My Jealous Stepbrother
SOFA

Letting out all my built up emotions I watched as my father's face changed drastically, I had to keep explaining to him. He had to understand how I fely. "You don't understand! She's not my mother, she's my stepmother. I've never seen her as my mother, and he's not my brother, he's my stepbrother. I can't pretend everything is fine when it's not," I continued, my voice cracking with frustration.

The tension in the room was palpable. My father was staring at my stepmother, his face reflecting a mixture of disbelief and disappointment. I felt the weight of his disapproval, but I couldn't let that stop me. "Samantha, you can't say that in front of your mother!" he exclaimed, trying to maintain his composure.

"She is not and will not be my mother," I stated with determination. "I can't pretend something I don't feel," I added, struggling to make him understand my perspective.

Silence filled the room, I knew I had hurt my father with my words, but I couldn't hide my truth any longer.

"Dad, I understand that this is difficult for you. But I need you to understand that I can no longer live a lie. I can't deny my feelings for the sake of pleasing others," I said with a mixture of sadness and determination. My father remained silent, his eyes reflecting the internal struggle he was feeling. Finally, he answered, "You are grounded!"

"Wait, what?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing, I felt like he was completely ignoring my words."Grounded? It's not like I stayed out past curfew."

"Go to your room and reflect on your words," he said determinedly and clearly tired. I knew I shouldn't have been fighting with him after his long flight and everything that had happened with the fires. I hadn't even asked him how his trip had been or how my grandparents were doing. Despite that, I felt great annoyance at his unwillingness to listen to me and for always assuming what was best for me without taking my opinion into account.

"That's not fair!" I exclaimed in frustration. Then, I went straight to my room and slammed the door shut. Despite being practically of age, I was still living in his house under his rules and there wasn't much I could do about it. If I left, where could I go?

An idea flashed in my mind. I didn't know if it was completely right, but that didn't matter to me. I was determined to see it through, I just had to wait for nighttime. It was time to do what I thought was the right thing to do.

I didn't leave my room until it was dark. Several times my brother Matthew was knocking on the door. "Sam, I need to talk to you," he said in a soft but firm voice. But I didn't want to talk to him or anyone in my family in that house. I locked myself in my own world, away from everyone.

When I no longer heard anyone nearby, I knew everyone was asleep. Silence reigned throughout the house, exceptf or the occasional snore coming from my father's room.

Trying not to make noise when I opened the door, I walked stealthily down the hallway that connected my room to the living room, since all the rooms were next to each other I had to be much more careful. Every step I took was cautious, avoiding any sound that might alert someone. I wanted to make sure that my plan was carried out without being discovered.

As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I could make out some objects in the room illuminated by the dim moonlight filtering through the window. The outlines of the furniture and the shadows cast on the walls began to take shape.

I crept up to the window, cautious not to make noise and wake anyone else in the house. I looked out into the starry night and felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

"It's now or never," I whispered, taking a deep breath to calm myself. I knew that making this decision would not be easy, but I felt the need to take charge of my life and face my own challenges.

My father's car keys glowed in the darkness of the living room, they were my escape ticket and the number one part of my plan. I took them carefully, trying to be as quiet as possible. However, just as I held them in my hand, I heard a voice behind me.

"What are you doing?"

I jumped in place, followed by a groan of surprise that I quickly held back before the whole house heard me.

I turned around to see the owner of that voice that nearly scared me to death, I couldn't see him clearly. However, I recognized the sound of that voice. It was my brother Mayer.

"Mayer, what are you doing up at this hour?" I asked, trying to remain calm as my nerves were still on edge.

Mayer looked half drowsy as he sat up from the couch with the phone in his hand and a red mark on his face.

"Did you fall asleep on the couch while chatting?" I asked with an amused smile. The mark the phone had left on his cheek was obvious.

Mayer frowned and rubbed his face. "I was trying to stay awake, but I guess I didn't make it," he replied with a mixture of embarrassment and weariness in his voice. "But where are you going with the car keys?" he said, more awake, and I remembered what situation I was in.

"I can't sleep," I replied, feeling the adrenaline slow down a bit. "Just gonna take a walk to clear my mind and think things over."

Lying was my only option at this point. But Mayer didn't seem to believe me, "Samantha..."

My brothers being as overprotective as my father was something I failed to understand; Mayer and Matthew acted like him despite physically resembling my mother. They wouldn't even let me go to Emily's house for the night; she always had

to come to ours.

Emily... It was better not to think about her, I was still hurt by her behavior.

"Whatever you're going to do, be careful, okay?" he said as if he had been defeated. Was I hearing right? I couldn't help but hug him before I left.

"You're the best," I whispered contentedly. With determination, I slid the window up, feeling a gentle night breeze caress my face.

"But don't tell Matt let you go or he'll kill me," he teased before I could climb out the window. Apparently the twins didn't always share the same thoughts.

I climbed into my dad's car and hurried to start it to get off the porch. I felt the adrenaline rush through my veins as I backed out of the driveway as slowly as I could. I didn't know if the noise of the car would wake the others, so I had to hurry and pray they didn't notice I was gone.

There was just one tiny inconvenience. I didn't fully know how to drive-I had my permit but not my license- but how bad could I be on a quick trip?I