Why did you do this to me, Dad?" I asked, my voice trembling with a mix of hurt and confusion. "You said you'd never start another family. "Valentina, darling, I've been feeling lonely," Dad explained, his tone heavy with regret. "And she's all the way in Paris." I rushed to my room, feeling a wave of sadness wash over me. I only had two friends, and now I was leaving them behind. Moving to Paris was not something I had planned for this year. I called my friends immediately. "Guys! My dad found someone in Paris, and I'll be moving there next month. She has two daughters. "OMGGG! Oui oui oui, croissant!" Ashley exclaimed with laughter. "I'm literally crying. We won't see each other again. "Stop crying, crybaby. Look at the bright side," Brandon interjected. "You can finally try the macarons you've always wanted, and maybe meet some wealthy guys. What's wrong with you guys?" I retorted, feeling a pang of hurt at their lack of support. "You could have been more supportive. "Yes, yes, but it's only six hours away," Ashley chimed in, trying to lighten the mood. "And you'll finally have step-siblings, ashley!. "Okay, okay, stepsiblings," I conceded with a sigh. "Come on, guys, we still have a month to do fun stuff together."
Time went by quickly, and it was time to move. Sitting in my empty room, all the memories came rushing in. I felt broken having to leave this all behind—the memories with Mom, who's not here anymore. "Valentina!" Dad called, interrupting my thoughts. As I walked, I whispered, "Goodbye, Mom." Stepping into the car, my dad asked, "Are you ready?" "Yes, Dad," I replied. It was a six-hour drive from the Netherlands to Paris. I slept the whole way.
Finally, we stopped in a weird neighborhood. Everything looked so old. My dad pointed to a house with a really high fence. "Don't tell me it's a rich family," I muttered to myself. As the door opened, I saw two girls and a woman waiting. "That will be your new mom," Dad nervously laughed. A bit of anger welled up inside me at his words. The car stopped, and I opened the door to greet them. "Hi, I'm Valentina." "Hi, Valentina, I'm Anna, your new stepmom," the woman said warmly. "I've heard so much about you from your dad." She gestured to the two girls beside her. "Well, these are my daughters, Kristen, who's 17 she is your age , and Sofia, who's 13. "Hi, I'm Sofia," the younger girl greeted me with a smile. "Yo," Kristen said casually, but her mom quickly intervened. "Kristen, behave yourself. "Fine. Hi, I'm Kristen," she said, slightly annoyed. Well then, how about you go take some rest? That must have been tiring," Anna suggested kindly. "Kristen, could you show her new room? "Sure, Mom," Kristen replied, rolling her eyes. "Let's go," she said to me, leading the way into the house.
It was big and beautiful. As we were about to walk up the stairs, Kristen turned and said, "Do not talk to me at school. Just act like you don't know me, tête de cochon. "Uhm, what does that mean?" I asked, confused. Kristen turned away, muttering "idiot." We arrived at the room. "This is your room," Kristen announced, opening the door. It was a big room. "Wow, at least it's great. Even the view is breathtaking. Is that a castle? I got to take a picture and send it to my friends." I spent hours talking to my friends on the phone, telling them about the new stepsister and how mean she was. They reassured me, saying it would get better. "Don't worry," they said. Eventually, I started feeling quite sleepy. "Good night, Mom," I whispered, then dozed off. The next day I woke up to a gentle knock on the door, and before I could respond, Anna, my new stepmom, entered the room. "Good morning, Valentina. How did you sleep?" she asked with a warm smile. "Good morning, Anna. I slept well, thank you," I replied, feeling a bit more at ease in her presence. We talked for a bit about the house, Paris, and our respective lives. As we conversed, I began to realize how kind and caring she was, despite my initial reservations. Before leaving the room, Anna asked, "Would you like breakfast? I'm making pancakes. "I smiled, touched by her gesture. "Yes, please. Pancakes sound wonderful." As I made my way to the kitchen, I saw my dad and the two daughters, Sofia and Kristen, getting along remarkably well. Seeing them laughing and chatting made me feel a pang of jealousy. It seemed like they were forming a bond already, and I couldn't help but feel left out. Arriving in the kitchen, the aroma of pancakes filled the air. As soon as she saw me, she muttered, "I'm done eating," and quickly walked away, barely acknowledging my presence. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of hurt at her coldness. As she hurried past me, Kristen accidentally bumped into me, causing me to stumble slightly. "Watch where you're going," she snapped, before disappearing out of the room. I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and disappointment. It seemed like building a relationship with Kristen was going to be more challenging than I had anticipated. Anna mentioned, "You'll be starting school tomorrow since it's almost the end of the school year, and summer break will soon come. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot about exams for college," I realized, feeling a sudden pang of anxiety. I finished my breakfast quickly and excused myself to go to my room. As I headed there, my dad stopped me and asked if I was doing fine. I forced a smile and replied, "Yes, I'm fine," before continuing to my room. On the way, I overheard Kristen talking bad about me, saying hurtful things about my appearance. Deep down, I already knew that, but hearing it from her still stung. When she noticed me, she accused, "Were you eavesdropping on me? "N-no," I stuttered, feeling my heart sink. "Not only are you ugly, but you're also a weirdo," she added, her words cutting deeper than I'd expected. With tears in my eyes, I ran to my room, feeling a mix of anger and sadness. Over the next few months, I avoided Kristen as much as possible. Fortunately, Sofia and I became really close, which helped ease the loneliness. Finally, the day arrived to hear if Kristen and I passed the exams for college. My dad, Anna, and Sofia were all there to support us. The tension was palpable as we waited for the results. When they finally came in, and we both passed, relief washed over me. Anna and I hugged tightly, and then my dad rushed in to embrace me too. It was truly a great day, despite the challenges I faced.
