that to our advantage. If you ask him for help, I'm sure he'll be willing to do anything."

I reflected on Emily's words and considered her proposal. It was true that she could be a valuable resource to help us without revealing all the details about my situation. I trusted Zack's discretion and willingness to help without asking too many questions.

"Maybe you're right, Emi," I finally replied. "I know Zack well enough to know that he is someone we can trust. Maybe we can ask for his support without going into the finer details. If we can count on his help without having to reveal everything, it might be a viable solution."

A sense of relief came over me as I considered that I wouldn't have to share my secrets. At least not all of them.

"That's okay," I continued. "Let's talk to Zack and see if he's willing to help us. If he agrees, we might have someone else we trust on our side."

I smiled at the emoji Emily sent, a smiley face with sunglasses. Should I interpret it as a sign of her relief and approval?

I considered options on how to approach the conversation with Zack. Given the current storm situation, I was replaceing it difficult to get out of the house. The idea of texting him seemed like the most practical option at the time. Although I would prefer to talk in person, circumstances did not permit it.

Just as I was about to text Zack, I was distracted by a gentle tapping on my bedroom door. I knew it was Ryan; no one else would come looking for me like that. I decided to ignore it and keep quiet. I had locked the door, so I was sure he couldn't get in.

"Sam? Are you asleep?" I heard his voice from the other side of the door.

I turned off the light in my room and climbed straight into bed, still upset and frustrated. Did I think things would work out quickly? I couldn't help but feel a mixture of resentment and exhaustion. I settled under the covers, trying to calm my mind as I listened to him walk away from the door. I knew I couldn't let myself be affected by that interruption. There were more important matters that needed my attention, like resolving the situation with the stalker and replaceing the support I needed to confront him.

I decided to resume my plan and send the message to Zack. I needed his help and I was sure he would understand the urgency and gravity of the situation.

With determination, I grabbed my phone and began to compose the message to Zack. I wanted to be clear and direct, but at the same time careful to reveal only the necessary information.

-Hi, Zack. I need to talk to you about something urgent - could we meet tomorrow?

I reread the message several times, then pressed the Send button with some trepidation. Now all that was left was to wait for his response and trust that he would be willing to give me his help.

The storm continued to rage outside, but inside my room a tense silence reigned. Finally, a notification sound broke the silence. It was Zack's reply. My heart raced as I unlocked my phone and read his message. -Count on me for whatever you need.

His message whispered in my fluttering heart, like a beacon in the middle of the storm. His willingness to stand by my side comforted me and reminded me why I had chosen to trust him. Wow, I really had been oblivious to how he felt. -Sorry I can't reveal too much.

My reserve might have seemed strange, but I trusted that Zack would understand my caution. After all, we had been friends for some time, and that meant something.

-Don't worry. You must have your reasons, and I trust that if you're not telling me, it's for a good reason.

His words made me feel even more grateful for his understanding. It was comforting to know that I had someone I could trust, even if I couldn't share all the details. I was surprised that Zack didn't directly ask the reasons behind my reservation, but I decided not to make a big deal out of it. After all, his trust and support were a gift I shouldn't question. Right?

With my mind still restless and the weight of worries weighing on my thoughts, I closed my eyes in the hope that rest would bring me some relief and renew my strength to face a new day. But there was still a big unknown-could I really replace out who the stalker was? Eventually I drifted off into the darkness of the room and sank into the depths of sleep.