Saved by Sweet Alien Box Set (33 page)

“Sophia, Sophia…” Zoe is rushing my way.

“Morning, Humming Bird.  You’re early today.”

“Are you waiting for Duncan, Sophia?” She tries to catch
up her breath.

I look at the oak tree at the school.  “Nope.  Why?”

“Did you guys hang out yesterday?”

“Nope.”

“Oh, come on, Sophia…”

“Trust me.  We didn’t.  Guess what?  Nancy invited us to
her new house but Duncan didn’t show up.”

“Really?  You guys are going to live together, huh?  When
are you moving in?”

“Don’t know.”

“Oh, God.  Why didn’t this happen to me?”

“You can ask your dad to divorce your mom and then marry
Nancy.” I tease.

“Shush, Sophia.”

Suddenly, I remember something.  “Hey, Humming Bird, did
you tell the world that Duncan is my soon-to-be stepbrother?”

“Me?  No fucking way.  Why?”

“Oh, my, that’s a
big
improvement.”  I didn’t
realize that she could have kept a secret this big for so long.  I thought she
had texted or called every girl she knew.

“Use your head, Sophia.” She grins.  “I want to keep
Duncan all for myself, okay?”

“No way, Zoe, that’s not going to happen in a zillion
years.” I blush. 

Seriously, I still want to get Duncan, stepbrother or not. 
I can’t care that much.

“We will see… Hey, Sophia, you want to keep him for
yourself, right?”

I roll my eyes.  There is no need to argue.  She knows me
too well.

“I have an idea.” Her smile is huge.

“What… idea?” She always has weird ideas.

“Let’s share him.”

“Zoe, you’re
so
gross.”

“Fucking your stepbrother is gross.” She grins.

“Shut up, Zoe!” I laugh.

The bell rings.

“Fucking Jesus, class time.  Where is Duncan?” Zoe begins
to run.

Odd, isn’t it?  We saw Duncan come in every morning every
day.  What happened to him today?

Throughout the day, I’m looking for Duncan.  But he is
nowhere.

“Zoe…” I catch her in front of the school.  She is ready
to go home.  “Did you see Duncan today?”

“No. I thought you were with him.”

“No way, Zoe, I didn’t see him.”

“Maybe he is taking a sick day?” Zoe cocks her head to
think.

“Him getting sick?  No way.” I shake my head. 

“Then why isn’t he in school?”

“Beats me.”

Throughout the week, I didn’t see Duncan anywhere in
school.

What happened to him?

“Dad, do you know what happened to Duncan?”

“No. Why?”

“He didn’t go to school for the whole week.”

“Okay, let me check with Nancy.”

Dad goes upstairs.

I pace back and forth, waiting.

After about three or four minutes, Dad comes down.

I look at him.

“Nancy says she has no idea either.”

“What?” I can’t believe it.  She’s his mother, right?  She
doesn’t know where her son is and what he is doing?

“Um, see, Duncan lives with his dad, okay?”  Dad tries to
explain.  “Nancy seldom talks to him.”

Jeez, that doesn’t sound like a normal mother-son
relationship to me.  Maybe she bossed him too much?

“Whatever.  Thanks anyway.” I shake my head.

Dragging my body upstairs, I feel so bad.  Is Duncan doing
okay? 

It doesn’t seem he is sick.  Otherwise Nancy would know,
right? 

Did something really bad happen to him?  Like…

Gosh, I can’t think further.  Then slowly I calm down.  That’s
impossible, too.  Otherwise, Nancy would know.

Damn it.  This Duncan is totally missing from my life.

It’s so odd that he has never been in my life but now I’m
worrying about him so much.

Is this love?

I mean… love with my soon-to-be stepbrother?

It’s so immoral. 

But I have to confess, I did grow some feeling for him.  I
think about that kiss, his body, the way he walks, everything about him.

Still, he is not showing up at school.

Slowly, I begin to think more about other stuff, like the
colleges I will apply for.  The high school life is coming to an end.  I will
have to get ready to go to college.

Zoe asked about Duncan a few times but finally, she
stopped asking. 

We still stick together in school, teasing each other,
doing girly things and having fun.

She wants to study psychology in college. 

“I want to know guys.”

“You know too much about guys already, Zoe.”

“No way.  I want to be an expert.”

“With the guys you fucked, you’re an expert already.”

“Shut up, Sophia.  Getting their dicks is one thing,
reading their mind is another, understand?”

