GRAYSON'S POV
By the time I returned home from school, it was late already.
Late enough for me to be certain Isabella would definitely have returned home from college and just enough time for me to head to the kitchen to cook dinner.
Cooking was something I'd gotten used to overtime. It was a chore I shared with my dad, neither of us ever considering it a big deal. Whoever was simply home first cooked or in some cases, whoever was less exhausted did it.
Normally, with my dad out of town, I rarely cooked. I never really liked the idea of eating alone so it was easier to order in without needing to sit at the dining table. But for the first time, things were different. My dad wasn't home yet I was cooking.
I stirred the pasta in the pan, glancing at the wall clock to ensure I didn't lose track of time. It had been about twenty-four hours since Isabella and her brother moved in and we were all yet to have a proper discussion together. And there was no better place to have awkward conversation than the dining, over food.
Giving my well plated dinner a final look, I walked out of the dining and headed straight to Beckett's room. I could tell he was in, the sound of video games already audible from the living room.
"Hey," I gave the already opened door a light push. "I made dinner. Are you hungry?"
"Dinner?" he took off the headphones from his head. "You made it?"
"Don't act so shocked," I walked in further. "Yeah, I cook. So what do you say? Are you hungry? Even if you aren't, just say yes."
"Luckily for you, I am," he dropped the headphones on his bed and rose to his feet. "Thanks."
I couldn't help but notice how different the once empty room now looked. He was doing his best to get settled in quickly and right at that moment, I couldn't help but wonder if Isabella was doing the same.
"You should invite your sister too," I waited for him to take a step away from me before I spoke up again. "If she's in. I mean, is she in? I made enough for all of us."
"She should be," I could no longer see his face but the change in his tone was obvious. "Yeah, I'll ask her to come down too. Thanks."
He walked out of the room and I did the same, quickly heading back to my room. I stared at myself in the mirror and immediately shook my head, taking off my hoodie to change into a sleeveless vest instead.
Glad I no longer smelled like oil, I ran my hands through my hair and returned downstairs. I could hear sounds of the chair being pulled in the dining, a smirk appearing on my face as I returned to the dining.
"You're here," I said to Beckett as I walked towards one empty chair, my eyes scanning the entire all the seats in a useless search for Isabella. "Your sister-"
"She said she isn't hungry," he shrugged. "Just leave her. You don't have to worry about her."
"Oh," I nodded slowly as I took my seat. He was right. I didn't have to worry about her. But I just couldn't help but worry about her.
Especially after today. After seeing her with Kai. After her announcing that she had a 'boyfriend'.
"Is she the quiet type?" I slowly picked up my cutlery. "Your sister, I mean. Or is she just quiet around me? Is it awkward for her? Suddenly getting a stepbrother?"
"She should be used to it," his tone was sarcastic and I immediately raised my brows in response. "I mean, it's not like you're going to be her first step brother. We're also step-siblings."
"Oh," that was news to me. "I didn't know that."
"Isn't it obvious?" he chuckled. "We barely get along."
"Why?"
"What do you mean why?" Beckett suddenly sounded irked. "Because I'm her step brother? I don't know. Isabella is just- You're free to try getting close to her though. Let's see if you'll finally be the step brother she gives two shits about. Good luck with that."
"I guess I'll be needing that luck," I grabbed my glass of water and emptied the entire content down my throat. I could feel Beckett's eyes on me the entire time, my lips twitching as I tried to figure out if I didn't sound weird for asking about her. "How about you? Excited at the thought of having a new brother?"
He shrugged in response and continued with his dinner, things taking an awkward turn very quickly.
The rest of our dinner was spent in silence, Beckett rising to his feet the moment he was done eating. Coincidentally, I finished my meal at the same time so he grabbed both our plates and walked into the kitchen to drop them.
"Thanks for the dinner. Good night."
"Yeah, good night."
The sound of his footsteps as he left got quieter and in no time, I was left in the dining, staring at the untouched plate of food that was supposed to be for Isabella.
I let out a groan, unable to get up from my seat. I ran my hands through my hair over and over, my frustration reaching its peak.
Just what in the world was I doing?
Before I could figure out what sort of insanity had suddenly come over me, my phone buzzed in my pocket. With a sigh I took it out, a text from Nessa appearing on my screen.
NESSA: You're free tonight aren't you? Let's go to a party together!
NESSA: It would be fun. All the pretty girls from my department would be there.
NESSA: INCLUDING THE GIRL THAT WON THE POPULARITY CONTEST LAST YEAR.
NESSA: You know she has a crush on you and you said you wouldn't mind giving her a try so here's your chance.
I groaned for the millionth time and flipped my phone over, shutting my eyes to ignore Nessa's text. Barely a minute had passed when my phone buzzed again, several texts from my other friends popping up.
HAROLD: Yo, aren't you coming for Travis' party?
ANA: I miss you. Where are you?
JAMES: This party is sickkk. Where are you? All the girls are asking for you! You know how they get when you're around.
LILY: Babe, aren't you coming tonight?
PETER: WTF are you?
"Fuck," I cursed out loud and shut my eyes again. Before my phone could buzz again, I quickly opened my eyes and turned the phone off, tossing it onto the dining table in a frustration like never before.
I was fun. The life of the party. The guy all my friends wanted at all parties. The guy every girl wanted to see at all parties.
Yet here I was, refusing to attend a party simply because Isabella had refused to come downstairs for dinner.
"No fucking way," I immediately rose to my feet. I ran my hands through my already disheveled hair and turned around, my steps coming to an abrupt halt almost immediately. "Fuck."
I could hear footsteps approaching. Not the heavy kind that belonged to Beckett as he walked out of his room. But the soft and timid kind that obviously belonged to the girl that refused to come out of her room.
My lips curled into a smirk as I patiently waited. If my calculations were to be correct, then she was to appear in front of me in exactly ten seconds.
"Five," I bit my bottom lip as I counted down. "Four. Come on, show yourself, Isabella."
I folded my arms, suddenly glad I had my sleeveless vest on and sunk in a deep breath. I needed my calculations to be correct. I needed to see her.
"Three, two, one."