Oh my God.This is not happening.
“We’re getting married!”my mom blurts out, laughing.
“Oh, honey, you ruined the surprise.”He laughs too.
“It’s fine, dear.They probably figured it out anyway.”
I swear I’ve never seen my mom this happy.Her cheeks are pink, her smile wide, and she’s actually giggling.She’s fucking giggling.
My mouth hangs open.I glance at Amy.Uh oh.She’s not thrilled.Her eyes narrow, her lips press tight, but it only lasts a second before she suddenly coos, “Aww, that’s such good news.I’m so happy for you, Dad, Mom.”
She hugs her dad tight, then squeezes my mom’s hand, eyes shining like she’s the perfect daughter.I blink, wondering if I’m hallucinating.
“Clark, say something.Don’t just sit there after hearing good news like this,” my mom says with a smile, but her glare could stab me from a mile away.
“Oh—yeah.Congratulations.I’m… happy for you guys,” I manage to say, still stunned.
“When’s the wedding?”Amy asks.
“The first week of spring, right before you two go back to school,” Mr.Schmidt says, cheeks flushed.
“Oh, that’s so unfair!You get a honeymoon while we’re stuck in school.”Amy pouts, and everyone laughs, while I just sit there, trying to keep the panic from showing on my face.
Oh my God.Amy and I are gonna be step-siblings this spring.
“Hick.”
* * *
High school senior year, spring break…
The glow from my laptop screen fills the dim room, showing a video I shouldn’t be watching.The woman in it looks a little like Fenella, brown hair, sparkling blue eyes, confident, the kind of beauty that makes my stomach twist.
I know I shouldn’t.But the house is quiet.Mom and Dad are on their honeymoon, and Amy’s been out with Chris since the morning.Only Mrs.Greta is outside, sweeping leaves on the front lawn.It’s safe.
I pull off my headset, rubbing the side of my neck where the wire tugs.The sound still spills faintly from the speakers—soft, rhythmic, too real.I glance out the window again, then back to the screen.My chest tightens.Part of me is scared someone will walk in, but I can’t look away.I’m getting to the first moment of my life.
Then the door slams open.
“Clark!Where’s my wallet, you bastard?!”
Amy slams the door open.Behind her, Chris follows her in.I scream in shock and grab my pants to cover myself.My dirty, wet hands hastily pull my pants back up.
“Oh, yeah, this is gold!”Chris pulls out his phone and starts recording me.
“What the hell?”Amy also screams in shock before bursting into laughter.
In my panic to cover myself, one of my feet gets caught in my shorts.I fall hard to the floor with a loud thud.
“Eww!What’s that on your hands?Is that your cum?Gross!”Amy laughs again while Chris keeps recording me.
“No!Stop recording!”My face flushes in every scream I breathe.I try to catch the phone, but Chris is faster and Amy is blocking him.
“Don’t touch me, you freak!”Amy yells, jumping back to avoid my dirty hands.
“That must be fun, dude.”Chris is still laughing while he keeps filming me in my half-naked state.
“Get out!Get out of my room!”I cry and shout at them while pulling on my shorts.My body hunches over as if they can still see everything, even though I’ve put my pants on.
