Teaching My Bookworm Stepsister

Maverick's P.O.V.

I was already pretty stunned with the bold way that Kapri was talking to Sally. She was standing up for herself. As pi.ssed off as I was at how rude she was being, I was a little turned on.

I'm not even sure I really realized what I was doing when I comforted Sally. I felt like I was in the twilight zone. I was mad at Kapri for being so mean, but also turned on. Sally was clinging to me, and I could see how it was getting to Kapri too. I just...

I have no excuses honestly. I don't know what I'm doing. I wanted to keep the peace, but then...

I called Kapri a bi.tch. I regretted it as soon as the words left my lips. The tears that filled Kapri's eyes destroyed me.

I tried to reach out for her, but Sally clung to me harder.

Then our friends showed up. I could see the disappointment and anger in Megan and Brooke's eyes. Molly looked confused. Trevor looked uncomfortable.

Sally just had to open her big fu.cking mouth. I still can't believe that Kapri dumped a jar of pickles on the two of us. I thought Sally was going to explode.

It was all kind of funny. Sally's angry reaction. The simple fact of what Kapri had just done. The smug look on Kapri's face.

I wanted to laugh. I wanted to snatch Kapri up, and run up the stairs with her. I wanted to force her to shower with me where I would do all kinds of naughty things as pay back.

Don't get me wrong, part of me was angry. Really angry. I think I only turned that anger into [**t because Kapri and I were interrupted earlier.

Then Sally had to go and lie like that. Kapri stormed off, and I couldn't stop her. Brooke even agreed to take her home. All the girls agreed with her actually.

"Why the fu.ck would you say that?" I asked Sally angrily.

"Well, I couldn't exactly tell her the truth." Sally replied.

"You shouldn't have said anything!" I seethed.

"What exactly is the truth?" Molly asked.

Sally and I looked up at her. Molly had her arms crossed, waiting for an answer. Brooke raised a brow at me, waiting for me to admit it.

"It better not be what Sally just said." Molly said. "Are you really trying to sleep with Kapri?"

Sally chuckled.

"Please, they've probably already slept together by now." She mumbled.

"Kapri isn't as easy as you, Sally." Megan chimed in.

I just stared at Brooke as the other three girls started to argue. Trevor eventually grabbed Molly. He convinced her to step into another room to cool off. Now Megan is glaring at me along with Brooke. "Choose," Megan ordered.

"What?" I asked, dazed.

"Choose," She repeated. "Sally or Kapri."

"You can't force him-"

"Kapri." I breathed out, interrupting Sally.

It just slipped out. Like a reflex.

Megan smirked at Sally.

"I already knew he would choose her over me." Sally said, bored.

"Then why are you even here?" Megan asked her.

Sally sighed.

"Look, I can't help my heart, okay? Maverick has already said that he will never tell her. I just.. like him a lot. I thought I would shoot my shot. I thought he would be alone here. I didn't mean for all of this to happen." She said. Megan just narrowed her eyes at Sally.

"I'm going to go shower. Maybe I should just stay hidden for the night." Sally said before walking away.

Brooke and Megan looked at me.

"I..." I trailed off.

"What is wrong with you?" Megan asked me. "I thought you loved the girl."

"I do.." I said.

Though, I feel like I don't get the right to say that anymore.

"Really?" Brooke asked. "Then why won't you tell her? You know that she has feelings for you now. You guys could really be together, Mav."

I shook my head.

"I can't." I said.

"Why not?" Brooke asked.

I looked up at my friends.

"I can't ruin her future. I won't." I stated.

"So, you'll just hurt her in the meantime then," Megan said. "Great. Perfect. You might as well let Josh have her."

What can I even say to that?

Brooke sighed heavily as she rubbed her temples.

"Go fix this. I think that Kapri will at least stay another night if you say the right thing," she said.

"You want to give him another shot?" Megan asked incredulously.

Brooke turned her head to Megan.

"It's Maverick. You know how he loses his mind when it comes to Kapri. He gets one more chance." Then she looked at me. "One. That's it. You do some fu.cky sh.it again, we're taking her side. And I will help her stay away from you." She warned. I gave her a nod. I guess that's the best I can hope for.

