Derek's point of view:As Ronnie and I got out of the car and stood before Jean, I couldn't help but wonder what was happening. What was Jean doing here? I could feel his intense gaze on me as I looked away. Jean was wearing his police uniform, and he looked quite intimidating. He glared at Ronnie and me as we stood there quietly.Jean cocked his head to one side and asked, "What's the name, kids?" Ronnie stuttered as she answered, "I-I'm Veronica Diamond." Jean narrowed his eyes and then glanced at me. "Really. And you must be?"I wanted to lie, but I knew it would do me no good. Jean must've already recognized whom I was. "Derek Diamond," I replied.There was silence that followed suit, and the wind whistled through the bushes in the dark night. Finally, Jean spoke, "You've grown up. How many years has it been?"My heart sank, and I replied, "I don't remember. It's been quite a long while. I-I'm surprised you still remember me.""Sure," Jean said with a hard voice. "Like I'd
Derek's point of view:The next day, my dad decided to take our family down to the countryside of town to catch up on old times. Ronnie's mom gave us directions on places of interest as we drove in my dad's sleek car. Ronnie was seated next to me, and we acted indifferently to each other, pretending not to get too close to each other.But my dad and Ronnie's mom were happy, chatting away like old friends. They were reminiscing about the old days when they used to come to this area for picnics and barbeques. I couldn't help but feel a little jealous of how close they seemed.The other night, after Ronnie and I returned back together at the hotel, it was already night. I recalled how we slept together in the same bed. We didn't do anything intimate, just light kisses and then sleep. It felt so peaceful to be close to her like that.As we were driving, my dad suddenly swerved the car to a restaurant Ronnie's mom had directed. The restaurant was a simple building with a rustic char
Ronnie's point of view:As we rode back to the hotel in the backseat of our parents' car, I couldn't help but notice Derek gritting his teeth and lost in his thoughts. We had just finished having lunch at the restaurant. I had a sure feeling there was clearly something on Derek's mind.I wondered what had transpired between him and Jean outside the restaurant. They had spoken alone for a few minutes, and I had a feeling that it wasn't just small talk. I looked over at Derek, trying to read his expression, but he remained silent.When we arrived at the hotel, we all retired to our suite. Derek and I took the elevator up in silence. We walked into the hallway and stood at our doors opposite each other. Just as Derek was about to enter his suite, I blurted out, "Come in my room. Let's talk."Derek followed me into my suite, and I shut the door behind us. I could tell he was hesitant to talk, but I needed to know what was going on. "So, what did you and Jean talk about outside the
Ronnie's first person:I couldn't believe what had just happened. My mother had caught me kissing Derek, my stepbrother. It was supposed to be our secret, but now everything was out in the open. Derek and I had been keeping our relationship under wraps for the past few months, afraid of what our parents would think if they found out. And now, it seemed like we were about to face the consequences of our actions.As I walked into Derek's room, I could feel the tension thick in the air. He was sitting on his bed, arms crossed, and a frown on his face, trying to make sense of what had just happened. I could tell that he was just as shocked as I was.Meanwhile I kept pacing back and forth, unable to sit still. My heart was racing, and my mind was spinning as I tried to come up with something to say."What the hell was that, Ronnie?" Derek finally spoke, breaking the silence."I...I don't know," I stammered, feeling my cheeks flush red."You don't know? You were kissing me, for God's
Derek's point of view:I was having a dream, a strange dream. I was standing on the bank of a river, and in front of me, I saw Big fat Joe. Big fat Joe, a chubby kid who always had an evil smirk on his face. But now, he looked different. He looked terrified, his face twisted with fear.As I watched, Joe stumbled and fell into the river. The water was moving fast, and Joe struggled to keep his head above the water. He was crying for help, but nobody was around. I could see him fighting against the current, but he was losing the battle.I felt a sudden urge to save him. Without thinking twice, I jumped into the river and dived into the water. But as soon as I hit the water, I realized my mistake. The current was too strong, and my small body couldn't handle it.I struggled to keep my head above the water, trying to find Joe. I could see him in the distance, still struggling. I swam towards him, but the current was pulling us both down. I felt a surge of panic rise in my chest.
