chapter 2 Is this the end

The summer break had been going well so far. Kristen hadn't been home often, usually returning late at night, which allowed me to avoid her for a long time. Tomorrow is her birthday, judging by the preparations, it looks like it's going to be a big party. But that's not my business; I'll just go to sleep. It seems like tomorrow will be a busy day. 

The next day, everyone gathered in the kitchen to wish her a happy birthday before her real party started. When it was my turn to wish her a happy birthday, she just smirked and rolled her eyes. I couldn't help but wonder why she did that, but I didn't dwell on it. 

 Later, my dad called me aside and said, "Me, Anna, and Sofia will be out for dinner tonight. Behave, okay? Kristen requested you to stay at her party. This will be a great bonding time for the two of you. "Okay, Dad, I will try my best," I replied earnestly. As the night arrived, everyone left, and other people started pouring in for the party. "Whoa, there are a lot of people coming," I thought to myself. "I'll just grab a drink and head to the balcony. The music blared loudly, not really my style, but I didn't mind. From the balcony, I spotted a guy smoking by the fence. Why was he there? Shouldn't he be with the rest of the partygoers? As I observed him, I couldn't help but notice how attractive he was, but there was an air of danger about him. Better to avoid someone like him, I reasoned. Suddenly, he looked up and caught me staring. My mind went blank. Should I just go? He looked intimidated. Just as I was about to leave, Kristen walked up to him. "Babe! Oh, there you are. I've been looking all over for you," she said. "Babe?" I thought incredulously. He looked like a 30-year-old mafia boss. Then they started kissing, and I could practically see their tongues from the balcony. Disgusted, I turned to leave, but as I did, I noticed him glancing at me while still kissing Kristen. Feeling resigned, I headed towards my room with the intention of losing myself in a book. However, Kristen's close friends intercepted me on the way, inviting me to join them at the pool. With nothing else to do, I agreed, albeit with a sense of curiosity about their sudden interest. As we stepped outside, I was greeted by a crowd of people, and I spotted Kristen laughing and chatting with the guy from earlier. "So, this is your stepsister, huh?" he remarked, holding my chin and looking into my eyes. Kristen's eyes flashed with anger at his gesture. Before I could comprehend what was happening, I found myself pushed into the pool. Panic surged through me as I realized I couldn't swim. Struggling to stay afloat, I cried out for help, but nobody came to my aid. Kristen and her friends stood by, laughing at my distress. As I sank below the surface, the world around me blurred and darkened. My last thought before succumbing to the water was one of confusion and betrayal. What had I done to deserve this? Why were they laughing at my suffering? And as the darkness enveloped me, I wondered if anyone would come to my rescue. I woke up to the warmth of my dad's hand holding mine, his expression etched with concern. "What happened, honey?" he asked, his voice trembling with emotion. "I can't lose you too, like I did with your mom." Tears welled up in my eyes as I hugged him tightly, feeling the weight of his words. In that moment, all I wanted was to find solace in his embrace, to feel safe and protected. But as I glanced over my dad's shoulder, I saw Kristen lurking in the corner, her eyes blazing with anger as she made menacing gestures, as if she wanted to silence me. A shiver ran down my spine, and I quickly turned my attention back to my dad, afraid of what Kristen might do if she thought I was talking. "I just fell in the pool, Dad," I reassured him, my voice shaky with fear. I didn't want to worry him further, especially not with Kristen's menacing presence looming in the background. Just then, Anna walked in, carrying a plate of cookies. "Your birthday is next month, right? What do you want for your birthday, darling?" she asked with a warm smile, trying to lighten the mood. In that moment, all I could think about was my old friends, the ones who had been there for me through thick and thin. "I want to meet my old friends again," I replied, longing for the comfort and familiarity of their presence. In the days that followed, I tried to put the incident at the pool behind me, focusing instead on avoiding Kristen and her friends as much as possible. But despite my efforts, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air whenever I was near them. One evening, while searching for a book in the living room, I stumbled upon Kristen's room, the door slightly open . Curiosity getting the better of me, I peeked inside and saw the same guy from the party sitting on Kristen's bed, engage in conversation with her. Their laughter echoed through the room, and I felt a of jealousy. Why did Kristen get to have everything while I was left feeling like an outsider ? Before I could linger any longer, I quickly retreated, determined to put the encounter out of my mind. But as I lay in bed that night, sleep eluding me, I couldn't help but wonder what other secrets Kristen was hiding behind closed doors. Days turned into weeks, and my anticipation for my upcoming birthday grew with each passing moment. But little did I know, the events that would unfold on that day would change everything. On the day of my birthday, I opened my eyes to the cheerful greetings of Brandon and Ashley. "Happy birthday!" they exclaimed in unison. I wanted to cry, overwhelmed by their unexpected gesture, but Ashley quickly teased, "We're here, and you're crying? We've been calling you 'crybaby' all along! "Despite my initial shock, we spent the rest of the day enjoying Paris, creating memories that I would cherish forever. However, seeing them step in the train, the thought of saying goodbye to them again filled me with a sense of sadness. Returning home, I reflected on the fun-filled day and eventually drifted off while reading a book. In the middle of the night, I was startled awake by the sound of something hitting my window. Peering out, I saw Kristen's boyfriend standing below, his presence puzzling at such a late hour. "Um, hello? What are you doing? It's like two in the morning," I called down to him. stared at me intently before asking if I smoked. "No, I don't," I replied, feeling uneasy. "Want me to come up?" he offered. "No, I'm good. Goodbye," I replied curtly, shutting the window firmly. The following day, to my surprise, he was seated at the dinner table. Confusion swirled in my mind as Anna introduced him as her friend's kid, Andreo. "He's twenty-three and goes to college here," she explained casually. Anna walked out of the room. As Andreo's gaze lingered on me, I couldn't help but notice his attractiveness. His shirt was partially unbuttoned, revealing a glimpse of his toned abs. I felt my cheeks flush under his intense stare. "Do you like what you see, princess?" he remarked, catching me off guard. My heart raced as he stood up, closing the distance between us. Before I could react, he tilted my chin upwards, his intentions clear. My mind raced with uncertainty, realizing that this could be my first kiss. But as his lips drew closer, I was left grappling with a whirlwind of emotions, unsure of what to do next.