Chapter 1 Step-brother

Anxiety weighed heavily on Jenny as she scanned the hallway, searching faces to see if anyone noticed. Seeing no curious glances directed their way, she focused back on Kevin, who was nervously biting his lower lip and scratching the back of his head.

"I've really enjoyed being your lab partner these past months," Kevin said, bowing his head slightly, causing his golden-brown curls to spill over his forehead. Jenny felt like she had to look up at the sky just to meet his eyes. "Would you be interested in going on a date with me?"

Her stomach tightened, a colorful swirl of caution and delight rushed through her mind. Kevin's eyes remained steady and serene as they searched her face, and Jenny wanted to respond in a way that would make him smile again.

Before she could answer, someone stepped between them. Recognizing the familiar cologne first, she stepped back instinctively upon realizing it was her brother, Julius.

"Julius," Jenny said, trying to step aside to catch Kevin's gaze again. "Excuse you, we were having a conversation."

But Julius kept his gaze fixed on Kevin, and so did Kevin on him, an unspoken tension filling the space between them.

"Excuse me," Julius said, his voice cold and flat. Though Jenny stood behind him, she felt Julius's piercing brown eyes on both Kevin and herself. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm asking Jenny out," Kevin replied confidently, not realizing how wrong that answer could go. Jenny leaned her sweaty palm against the cool stone wall, hoping it would anchor her and help her decide on her next move.

Julius laughed, the sound nearly shrill and jarring. Kevin visibly winced, and Julius leaned closer, whispering something to Kevin that she couldn't hear.

"Julius!" Jenny protested, trying to maneuver around him and wedge herself between the two. But Julius's broad back filled the entire alcove, blocking her attempts to intervene. When she moved, he instinctively shifted to keep her behind him, even though he couldn't see her.

Whatever Julius said caused Kevin to stand taller, his blue eyes beginning to blaze. He took a small step forward, ready to speak and confront Julius. Jenny watched the scene unfold in slow motion, acutely aware of what was likely to happen next, recalling what happened the last time a boy approached her like this in the hallway.

Before she could intervene, Julius lunged forward. His elbow collided with Kevin's face, resulting in a bloody mess as Kevin bent over from the unexpected hit. Jenny let out an unthinking shriek, drawing the attention of nearby students. Many edged closer to defuse the situation but retreated upon realizing that it was Julius throwing the punches.

"Julius!" she screamed, straining on her toes to grab his shoulder and pull him back. With ease, he rolled his shoulder, dislodging her grip and causing her to tumble backwards into the crowd of useless onlookers behind her.

Jenny once thought she had seen Julius at his most furious, but she was mistaken. Her arms and legs felt like lead as she watched him grab Kevin by the crisp collar of his school uniform and slam him against the brick wall, a painting of the current headmaster jolting from the impact.

"Kevin!" Jenny must have shouted, for the hall fell silent around her.

Kevin's head made a sickening thud against the wall, leaving a terrifying halo of blood. Jenny covered her mouth, overwhelmed by horror as Julius relentlessly assaulted Kevin's jaw, neck, and nose. She knew she had to act to get Kevin out, but the sound of his skull hitting the brick echoed in her mind.

The hallway filled with the wet smacks and frantic breathing as Julius continued, both boys awash in blood. Kevin hung unconscious, slumped against the wall, held up only by Julius's grasp on his now-stained shirt.

Jenny scanned the hallway desperately for an adult to intervene. Along with the other students, she realized with increasing dread that Julius might kill Kevin. She took a step toward the trophy case, considering using the largest trophy to stop Julius, consequences be damned.

Before she could act, Julius abruptly stopped, releasing his grip on Kevin, who sank to the marble floor like a limp puppet. Kevin's head sagged, blood trickling from his mouth, while stunned students looked on.

Julius stepped back, nearly colliding with Jenny, who quickly sidestepped. Suddenly, a few boys appeared, lifting Kevin and dragging him toward the nurse's office. A teacher glimpsed the scene, alarmed by the injuries; upon seeing Julius's bloodied appearance, he hurried in the opposite direction.

Jenny's chest heaved and her heart pounded loudly in her ears. On seeing Julius again, the hallway scattered as if afraid.

"What the hell?" Jenny heard herself say, growing louder. She turned to Julius, anger simmering. "What the hell, Julius?"

He tilted his head, pretending to polish blood from a bronze button on his blazer with a handkerchief. When he smiled at her, Jenny wished she could strike him like he struck Kevin.

"You should thank me," he said quietly, a dead calm in his voice. He stepped forward, placing a blood-stained palm on her head. "That scholarship trash had no right talking to you."

Jenny pulled away, the smell of blood heavy in the air. Julius left his hand hovering, blood dripping from his finger.

"You can't just assault every guy who talks to me, Julius! Kevin is just a guy! He's kind—"

Julius's face darkened, his hand lowered as his smile twisted into a snarl.

"Kevin," he sneered, advancing until Jenny was trapped against the wall, his hot breath oppressive, "is a worthless nobody. Having you in this family is bad enough without you running around with every lowlife this school happens to admit."

Despite her wishes, Jenny was frozen. In her mind, she fought back, shoving him away. The now-empty halls felt suffocatingly lonely.

"My mother picked you up from the trash," Julius continued, his breath carrying the scent of spearmint leaves from their garden. "And I can put you back there."

Julius studied her impassively before stepping away, leaving a refreshing gust of air. Without glancing back, he walked down the hallway, discarding his jacket, likely to change into a clean uniform.

Jenny pressed her palms to her eyes, determined not to cry.

The bell rang loudly, signaling the end of class and prompting students to scatter. Julius shot one last look at Jenny, his dark eyes simmering with hatred and rage, before pushing past her and joining the crowd. Feeling a surge of agony, Jenny turned back to Kevin, desperate to offer some comfort or anything to improve the situation. Yet, as she searched for him, she realized he was already gone, hopefully seeking the medical attention he so clearly needed. Alone in the hallway, she felt surrounded only by the vivid splatter of his blood.

Tears she had been holding back now threatened to spill over. Why couldn't her brother just stay out of her life? It shouldn't matter who she dated or spoke to! His cruel words stung deeply; she had barely managed to kiss anyone before Julius frightened them away, let alone build any meaningful relationship.