Bonnie ultimately consented to let the neighbors in after giving them a long glare. They were four girls and three boys, and we watched them enter neatly, their gaze fixed on Derek. Damn... I knew he was the only reason they showed up here. I shouldn't be that surprised.
We now have approximately eleven teenagers in the room. There are four boys and seven girls. Bonnie and I exchanged a glance and shrugged before closing the door.
We headed back to the sitting room to join the rest on the sofa. Hayley was still clinging onto Derek and I knew he was uncomfortable with her around him. Bonnie went to the fridge and returned later with bowls of popcorn and drinks. She brought each of us a bowl of popcorn, and I helped to distribute drinks to everyone. We kept our eyes glued to the television as we watched an amazing vampire series on Netflix.
Bonnie and I exchanged glances at regular intervals, growing frustrated with Hayley's insistence on forcing herself on Derek. If he were my stepbrother, I wouldn't care. But he was my mate. My mate. My f**g mate which makes me worried.
I watched as Bonnie mouthed the word ''Relax'' for me. I sighed and nodded before shifting my gaze back at the television.
It didn't take long for the series to end and we thought of something else to do.
"Can we watch another movie? Please, Bonnie" Hayley asked with pouty lips, trying to look cute and sweet. While Bonnie was still considering her response, one of the girls who had entered earlier approached Derek and sat near him. Damn… Now there are two girls beside him, rubbing his chest like he was a customer at a brothel.
Smacking my forehead, I turned to face Bonnie and she bit her lips, unsure of what to do. Derek scooted over a little on the sofa, removing the ladies' hands off his body. He wasn't comfortable with their touches and they could tell but they chose to ignore.
Bonnie stood up and grabbed my hands, making me get on both feet. Everyone turned to look at us and with a warm smile, she said, "We'll be right back. Give us a few minute,"
Without wasting much time, Bonnie dragged me to her kitchen and I cringed my brows, wondering what it was she wanted to tell me.
"You didn't tell me how everything went with you and Derek. Did you later accept him as your mate or did you both reject each other?"
She asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and concern.
After biting my lower lips the whole time, I finally disclosed, "I accepted him as my mate, Bonnie. I - I can't reject him even if we're going to be step-siblings. My wolf will hate me. Do you have any idea how my wolf gets excited whenever he's near me? She'll feel bad and devastated if I end up rejecting Derek."
"Wow. I'm happy you made the right choice, Isabel. Wait… does that mean you guys are keeping your mate's bond as Secret from your parents?"
Bonnie asked with wide curious eyes.
"Sadly, Yes." I replied and her eyes expanded the more.
"That's so much bravery. Wow! And you guys don't have plans on telling them about it any time soon?"
"No.we don't want anything to stop their wedding. I don't want my mom to lose the love of her life because I found my mate. You need to see how loving and perfect my mom is with Mr Walter. They're lovebirds and an ideal fit. She loves him wholeheartedly, and I can see it. It'll be devastating for her to find that Derek and I are mates."
"That's true. I - I completely understand. It's not so bad that you're hiding it from them. When they finally get to find out I'm sure they'll completely understand."
Bonnie murmured and I revealed Derek's mark on my neck to her. She gawked at the sight of it, a faint smile tugging her lips.
"This is beautiful!" She squealed excitingly, bringing her face closer to view the mark on the side of my neck. I bit my lips and asked, "You sure?"
She sighed and gave me a 'Are- you- kidding -me?' kinda look.
"It's more than beautiful, Isabel. Have your mom seen it?"
Bonnie inquired with raised brows and I sighed before looking up at the ceiling and back at her.
"It's been such a hassle hiding it from her. She's always suspicious of everything and it won't be easy to hide it everytime,"
I disclosed and she pouted her lips, giving me a look close to sympathy. She snapped her fingers after thinking for a while, making me curious in turn. Whenever she does that, it means she just found a great idea or a suggestion to any problem.
"What is it, Bonnie?" I asked, my eyes blinking as curiosity shot through me. Bonnie smiled brightly and suggested, "Why don't you conceal the mark with some make-up whenever your mom is around. You know you can't keep hiding it with a cloth because she'll get suspicious. It's best if you conceal it with cosmetics."
