THE DON'S OBSESSION

Skipping down the stairs two at a time, I swung around the banister and into the kitchen, grabbing a piece of buttered toast off my mum's plate.

"Oi, you little menace! Get your own!" She chuckled, hitting my hand away, but it was too late. Shoving the toast in my mouth, I gave her a toothy grin.

I was going to be late to meet Brad and I didn't have time for chitchat. I also didn't want to hang around for him to wake up. Giving my mum a hasty kiss on her cheek, I turned abruptly to grab my school bag from the table.

His imposing glare stopped me in my tracks as he slowly looked up and down my body with disgust. "You will not let her go to school like that?" He snarled, his cold blue eyes lingering on my bare legs in my school skirt.

My mum turned and looked between us both anxiously. "There is nothing wrong with what I am wearing. It's a school uniform," I quipped back, rolling my eyes. The atmosphere thickened with tension as he continued to stand in the door frame, blocking my way to the front door.

"It's too short. You look like a whore," he spat. I blinked twice and turned to my mum but, of course, she had lowered her eyes and pretended she hadn't heard. This was how it was. He could say and do what he liked with hardly any repercussions. Taking a deep breath, I pushed past him down the hallway. I could feel him following me. His eyes scanned my body as if he owned it. Well, he didn't own it. No one fucking owned it and if I wanted to wear a short-ass skirt, I bloody well would.

Opening the front door, I raged down the overgrown garden path. I could feel him hot on my heels, so I sped up. Not quick enough. His tight grip on my arm spun me around and he pulled me into him. His eyes blazing with anger and his face was so close to mine, that I could feel his hot breath on my skin. I tried to pull away from him, but it was no use. He was older, stronger, and way more muscular than me.

"You like being a little whore, don't you, Ari? You want all the boys to stare. It makes you feel like you exist when you are nothing. No One loves you; no one cares about you. You are a worthless piece of shit," he growled at me and I gritted my teeth together.

"Get off me!" I hissed back but he grabbed my jaw in his hand, pushing my lips into a pout. His vindictive eyes flickered down to my mouth, and he licked his own as the longing and desire in them made me feel sick.

"You let anyone touch you today, especially that little boyfriend of yours, and you are dead. Do you hear me?"

I narrowed my eyes and shrugged out of his grip as he looked over my shoulder and released me quickly.

"Everything alright Ari?" I heard Noah's soothing voice behind me, and I walked towards him quickly. He was staring at Henry with malice, and I pulled his arm frantically to get him away. I knew deep down that Henry wouldn't physically harm me; it was all mind games, but with Noah, I wasn't so sure. Henry's temper gets the better of him and, to be honest, I have seen him beat guys to a pulp for a lot less.

"Come on, we are going to be late," I tried to distract him. Reluctantly, Noah turned away and started to walk down the road with me. I could feel Henry's eyes burning into the back of our heads and when Noah tried to reach for my hand, I quickly moved it away. "Not yet. Just wait until we get around the corner," I whispered, which caused his handsome face to twist in irritation.

Once we were out of sight, I exhaled deeply and reached for his hand.

"What is going on with your brother Ari? Why does he act like that towards you?" He asked softly, but I could hear the concern and rage masked in his tone.

"Stepbrother," I corrected him. "And I don't know."

He pulled at my hand and forced me to look up into his light brown eyes. He lifted his hand and smoothed my cheek with his fingers. "You know you can talk to me. If he is... hurting you, you can tell me."

I shook my head. "It's just words and... he just likes to think he can control my life. Don't worry about it, Nate. Come on, we are going to be late, and I don't want another detention from Mr Dace."

"But will you tell me if things get worse, Ari? Or speak to someone? Does your Mum know?"

I swallowed my emotions and continued to walk as he ran to catch up with me. "She knows some of it. She's scared of him. And of his dad.

She doesn't like to get involved. But I promise Noah, I will tell you if it gets worse, okay?"

His kind eyes studied my side profile and I saw him nod out of the corner of my eye. He dropped the subject, and I linked my arm with him before smiling up at him. "So tonight?"

He smiled down at me, kissing my nose.