********

"I don't get why I have to be in here. I'm not the one covered in pickle juice." Kapri complained.

After talking with Kapri, I convinced her to get in the shower with me. Honestly.. I can't believe she said yes. I can't believe I was able to make things better between us.

I can't fu.ck this up.

"You're the one that poured it on me." I replied.

Kapri scoffed.

"You deserved it." She said.

I chuckled as I reached out for Kapri's arm. I pulled her to my chest under the water. She sputtered as water rushed over her face.

"You're right, I did." I agreed.

"You're unbelievable." She grumbled.

I cupped the side of Kapri's face. Those light green eyes bore into mine. I swear I could lose myself in her.

"I want to kiss you." I told her.

"Want in one hand, and sh,it in the other. See which ones fills up faster." She replied.

I laughed. Loudly.

"Just let me kiss you." I said.

"No way." Kapri said, frowning.

"Come on, just a little kiss." I teased.

"Since when do you even ask permission?" Kapri replied.

"You're right." I said as I got closer to her face.

Kapri's breath hitched. I rubbed my nose against hers. My lips brushed against hers, but I didn't kiss her.

"This must be me changing." I whispered.

I waited for a moment. I wanted Kapri to kiss me. If she won't, then I won't either.

"Waiting for consent is you changing? Wow," Kapri said with a bored tone.

I laughed as I pulled away from her.

"Alright, let's get out." I said.

I turned around to turn the water off. I got out of the shower, and grabbed a towel. I held it open for Kapri to walk into. All she did was snatch it from me to dry herself off.

I chuckled as I wrapped my own towel around my waist.

"Are you going to be like this for the rest of the trip?" I asked her.

"Cranky? Probably," She replied.

Then Kapri looked at me with narrowed eyes.

"And you better not start complaining." She warned.

"I won't," I said, chuckling. "But I didn't really mean cranky."

Kapri gave me a confused look.

"Listen nerd, I love it when you act like this. I've always loved our bickering moments. Our playful banter." I told her. "I really just wanted to know if you planned to stay the weekend," I said.

Kapri blinked at me. Her face softened, probably due to shock. She seemed to think about how to reply for a moment.

"You've... always liked this?" She asked hesitantly.

Sh.it. Maybe I shouldn't have said that. It's too late now.

"Yeah," I breathed out. "You're the only girl I know that gets under my skin. That isn't afraid to say whatever she wants to me. How could I not like that?" I replied.

Kapri seemed to inspect me for a moment. I hope that my reply was enough to make her stay. To make her feel better.

"I guess that makes sense," she muttered.

"Soo..." I trailed off as I wrapped my arms around her. "You're staying?"

"Is Sally staying?" Kapri asked.

"I'm sure we can figure out a way for her to leave if you want." I told her.

"What do you want?" She asked, looking deep into my eyes.

"You," I replied without thinking.

"That's not what I meant, Maverick," Kapri said bored.

"I know." I told her. "Honestly... I want everyone else to leave. I had plans for the two of us this weekend. Having our friends here isn't that bad I guess, but.. I don't want Sally here. She makes you uncomfortable. You don't act the same with me when she's around. I don't like that. But I don't think it'll matter with our friends around anyway."

"What do you mean by that?" Kapri asked.

I reached up to tuck some wet hair behind her ear.

"You probably won't give me the type of attention you would if we were alone. Because what's going on between us is supposed to be a secret," I said.

Kapri's brows knitted together, making me smile.

"So you're upset because you think I won't be all over you in front of everyone? Is that what you're saying?" She asked.

"Uh, yeah, pretty much." I replied.

"Maverick, do you trust our friends?" Kapri asked.

I nodded.

"Yeah, of course I do." I said.

"I trust the girls to keep their mouths shut, and you trust Trevor. And so does Molly apparently." She mumbled. What's she saying exactly?

"Maverick," Kapri said, looking up at me with a mischievous glint in her light greens. "Let's let them all stay."