Teaching My Bookworm Stepsister

Maverick's P.O.V.

Grandpa is trying to get his claws in me again. Does he not know about April? Does he realize that his son has remarried to a low-class woman? That Kapri lives with us too?

Who am I kidding? Of course, that old bas.tard knows. He must.

Is that why he's trying to pop back up?

No, it must be because this is my last year of school. He wants to make sure I'm following in my father's footsteps. Grandpa would be furious if he thought that the business we own wasn't staying in the family.

Dad said he was done with his father after that incident though. Does he not know that Grandpa is meddling in things? Grandpa has always been good at keeping a secret.

What does this mean for Kapri and I? Will Grandpa find out about us? He wouldn't.. hurt her knowing that Dad is married to April.. right?

I sighed, and ran a hand through my hair. I can't even manage to go to class at this point. My anxiety is at an all-time high. Maybe I can just go get Kapri.. If I could just see her face.. See that smile she only has for me.. I'll feel better. I turned in the direction of Kapri's classroom. I had only made it a few steps when my phone started to ring. It's an unknown number, but I answered anyway.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Ahh, I wasn't sure you'd pick up."

I froze.

"How has my favorite grandson been?" Grandpa said cheerfully.

"You aren't supposed to be talking to me," I stated.

"Still upset about your spanking, I see." He replied casually.

My spanking?

When Dad had rushed me to the doctor three days later, I had to have stitches. Grandpa's belt was like a whip. Not only did he split open my a.ss, but my back too. I couldn't sit down for almost three weeks. I had to miss so much school.

And Grandpa knew all of that. I heard him and Dad's conversation. Dad asked how he could be so cruel at his old age. I could tell that this was something that Grandpa had done to Dad too. Which made me wonder how Dad could ever have trusted him with us.

A few months after that incident, I asked Dad why he left us alone with such a cruel man. He told me that he thought his father had changed. Dad thought, that with everything we had already gone through, losing our mom.. That Grandpa would never have done something like that.

Dad said his biggest regret would be giving his father a second chance.

"Still just as much of a prick as I always see," I said.

Grandpa chuckled, surprising me.

"You're growing up to be a fine young man. You'll do great being a big boss." He said happily.

"Who ever said I was going to be taking over?" I asked.

Of course, that is Dad's plan for me. One I was never really against. Not that Grandpa needs to know that.

"Oh, you're taking over. Don't think that just because your father married that wh.oreish woman, that means you can do whatever you want, Maverick," Grandpa replied.

"Do not talk about her that way." I gritted out. "April is a wonderful woman."

Grandpa chuckled, but this time it didn't sound amused.

"Are you saying that because she has your father more present? Or because you've been sleeping with her daughter?" He asked.

I paled. How.. did he know that? Was it just a guess?

"You didn't honestly think that I listened to your father, and walked right out of your life, did you?" Grandpa scoffed. "If I did, you'd end up just like your father. Married to a wh.ore who only wants you for your money."

He's been.. watching me? Does that mean he knows everything?

"You better leave Kapri and April out of this." I stated.

"Oh, I will." Grandpa said. "If you do exactly as I say."

I squeezed my phone tighter.

"What is it you want?" I asked.

"Break things off with that girl. Finish all of your assignments. And go to the college I pick out for you. It's as simple as that, Maverick," he said.

Simple? Nothing about this is simple.

"Fine." I agreed. "Just leave everyone else alone."

**********

I trudged to the library slowly. Just when I was about to have her. Again.

It seems that everytime I want Kapri, that I get close to taking her.. Grandpa always has to get in the way. He broke us apart when my mom had died, and all I wanted was to see those beautiful green eyes. It was Grandpa who stopped me from going to her four years ago, when I was going to confess my love like a total lovesick loser. And it was him this time too.

This is probably for the best anyway. Grandpa was always saying that we would never deserve each other. Kapri for being poor and fatherless. Me for being rich and powerful.

