“Stephanie? What are you doing here?” Owen picked up her phone from the floor and gave it to her. Stephanie was too stunned to speak and all she did was stare at him. “Here… Your phone.” He stared at her shocked face. Stephanie hurriedly collected your phone from him, grabbed his bag and stood up. She proceeded to the door in the twinkle of an eye. “Stephanie!” “Ma’am, your tequila is ready!”
Stephanie heard the voices call behind her but she didn’t look back. She kept storming to the door. Her eyes were on the door, and she didn’t shift her focus until she was out of the house. She saw a Taxi heading to where she was, she raised her hand to wave it down, then she remembered Mary. ‘I’m here to watch over Mary. If I leave now, how will I do that? What will I tell Mom?’
She gulped hard and lowered her hand. She turned away from the road and looked at the mansion. ‘What the hell is he doing here?’ Stephanie saw Owen hurry out of the door, he was chasing her. When he saw her standing at the roadside, he slowed down, and walked up to her. “Why did you run off like that?” He asked, and she slowly shook her head. “Nothing. I just needed some fresh air,” She responded. She tried her possible best not to look at him or move too close to him. “I’ll go inside now,” She said and wanted to leave, when Owen held her hand, making her stop.
“Wait, Stephanie.” His voice was low and calm. Stephanie turned and looked at his hand that was around her wrist. “Let me go, Owen,” She muttered within gritted teeth. “Please, Stephanie. Let’s talk for a few minutes, I promise I won’t waste your time,” He pleaded, still holding onto her hand. Stephanie heaved a sigh and looked at his face. He had a remorseful face which Stephanie didn’t buy at all.
“Let me go, Owen. We can talk without touching each other, right?” She asked, clenching her jaw. He bounced his head and slowly let her go. “What are you doing here, Stephanie? I wasn’t expecting you here,” He said, and she scoffed. “I should be asking you the same thing. Los Angeles is my home. What are you doing here?” She asked, folding her arms under her breasts. “I’m here for my little brother’s birthday. He told me I mustn’t miss it, or he would be very mad at me. It is is eighteen birthday party, and it’s the first time I’m attending one of his parties,” Owen explained with a cheerful smile.
Stephanie divulged a faint smile and looked at the road. “Good for you,” She responded coldly. Owen noticed the attitude she was putting on, but he wasn’t ready to let go of the conversation, so he continued. “So tell me, why are you here? I mean, it’s a teenager’s party.” He giggled. “I came here with my sister. I’m here to watch over her, and I’m not doing that, thanks to you, Owen.” She looked at him, and he exhaled.
I lowered his head and spoke again. “I deserve all of it, Stephanie. All the hatred, the attitude, I deserve all of it. I wouldn’t mind if you want to punch my face to make you feel better,” He said, and Stephanie scoffed. “You know what? I have actually wanted to do that.” She moved closer and before he knew it, she slapped him very hard. Owen clenched his jaw and smiled. He looked at her and nodded. “I deserve it, and I’m sorry.”
Stephanie shook her head and looked away. Her eyes were beginning to fail her again, her eyes were beginning to water, and she hated it. “I don’t need your apology, Owen. It’s in the past, and I have buried it in the past. I need to check on my sister now.” She turned to leave again. “Why did you leave New York City?” He asked, and she stopped walking. She turned her head and looked at him over her shoulders. “It is none of your business. Stay away, Owen. It was not nice meeting you,” She uttered and finally walked away.
As she walked into the mansion, she cleaned the tears in her eyes and sniffed. She had to stay strong. He was her past, and he didn’t mean anything to her. She headed straight to the bartender again. She badly needed that tequila. “I’m back. Can I have the tequila now?” She asked, and the bartender bobbed. “I thought you left already. I’ll pour you a new one,” He said, and Stephanie feebly smiled. She sat on the chair and started tracing the living room with her eyes. She wanted to catch a glimpse of her sister anywhere, but she could barely see everyone. The lights were too dim for her to recognize anyone from afar.
