Heyyyyyyyyyy Marshians!
How are you doing today? Feeling good? Feeling energized? Feeling happy?
I'm really sorry I didn't post last week. I had a complete burnout, and my head was aching so badly. I tried to write, but the words just weren't flowing at all, so I had to step back and rest a bit.
Anywayyy, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Don't forget to vote, comment, and share, hun. It would mean so much to your girl, Marshy!!!
By the wayyyy… Christmas is in four days!!! YAYYYY! I'm so excited honestly. This is truly the season to be jolly, la la la la laaa.
Wishing everyone an early Merry Christmas! And for those who don't celebrate Christmas, I just want to say I love you and I hope you have a wonderful day ahead.
Don't forget to comment, I'd really love to hear your thoughts and opinions about this chapter!
Stay safe
~Marshy ;)
Melanie groaned inwardly. She wondered why she kept running into this jerk. Anywhere she went, he was always there.
"Noah, what is this guy doing here?" she snapped.
"Well, well, well," the guy drawled lazily. "What an unpleasant surprise, isn't it?" His lips curled into a cocky smirk.
Melanie stared at him with pure disgust and hatred.
"Noah, what on earth is this dude doing here?" she grated.
Noah blinked, utterly confused by the sharp, snide exchange.
"Whoa, whoa. Have you two met or something?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at Melanie. "Because I honestly don't understand any of this. Babe… do you know him?"
Melanie crossed her arms over her chest. "We met in the admin office," she said flatly. "He's very rude, trust me. He lacks manners."
"And she lacks sense too," he shot back with a bored eye roll.
Melanie pushed her glasses up her nose, her jaw tightening.
"You're such a douche."
"And you're so dense."
"You're an arrogant jerk!"
"And you're a bitch."
"Excuse me?" Her glare sharpened into daggers. "What did you just call me?"
"You heard me the first time. I don't repeat myself twice," he replied easily, clearly enjoying the irritation boiling inside her.
Melanie clenched her teeth. Oh, she would love to punch that smug smirk right off his pretty face.
She turned to Noah and grabbed his hand. "Noah, come on, let's go. I've heard enough about this dude. He's dangerous to be around," she said, tugging him, but he didn't budge.
The guy burst out laughing. The sound was low and unsettling, sending tiny shivers down her spine. She eyed him warily.
He finally stopped laughing and fixed her with a cold stare. "Really? You've heard about me? How much have you heard, little girl?"
Little girl? She could feel her blood boil.
"Well, I've heard you're sooo stupid and arrogant. A complete jerk!" she retorted, smiling sweetly, just to annoy him.
His smirk vanished instantly. His brows snapped together, irritation flickering across his face, and Melanie felt a small thrill at the tiny crack in his armor. Her turn to smile.
He glanced casually at Noah. "You should really learn how to keep your dog on a leash," he said coldly. "Or I'll teach you how."
The words stung, and her jaw dropped. "What?!"
Noah frowned, stepping in defensively. "Hey, dude. Watch your mouth. Don't talk to my girlfriend like that."
"I wouldn't," he said lazily, "if you actually knew how to handle your girl. She talks too much without thinking."
Melanie had had enough. She wasn't going to stay and trade words with this idiot. He was getting on her nerves, on her damn nerves.
"Noah, I can't take this anymore. I'm out of here."
She turned to leave, but Noah grabbed her arm, stopping her.
"Wait, babe."
"What, Noah?" she snapped. "I can't stay even one more second with this guy! I don't even know who he is, or why you're here with him!"
Noah sighed, rubbing his temples. "Babe, come on. Don't be like that. Okay… let me just introduce you properly."
He turned to the guy. "Man, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Melanie Chambers."
Then he looked back at her. "And Melanie… this is my… stepbrother."
The words hit her like a lightning bolt. She stared at the guy, caught in a surreal state of shock. Waves of disbelief rolled over her at once.
His… stepbrother? Her jaw dropped slightly.
Noah smiled awkwardly, sensing her reaction, but tried to stay casual. "His name is Drexter… Drexter Grayson."
Drexter tilted his head, assessing her with those piercing eyes. "Nice to meet you… Melanie," he said calmly, but there was nothing calm about his tone. Melanie felt instantly uncomfortable around him.
Her eyes instinctively swept over the guy standing before her, from his sharp jawline down to his casual-but-stylish shoes. Her brows furrowed immediately. This guy radiated bad vibes… bad dangerous vibes. Something about him screamed trouble, or maybe it was just the aura of confidence that radiated off him like heat.
Noah had never mentioned a stepbrother, ever. Not in casual conversations, and not even in stories about his childhood.
"This is your stepbrother?!" Melanie blurted, incredulity seeping through her voice.
