CHAPTER 4: The Brother

Seven years ago…

"Boo!" Erin squealed in surprise as Jenna startled her. Her heart pounded, and she accidentally dropped her phone. She was in the women's restroom, changing into a red uniform for the cheerleaders. 

"Seriously! You scared me!" She lightly slapped Jenna on the shoulder and then shook her head. Jenna's dad was Erin's stepfather's cousin, making them second cousins. Jenna became Erin's close friend since they had known each other since age ten.

Jenna picked up the phone that had fallen to the floor, furrowing her brow as she examined the messages on the screen. Erin engaged in a text conversation with Orion, having obtained his number from his brother Daryl.

"Your eyes captivate me like no other, a mesmerizing beauty that lights up my world. Every visit to your home fills my heart with joy," Jenna read the latest message. "Who is this? Is he a pervert?" she commented, rolling her eyes. 

The woman continued scrolling through the messages. "Sorry if I only texted now. I've been a bit busy—busy thinking about you!" Jenna burst into laughter. "Oh, my God! Who is this bimbo?" 

"Give it back! He's not a bimbo, okay?!" Erin said, her face flushed with embarrassment. 

Jenna took the phone away and held it higher. "No! This is fun!" 

"Jenna!" Erin threatened, annoyed. "He's Orion! I am texting with Orion Arvesso!" 

"Orion?" her friend pondered. "Oh! The police officer who went to the mansion on Uncle Rod's birthday? You're texting with a pedophile?" 

Erin's anger flared. "He's not a pedophile! And he's not a cop! He's an agent member! His work is more complex than a cop, and he's my dad's godson!" 

"Girl, you're just seventeen. How old is he? Thirty? Does he know you're underage? He's still counted as a 'pedo'." Her friend rolled her eyes. 

"He's twenty-seven! I'm almost eighteen and mature! Give me my phone back!" She tried to snatch the phone from Jenna. 

"Wait!" exclaimed her cousin. 

Another cheerleading teammate, known as Riri, abruptly interrupted the playful banter. 

"Jenna! Erin! You only have five minutes left to change!" Riri called out as she peeked into the dressing room. 

"Shit!" Erin exclaimed, realizing she wore her school uniform while Jenna had already prepared.

"Change quickly!" Jenna urged. 

Erin hastily occupied one cubicle to change her clothes while the constant beep of her phone was audible from outside. 

"Jenna, if you're telling Orion all sorts of things, I'll get mad at you," she warned.

"Don't be too dramatic! You love me! Besides, I won't say anything to him that would make you unhappy." 

Erin shook her head. She swiftly changed before they were called again by Riri. Jenna returned her phone with a grin, and Erin casually tucked it into her bag. They almost sprinted towards the basketball court, seemingly forgetting what Jenna had sent to Orion. 

Their school won the final league. Erin's entire group of friends was delighted about the victory. Some people approached her with congratulatory gifts. Erin was famous in school, and it wasn't uncommon for people, even girls, to give her presents. 

"Hey! We have a party later tonight with the entire basketball team!" Jenna told her. 

She noticed envy in Jenna's eyes as she saw the gifts, which Erin quickly stuffed into her bag. 

"I have to ask Mom and Dad. You know I won't be allowed, especially at night. My curfew at home is just eight in the evening," Erin explained. 

"What are you? A nun?" Jenna teased. 

"Hi, Erin!" They spotted Daryl Arvesso, Orion's sibling. 

He approached them and handed Erin a bottle of juice. His cheeks were bright red. "Uh, this is for you." 

Seeing his nerdy look, Jenna couldn't help expressing her disgust. "Eew!"     

She playfully tapped Jenna on the arm. Daryl is Orion's sibling, and she doesn't want to disappoint his brother. 

Her friend ignored her and told Daryl, "Did you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror? I'll distance myself before I catch your absurdity. Tsk!" 

Jenna joined their other friends, leaving Daryl and Erin behind. 

"Thanks, Daryl! Don't mind Jenna. She's a bit snobbish, but she's also kind. By the way, did your brother get the cookies I baked? I hope he enjoyed my pastries," Erin said. 

"Uhm. Yeah! He shared some with me, so I got a taste. D-don't be mad at him. He shared the cookies with me and Dan-dan." 

Erin was pleased to hear that news. She harbored no ill feelings, seeing it as further evidence of his brother's positive qualities.  

As they chatted, Michael, the star basketball player from their school, approached and casually draped his arm around Daryl. 

