Teaching My Bookworm Stepsister

Kapri's P.O.V.

**********

I can't believe it's already been over a month since Maverick broke things off between us. What I can't believe more, is that I can't seem to get over him. Fu.cking ridiculous.

I've gotten good at pretending that everything is okay though. I go to school, pay attention in my classes, and go to that stupid book club. I hang out with my friends at lunch, although I feel like I just sit there and zone out most of the time. Still, I laugh with them. I joke with them. I pretend that everything is fine.

But I don't feel fine. In fact, I don't feel anything. Everything is numb.

I feel like I'm on autopilot all the time. Like I'm just floating through life. It's confusing. I'm not even sure how I'm able to still keep my grades high like this.

I think that Molly can tell something is off with me. I'm trying though. I really am.

I'm trying to be okay. I'm trying not to think about Maverick. I'm trying to move on.

It's pretty pathetic that I can't.

Brooke and Megan talked to me that day when I stormed into the house. They told me that they were completely on my side. Actually, I don't think I've ever seen Brooke angry before, and she was very angry with Maverick.

I begged them all to just let things be. It would be easier for me to get over him if we could all just... go back to being normal.

Lucky for me, I have some really great friends. All of them make sure to spend a lot of time with me. We've been doing way more girls' nights too. They've really helped me to not fall into a rut.

It makes me feel even worse for not being over Maverick yet.

As for Maverick, I couldn't tell you a thing. I've seen him walk into school almost every single day. I never see him in the halls. He doesn't come to the only class we share together. I never see him at home either. I have no idea where he's been. I never see him leave school, but I hear a lot of people talking about how he's out of the parking lot seconds after the last bell rings. I've also heard a lot of girls gossiping that he and Sally are 'over'. Like they were ever a thing to begin with. I hated how happy that made me.

However, I do see Maverick at lunch every day. I try not to look at him, but my eyes are always drawn in his direction. It doesn't help that I always catch him staring at me too. Only, Maverick looks away the moment I look at him. I don't understand him. Or myself, for that matter. Why does everything Maverick does affect me?

Trying to get back to my life before Maverick is a lot harder than I care to admit. I thought it would be easy to move on since I hated him so much before. Which makes me wonder if I ever really did hate Maverick.

There was a time when Maverick and I were close. I mean, we were children, and I thought he was annoying, but we were friends. Now I wonder if maybe I had a crush on him back then. Then, when he started to treat me badly, was I hurt? I feel like I don't know anything anymore.

I still tutor Hayden once a week after school. He hits on me sometimes, and I pretend not to notice. When he tries to ask me out, I avoid the question. Then he started asking me a lot about Molly. I was confused at first, but when I told him that she and Trevor are dating... well, I think I know why Hayden was pressing to hang out with me so much.

Now I just ignore him completely unless he actually needs help with school work. I haven't tutored him in two weeks.

Am I just a tool for everyone to use?

Josh has probably been the sweetest person in my life. Who would have ever thought that?

Josh hangs out with me every day after school. We sit in the library together while I work on my extra class, and Josh works on his school work. I was really shocked that Josh was actually doing work. Sometimes he'll interrupt me to ask me questions. I don't mind though. It's nice to see him taking an interest in his education.

However, Josh has asked me out several times. I'm talking every single day. I do let him take me home, but.. I just can't date him. Not because he's a bad kisser, but because I just can't stop thinking about Maverick. It's not fair to Josh if I dated him right now. So, I told him just that. Sort of. I told him that I had just gotten out of something that left me feeling really bad. I said that I just wasn't ready yet, but that I would love to be friends. I could tell that Josh was disappointed, but I appreciated that he plastered a smile on his face anyway.

Despite all of the luck I've gotten in the last month.. It's still hard to get out of bed every morning.

I sighed as I looked at myself in the mirror. I'd love to trade this light green long sleeve cropped shirt in for a hoodie. The loose high waist jeans are cute though. I threw my hair up into a high ponytail. I haven't worn it down since everything with Maverick. Stupid prick likes when my hair is down? He'll never see it down again. Stupid jerk.

I grabbed my coat and my bag, and headed downstairs.

"Brooke is outside waiting for you." Mom told me.

Sh.it, I'm running late.

"Thanks Mom." I said.

"Wait." Mom called out as I put my hand on the doorknob.

I turned around to face her.

"I want you to come home right after school. As soon as school ends, got it? Keep your phone on you at all times. I want you to answer every single one of my texts. Leave your location on." She said. I frowned.