"Tonight."

~~~

Sitting in maths as Mr Dace droned on and on about algebra, I couldn't help but stare out of the window and let my mind wander to thoughts of how things might go this evening. It was the end-of-year party at Chelsea's house, and she had pretty much invited the entire school. It was going to be the party of the year and the night that I finally lost my virginity to Noah.

We had talked about it for weeks and I knew I was ready. I didn't want to go to university as a virgin and I liked Noah. Maybe I even loved him. What was there not to love? He was sweet, clever, caring, and hot. I couldn't believe it when he started showing an interest in me a few months ago. Most boys in school knew Henry's reputation and 'overprotectiveness' around me and decided I wasn't worth the hassle. I scoffed and rolled my eyes. Overprotective my ass. He was a psychopath.

He hadn't always been like this. When my mum first met my stepdad, Brad, and they moved into our house, he was nice. He was friendly. Sometimes a little flirty, but I just put that down to his nature. He was the most popular kid at school. Head of the year and Captain of the football team. He had girls falling at his feet and a group of friends that were forever going to parties and on road trips. And then something changed. On his sixth form graduation, he got so drunk and stumbled into my bedroom when he got home. He tried to kiss me. He tried to force himself on me and I punched him in the nose. I will never forget the anger and rejection in his eyes. It still sends a shiver down my spine. That was two years ago and ever since, he has made my life a living hell. I hoped he would move away. Go to college or Uni but he decided to stay put and get a job at the local building site down the road. I swear he did it just so he could torment me.

Now it was my sixth form graduation. I was eighteen and ready to get the hell away from this place and him. I was going to go to Plymouth University and study education. I wanted to be a primary teacher and it was the furthest university I could get into from my little hometown on the outskirts of London.

"Arianna Jackson! Earth to Arianna!"

I whipped my head around in a daze as the whole class sniggered. Mr Dace was standing right in front of my desk, holding my latest test in his hands. Shit.

"Sorry Sir," I muttered as I took it from him timidly.

"I was just saying that the class could learn a thing or two from you about perseverance and hard work but perhaps I was wrong," he narrowed his eyes, before turning swiftly to the next student. I looked down at the paper. A+. Perfect. I smiled to myself as I thought about how I was going to celebrate tonight. I just needed to make sure I got out of the house before Henry got home from work.

The school bell rang and I quickly scooped my belongings into my bag. Racing down the school corridor to catch my best friend Kelly before the next class took some skill through the mass of teenagers messing around.

"Kells!" She turned sharply, books in hand, and smiled at me.

"Hey, hun! What class do you have next?" She asked as I fell in with her steps.

"English Lit. Can I get ready at your house tonight? I am just going to run home and grab my stuff and I can be at yours at 4?" My eyes pleaded with her and she could hear the desperation in my voice.

"Of course, Ari! You know you are always welcome! I don't know why you don't just move in with me. My family loves you! And it would get you away from that asshole."

"I can't leave my mum and you know it," I sighed. God, I wish I could move in with Kells. Her family was the perfect 2.4-loving family with all the trimmings. Her mum was sweet and kind and oh so motherly. Her dad was cheeky and funny with his giant mustache and quirky dress sense. Her brother was the same age as Henry but a bit of an introvert and geek. A lovely person. They all were.

"Well, you can sleep over mine tonight after the party. That's if you aren't going to sleep at Noah's?" she gave me a cheeky wink. I had already told her our plans to go all the way tonight and she was just as excited as me.

"Thanks, but Chelsea has let us have one of her spare rooms for the night. Noah's parents are having their little dinner party so we can't sleep there."

She looked surprised. "Well, that is nice of Barbie! Perhaps she does have feelings after all!"

I chuckled, "Chelsea isn't that bad once you get to know her. Yea, she is obsessed with looks and materialistic shit, but she was brought up like that. What do you expect?" Kelly rolled her eyes, not convinced.

The rest of the day went by painfully slowly. Why was it when you always had something exciting to look forward to, it was as if the universe prolonged every minute just to torture you.

Racing home after school, I ran up to my bedroom and started to grab everything I would need in my bag; my dress that I had saved up for weeks for, sexy matching lace underwear, my make-up, heels, toothbrush, straighteners. What else was I missing? Ah. I pulled open my bedside drawer and threw the unopened packet in my bag. Condoms.

Throwing the bag over my shoulder, I opened my door and listened. Quiet. He wasn't home yet; the coast was clear. I thundered down the stairs as fast as my little legs could take me and grabbed my phone and keys from the side table just as my mum walked out of the living room. I could tell from her puffy eyes that she had been crying. Another argument with Brad, no doubt. I don't know why she didn't just leave him. We would be so much better off without Brad and Henry in our lives.

Guilt riddled me as I hesitated by the door. I couldn't leave her like this, but I needed to go before Henry got back.

"Are you okay mum?" I asked carefully.

"Oh yeah. Everything's fine," she lied with a wave of her hand. Her tired eyes and haggard skin told the truth. She used to be so full of life. So vibrant. Now she was a shell of her former self. "You sure? Because I can stay if you like?"

"No. No. You go to your party. Have fun darling," she smiled at me and I gave her a weak smile back.

"I am staying at Kelly's tonight," I lied. She didn't need to know what I was really up to.

"Okay, my love. I'll see you in the morning," she turned and walked back into the kitchen. I sighed. I didn't have time to dwell on this. I had to go.

The party was in full swing and I was having more fun than I had ever had before. Chelsea's house was a mansion.

