Chapter Five

DERRICK*

"Seniors, finally can you believe it," Kendra said as she clapped her hands excitedly and then jumped up to kiss me on the cheek.

"Yup, thank goodness only one more year, and I can get the heck out of this town," Emberly grumbled as we all made our way into the school.

I know what Emberly means to say. She's ready to get as far away from me as humanly possible. With her SAT scores and the fact that she is only a few points behind me in becoming valedictorian, she has already been accepted to numerous colleges. Our parents, however, are pushing for us to go to Texas Tech and stay close to home. They want us here to run the home office while they travel. So me being the asshole that I am, I can't help what I say next.

"Oh yes, a whole fifteen minutes away, how exciting,"

Emberly rolled her eyes. Emberly has gotten two acceptance letters from colleges in France, so she's not overly joyful about the fact that she's going to be stuck here with me. Life can be a bitch sometimes.

Mom and dad have made it a point to be home more over the last year, and when Emberly and I aren't in school or busy with Sports, they have slowly pushed us into our business roles. They will give me the CEO position once I finish college, but Emberly continues to fight to prove her worth. I don't know why she can't get it through her mind that I'm the businessman and she's the designer. Mom's business was struggling until my dad came along and saved her. What was once a tiny little mom-and-pop shop has become a massive billion-dollar franchise.

"Ok, stop it, you two, we're going to be late to class," Kendra said as she left Emberly and me standing there. Emberly gave me a death glare and ran to catch up with Kendra.

***

"I can't believe my babies are Seniors now. How did things go today for you two?" Mom asked as she sat down at the dinner table. Emberly and I glared at each other.

"Fine, just like any other day, mom," Emberly said as she stabbed her country-fried steak with a fork and started cutting it into pieces.

"Will you and dad be here on Friday for the football game?" I asked as I dove into my mashed potatoes and gravy.

"Yes, we won't be leaving for Italy until Saturday,"

"So you'll miss my first volleyball game; what a shocker," Emberly grumbled.

"I'm sorry, honey. We will only be gone a week and should be home for your next game,"

"Where's dad?" I asked.

"He should be here soon. We believe someone is swindling money from one of the boutiques overseas. We may need to leave for Italy sooner than planned. Try not to be upset if we end up missing your football game,"

"I won't; that's a serious matter, so I understand,"

"Can I be excused?" Emberly said as she put her fork and knife down.

"You have hardly eaten a bite; are you not feeling well?"

"I'm just tired mom, it's been a long day, and I just want to head up, take a shower and go to bed,"

"Ok, clear your plate and put it in the dishwasher, please,"

Emberly didn't say anything as she got up and did what mom had asked her. Then walked off toward the stairs.

"I know it seems as if we don't care what happens with you kids, but we do. Your dad and I are so proud of you both. I'm sorry that we are gone so much. You will understand when you take over the business. We have tried to be home more this last year, and we will do our best to be here,"

"Emberly will be ok, mom; she needs some space. She wants to get away from here; I think you and dad should let her go to college somewhere else,"

"She's not going to Paris, Derrick; we need her here,"

"Let her go to Colorado then, or anywhere, as long as she's not stuck here. She doesn't have to be here to work on her designs; she can do that anywhere. You can't keep her trapped here forever; she needs to be free. Besides, we won't be taking over until we finish college anyway. Let her go, mom,"

"I'm done with this conversation. You are both going to Tech, and that's final. Finish eating your food, please. It's getting cold,"

I helped mom clean the table off and did the dishes, which Emberly and I usually do together. Mom left and went to the office. I hoped she would talk to Emberly, but that would be too much to ask. I found myself standing in front of Emberly's door. I stood there a few minutes before knocking on her door. She didn't answer, so I opened the door and walked in. Emberly was sitting at her desk sketching a dress.

"Wow, that looks amazing," I said. Emberly looked up at me, tears streaming down her face, and my heart broke.

"You don't have to fight my battles for me. You won the company's yours; I'm going to Tech. I'm never going to get away from here or away from you. Can you please leave me alone?"

"The company will be both of ours, Ember,"

"Yeah, but you're going to be running everything and doing what you do best and ordering me around. You have ruined everything for me. Because of you, I'll never get away from here," Emberly said as she wiped the tears from her eyes and returned to her sketching.

"Ember," I said as I gripped her shoulder, and she flinched away from me.

"Just leave me alone, Derrick. Like you told mom, I need space,"

Emberly had heard everything I had told mom. I was only trying to help her. I wouldn't have to if she would grow some balls and stand up to mom and dad herself, but she doesn't. She leaves it all up to me and then blames me for everything.

"I wouldn't have to fight your battles for you if you would do it yourself," I said as I slammed her door shut.

EMBERLY*

Derrick's right; I needed to start fighting my own battles. I needed to stand up to my parents. Tell them outright I want the CEO position, and want to go away to college. I've more than earned my right to have both. How are they to know my wishes if I never tell them?

I jumped in the shower to wash away the tears that had dried on my face, got into my sleeper shorts and spaghetti strap shirt, and went to Derrick's room to apologize for being a bitch.

