Chapter 12

Evelyn's POV

Since this party is all Olivia’s been able to talk about since the dining hall, we decide to dress up. Wearing a floral romper and sandals, I push my thick curls into a bun. Olivia wears her brown hair down and has on a purple crop top and jean shorts.

We arrive dressed to the nines, and I can’t lie that my confidence is through the roof. Something about being new in a place like this, where no one knows your story, makes me feel like I can take on the whole damn world.

“Evelyn!” I hear a voice shout once we walk in. To my surprise, Ava’s running up to us. She wraps her arms around me, babbling about how she didn’t know I’d be here.

“Hey! I say, hugging her back. I had no idea we’d be at the same school. She never mentioned it. “This is my roommate, Olivia Nguyen! Olivia, this is Ava Remington. We met over the summer.”

The three of us immediately start talking and gossiping together, giggling at the jokes or sights we point out around us. When Olivia is distracted, I quickly pull Ava aside.

“No one here knows I’m Sebastian’s sister. Please don’t tell anyone, okay?”

Astonishing me, she nods. “No problem. I understand. Secret’s safe with me.”

As our trio heads to the alcohol table, I notice a lot of eyes on us.

It’s not until a few guys approach us with shit-eating grins and shitty game that I realize what’s happening.

A group of four guys ask for my number, each one of them finding an excuse to either touch me, compliment me, or put down their buddy in order to be the one to get my number.

It makes me feel stiff. The physical advances alone flash me back to the past, seeing and hearing the things I experienced.

To avoid really dealing with it, I start drinking more.

“What’s the rush?” One of the guys laughs. “In the middle of a drink-off?”

“In your dreams, bud,” I reply, finishing off another cup of whatever the hell was on the table. I can see Ava and Olivia confused on what is happening, but I can’t tell them, now can I?

As I reach down to get myself more to drink, someone grabs me by my arm and pulls me aside.

It takes me a second to steady myself, and when I look up at the person, I realize it’s Sebastian himself. Snatching the drink out of my hands, he leans down as if to scold a child. “Thought you can’t stand being touched by strangers.”

I cross my arms, knowing I don’t have to justify his words with a response. What’s it matter to Sebastian, anyway?

“You seem to be enjoying yourself now, Princess. So, are you a liar or are you looking to hook up with someone tonight?”

God, why does he say shit like this? He makes me so damn furious all the time, and now he comes out of nowhere to accuse me of liking the disgusting eyes of these men?

“This is none of your business, Sebastian. You don’t get to say this shit to me.”

“These guys that you’re talking to? The ones you’re flirting with? They’re not good people, Princess. Believe me. They just pull their dick out and cause trouble to anyone around.”

“Oh? Really? Because all my actual troubles are because of you! I just want to be like other stepsiblings, Sebastian. One’s that don’t interfere in each other’s lives! It’s so exhausting dealing with you!”

His eyes grow cold as he continues to watch me. His nostrils flare ever so slightly, but the part that makes me shiver is that cold laugh that exits his lungs.

“Let me remind you something. You seem to have forgotten what we’ve done before all of this. You were the one who started it all.”

I throw back my head in utter annoyance. “I just want this game to end. Now,” I declare.

He shakes his head at me, but there’s no answer to give me. Ava interrupts, touching my arm lightly to get my attention. I don’t want to talk about this, not in a million years.

Instead of dealing with this, I pull Ava away from my stepbrother, not wanting to discuss anything to do with him.

Thankfully, Ava seems to sense that I’m not in the mood to talk about it, so instead, she starts talking about something random.

I play along with the conversation, mostly just answering any questions that blonde has to ask, but it doesn’t make the pain I’m feeling get any better. How am I supposed to do anything when all I feel is utter chaos inside of me?

I notice not long later, that Olivia and Sebastian are chatting together. Something snaps in me, and I immediately down what’s in my cup.

Two can play at this game, bro.

Any guy who approaches me after that gets my attention. I’m determined to outdo the fucker.

As the night goes on, the faces of the guys and the alcohol all blur together. Stupid boys with stupid minds with stupid expectations of women.

By the time the party is calming down, I realize that I am indeed very drunk. The issue is Olivia is also in the same boat. As much as I’m trying to keep myself up and moving, there’s no way I can take care of my roommate, too.

“Ava,” I slur, trying to stay standing. “Can you take Olivia back to our place?”

“Wait, what? Aren’t you going home, too?” Ava is much more sober than I am, but I’m struggling to concentrate. “Don’t be stubborn, hon. Just ask Sebastian to take you back.”

I wave off her comments, insisting I’ll be fine. “Just take care of her. I’ll be okay, I promise.”

The slur doesn’t stop, but Ava must believe my words. After gathering Olivia up, she takes her out and back to the dorm.

I had a plan all along. Drunk or not, I’d come up with an answer earlier in the night.

Gregory had told me that he’d given me an apartment right across from Sebastian’s before we left. I’d rather live in a dorm, honestly, than deal with being his neighbor. But tonight seems to be a good night to utilize the apartment.

It’s too late to go home alone. And I’m way too tired and hot from the alcohol.

I stumble my way in the direction of the apartment, where I reach two nearly identical doors.

My vision is incredibly cloudy, but all I can think about is wanting to take a nice, cold shower. Shit, which door is mine? I can’t remember.

Curse alcohol and all its damaging properties.

I shrug, choosing a door at random before using my fingerprint to unlock it. At least I don’t have to fumble with seven different keys to get in here.

I must choose the right door because the floor layout is almost identical to Sebastian’s apartment. However, as I stumble down the hall, walking into walls and objects in front of me, I find it hard to stay standing.

But nothing is worse than finding the bathroom door and throwing it open.

Sebastian, wrapped in only a white towel.

My brain gets fuzzy for a second as I take in the man’s features. Her skin is still damp, droplets making their way down his pecs. His hair is dripping, too, as he shakes out that black hair.

Oh, mama, this man is exceptionally attractive. Beautiful, even. Wow.

Realizing my lips have gone dry, I lick them to help me speak. “Well…this is against the rules…but…”