She had a huge swimming pool in the back garden, and so many rooms that it felt like you were walking through a maze of different vibes throughout the whole party. There was something for everyone.

A beer pong room, a techno dance room with a DJ, a making out room, a chilling room, a room where everyone seemed to be hot boxing and smoking weed. And then the main room and an open-plan kitchen where people were dancing and drinking, having the time of their lives. The atmosphere was electric.

Everyone was buzzing that we had finally finished the sixth form and would all be moving on to bigger and better things. This was what I had waited for. One last wild blowout with my friends and boyfriend before we went out into the big wide world.

"Have I told you how incredible you look?" Nate whispered in my ear as his hand snaked around my waist from behind.

"Only a thousand times," I giggled before taking a sip of beer from my plastic, red cup.

"Well, it's true. This dress. It does things to me," he nibbled at my ear lobe, and I felt my stomach flutter. Turning in his arms, I stared into his beautiful eyes and ran my hand through his floppy brown hair. His eyes were full of admiration and want, not like when Henry looked at me.

"Well, how about we take my little dress upstairs?" I cocked my head to one side and smiled seductively. The alcohol was giving me some Dutch courage and I was determined to make this an experience I would remember forever.

He leaned down, holding my face in his hands, and kissed me passionately. Our tongues danced together as the intense need to have his hands explore my body and to feel what it was like to satisfy that ache between my legs grew.

Without saying a word, he took my hand in his and led me up the clear staircase to the top floor.

Chelsea had already shown us our room when we arrived, so it didn't take us too long to push past the couples who were eating each other's faces on the landing and the girls who were tripping over their feet, giggling as they made their way back downstairs.

Once Noah closed the door behind us, only the dull vibrations of the blaring music downstairs could be heard and the pounding of my heart in my ears. I stepped towards him and started to unbutton his shirt, my eyes flicking up at his now and again. He watched me intensely and once they were all undone, I pushed it away from his shoulders as it fell to the floor. Tracing my hands across his athletic chest, his breathing hitched and he leaned down, capturing my lips once more.

He slowly walked me backward until my legs hit the end of the bed and we both fell back on it, giggling. He turned on his side and ran his fingers over the swell of my breasts that were rising and falling under my silver dress.

"You are so beautiful baby," he smiled down at me and I fluttered my eyelashes. He was so sweet, but I wanted to get on with it. I wanted to feel the passion. The 'I need you now' feeling that I read about in books. I grabbed the nape of his neck and pulled him down to my lips, placing his hand on one of my boobs. He squeezed it gingerly, and I moaned into the kiss, trying to encourage him to do more.

Luckily, it worked and his hand found its way down my body and between my legs. He started to rub me over my underwear and I gripped his shoulders tighter. We had tried everything else and I was eager to get to the main event. The anticipation was killing me and the alcohol was making me needy as hell.

"Get a condom. They are in my bag," I panted against his lips. He moved off me quickly and I removed my dress, leaving me only in my new lacy underwear set I bought especially for this occasion. He removed his trousers and boxers, kneeling on the bed between my legs. He was already standing to attention and slid the condom on easily.

Thank God for sex-ed classes and bananas! I pulled down my underwear and kicked them onto the floor as he leaned over my body, resting his weight on one arm as he positioned himself at my entrance.

Suddenly, the nerves built. This was it. After this, I will no longer be a virgin. I will be changed. He hesitated as he looked into my eyes, and I saw the doubt in his own. This was his first time too.

I lifted my head to meet his lips and kissed him softly, showing him I was ready. He inched himself into me and the feeling felt so overwhelming. I felt so full, and it hurt. Hurt like hell! I winced into our kiss, and he pulled back to look at me with concern.

"It's okay! I'm okay, just go slowly to start with," I rushed, and he nodded. His face scrunched up in pleasure as he pushed himself a little further in and held himself there, letting me get used to the sensation.

I wasn't sure if he was fully in yet but I felt like I was going to snap in half if he went any further. But he did. And then he was completely inside me. I cried out at the pain, but as he slowly pulled out and pushed back in, it started to subside. Instead, it started to feel good. Sore but good.

"Oh my god baby," he breathed through his slow thrusts, and my chest swelled with pride. I wasn't even doing anything, but the pleasure on his face was amazing.

He started to quicken his pace a little and I gripped his shoulders and moaned as the feel of him moving in and out of me, started to make my body tense most deliciously. I closed my eyes and got lost in the feelings as I moaned and cried out like I'd seen them do in porn films. Suddenly, he stopped.

My eyes snapped open and my heart raced as I looked into his wide eyes that were laced with fear. His face was slowly turning red as if he couldn't breathe and that's when my world froze.

I glanced over his shoulder at the figure who loomed over us, his face almost unrecognizable as it twisted with evil intent. Henry.

I watched in horror as he pulled the knife out from Noah's back, only to ruthlessly stab him again. My eyes widened and I wanted to scream, but I couldn't. I had lost all ability to do anything. All I could do was stare into Noah's haunted eyes as he was stabbed repeatedly by my stepbrother.

Nate's body fell on top of mine as he passed out and the blood started running down his back onto the bed. I looked up at the sweaty face of his killer and he locked eyes with me.

"Look what you made me do, Ari," he snarled, before turning and fleeing the room, the bloody knife in hand.

And that's when reality hit me. And I screamed.