He was lying in his bed with his eyes closed with his earbuds in, listening to music, so he hadn't heard me when I knocked on his door and hadn't noticed me when I walked in. He jumped in surprise when I sat next to him on the bed. He grimaced and took his earbuds out of his ears.

"I'm tired, and I don't want to fight with you anymore, Ember,"

"I don't want to fight anymore either. I came to apologize,"

"Oh, ok,"

"I'm sorry for always being such a bitch to you. I'm the cause of most of the fights we have. I've always blamed you for going after what I feel should be mine when I've never told mom or dad I wanted it in the first place. You are right, though. I would never be happy running the business. I want to help you run it, though, so if you let me, perhaps we can run it together. Mainly you, though, so I can do what I do best and work on my designs,"

"I never thought I would see the day you would tell me I was right. Ember, we are eighteen years old. We still have several years before we take over. You are stressing over something no teenager should be stressing over. We are Seniors; we are supposed to be having the time of our lives. Which reminds me, I'm hoping mom and dad leave early for Italy because it's high time we let loose and have a party here, don't you think,"

"Uh,"

"Oh, come on, we both need to learn how to live a little," Derrick said as he sat up and put an arm around my shoulders.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. I mean, we do have a pool, and the nearest neighbor is a mile away. We have the perfect spread for a party," I smiled, and Derrick winked at me.

"Exactly, I'm glad to see we are both agreeing on something for once," Derrick said, then kissed me on the cheek.

I haven't had any fantasies of Derrick since that night Caden almost killed me, but at that moment, I wanted nothing more than for Derrick to kiss me. He has been such an ass to me, though, since then and always kept away from me as much as possible. Why was I all of a sudden wanting him? As if he knew what was going on inside my mind Derrick hooked my chin and stared deeply into my eyes, and kissed me gently on the lips.

"I'm sorry for always being an ass; I want you more than anything. You're so beautiful and perfect in every way. I've always hated you because of the way I feel for you. I'm not supposed to feel this way; you are my sister. We could never be anything more," Derrick said as he cradled my head in his hands.

"Stepsister Derrick, we are only siblings by marriage. No one would have to know. Hell, our parents are always gone,"

"You want me to, then?"

"Yes, more than anything,"

"Emberly honey, are you in the bathroom," mom called.

"Shit!" I ran to the bathroom. "Yes, just one minute, I'll be right there," I flushed the toilet, washed my hands, and opened the bathroom door to see that my mom was sitting on my bed.

"Come sit with me so we can talk, please,"

"I had a brief chat with your brother earlier about you wanting to go away for college. I've seen your acceptance letters to Paris that you have conveniently stuck to the refrigerator. You can't go to Paris, but I talked to your father, and we are ok with you going to Texas A&M if you want. I realize that isn't as far away as you would like, but it's either that or Texas Tech,"

"I'll go to WT, mom. It's two hours away, and I can come home on the weekends and do laundry,"

"But I thought the whole idea was for you to get away, right? Why would you want to go to a college so close to home when you could go to Tech,"

"You guys haven't been around to know this, but I've toured all of the major colleges in Texas, mom, as well as some in Oklahoma and Colorado. WT is my favorite out of all of them. I want the college experience and the independence,"

"Alright, whatever will make you happy, just as long as you take your place in the company when this is all over,"

"Yes, mom, don't worry. Oh, I have something for you I think you'll love. It would be perfect for when prom rolls around," I said as I went to my desk and grabbed the sketch I had been working on.

"Oh honey, this is gorgeous; screw prom; this dress belongs on the red carpet. Famous singers and actresses would kill for this dress,"

"Whatever, mom,"

"No, I'm serious. Do you have anything else to show me?"

"Um, yes, actually," I said as I got up and retrieved the folder jam-packed with sketches of clothes and jewelry Ive sketched over the last two years.

Mom became teary-eyed as she thumbed through the images. "I'm so sorry, honey. I had no idea you were so talented. These are amazing. Would you mind if we used them? We would give you the profits,"

"Sure, go ahead; they were meant for the family business anyway. I couldn't bring myself to show you; I didn't think you would like them. They are so different from anything already available in the boutiques,"

"No, change is always good. Never be afraid to show your work to your dad or me. Derrick wasn't over exaggerating how good you are. Better than your momma, that's for sure. We will get to work on all of these right away," mom said as she hugged me and walked to my door to leave.

"I love you, Emberly,"

"I love you too, momma,"

Derrick walked into my room a few minutes later. "Well, I guess you're going to WT,"

"Did you eavesdrop on our whole conversation?"

"Of course. Are you excited?"

"I'm just glad to get a chance to get away from here for a while,"

"So about earlier,"

"Yeah, that was close. Maybe we should end this before it has a chance to flourish. Besides, you have Kendra, and I couldn't hurt her like that,"

"No, that's not what I was thinking at all. But you are right; we would probably tear each other to pieces anyway,"

"Yeah, you are right on that one,"

"One last kiss?"

"Sure, that would be nice," I said as I strolled toward Derrick.

Writer's Note

I hope you all are enjoying Derrick and Emberly's story so far. Let me know your thought in the comments. Hugs 🤗 Sapphirian J.😍