"Okay?" I said.

"Alright, go on." Mom dismissed me.

I walked out the door, wondering what the hell that was about.

"You about ready to go?" Josh asked when I started to gather up my things.

"I think I'm going to walk today. I want to stop by the coffee shop I used to work at." I told him.

"I can drive you, and then take you home." Josh said.

I gave him a pointed look, and then smiled.

"I appreciate it, but the weather isn't bad, and I would love to just clear my head." I said.

"Kap.. I don't mean to push, but... You live like six miles out of town," he replied.

I chewed on my bottom lip. That's true. That is a long walk.

"I used to walk all the time," I mumbled.

Josh gave me a pointed look. He knows that I don't want to walk either.

"How about, I take you there, you go in, get your coffee, take a good ten minutes to sit there, and I'll wait in the car." He suggested. "Wouldn't that be really rude?" I asked.

Josh beamed.

"I'd do it for you," he said.

I gave him a small smile.

"Okay."

*********************

"Kapri! We haven't seen you in forever." Ally said when I walked in.

Ally was my manager when I worked here. She's in her early 20s and works here to help pay for her college. We always got along.

"Hey Ally. I know. I'm sorry that I never come in anymore." I said.

"Pshh." Ally said, waving her hand in the air. "You're rich now! You probably have way better coffee at home."

I laughed.

"I mean, it's okay, but nothing is as good as your caramel mocha frappe's." I said, wiggling my eyebrows.

"Coming right up love." She replied.

I pulled out my phone as Ally made my drink. Mom has been texting me every single hour. I haven't replied to her in a couple hours though. I wasn't expecting her to call me 20 times. What is going on with her?

My phone rang again. It's Mom. Again.

"Mom, sorry-"

"Kapri, I told you to be home right after school." Mom interrupted me.

"I had to go to the library." I said.

"Where are you right now? Are you still at school? I'll come get you." She rushed out.

What the hell?

"Mom, I'm fine. I'm at the coffee shop. Josh drove me. We were-"

"Come home now." Mom interrupted me. "I mean it, Kapri. Get your b**t home now."

Then she hung up.

What the hell was that about? Why is she acting so weird?

Ally handed me my drink. I paid her, and then said good bye to all of my old co-workers. I was just going to walk out after that, but I ran into someone.

"Oh, sorry." I mumbled when I bumped into her.

"Are you Kapri?" She asked.

I looked up at her face. She looks like she's maybe a year or two older than me. She's a couple inches taller than me. Straight black hair that ends at her shoulders. Her eyes are a deep blue color. She's very pretty, and something about her seems so... familiar. "Uhm, do I know you?" I asked her.

"No, but I think it's time we got to know each other," she said.

Huh?

"Why?" I asked her.

"Well, we share the same father. Now that he's out.. I thought maybe you'd want to-"

"Whoa." I said, interrupting her. "Same father? What are you talking about?" I asked.

The girl gave me a strange look.

"You.. don't know?" She asked.

"Know what? That my dead beat dad also left another daughter? How do you even know about me?" I asked.

"Dead beat?" She asked.

Then she shook her head.

"You don't know," She mumbled. "You should talk to your mom. I'll see you around."

With that, she walked out of the cafe, leaving me to wonder what the hell that was about.

**********

I stormed into the house, and started to search for Mom. I found her and Liam in his office talking in hushed whispers. I pushed the door open, making both of them jump. Then I crossed my arms, and narrowed my eyes. "What the hell is going on?" I asked.

"Kapri, finally." Mom said as she rushed to me.

Mom pulled me into her arms in a bone-crushing hug. I pushed her away after a second. I'm too angry for hugs.

"Mom, what the fu.ck is going on?" I asked.

"N-nothing-"

"Okay, so you're going to lie to me even though you're bad at it?" I asked.

I sighed, and rubbed my forehead.

"Mom, something is going on. First of all, you've been acting weird all day. Texting and calling me. Like you're afraid I'm going to run away or something. Then some random girl walks up to me at the coffee shop and claims to be my sister-" "Your sister?" Mom asked.

"Yeah Mom. She said we have the same father. She said she wanted to get to know me since 'he's out now'?" I asked.

Mom looked at Liam. Her face paled. He immediately got up to wrap his arms around her.

"Mom.. what's going on?" I asked again.

Mom looked at Liam, then at me.

"Kapri honey," she said. "I think you should have a seat. There's something I need to tell you."