Chapter 1
My room was a mess from all the papers and books scattered everywhere. My laptop screen showed various articles and I was writing down some of the important points, doing English assignments gave me peace, and I pictured myself as a writer in the future.
I didn’t notice my door open as I was so engrossed in this work. A six-foot-tall frame came to my side and then my laptop was close shut, irritated by this I looked up to see my brother Matt standing there with his signature smirk on his face. Matthew Lockwood, school popular, football star and a guitarist was, fortunately, my brother too.
According to “Universal brother’s law” it is a brother’s foremost duty to annoy his sister. Matt would never miss even an itsy-bitsy opportunity to annoy me. He is also a guardian angel to me. I love him to the bits and pieces of the stars in this whole universe. Matt and I had this connection, whenever either of us in danger the other one can feel it. I always want my parents to love Matt a bit more than they love me.
“What are you plotting in your Lil’ brain Ice queen”, Matt asked me while picking up my assignment paper and pretended to examine it. He called me Ice queen because I had this blood-curdling effect on those who oppose me at times. It’s an in-built talent.
“Marshmallow, I’m just planning your wedding with Michelle, so that you both could become couple goals, MM”, I faked Michelle’s tone. He hated it when someone calls him marshmallow only because Michelle calls him that. Michelle is our school cheerleader and she has been chasing Matt for almost a year by now.
A popular guy would date a lot of girls, but Matt speaks philosophy when he confronts a topic about having a girlfriend. “What is yours will come to you”, “There is only one person destined for each person” and it goes on and on and on.
I scored an eye-roll for saying those things about Michelle. I continued my play, “what did this poor soul do to deserve your presence in my room ‘Matt the Great’”.
“It’s not what you did poor creature, it’s about what you’re going to do”
“Anything for you ‘Matt the Great’”
“Good then sissy soul, you will be helping me to sneak out to Jake’s party tonight as for the record I have been grounded for the tenth time this month”
Matt is also a trouble maker who would end up with punishment most of the time and I’ll help him out all the time no matter what. So we decided to sneak out at night after our parents fell asleep.
Our mom called us down for dinner and we both shared a knowing look before taking our usual seats. It was all going well until my dad asked me about my assignment. They started talking about how I’m straining myself, about my health, and wait about my baby’s health. “Oh boy! What is this gotta do with my baby, I'm just seventeen now. There are years for that, Mom”
“You know nothing, Isla Lockwood, this age is a very important part of your life and will surely reflect in your future”
“Whatever you say, mom”. It was always easy to agree with her than to put up a fight. So I preferred the easy one.
Dinner came to an end and we said our goodnights to each other. Once my room door was shut, I texted Matt to be ready and he replied almost immediately to that. Then our time to leave arrived, I opened my door slowly and found Matt standing outside his room.
Matt was wearing a simple black hoodie and gray pants, but it looked so stylish and hot on him. He is who any girl would wish for. Not to brag, after all, he is my brother. It is impossible to avoid my exuberant aura, he is breathing the same air that is present around me, only that is helping him to look this good.
“For god’s sake, stop talking to yourself and make a move”, Matt whisper- shouted at me, annoyance clear in his tone.
Mom always hid her keys in the kitchen and changed the place very often. What she didn’t know is, her daughter is brilliant.
When I came back from the kitchen, our living room was bright with light and Matt stood there with his head hung low. I know what was happening so I stood near him, copying his action. All these years this marble flooring didn’t attract me, but now I stared at it as if it would answer how to escape from this situation.
“Well, well, well, Isn’t it a surprise to see our golden boy sneaking out and not to mention our perfect girl is helping him”
That cold tone made me aware of all the nerves in my body, it felt like my whole body was suddenly under the ice. That voice, which I never wanted to hear in my life was here with us, here with Matt. That voice belonged to my dad’s sister, Stella Lockwood.
“I know this would happen, Dave, this boy is a sin to our family and our girl is also learning his bad qualities bit by bit.” That witch didn’t seem to worry about how her words would hurt Matt. She continued talking even when dad tried to interrupt her.
“A Lockwood blood would never commit a mistake, you should have left this boy at the same place where he was found, we made a big mistake by adopting him and welcomed disgrace to our family.”
That word was alone enough for me to cross the room and slap her. “Speaking of disgrace, why did your husband leave you, because you are a sin. Now leave, before I kill you”.By the time I finished my statement tears were rolling down from anger. I always cried when I'm angry. I guess it is because of the sudden rush of emotions.
She left with a final glare pointed at me. I half expected mom and dad to scold me, but their expressions said differently. They seemed thankful to me because I did what they couldn’t do.
The problem was not over yet. How am I going to face Matt, how will I look at his eyes?
Yes, Matt is adopted.