Ronnie's first person:As I drove back to the hotel, my mind was racing with thoughts about Derek. I couldn't believe what had happened between us. I had always imagined us being together forever, but now it seemed like that dream was slipping away.When I arrived at the hotel, I headed straight to my suite. I knew my mother would be waiting for me. As soon as I opened the door, I saw her sitting on the couch, her hand resting on her pregnant belly."Hey, Mom," I said, as I walked passed her, my head bent in shame. "Hey, Ronnie," she replied, her face fixed. "How was your day?""It was okay," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Just got a lot of stuff on my mind."We made some small talk for a few minutes before I finally asked about my stepdad."How's stepdad doing?" I asked."He's okay," my mom said, her expression clouding over. "He went out for a drink to clear his head."I knew immediately that he was upset about Derek. I could feel my heart sinking even further."Is he up
Derek's point of view:As Ronnie and I stepped out of the hospital together, we were surprised to see Jean waiting for us.He was leaning against his patrol car, striking in his cop uniform. Jean waved at us, and we both walked towards him. As we approached him, I realized that I was no longer afraid of him. Instead, I felt bold and confident."How's the head?" Jean asked me as we reached him."I've gotten better," I replied, trying to sound upbeat.There was an awkward silence between us until Ronnie excused herself, giving us some privacy."About that night—" Jean began.But I interrupted him, "It's nothing. I understand why you did that. I was expecting you would.""I hate it when people keep secrets and lies," Jean said. "Since you and Ronnie were lovers, your parents must at least know, which is why I told them.""I understand," I said, nodding my head."If you love someone, you don't hide it from the world," Jean said, his voice full of conviction.I thought about his words fo
Derek's point of view:As Ronnie and I sat on her bed, I held onto her tightly. It was a habit that we developed over time, a way to feel connected even when we were apart. But today, Ronnie seemed tense in my arms. I could feel her heart racing against my chest, and I knew that something was bothering her."What's wrong, Ron?" I asked, kissing the top of her head."I don't know," she replied softly, leaning into me. "I'm just scared.""Scared of what?" I prompted gently, rubbing soothing circles on her back."Scared of us," she admitted finally, pulling away to look at me. "Our relationship. It's not normal, Derek. We're step-siblings."I sighed, knowing that this conversation was coming sooner or later. "I know it's not normal, Ron. But we love each other. And our parents are okay with it now, so why can't we be?""But what about everyone else?" Ronnie argued, looking worried. "What about our friends? What about the rest of the world?"I shrugged, not having an answer for her. "I
Derek's point of view:Ronnie and I had been waiting for our parents to arrive in Paris so we could have a family meeting and discuss our relationship. We were prepared to fight for our love, no matter what our parents said.When they finally arrived, we were both surprised by their demeanor. Instead of being confrontational, they smiled at us and asked for our forgiveness for not understanding us.Ronnie's mom spoke first, "I want to apologize for how I've treated your relationship, Ronnie. It was wrong of me to try and force my views on you. You're an adult now and I trust you to make your own decisions."Ronnie was taken aback by her mother's words, "Thank you, Mom. That means a lot to me."My dad also spoke up, "I know I haven't been the easiest father to deal with, Derek. But I want you to know that I respect you and your choices. I may not agree with them all the time, but I'll always support you."I was surprised by his words, "Thank you, Dad. That means more to me than you k
Derek's point of view:I booked a plane for Paris as soon as I left my father's office, and I packed my bags and boarded the plane without looking back. My phone kept ringing, but I didn't answer. I needed some time to clear my head and figure out what I was going to do next.It had been a month weeks since Ronnie left, and I hadn't been the same. I was restless and distracted at work, and I knew I couldn't continue like this. That's why I had to resign from my father's company. It was a difficult decision, but I knew I had to do it if I wanted to be happy.As the plane took off, I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. I couldn't wait to be reunited with Ronnie, but I also knew that there were challenges ahead. We had a lot to talk about, and we needed to figure out what we were going to do next.But one thing was for sure: I couldn't imagine my life without Ronnie. She was my everything, and I was willing to do whatever it takes to make this work.Even if it meant defying my f
Later that evening, Ronnie and I got together in my apartment we rented together. Ronnie was leaning her head on my shoulder, her arms wrapped around my neck. We were sitting on the couch, watching a movie, and enjoying each other's company. Suddenly, I had an idea. It was a bit impulsive, but I felt like it could work."Ronnie, let's make a baby," I said.She lifted her head from my shoulder and looked at me with surprise. "What?" she asked."If you got pregnant, then our parents would have no choice but to approve of us getting married," I explained.Ronnie's eyes widened as she considered my proposal. "That's a brilliant idea," she said, her smile slowly faded away. "but...""But?" I raised my eyebrows. Ronnie shook her head, "I want to get married first before having a baby, Derek."I knew that was coming. "Our parents would never approve of our wedding unless they're backed against the corner," I countered. "You having a baby clinches it.""I can't," Ronnie said, her tone p
