My Step Brother Is All I Desire

Claire.

"You know, I can't remember the last time anyone threw a birthday surprise for me," Amelia said as she slid more into the back seat of the car. There was a hazy look on her face and a drowsy smile on her lips as she spoke though it was pretty obvious how out of it she was that night. "I was practically abandoned the second I got into college. They don't even send me birthday cards. My parents suck for real."

"That's probably because you were a bad kid. I mean, look at you now, nothing much has changed," I teased Amelia and she giggled. Danny who was driving let out a snicker as he sent a glare to Amelia through the rearview mirror, "Honestly, we could have fucking abandoned you as well, but Claire had to be nice. As always. We told you not to take those fucking things but you never listen-"

I placed a hand over Danny's arm, letting a small smile dance on my lips. "You've exhausted the cursing limit for the day, dear, it's my birthday, it's a very sacred day." Danny, and Amelia burst into a fit of laughter.

"Yeah, nice of you to mock the birthday girl."

I rolled my eyes at them. I relaxed more into my seat and looked outside the window, "They haven't spoken to me in a while so I guess, in a sense, this was their way of being nice and stuff. I just- I couldn't imagine going there alone tonight, you know. Just being with them, and people I don't know. Might drive me nuts." I thought out loud.

I tried my best to stay calm, but it was obvious I was doing a terrible job at that. Nothing about my parent's actions made me calm. They weren't spontaneous people, every decision they made was for a reason, and as for tonight, I wondered what it was. Plus the last time I saw them, it was during an event they held for women battling with breast cancer. It was the first time I had seen my mum genuinely involved in something. As I watched her, I could tell that every word she said was heartfelt. She made me proud.

"Aww," Amelia poked her head through the space between Danny and I, as she turned to me and pouted, "We got you, baby, don't worry. Wrapped up three different weed sticks just in case you wanna get high out of your-" Before she could finish the rest of her words, her head was suddenly pushed back to the passenger seat by Danny as he demanded for her to be quiet before we all burst out laughing, releasing the tension that was in the air previously, though my anxiety returned as we got to the venue. "Phew, it wouldn't hurt, would it?"

"Hey, I've got you, I promise," Danny declared once more, sensing my anxiety. I wished it did it help, but it didn't. Although, I appreciated his effort. The closer we got to the parking lot, the more my anxiety spiked, I just wanted to get done with the event and continue to live as the kid who her parents barely had time for.

It was a large ballroom, exceedingly expensive and though I knew my family could clearly afford it, I didn't understand why they would go through such lengths for me. As Danny parked the car, I came out first, I needed the air, and I took in a bit of it, in a bid to calm my nerves.

I hugged my arms tightly around my chest, slightly biting into my lips before I felt someone put a jacket around my shoulders, a warm breath now brushing over my neck as I heard him say, "A pretty girl like you shouldn't be all on your own at a time like this, love."

I could feel goosebumps rising over my skin as I turned, my breath hitching. The male in front of me had a mischievous smile on his face with one hand in his pocket and the other holding a wine glass as he stared at me. I let my eyes sweep through him, the goosebumps growing even more as I took in his features and swallowed, my words staying stuck in my throat, like I had forgotten how to speak. As if on cue, Amelia and Danny joined me by my side.

I immediately thanked the universe for blessing me with these two people. They always showed up at the right time. Amelia had her hands folded with a distrusting look in her eyes while the Danny batted his eyes and rested his hand on my shoulder as he stared up at the stranger.

"Well, hello Prince Charming. Are you looking for your Cinderella? Cause I got you. My fairy godmother just hasn't arrived yet." I could feel my cheeks redden at the words Danny used.

"You're embarrassing me, Danny, and that's usually Amelia's job." I whisper yelled, but it seemed my voice was louder than I had anticipated. Danny rolled his eyes while the male laughed, flashing his pearly white teeth as his eyes was centered on me, a strand of hair falling over his forehead, "As enticing as you are, dear. I already have my eyes set on a certain princess," Then winking, he brought the glass closer to me. "I made this cocktail drink for you. Dedicated specifically for you, my Queen."

"Oh no, no, I didn't mean I was the princess, I was referring to Amelia because Claire is off limits." Danny tried to explain. But his slightly less masculine figure and mannerism weren't helping. "I know," the male replied softly. Each time he spoke I felt like I was floating in a garden of cinnamons. He looked and acted so perfect.