The truth is, it was always only me. I am the only one not good enough. Not worthy of love.

Kapri deserves everything. No matter how much money she has, or if she had no parents at all. She deserves everything in life. Kapri deserves to be happy. With someone who can make her happy. Someone who can openly accept her. Someone who doesn't have to hide her. Someone who can protect her better than I can.

I walked to the corner of the library where we always meet. Kapri is pacing back and forth. She looks so beautiful. Her curly hair hanging around her, the tight black cropped T-shirt, and tight jeans, even her biting her nails. All of it is so breathtaking to me. I will never love anyone else for as long as I live. I know that now. If I end things right now.. Kapri will have a chance though.

"Hey nerd." I said.

Kapri turned to face me. She chewed on her bottom lip as she looked me up and down. I love having those light green eyes on me.

"H-hey. How'd your meeting go this morning?" She asked.

I think I might be sick.

"Acutally.. There's something I need to talk to you about, Kapri," I said.

Yup, definitely going to be sick.

"W-wait. There's something I-I want to tell you too." She said.

I really don't want to say what I have to.

"Okay, you go first," I said.

Kapri looked deep into my eyes. She squared her shoulders, and took a deep breath.

"M-Maverick Penton.. I-I.. think that I'm in love with you."

I stood there frozen.

In love. She said in love. Not, I have feelings for you. She said.. in love.

What am I supposed to say to her now?

This is everything I ever wanted. I've dreamt of this moment so many times. Hell, I've tried to tell her those exact words before..

No way that this is real. It can't be. Life can't be this cruel to me.

"Say something, Maverick.." Kapri rushed out.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

What would Grandpa do if I told her I love her too? Would he know? Could I tell Kapri everything, and keep our relationship a secret from him?

I know how malicious my grandfather is. I know what his rich and powerful life means. I used it to get information on Kapri. To keep her secluded this whole time. And I'm just a teenager.

Grandpa would be able to do whatever he wanted most likely. Would he beat her like he did me? Would he send her away? Would he ruin her chances of getting into Harvard?

Would Kapri ever forgive me if something like that ever happened to her?

I stared into Kapri's light green eyes. This is the last time I will ever see her smile. The last time I'll ever look into these green pools like this. I will never regret anything between us. I will forever remember every kiss, every touch, every smile. I'm doing the right thing.

"I'm sorry Kapri.. I don't.. feel the same way about you." I lied.

I hope that sounded believable.

Pure sadness settled into Kapri's eyes. Her face fell as she stared up at me. Tears filled her eyes. It took everything in me not to reach out to her.

"I thought that we were just fooling around.." I continued.

"W-we were.. I just.. It just happened.." She said sadly.

I should never have gotten involved in her life.

"I think we should stop seeing each other like this," I said.

Kapri's eyes snapped to mine. They're wide and full of tears. Breaking every part of me.

"What?" She asked. "I-is this what you wanted to talk about?"

"Yeah," I said. "I've noticed that you were getting feelings for me. I wanted to talk to you about it sooner, but-"

"But what?" Kapri bit out. "But you were having too much fun?"

"That's right," I replied.

Kapri scoffed.

"Wow. I should have known." She mumbled.

I should never have thought I could have you. In any way. At all. I ruined everything.

"I'm sorry." I said.

Kapri looked up at me again. She's scowling, but tears have started to fall from her eyes. This is all my fault. I should never have fallen in love with her. I should never have tried to be with her. I should have left her alone. I was selfish, and now Kapri is getting her heart broken because of me.

"Sorry my a.ss." Kapri said angrily. "Did you ever even..? Was anything even.. real?" She asked.

I don't know what to say. I don't want to lie again. I don't want to hurt her any more.

"Forget it. Like you would tell me the truth anyway." She said. "I should never have gotten involved with you."

Kapri pushed past me. I turned to watch her gather up her things. Then she looked up at me with hard eyes. "I hate you, Maverick Penton."

With those last words, Kapri left me in the library, wondering what the point to life even is.