Jessica
It’s so weird that there is a party happening in my own house. Since my step-parents seldom leave the house, Luke and I have never had a party here. Not that I ever would since Syndey is the only friend that I have.
“I’m so excited to be here!” Syndey gushes. “The music is good, and there is so much to drink! Come on, let’s go to the pool area and see if there is anything on the grill!”
As we make our way through the house, I hear someone call out to me. I turn around to see a group of people staring at me. “Who invited her?” one of them asks. “She is a nerd and not supposed to be here.”
Sydney puts an arm around my shoulders and smiles. “Uhh, this is Jessica - Luke’s step-sister. She kind of lives here, jackass. Who invited you?”
The guy pales and stares at me, slack-jawed. “Y-you’re Luke’s sister?” he gulps as if realizing his mistake. Luke is popular at school and quite huge - most people are in their right to be afraid of him.
I stand a little taller. “That’s right.”
“Shit,” the guy swears under his breath and holds up his hands to visualize he is in the wrong. “Look, man, I don’t want any trouble. I had no idea you were his sister.”
The rest of the people nod in agreement and move away from us. I follow Sydney to the pool area.
“Thanks for sticking up for me,” I mutter.
“Don’t thank me, you are welcome,” Sydney laughs. “Besides, the guys who thought you were a nerd are stupid - anyone with eyes can see that you’re a goth.”
“Yeah…” I trail off. “You’re right.”
“Uh-oh,” Sydney grins. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” I sigh. “Just thinking about my future.”
“Oh, I see,” Sydney says, blinking. “Wait...what about your future?”
I bite my lower lip. I can’t tell her that I’m having a mental breakdown for not having met my mate - she doesn’t know that I’m a werewolf. So maybe I should just tell her half of the truth? That could work, as I would still get her advice.
“I’m afraid that me being a goth is getting in the way of me meeting someone,” I blurt out. “Like, maybe I should change my style or something?”
Sydney smiles sadly and puts an arm around my shoulders. “Look, Jessica, I think you should stay the way you are. You’re unique and different - why change yourself just to fit in with a bunch of people who don’t really deserve your time or attention?”
I look down at my boots, tracing the intricate designs embroidered on them. “But what if no one likes me for who I am? What if no one wants to be with me because of my goth look?”
“That’s not true!” Sydney says firmly. “You don’t need anyone else’s approval - it doesn’t matter what they think or say about you. All that matters is that you like yourself for being who you are.”
I take a deep breath and finally meet her gaze. I can tell she is telling the truth, and I feel a sense of relief wash over me. “Thank you, Syd,” I whisper gratefully.
“No problem,” she replies, smiling brightly once again. “Now come on - let’s get some food before we hit the dance floor!”
We reach the pool area, where there is a long table filled with delicious food, surrounded by a group of people talking and laughing cheerfully. We grab some plates and begin to fill them up with our favorite foods before making our way out onto the dance floor to show off our moves! We spend the rest of the night laughing, dancing, and having fun - just like old times. As we walk back inside after midnight strikes, I’m glad that I decided not to change myself for anyone else and that Sydney was here to remind me that it’s okay to be different.
But then I see Luke with that pretty girl from the mall, and everything inside of me goes hot and tight. I hate it. I shouldn’t feel this way for my own stepbrother, and yet...I can’t help but want to die when I see her stand on her tiptoes to reach up to his lips. He is so tall that he still needs to bend down to kiss her, even if she is wearing stilettos.
“Ew,” Syndey scrunches her face up in disgust. “I hate her already.”
I nod in agreement. “Me too.”
She grins. “Well, let’s just hope that tomorrow is a better day.”
I hope so too.
I don’t think I can take another day like today has been...
***
The next day, I meet Luke downstairs inside the kitchen. It’s our usual morning routine to talk over breakfast now that our parents are gone, I guess. I smile at him, but it falters when I notice the dreamy expression on his face.
“I think Fanny is my soulmate,” Luke blurts out while resting his chin in his hand. “She is so talented and pretty...”
Fanny? Oh. He must mean that girl that spilled her coffee all over my new white shirt.
“Oh,” I say, at a loss for words.
“We’re getting married,” he states, staring into the abyss with heart-eyes.
What?
“You’re getting married?” I ask, stunned. “But you just met her yesterday!”
“I know,” he shrugs. “But I can’t stop thinking about her - she must be my fated mate. There is no other explanation for this, Jessica.”
I blink rapidly, trying to process what Luke is saying. I can’t believe that he is saying this to me if I were in his position, I would have at least waited a year - maybe two years before getting engaged to someone I just met the day before. It just seems...impulsive and crazy.
“Luke, you can’t be serious,” I say. “You just met Fanny, and you’re not eighteen - someone else could wind up being your fated mate. Maybe you should wait before making a big decision like this.”
“Why?” he asks, cocking his head to the side in confusion.
“Uh, because it’s utterly fucking crazy and impulsive?” I ask, unable to keep my exasperation in check. How doesn’t he realize that himself?
He shrugs and gives me a small smile. “I know it sounds strange, Jess, but I just feel like Fanny is the one for me.”
Luke gazes off into the distance with a dreamy look on his face, and I can tell that there is no point in trying to reason with him. He has made up his mind - and I can only hope that he won’t end up regretting this decision later on down the line.
“No, Jess, you don’t understand,” Luke continues as he turns back to look at me. “I’m pretty sure that Fanny is the one for me.”
I sigh and shake my head. “Whatever you want to believe, Luke.”
“You should try to believe in love too, Jess,” he says, pouting at me. “You’re way too negative about this.”
“Or maybe I’m the only one who is being realistic?” I quip back.
He narrows his eyes at me before finally cracking a smile. “Alright then, Miss Realistic - let’s see how things turn out between Fanny and me.”
“Sure.”
“I’m actually meeting her today.”
“Great.”
“She is coming over here.”
“I hope you two have a great day.”
He gives me a tight-lipped smile. “I hope you have a great day too, sis.”
I smile back at him before we both stand up from the kitchen table and go our separate ways to start our day. Maybe I am being too negative about Fanny being Luke’s future? Maybe I just need to have some faith in love at first sight.
I shower, and do my hair and makeup before making my way downstairs for breakfast. There is no sign of Luke or his soulmate anywhere - they must have gone out early for the day.
I head outside and walk around the backyard, enjoying this beautiful day. Maybe the hustle and bustle of the city is getting to me, and I need some time away from it. I walk into the woods surrounding our land and look around.
“Hello?” I call out, feeling nervous.
No one answers back, but I can hear the sounds of the forest in the distance. I guess I will just...explore a bit?
I walk through the dense forest, and nothing can prepare me for what I see on the other side. There is a dead body on the ground, and I recognize it immediately - it’s Cindy - one of the girls that Luke has dated.
I stand there in shock, unable to process what I’m seeing. Cindy isn’t moving, and her eyes are wide open. She is dead, and it looks like she was murdered.
I hear a noise behind me and whirl around to find Luke standing there, looking pale and scared. He quickly comes over to me and takes my hand in his.
“Jess, is that...is that Cindy?” he whispers.
“Yes,” I say, feeling tears well up in my eyes. “She is dead...I think...I think someone might have murdered her because one thing is certain: this wasn’t an accident. All the blood has been drained from her body.”