I nodded after hearing her suggestion, seeing it was a good idea.
Not quite long, we returned to the sitting room to meet the others. We saw them seated as they surrounded a large round table. Tony held a bottle in his hand and they gazed at Bonnie and I as soon as we entered.
"Okay.. want is it that you're doing?" Bonnie inquired, glancing at each of them with a side eye.
"Care to join us?" Marco, one of Bonnie's neighbors with blonde hair and freckles asked, winking as he stared at me and Bonnie.
"What are you guys up to? I thought you wanted to watch another movie?"
"Nah! We decided to play a little game. Let's play truth or dare, are you guys in or not?"
Hayley spoke this time around, still sitting beside Derek as usual. I glanced at Derek and he flashed me a warm smile. Hayley traced our gazes and sneered.
"Why do I feel you two aren't step siblings?" She asked all at once, her gaze flicking between me and Derek. I gulped down the lump in my throat; wondering why she said such a thing.
She mustn't find out that Derek and I are mates. Not just her but the other neighbors here.
"Why do you ask?" Bonnie asked, tossing a popcorn in her mouth, feigning innocence. She glanced at me, her gaze telling me to play along. I nodded slightly and turned back to face Hayley.
"Yeah. Why do you ask? Didn't you hear that he's my brother? Why are you thinking we're more than siblings?"
I asked with crossed arms as I went ahead to join them by the table. I sat in the middle of Kate and Ashley with my gaze still on Hayley.
"Because you aren't like yourself today. I mean, most of the time you come here, you're always upbeat and excited to see Bonnie, but today you seem off. You appear preoccupied with something, and the repeated glances you exchanged with Derek are rather strange. He's a little more than sweet towards you. Are you sure you're both step-siblings?"
Hayley explained while Bonnie sighed deeply before smacking her forehead, obviously tired of Hayley's emphasis. Hayley isn't just mouthy; she loves gossip as well. We had no idea she had been observing us all along.
"Relax Hayley. Their parents will be getting Married in no time so obviously, yes, they're gonna be step siblings. Isabel is not actually bothered about anything, okay. She's only having a slight headache and as for them exchanging glances at each other. Gosh! Are you kidding me? Can't a person stare at their siblings? Is something wrong with that, Hayley?"
Bonnie remarked and clarified and I felt a little relaxed and better. Derek was speechless all along; His eyes were still on me and I was doing all I can to avert my gaze from him.
"Aren't you just being dramatic, Hayley? Why are you so bothered about them exchanging glances at each other? Are you scared that Derek might be interested in his beautiful sister and not you?"
Gloria, a tanned girl in a flashy top, added, staring at Hayley with disbelief. The others laughed and snickered as they stared at Hayley.
"She feared that Derek might divert his attention from her to his sister just like what Mason did to her. Stop being so clingy. Derek doesn't even like you. See. He's barely giving you any attention,"
Ashley, the lady sitting beside me, added with a scornful look, a sly smile tugging her lips as well.
Hayley's brows furrowed as a frown appeared on her face. She hated being corrected or ridiculed. Their laughter irritated her and she glared at each of them, clenching her fists along.
"Okay! That's it! That's enough! No more talks or taunts. Let's play the damn game!"
Bonnie exclaimed as she banged her fist on the table making the bottle tumble till it fell on the floor.
Tony picked it up and placed it on the table, his eyes darting at each of our faces.
"I'll start!" He announced and we all smiled, getting excited to play the game
"I believe we know the rules in a 'truth and dare' game. Or should we explain it in detail for anyone here?"
Hayley questioned, narrowing her eyes as she stared into each of our faces.
When there wasn't any response, she proceeded with the game by shifting her gaze at Tony who was with the bottle.
He smiled mischievously before spinning the ball, and we fixed our eyes on the spinning bottle, eager to know who it would point to after it stopped spinning.
After a minute of endless spinning, it paused in an slant line, the top and bottom of the bottle facing both Derek and me.
My eyes widened and everyone smiled, knowing it was a truth or a dare from our end.
Derek was to ask me a question and I'm getting all anxious on what it would be….