"You haven't touched your drink yet," he whispered in my ears, his skin slightly touching mine, causing a jolt of electricity to run through my body. All of this was happening too fast but I couldn't seem to stop myself from taking the glass from him as I tried calming the way my heart was racing as I stuttered, "I'm s-sorry. Do I- Do I know you? Perhaps?" Instead of giving an answer I would understand, he only grinned in return. "Perhaps, you do," Then turned around and walked off, leaving us standing in the parking lot. I still held the glass he had given me so firmly that I thought it might break.

Danny was the first to break out of our silence as he scoffed and shrugged, "I don't know who the fuck he thinks he is but he pisses me off," Then the moment his eyes centered on the wineglass, he snatched it from my hand, "And you really shouldn't be taking things from strangers."

"He's right, it could be poison or a love potion," Amelia added.

"Seriously, Amelia, that's your contribution to this conversation?" I quizzed and she shrugged.

"I'm just saying whoever Prince Charming is, I don't like him and I don't think he's up to any good," Danny said once more.

"Well, you think everyone pisses you off," I clamored as I stared at the direction he had gone through. Though I could no longer see him anymore, there was something that reassured me that we would meet again. "But I suppose him being here means I know him. Somehow. It is my party after all."

Before anyone could stop her, Amelia snatched the glass away from Danny, and said with a slight mischievous chuckle, "I'm just gonna help y'all get rid of this," Then tipped it over her lips and finished it one gulp before letting out a satisfied hiss then let out a burp and a giggle, "Whoa. Non alcoholic but it got this little tang that has my tongue buzzing. Pretty good if you ask me." "What happened to not taking anything from strangers?" I hollered at her.

"I said that for you, you're the one with the rich parents, it doesn't apply to me. The drink is really good though, if Prince Charming doesn't turn out to be some crazy fellow, I'll ask him to make you another one."

Danny let out a sigh there. "No one was asking you. Come, let's go in." Danny pulled me into the ballroom, while Amelia followed suit. The second we were inside, we let out a gasp at the decorations surrounding us. It was almost like we had walked into a dream with the amount of expensive ornaments hung everywhere and the people in it. There was not a single person that seemed even remotely familiar here while they were all dressed to the max in evening formal dresses and accessories that paired up their outfit. I had thought it would be a small family gathering and dressed in a slim fitting pleated dress while my friends had on their most casual outfits making all three of us stand out violently like a sore thumb.

"There you are," my head turned to the side and my heart began to race the second I spotted my parents walking towards me in stride. The second they got close enough, my Mother pulled me into her arms and without bothering to even spare a glance at either of my friends, she began to lead me away while my Father followed silently behind us as mum hissed quietly under her breath, "Took you long enough. And what sort of ghastly attire is this? Did you not have a thousand other dresses to have picked for your birthday party, darling?"

I tried turning around so I could see my friends but my parents were moving me across the ballroom floor so fast I could hardly sneak a glance at them. Thankfully, I didn't have any heels on so I couldn't fall over and trip though my feet were beginning to hurt as I said softly,

"This is my most comfortable dress, mum." My Mother let out a small hiss of displeasure while my Father said with a disapproving look on his face, "Comfort over style? I had hoped we taught you better but apparently, we did not. Come on. Don't miss your step." We hurried over a few stairs that led to the center stage of the place we were in and they moved me to the microphone. I could feel my heart almost jump out of its ribcage at the amount of people gathered there and the fact I couldn't fish out my friends' faces made me feel even more nauseous.

I grabbed unto the hem of my dress and tried to push down the bile flowing up my throat as my parents talked in the background, my ears completely zoning them out until I felt someone tightly wrap their arm around my waist and pull me in roughly to his body. Immediately snapping out of my trance, I forced myself to blink up at the person and felt my world freeze. It was him. The mystery cocktail man.

He wasn't looking at me but smiling down at the faces below us with a charm so bright that I was almost melting from how close to him I was as he said, "Thank you all very much for coming here for my Queen's birthday. Though many of you might not know her because of how rare she is and impossible to find, it is my fault as I have kept her away from the public gazes in fear of people stealing her from me but now that we've taken a new step into our relationship, I am pleased to announce that Claire and I are now engaged and to be wedded in holy matrimony soon."

"What?" I heard myself yell.