“There you go, Ma’am.” She heard the bartender behind her, and she turned to look at him. “Thank you,” She said and picked up the glass of tequila. She removed the piece of lemon that the bartender hung at the edge of the glass, and moved the glass to her mouth. She placed the glass between her lips and gulped all of it at once. The bartender’s eyes popped wide open as he stared at her. She dropped the glass on the table and shut her eyes very tight. She opened her eyes and saw him staring at her. “Thank you,” She grinned and stood up from the chair. She walked into the crowd and started the search for her sister. ‘She better not be doing something stupid.’
Soon, the DJ started playing a very loud hip-hop music and everyone in the house screamed in excitement, except Stephanie who covered her ears with her hands, trying to protect her ears from the teenage noises. After going round the living room and not sighting Mary anywhere, she decided to ask one of the teen where West could be. “Hey! Sorry, do you know know where West is!” She said in a very loud voice to a boy that was vibing to the music. “He is probably screwing some girl now!” He responded with hysterical laughter.
Stephanie furrowed her brows and walked away from him. “He is probably drunk.” Then, she remembered that when they had arrived, they headed down the corridor. She hastily rushed down the corridor, and the music from the living room reduced at every step she took. “Mary! Mary! Where are you?!” She called, and she started opening every door she saw one after the other. The first room was empty, she moved to the second and found two teenagers having sex. “Urrrgghh,” She groaned and quickly shut the door. After opening almost all the doors, she got to the last one, and when she opened it, she saw Mary sitting on West’s leg, who sat on the bed. They were kissing. “Oh my… Mary?! What are you doing?!”
Mary sprang up from West’s legs immediately when she heard her sister’s voice. “Stephanie, what are you doing here?” Mary asked, and Stephanie stormed to where they were. “What do you think you are doing to her, west? She is just fifteen! She is even yet to clock fifteen! She is literally fourteen, you shouldn’t take advantage of her!” Stephanie yelled, pointing her index finger at West, who looked at Stephanie fearfully. “Stephanie, stop! He isn’t taking advantage of me. I am in my right mind and…” “No, you are not in your right mind! Listen to me West, I’m not saying you shouldn’t have a relationship, but it is too early for this! And she isn’t ready for this. Trust me she isn’t!” Stephanie further yelled.
“Stephanie!” Mary called in anger. “Enough! We are going home now. That is enough for the party tonight.” Stephanie grabbed Mary’s hand and pulled her out of the room. “Can you please calm down? Why are you so mad?” Mary asked as she ran after Stephanie, who wouldn’t stop running. “Listen to me, Mary. That was a bad idea, okay? If you think that was love, that he was trying to show you love by making out with you, you are mistaken, Mary.”
They got outside, and Mary yanked her hand off Stephanie’s. I thought you were cool with anything I did. Why did you change all of a sudden?” She asked. “I was cool with you partying with other teenagers, with you making friends, with you having a boyfriend, maybe, not you making out on the first day you say yes to him! Especially when he is Owen’s brother!”
“What?? He is Owen’s brother?” Mary asked in shock, and Stephanie sighed. She bounced her head and moved closer to her. “I just talked to Owen, and he told me West is his little brother. He never told you about it?” She asked, and Mary shook her head. “Maybe because of the story I told him about you and Owen, and that I hate him for hurting you.” Mary lowered her head sadly, and Stephanie reached her hand and held it.
“Listen, Mary. He being Owen’s brother isn’t the big deal, okay? He may not be like this brother at all. But, you need to be careful. You can’t make out yet, you are still very young. I won’t let you make the mistakes I’ve made, Mary. I promised myself that already,” Stephanie explained, and Mary slowly nodded. “I understand, Stephanie. And I have heard you. But can we party a little more?” She asked, and Stephanie shook her head.
“Nope! That is enough for today. Let’s go home now. I don’t want to see Owen the second time. Please.” Stephanie pouted, and Mary rolled her eyes. “Fine! Let’s go home,” Mary mumbled and started walking down the road. “You’ll say your goodbye to him on the phone, okay? You can put all the blame on me, he won’t be mad at you,” Stephanie uttered as she walked behind Mary.