She pinned Noah with a questioning stare. "But… Noah, you never told me you had a stepbrother."
Drexter's smirk widened as he crossed his arms. "Well," he said smoothly, "he's told you now."
"I wasn't talking to you," she snapped, eyeing him. She could feel her sanity slipping, but she kept her voice calm. "Please, and please, stay out of our business."
She turned to Noah, exasperated. "Why didn't you ever tell me about this guy? How many secrets do you have, Noah? Aren't you going to say something?"
Noah opened his mouth, but the words failed him.
"Babe, c'mon… I can…" he trailed off.
"Noah, I can't believe this! So you were hiding that you had a stepbrother all this while, and never told me anything? Seriously?!"
Drexter groaned dramatically. "Girls, girls, girls. Always so dramatic. Honestly, I don't get it. Why is everyone so… sensitive these days? And let me get this straight, you're dating my brother, not married to him. He's not obligated to spill every detail of his life to his… dumb girlfriend."
Melanie's glare could've pierced a hole through his forehead. Dumb girlfriend?! Seriously?!
She snapped, her voice sharp. "Don't you ever call me dumb. You heard me? Don't you ever! I'm not a dumb girlfriend! Get that into your damn brain!" She jabbed a finger at her head for emphasis. "And you know what your problem is? You really can't understand English! What did I say earlier? Oh yeah, you should stay OUT of our business."
"You're pathetic," he sneered.
Melanie's chest burned with rage, but Noah stepped in, resting a hand lightly on her shoulder. "Hey, it's fine. Drexter's a bit… dramatic."
Drexter rolled his eyes. "Dramatic? Oh, please. I'm just… honest. Something you clearly can't handle, sweetheart." He shot a pointed look at Melanie.
Melanie's fingers curled into fists, heat rising in her chest. "Honest? Is that what you call it? Because from where I'm standing, it sounds like you just like being… rude."
Drexter's smirk widened into a full grin. "Rude? Nah. I'm realistic. Not everyone can handle that, apparently."
Noah winced. His calm, easygoing girlfriend was clearly getting riled up, and his stepbrother had a way of pushing buttons. "Guys… come on, let's not start an argument…"
Melanie snapped, glaring daggers at Drexter. "You're acting like a jerk, and if Noah doesn't stop you, I will."
He laughed, dark and amused. "Oh… I like your fire. Too bad it won't save you if things go south."
Noah ran a hand down his face. "Babe, please… don't make it worse."
Melanie turned to him, hurt flashing in her eyes. "Not make it worse? Noah, why are you standing here letting him insult me? You're supposed to—"
Drexter interrupted, smirking at her. "Standing there? Oh, I think he's trying to contain you. Can't have you destroying the mood, can we?"
Melanie felt a pang of frustration at Noah. He's not stopping him. Why isn't he stopping him?
Her glare snapped to Drexter. "Mood? You're a threat to everyone's mood. A walking disaster."
Drexter's eyes darkened. "Careful, little girl. That mouth might get you in trouble."
"I don't care!"
Noah's voice broke through, calmer but firm. "Guys, seriously, enough. Drexter, back off. Melanie, relax. Let's just—"
But the tension didn't fade. Drexter leaned slightly closer to her, lips curled into a challenging smirk. "Relax? Why would I? She's… fun."
Melanie shot him a glare. "Fun? You're insane."
Drexter's face was unreadable, but his dark gaze locked on hers. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever. You're pathetic. Honestly, I don't know how my brother manages to be with a girlfriend who clearly can't even think straight. The brainpower of a chicken, if you ask me." Every word he said became more exaggerated and slow, to make sure she felt the sting of every syllable.
Melanie's face turned crimson. Noah opened his mouth, but she didn't let him intervene. She wasn't done.
"You're rude. You're disrespectful. You're arrogant! And… an asshole!" she shouted, her temper exploding.
Drexter, unconcerned, glanced at his watch, then said, "You know, you're not even worth my time. But I do love seeing the fire in your eyes. Bye, sucker."
Without another word, he walked away.
"Yeah! You're also not worth wasting my time with!" she shouted after him.
She was still fuming as she hissed. "I hate your stepbrother. He's so damn rude," she said angrily to Noah.
Noah shook his head and sighed. "Yeah. Sometimes he's annoying and rude. That's just how he is. Please, don't mind him. He's just trying to rile you up."
Melanie's cheeks were still hot, steam practically rising from her ears.
"And… Melanie, stay away from Drexter, okay," Noah added gently, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
She huffed, returning her gaze to Drexter as he strode far away.
Just then, a group of friends called Noah, and he rushed off.
Melanie muttered under her breath, "You don't have to tell me twice," before following after him.