"Who?" Aaron's eyes met mine. "Oh yes. That's Katherina."
"Hm."
Her eyes still bored into mine and for some reason it made me uncomfortable.
"Hi."
I greeted, smiling to hide the nerves.
"Hi."
She replied nonchalantly.
"She's my sister. New family, Katelyn."
Lucas informed her as though she was not getting the gist and was telling her so she could properly understand.
"Yes, I know Lucas."
"Yeah, I forgot. Your cousin's the Beta."
"Exactly, but Aaron she'd more light on it yesterday when we were together."
She drawled out the word 'together'. I frowned as she placed her jewel adorned wrist and fingers on Aaron who held her hand and patted it.
"How have you been?"
Aaron asked her.
"I've been good, you?"
"I've been okay."
"No lectures this morning, isn't that wonderful?"
"No, it's not."
"Why?"
I heard her ask.
"I prefer morning lectures."
"Me too."
Something told me she preferred morning lectures because he preferred it. I stealthily took in the girl's appearance. Apart from her ostentatiously made up face, she had bracelets and rings adorning every finger of her two hands. She had ear piercings, two actually. She was putting on a crop top and a ripped baggy jeans. Her belly was in full, unabashed view and I could detect the glint of gold, a belly piercing maybe? Now that I could see her hair properly, there were highlights and very subtle color tints at the end of each curls. A telltale that the current color of her hair was not natural. It was the work of a really good hairstylist. I watched Aaron and her discuss, they seem really close with each other. Aaron smiles were wider and he laughed. I knew he was always wearing kind smiles, but I didn't think I've ever seen him smile that much and even laugh too. He held her hands like it was the most natural thing for him to do.
"She likes him."
Lucas' voice started me.
"What?"
"I see the way you've been staring at them."
"Oh."
I felt embarrassed at been caught staring. What was I thinking? And why was I so interested in who Aaron chose to laugh with? He was my stepbrother. We were family. His personal life was of no concern to me. I had enough drama in my old life, I did not need another one. Especially with one that seemed like she was the queen that rocked wherever she went and should be noticed. No, I was not cut out for such life. I wanted the quiet, peaceful life. Go to school, pass my grades, make mom proud and show David he did not make a mistake by giving me the best life one could only wish for. I was not going to ruin anything by putting myself where I was not supposed to.
If she was Aaron's girlfriend, I was happy for him. His choice, his life. I'd try my best to get along with her for family's sake. She might one day be the Luna. So maybe the goal should be to create room for friendship to grow and possibly sister-bond, not enmity.
"Are you listening to me, Aaron?"
I heard her say.
"Of course, I'm listening Kay."
"You seemed to have drifted away for a while there."
"Nope. I'm here with you."
"You're sure?"
"Who else is seating right next to me if not Kay?"
She giggled.
Okay, it was wrong listening in to their lover-conversation. But what could you do when the said lovers were within listening range?
"Aaron does not like her."
Lucas said to me again.
"Don't say that, and reduce your voice. She could hear you."
I tried to hush him.
"What? But it's true. I know Aaron, he's just being nice."
"Oh yeah?"
I crooked a skeptical eyebrow.
"Of course. Aaron is just friends with her because she is the current Beta's cousin. You know, he's trying to establish a cordial relationship with a family that works for ours. Aaron has this thinking that he is one day going to be the Alpha so he needs to start preparing himself, and that includes accommodating people and making friends. Trying not to be enemies with anyone. All that stuff."
"Is that what you think, Lucas?"
"It's not what I think. It's what I believe. It's what it is."
"Hm"
"I'm just so happy I don't have that kind of responsibility weighing me down."
He stretched his hands heavenward and raised his face, doing some funny things with his face. I laughed.
"Lucas, you're hilarious."
He grinned. "No, I'm telling you the truth. I'm so grateful."
"You'd have made a good Alpha though, you know."
"Nah, I'd cave in under all those pressure and mess up the whole pack in one week."
He shook his head, disagreeing with me.
"Go easy on yourself, Lucas. You're have a good, accommodating heart. You're funny."
"I wonder why you think I am."
"I don't think you are. You truly are."
I assured him.
"You just like me. I'm your favorite step brother."
"Of course, I like you. And yes, you're my favorite step brother. But as a person, I like you too."
"I'm likeable, I guess."
"Well, lovable would be more like it, seeing the crowd gather to welcome you and your brothers this morning. Does that happen often?"
"Yep, it does. Everyday in fact. Das makes us come early, though we still end up meeting people in school."
"Well, there are students who prefer to come early too."
"And I'm guessing you're one of those students."
He pointed at me.
"Will you judge if I say I am?"
"Why would I? It's cool."
"You always think I'm cool."
"Because you are."
"Yeah right." I did not believe him. "So, about the crowd gathering? It literally happens every day?"
"When you're the son of the wealthiest Alpha in all region and you're smart, handsome and play sports well, you become the gold everyone wants to dig."
"Hmm. That's a lot of pressure. You don't feel overwhelmed?"
"Overwhelmed? I'm used to it, my brothers too. Zach here is enjoys more than he should."
"Oh."
"Yes. He's always been a pervert."
"I love women, not a crime."
Zach corrected.
"Yeah right."
Lucas rolled his eyes. Zach gave him both middle fingers.
That started a small banter between them.
"Hey hot legs, tell this little chipmunk to stay off my case."
"Calling your own sister hot legs, how perverted can you get?"
"She's fine with it."
Zach defended.
"She's not."
Lucas retorted in disagreement.
"Are you fine with it?"
Oh no, did they just put me in the middle of their argument?