Chapter 8: Creeping

Aurora's POV

Day one of the semester break has begun and the atmosphere in this house is kinda... peaceful. It feels a little bit weird being in a new big house without your parents. Considering the fact that I haven't been in this house for so long. The house feels so lifeless and empty. Heck, you can even make an echo in here. I mean for other kids, being home alone is fun and that means you can do whatever you want like staying up late at night and the such. But in my situation, being home alone with Steven feels a little bit... awkward due to the fact that we're not really close and we could hardly talk to each other not unless if we have to, or if it's necessary to do so.

We were just in the living room and doing our own thing. I'm just looking stuff on my phone while Steven is just reading a book with no title on it. Just simple and dull looking like his own being. Kinda odd, I have to say. I glance at him and ended up watching as his slender, deadly pale fingers carefully flip the page and his eyes remained focus on the book.

His eyes are busy scanning the page but then he looks up and our eyes meet.

"Is something wrong?" He asked with his usual dull voice.

"Sorry, I'm just curious about the book you're reading. It seems that you're into it." I said.

He then closes the book and put it beside him. "It's a pretty boring book though."

"Oh," I muttered. He pulls out his phone and makes a phone call. A few seconds of silence later, he opened his mouth, responding to whoever he's calling and stand up from his seat.

"Hey. Listen, my parents are not home for two weeks and I was thinking that we should have a party tomorrow night."

After those words came out of his mouth, I don't think mom and dad are not gonna be happy about this. They'll be very disappointed by the time they come back and I'll tell them the whole story. However, I don't want to make Steven mad. That'll leave a bad impression of me as his stepsister.

"It's just my little stepsister and I but I'll make sure that she won't tell mom and dad about this." He said, placing his index finger over his lips like he's telling me to stay quiet.

"Okay, I'll text you the details and tell the others too. See you soon." With that being said, he ended the call and put his phone back into his pocket.

"You're having a party here tomorrow?" I asked even though I just heard his conversation on the phone about the party.

"Yes, and you better not tell mom and dad about this." He said, walking closer and closer to me. Then he leans forward, crouch down to my level and our faces are only inches away as if our foreheads are pressing against each other.

"Um, Steven..." This is very uncomfortable. We're never this close just to talk. He then place both of his hands on either side of the couch, trapping me.

"Now Aurora, this party is just for once in a lifetime. Think of it... as your first party. And keep this as our little secret. Do you understand?" He narrowed his eyes as if he's giving me a glare. Although, his expression is quite dark.

I nodded; "Okay, okay. I won't tell, I promise." As I spoke, I noticed my voice is shaky. Not that I'm scared of him or anything... it's just I've never expected this side of him.

His lips curled into a smile or rather... more like a smirk. His hand reached out to grab a lock of hair and twirled it around his finger. "Good."

He stood up from his position, grab his book and went upstairs. "You may be a witness to this, you're joining the party... Whether you like it or not." He said without looking at me before going up the stairs to his room.

I just sit there, still in a daze. No... more like I'm frozen or glued to the couch... afraid to move. I can feel my heart beat racing a bit and I sense goosebumps forming on my arms. A few moments later, I gulp and shake my head, snapping out of my thoughts.

He's almost twenty and I'm sixteen. There's a bit of an age gap. I'm not even legal to drink alcohol. His group of friends are around the same age as him. I don't think I should be at his party even though it's in my, or rather, our house. He might force me to go so I don't think I have much of a choice... for now.

I decided to go upstairs to my bedroom and take a quick nap. Every step I take... echoes throughout the entire house. No creaking noises just soft tapping sounds of my shoes as I continue walking up the stairs. Once I've reached the third floor, I walk towards my door and put my hand out, slowly reaching out for the knob.

However, an odd yet familiar smell hit my nostrils. I look to my right and I saw a puff of smoke coming out of Steven's room. I went and decided to check up on him, hoping he's not playing with fire or burning something. I peek inside and I saw him looking out from his window. Shirtless... with a cigarette intertwined between his index and middle finger. Not only he's a rebel... this is a whole different side of him. As the scent of the cigarette gets stronger and stronger, I slightly pinch my nose and went back to my room.

I head inside my room and plop myself into the bed. Just after my back felt the warm and soft comfort of my bed, my eyes became heavy. My vision became blurry and I slowly drifted into a deep sleep.

__

After what it feels like an hour or so, my eyes slowly open up little by little. Strangely, my main lights are off and only the brightness of the small lamp beside my bed cast out the darkness of the left side of my room. I slowly lift myself up from the bed and sit still. I let out a yawn and stretch my arms out as they crack.

"Did you sleep well?" I let out a gasp and averted my gaze, on the left side of my bed... Steven just stood there and realized he's the one who startled me.

"Steven... what are you doing here?" I asked, trying to calm down myself.

"I was just checking up on you and you passed out. And you didn't even bother to answer my question. Did you sleep well?" He repeated his question.

"Um yeah... I guess. What time is it?"

"It's past seven o' clock. I think it's best that you should go back to sleep." He said. "By the way... I think I saw a shadow earlier outside my door while smoking. Now I don't believe in ghosts but let me ask you this simple question... Tell me Aurora, was it you and did you saw me smoking?" His voice is dull yet he asked me darkly.

I just sit there, looking down while fidgeting my fingers nervously. I heard him letting out a deep sigh and from the corner of my eye, he starts leaning down to my level like earlier and I can feel his warm breath against my cheek.

"Aurora... look at me." He spoke.

My eyes slowly look up and they trailed from his shoulder to his dark eyes. "Now, just tell me honestly and I'll ask you again... did you saw me smoking earlier?"

As our eyes are focused on each other, I let out a sigh and answer his question. "Yes... yes I did."

"Hmm." He mumbled and he slowly back away. "Now that wasn't so hard, was it? Don't tell our parents, especially dad. Otherwise, I'll get kick out of the house and when they find out that you been keeping this from them... they'll be so disappointed that you didn't tell them sooner." He said. How many more secrets do I have to keep just for his own sake?

"Do I make myself clear?" He asked.

I look up at him and look down again. "Yes."

"Very well. I should let you sleep now... it's late. Good night Aurora." He leans forward and places a kiss on my forehead. After that, he left the room without another word.

He closes the door, leaving me frozen in place... just like earlier.