Ronnie's point of view:I walked into my mother's room, the door creaking slightly as it closed behind me. She was sitting on her bed, looking up at me with a worried expression. I knew that this wasn't going to be an easy conversation. We'd been arguing a lot lately, and I knew that things were coming to a head."What do you want, Ronnie?" My mother asked, her voice soft and almost pleading."I need to know why you and dad won't approve of me and Derek getting married," I said, trying to keep my voice calm and steady.My mother sighed heavily, as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders. "Ronnie, you know why. We can't approve of you marrying your stepbrother. It's just not right.""But why? We're not blood-related. We're not even technically step-siblings anymore. You and dad approved of our relationship, and Derek's dad even supported us through all that media scandal. We're just two people who love each other," I argued, feeling the frustration building inside me."It's
Derek's first person:Ronnie and I were more than just step-siblings. We fell in love during our childhood days, and our relationship grew stronger as time went on to adulthood. Despite attending different universities, we made sure to stay in touch. We would call and text each other frequently, sharing our thoughts and feelings. We even made a pact to visit each other as often as we could.When we couldn't be together, we found other ways to stay connected. We would send each other love notes and care packages, reminding each other of our love. It was always comforting to know that we had each other, even when we were apart.As our relationship progressed, we graduated from university. Ronnie pursued her passion for painting, and I took over my father's billion-dollar business. It was a challenging time and we rarely see ourselves, but we supported each other through it all. We knew that no matter what, we would always have each other's backs.Despite our busy schedules, we
Ronnie's point of view:The rest of the semester was a bit of a rollercoaster for me. On one hand, I was heartbroken over what had happened with Derek and devastated by the fact that Mike was fooling around with girls at his school.But on the other hand, I was determined to focus on my studies and try to move forward with my life.I threw myself into my classes and spent long hours at the library, pouring over textbooks and taking copious notes. I tried to stay busy, filling my free time with studying, exercise, and spending time with my friends.But despite my best efforts, I couldn't shake the feelings of sadness and heartache that seemed to linger around me. I missed Derek and wished that things could have been different between us. And I couldn't help but think about Mike and wonder what might have been if things had turned out differently.As the end of the semester approached, I found myself growing more and more anxious about my future. I wasn't sure where I was headed or
Ronnie's point of view:After hanging up with Derek, I sat in my room for what felt like hours, just staring blankly at the wall. I couldn't believe what I had just heard - that he had been seeing other girls behind my back.My mind was spinning with thoughts and emotions. How could he do this to me? Did he really love me at all? I felt hurt, angry, and betrayed all at once. I loved Derek so much, and the thought of him being with someone else made me sick.But at the same time, I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe I was partly to blame.Maybe if I had been there for him more, if I had made more of an effort to visit him, he wouldn't have felt the need to see other girls. Maybe it was my fault for not being enough for him.Ever since we began schooling separately, none of us had the time to visit one another. I couldn't even pay him a visit partly because I was afraid someone might recognise me in his school. Derek was an honest guy. I respect him for not hiding anything fro
Derek's point of view:When I enrolled in my university, I was eager to start dating. Ronnie went to another university, but we tried to make it work. However, being away from her made me feel lonely, and I found myself falling back into my old habit of flirting with girls.It started innocently enough, just harmless flirting and talking to girls in my classes. But then it escalated, and before I knew it, I was hooking up with girls from my school. I couldn't help myself. The attention and excitement were addicting.I knew what I was doing was wrong, and I felt guilty about it. Ronnie was a great girlfriend, and I knew I was being unfair to her. But at the same time, I couldn't stop myself. The thrill of being with new girls was too tempting.I tried to justify my actions by telling myself that Ronnie and I were so far apart, and our relationship was already strained. But deep down, I knew that wasn't a valid excuse. I was betraying her trust, and it made me feel terrible.I wi
Ronnie's point of view: I was sitting in my room, surrounded by piles of books, trying to concentrate on studying. It was a particularly difficult chapter in my history textbook, and I was struggling to make sense of the complex timelines and events. The sound of raindrops tapping against my window was the only thing that broke the silence in my room.Suddenly, a thunderclap outside made me jump in my seat, causing my pen to fly out of my hand. I froze, realizing that it was raining heavily outside. I could hear the loud sound of the raindrops pelting against my window.Fear crept into my mind, and I could feel my heart racing.I pulled the blanket closer to me, trying to calm myself down, but the sound of thunderclaps kept coming one after another. It was terrifying, and I felt like I was in the middle of a warzone. As I was trying to calm myself down, another thunderclap shook the room, and I yelped, unable to control my fear.Suddenly, my thoughts drifted to Derek. Whenever