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.
As I found myself mesmerized by the proximity of his lips, feeling my knees weaken, Anna's sudden entrance jolted me back to reality. With a swift push, I distanced myself from Andreo, my heart still pounding with confusion and desire. As I hurriedly fled the scene, Anna's puzzled expression followed me. "What's going on?" she inquired, her tone tinged with concern. "N-nothing, Anna," I stammered, attempting to compose myself. "I'll be upstairs reading a book." But even as I retreated to the sanctuary of my room, I couldn't shake the image of Andreo's perfect lips from my mind. "Valentina, get your head out of the gutter," I scolded myself. "He's your stepsiste.r's boyfriend." Lost in my thoughts, I was startled by a gentle knock on the door. "Yes, come in," I called out, expecting Anna. Instead, it was Andreo, holding out my forgotten phone. Reluctantly, I accepted it, feeling a surge of conflicting emotions. "Well, thank you, but you may leave," I muttered, trying to mask my attraction with disdain. "Ouch, that stings," he remarked, his tone laced with amusement. Slowly, his gaze swept across my room. "Oh, so you're a bookworm," he observed, his eyes lingering on me while he gently bit his lip. Before I could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps sent him retreating. Kristen barged in, demanding to know why Andreo was in my room. Ignoring her annoyance, he simply walked away, leaving Kristen behind. "What did he do?" she interrogated me, her tone sharp with accusation. "He just brought my phone, that's all," I replied, feeling a surge of defiance against her hostility. With a final warning, Kristen stormed out, leaving me alone to wrestle with the tangled web of emotions that Andreo had stirred within me. As the days passed, I made a concerted effort to avoid Andreo, but he seemed to have other plans. Every time I turned a corner, there he was, a mischievous glint in his eye as he teased me relentlessly. From playful remarks to lingering glances, he made it clear that he enjoyed getting under my skin. Despite my attempts to ignore him, his presence became an unavoidable part of my daily life. However, our interactions were often cut short by the arrival of my family members. Whether it was my dad, Anna, Sofia, or Kristen, they always seemed to appear at the most inconvenient moments, interrupting any chance of a meaningful conversation. As the weeks flew by, I found myself counting down the days until I would leave for college. With each passing moment, the anticipation grew, and the thought of escaping Andreo's teasing became my sole focus. But amidst the chaos of packing and saying goodbye, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was still unfinished business between us. As the deadline for my departure loomed closer, I couldn't help but wonder what would become of our tangled relationship once I leave for college.
the day arrived for me to leave for college, I had already packed my bags and was ready to start this new chapter of my life. The thought of not having to deal with Kristen anymore at the same college brought a sense of relief. Maybe things would finally get better from now on, I hoped. Meeting my new roommate, Maddy, was a pleasant surprise. She seemed kind and welcoming, which helped ease some of my anxiety about starting college. However, as I moved into the new dorm, I quickly realized that not everything would be smooth sailing. The noise from my neighbors' room was deafening, making it impossible to settle in. Summoning up my courage, I knocked on their door, hoping they would lower the volume. To my dismay, the door swung open, revealing Andreo standing there. My heart sank at the sight of him. Why did he have to be here, of all places? It felt like the worst day of my life, knowing that I couldn't escape his presence, his teasing, his constant bullying. But as I glanced into the room, I noticed another woman on Andreo's bed. Was he cheating on Kristen? The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, and I felt a surge of disgust wash over me. I coughed "What is that smell?" I thought to myself, noticing the distinct odor of illegal substances wafting from the room. "What do you want?" Andreo snapped, cutting off my thoughts. I stuttered, asking politely if they could lower the volume so I could focus. His response was harsh and dismissive. "No, get lost," he said, slamming the door in my face before I could say anything else. I stood there in shock, unable to comprehend his sudden hostility. Maddy pulled me aside, her expression serious. She explained that everyone was afraid of Andreo, even the teachers. His nickname was "le diable" - the devil. She warned me to stay away from him, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over me as I realized just how dangerous Andreo truly was..
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