“Whatever, good luck.” I grin.

 “One day, I’m going to write a book about guys.  It’s
going to be a best seller on Amazon.”

“Then I’m going to read it.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

Moving to the new house is so exhausting.  Sure, we hired
the movers to do the job but the packing and unpacking made me hurt all over.

Lying on my bed, I look around.  Everything looks the same
as in my old room I spent my childhood in but this room is much bigger and more
comfortable. 

The computer desk and nightstand are brand-new.  The floor
lamp is trendy. 

Great.

Another weekend is coming.  I’m going to go through my
application forms for colleges.  I like chemistry.  A few colleges look pretty
promising.  They are kind of far away.  But who cares?  I’m sure I’ll make new
friends over there. 

“Dinner is ready.”  Nancy is calling happily.

I jump up and rush down.  I have to admit that Nancy’s
cooking is better than Dad’s and mine. 

I thought she knew only work but nothing else.  It seems
that I was wrong.

“It smells good.”  Dad sniffs a few times with great
exaggeration.  “I’m going to grow big.”

“That’s why you have to go to gym at least three times a
week, Dave.” Nancy pats Dad’s beer belly.

The corned beef and mashed potatoes are yummy.  I keep
eating and eating.  My body is getting hot.

“You like it, Sophia?” Nancy smiles at me.

“Yeah.” I take a big sip of my juice.

“I have good news for you.” 

“Really?” She has had quite a few pieces of good news for
me already, like my new queen size bed coming.

“Duncan is coming.”

“What?” I almost choke on my juice.

“He is coming to live with us.” She winks.

“
Really?
” I can’t believe my ears.  “When?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

Oh, my gosh.  He is coming!  Yeah, great.  He is alright. 
And he is coming to live with us, right next to my room. 

Oh, boy, I’m so excited.

“May I be excused?” I can’t hide my smile.

“Sophia, why don’t you finish your dinner first?” Dad
looks at me.

“I’m done.” I stand up.

“But there is still food on your plate.”

“I’m full, sorry.”

“Dave, that’s okay.” Nancy smiles.

“Thanks!” I smile at her.

“Bye, Dad…” I toss him a kiss and rush upstairs.

Oh, my gosh, the waiting and worry is
over
.  He is
coming
. 
 

I close the door and pull out my cellphone.  I swipe the
screen and then stop.

Wait.  Should I tell Zoe this?  She always wants to get
Duncan, right?

But my hesitation lasts for only a second or two.  I’m so
excited now.  I have to tell someone this unbelievable news.  And the only one
I can talk to for news this big is Zoe.

“Hey, Sophia, what’s up?”

“Humming Bird, promise to shut your mouth tight this time,
okay?”

“Wait a sec, Sophia, what’s going on?  Let me know what
big and juicy secret you have before I make any promises.”

“No way, Zoe, you will have to promise first.”

“Okay, you win.  I promise not to tell anyone for whatever
you’re going to tell me.  Now tell me your dirty secret.”

“It’s
not
dirty.”

“Whatever.  Just tell me.”

“Okay, you know we moved to the big house, right?”

“Right.”

“And I got a room much bigger, right?”

“Shut. Up.  Sophia.  No more bullshit, okay?  The secret. 
Tell me the secret now.” She gets excited.

“Okay, we were having dinner…”

“Forget about the freaking dinner.”  She cuts me off.

“Wow, wow, wow, be patient, will you?  This is part of the
secret, okay?”

“Okay…  Jeez.”

“See, Nancy made good beef and mashed potatoes…”

“Is that part of the secret, too?  Sophia, you talk like
my mom.”

“Listen, I’m getting there, okay?”

“You win, Sophia.”

I have to admit that I’m so excited now that I can’t think
properly.

Taking a deep breath to cool down, I try again.  “See, we
were eating. Suddenly, Nancy told me that Duncan is coming.”

“Is he?  He is with you now?” Zoe’s voice rises.

“Stay cool, Humming Bird.  He is
not
here yet.”

“Oh.”  A long silence follows.  Then she talks again. 
“Listen, I want to know the moment he steps into the house.”

“He may be here tomorrow morning.”

“Really?  Can I come?  Oh, boy.  We can have a slumber
party, right?”

“A slumber party in the early morning?  Come on, Zoe, don’t
be cheap.”

“Did I say I want to be fucked by him?”

“Did you have to say it?”

We both laugh.