"Are you hitting on with my friend here? Guys, did you know he was caught masturbating by Mon in the men's room just a while ago? Have you been circumcised yet?" Laughter ensued. 

"Michael!" Erin threatened. 

"What? I'm telling the truth! Did you imagine Erin while jerking off?" 

She gave him a disdainful look. "Leave him alone!" 

"Hey!" he continued, talking to Daryl. Erin disapproved of Michael's actions and words towards Orion's brother. "Do you want to come to our party?" 

Her face turned sour. 

"Erin will be there too. Of course, she'll be happy if you bring money to treat us again." Michael winked at her. 

She found Michael distasteful for various reasons despite his persistent courtship. He enjoyed bullying Daryl, who also showed persistence. Her friends believed Daryl pursued her due to his infatuation with her.

However, Erin clarified to Daryl that she desired Orion, his brother, conveying this when she obtained Orion's number.

"Michael, please, leave him alone! Daryl, ignore him." 

"You're so boring! Of course, Daryl will come because he wants to befriend us... Do you want to be friends with the basketball team? All you need is to bring money! There are plenty of women there, so you won't need—" He gestured, encircling his fingers, pumping an imaginary object. 

Erin was the one feeling embarrassed. Sexual jokes were prevalent among her group of friends, but she chose not to engage in them. Her lack of a boyfriend stemmed from her enduring crush on Orion, as she harbored feelings exclusively for him. 

Orion possesses well-defined shoulders, sun-kissed skin, and sculpted abdominal muscles. Charm and allure radiate from every aspect of him. He presents himself as a mature man, setting him apart from her friends on the basketball team, who view Orion as distinctly more mature than themselves.

Her focus shifted back to Michael. 

"We made a bet since the group will race. Many women will be present so that you won't be alone!"

"I'll go!" Daryl replied. "My brother has a car. I-I can borrow that!" 

Erin couldn't help but shake her head. While Daryl had friends at school, he seemed more engrossed in watching basketball. Erin wondered if he was a fan of the school's basketball team, a fact that Michael could easily exploit for teasing. 

To their surprise, Daryl's twin, Danica, abruptly intervened by pushing Michael's arms away from her brother's shoulder. 

"Leave my brother alone!" she exclaimed sternly, shooting a glare in Michael's direction. "You guys are the worst in this school!" 

"Easy, girl!" Michael responded, lifting his hands defensively. "You're so cute. You are far better than your brother." 

Danica rolled her eyes at their banter and yanked her twin away from the situation.

"Tsk! It's amusing how you turn him on!" Michael remarked. "Did you see his face? Like a newborn circumcised! You were in his mind while he was jerking off." 

Erin rolled her eyes at Michael's crude comments. She wasn't accustomed to such conversations, and Michael laughed in response.

She observed Danica glancing back at her. Uncertain of what was going through Danica's mind, she pondered that Jenna had targeted her multiple times. However, she found it difficult to confront her friend and ask her to stop bothering Orion's siblings. 

Her attention shifted to Michael, who grinned while glancing toward Daryl and Danica. 

"He's certainly interested. He's head over heels for you!" 

'Unfortunately, it's his brother I'm interested in.'

In a sudden realization, she recalled her message exchange with Orion. Hastily, she grabbed her phone, her cheeks flushing as she read the texts Jenna had sent about him.

Erin: I imagined myself riding on your big cock.

Erin: I want you to bury your face in my pussy. Hmm… Do you imagine yourself doing that? 

She was shocked by what she read.  

"Jenna!" she exclaimed to her friend, who was conversing with another basketball player. She walked over to her. 

"My God! Why did you text Orion like that?! O.M.G." 

Her friend burst into laughter. "Girl, act more mature if you want him to like you. Your text exchanges are so cheesy! I'm sure he liked everything I sent him." 

She noticed a response from his number, which she had labeled "My O" since his siblings referred to him as Brother O. 

My O: Hmm… I love that!

Erin's cheeks were a bright shade of red. Despite her lack of experience, judging by his response to Jenna's messages, it seemed like he enjoyed them. How could she salvage the situation without admitting she wasn't the one who texted him? 

She did not intend to attend the party that night, but Jenna insisted. Jenna convinced her to sneak through the window, especially after learning that Daryl would bring Orion's car.

She yearned to feel the experience of being in his car. What was it like to ride in his sports car? 

Yet that evening transformed into a nightmare for her. She never should have attended, nor should she have permitted Michael to persuade Daryl to join, ultimately becoming the subject of their friends' pranks.

It wasn't supposed to be like this...