Chapter 4: My boyfriend's brother

ADRIANA

~~~

It's been two days since I angrily broke up with Ryan.

After I returned that night, my dad and mom scolded me harshly. It was the first time they spoke to me that way, and honestly, I deserved it. I really made them worried.

I was grounded for a week.

Ryan didn't bring me flowers. He didn't call, didn't text. And it hurt.

I've been cooped up in my room since I returned from school. Even Rissa and Abby are mad at me. My mood is rotten and I don't want to talk to anyone.

I walk over to the window and stare outside. My stalker hasn't shown his face since he chased me at the abandoned Park.

Maybe it's time I let my parents know about him, considering how he almost attacked me. Whoever he is, he's dangerous. I realize that now.

I walk back to the bed and pull out my diary, about to pour out my feelings, but the door to my room opens.

Ryan steps in, holding a bouquet of roses.

My mood turns worse immediately. I push my diary under my pillows again and get up.

"What are you doing here?" I ask angrily.

He looks vulnerable, like he has been crying. His eyes are red-rimmed and puffy, and he doesn't meet my eye.

"Get out of my room." I snap. "I don't need your flowers. I don't need you."

He closes the distance between us and falls to his knees before me, holding my legs.

"Please, baby." He whispers. "I can't live without you."

And just like that, my heart melts. The same way it melts every time he comes back to beg me. I want to push him away. I want to stand on my decision, but when he looks up at me and I see how broken he is, I can't. My heart breaks for him.

Call me a fool for doing this, but I don't care. For Ryan, I'll gladly be a fool.

"It's okay." I whisper, wrapping my arms around him. "I forgive you."

Ryan clings to me, holding my legs tightly. His head is buried between my thighs.

"I won't ever hurt you babe. I promise."

Make that his ninetieth promise.

"I know you won't." I crouch before him and kiss him, realizing at that moment that my whole world revolves around him. I can't let him go.

I lead him to the bed and cuddle with him. This is the first time in our two-year relationship that we have actually cuddled.

It makes my heart warm up, that is until he starts reaching for the waist band of my shorts.

"Ryan..." I protest.

"I want you." He whispers, covering my body with his. He restrains my hands as I begin to struggle.

"Ryan, I'm not in the mood." I complain, but just like other times, he doesn't listen. He doesn't care.

He's pushing my shorts down already, prying my thighs open when someone bangs heavily on the door.

He jumps off, and I quickly yank my shorts up.

"Who is it?" He snarls, angry at the interruption.

The door opens and Romeo steps in. He takes one look at Ryan and instantly knows what almost happened.

"Get out." He snaps. "I need to talk to my sister."

"We're busy." Ryan snaps back.

"Get the fuck out or I'll throw you out."

"Romeo, stop it." I get off the bed and throw myself between the two boys before they can get into a fight.

Ryan shoots me a dark look, his gaze scathing. Without another word, he walks out of the room and slams the door.

I immediately go after him, but Romeo stops me.

"You're really going after him?" He asks, his tone incredulous. "Adri, he doesn't care about you. He humiliates you, makes you feel useless, yet you still want him?"

"I love him." I retort, yanking my hand out of his grip. "You wouldn't understand, Romeo. You've never been in love."

I push past him and hurry after Ryan.

Karina is curled up on the couch in the living room, watching TV when I rush past.

"You're grounded!" She yells after me. "Where are you going?"

"I'll be back soon." I yell back as I rush through the doors. All I can think about is Ryan.

I don't find him when I step outside. I hurry towards the entrance gates, hoping I'll catch up with him.

I don't. I can't tell if he drove here, or if he walked. I race down the silent street, hoping to catch a glimpse of him walking away.

Half an hour later, I finally realize he's gone. I stand in the middle of the road, breathless, tears prickling behind my eyes.

My chest feels heavy, and I wish I can see him and apologize. I always get the feeling to apologize whenever he's upset. I feel like I did something wrong.

As I turn to go back home, a figure in the middle of the road makes me halt.

My eyes widen in shock. It's my stalker.

This time, he doesn't waste a second. He charges towards me.

I whirl around and break into a mad run. I try to scream, but fear has lodged a hot ball in my throat. I can't even make a sound.

I dash around a corner, adrenaline rushing through my bloodstream. Blood roars in my ears, drowning out every other sound.

Suddenly, I collide into something solid.

I bounce back from the force of it, wincing as I land on my ass. My eyes dart around, searching for the psycho chasing me.

But he's gone. There's no sign of him.

I rush to my feet quickly, still breathless from the mad dash.

Then I hear a voice.

"Hey, are you okay?"

I finally focus on the person I crashed into. He's dressed in a black sweatshirt and matching pants. White headphones hang from his head, and he's staring at me in concern.

"Are you okay?" He repeats.

For a moment, I can't speak. Fear and embarrassment are waging a war within me. I imagine how I looked, barrelling into this stranger like a mad fool. Embarrassment surfaces and I feel my cheeks turn hot.

"T–there was someone." I stutter. "Someone was after me. Did you see him?"

He turns and looks around, searching the area carefully.

"I didn't see anyone." He says, turning back to stare at me. "I didn't even see you until it was too late. Are you sure someone was after you?"

I frown at the question. Of course you fucker! If someone wasn't after me, I wouldn't be running like a mad goat.

I push my hair away from my face and step away from the stranger.

"Sorry for the collision." I mutter, about to turn and walk away.

But he stops me.

"Hey, I know you."

I pause and turn around. I take another look at his face, joggling my memory to find a match. I come up blank. He doesn't look familiar.

"You know me?" I repeat.

He nods. "You're Adriana, aren't you?"

Okay, this is getting weird. I'm not popular, and I don't talk to the other kids in Ravenswood estate. I'm not even sure they know my name. How does this stranger know me?

"I am." I say. "Who are you? How do you know my name?"

His next words shocks me to the core.

"You're my brother's crazy girlfriend, aren't you? The fucked up Barbie? Ryan never shuts up about you."

My heart slams hard once, twice. I'm sure my face is a riot of emotions because I am completely stupefied.

Ryan doesn't have a brother. He has never mentioned one. He told me he was an only child.

So what is this stranger saying?

"You can't be Ryan's brother." I return. "Ryan is an only child."

He doesn't look surprised. It's almost like he expected me to say that.

"Typical of him." He mutters coldly, then stretches out his hand. "I'm Nick. Nick Lazzare. Ryan's older brother."