I have a hard time going to sleep.  Flipping once more, I
think about him again.  Starting tomorrow morning, he is going to live next
door to my room. 

Is he going to come to my room?  And what is he going to
do to me?  Kiss me?  Or…?

Gosh, there are so many possibilities.  I can’t wait for
the exciting moments. 

But for now, I have to get good sleep.  I want to look
perfect to him.

I begin to count sheep…

Nancy left to pick up Duncan.  They will be here at any
moment.

“Dad…”

“Yeah?” Dad raises his head from the newspaper.

“Nothing.” I smile sheepishly.

He is confused for a moment or two and then focuses on the
newspaper again.

I look out once more but see nothing coming. 

Are they stuck in the traffic?  But that’s impossible. 
It’s a Saturday morning in a quiet suburban town.  There is no traffic at the
moment.

I wait for a few more moments and then decide to go
upstairs. 

Then I hear car engine rumbling.

Looking out, I see a 4x4 pulling up to the garage.

“Dad, they’re back.” I rush to meet them.

Before I can reach for the door to the garage, it swings
open.

“Ouch!” I step back just in time.

Duncan stomps in, carrying a big duffle bag.

“Duncan.” I smile at him.

He pushes me aside and walks past me.

 
How rude.
 

I’m so shocked, not knowing what to say or do.

“Sorry, Sophia.” Nancy says softly.   Then she turns to
her son, “Duncan, you have a room upstairs.”

Duncan stomps upstairs without saying a word. 

We follow him up.

He pushes all the doors open very hard.  Finally, he steps
into my room.

“Duncan, this is Sophia’s room.  Your room is this one.”
Nancy tries to explain.

“Why should she pick the room first?”  He stares at his mother.

“Duncan, please be gentle to Sophia.” Nancy swallows
hard.  I can tell she is trying her best to hold her tears.

“Duncan, why don’t you take that room?  It has a big desk.”
I try to keep my voice smooth.

“I don’t need a fucking desk.” He stares at me.

“DUNCAN!” Nancy yells. 

He stares at his mom for a long time. Then suddenly, he
shrugs with a big smile. “Okay, I’ll take that room.”

I’m totally confused and a bit angry, too.  He is such a
rude ass, paying no attention to anyone and wanting everything his way.  I feel
so sorry for growing feelings for him.

But still, I can’t get rid of my feelings.  Deep inside, I
still like him. 

In fact, now I like him more because I feel there must be
something special making him act like a total asshole. 

I want to find out what’s going on in his head.  I want to
explore the world he lives in, or suffers through.

Duncan steps into his room.  The door bangs behind him so
loud that I worry the ceiling may fall.

“Look at him…” Nancy almost cries.

“It takes time, Nancy.” Dad holds her shoulders.

She sobs for a while and then raises her head.

“Sophia, can we talk for a minute, please?” she whispers,
eyes all red.

“Sure.”

She leads the way to the master bedroom and closes the
door.

“Sophia,” She holds my hands. “I’m terribly sorry for what
happened.”

“I understand.”

“Thank you so much for your understanding, Sophia.  It’s a
long story that I’m going to tell you later on.  But for now, I want to assure
you that Duncan is not harmful.  He is not going to hurt you.”

“Thank you for letting me know.”

“If you feel uncomfortable, please let me or your dad
know, okay?”

“I will.”

“Thanks so much, Sophia.  Duncan may not stay with us for
long.”

“Why not?” My heart sinks.  I want him to stay.

“He agrees to try but may go back to his dad at any time.”

“Will he come back then?  He will, right?”

“I don’t know, sorry, Sophia.”

To my surprise, Duncan is quiet the whole day.  He skipped
lunch but comes down for dinner.

“Give me five.” He grins at my dad.

They hands slap really loud. 

Then he pulls out the chair and sits down right beside me.

 “Hi, sis.”  He gives me a big smile.

I’m so surprised that he talked to me.

Blushing all over, I smile at him, not knowing what to
say. 

“Say hi to your brother.” Nancy says softly.

“Hi…” I blush deeper.

Without saying a word, he begins to eat quickly.  I can
tell he is very hungry.

I feel like giggling.  See, he pretended being strong and
skipped lunch.  Now he is eating two meals at the same time.

Luckily, his mom has prepared more than enough food for
him. 

Five minutes later, he raises his head and says, “Good
food.”

“Thank you, Duncan.” Nancy smiles at him.

Duncan doesn’t say anything but I see a tiny smile at the
corners of his mouth.