A/N: Hey this is my next story! I hope you guys like it. I have been wanting to write a step-sibling story for a while, and I finally started writing one. I'm not quite sure where I'm going with this, but I'm excited.
Please enjoy!
My mom arrived home from her date, looking rather anxious. She had been seeing Luke for about a year, and they never really fought or anything, which made me wonder what was wrong.
"Clary." My mom sat next to me on the couch, fidgeting with her hands.
"Mom, are you alright?" I questioned, sitting up more. I rested my hand on her back, rubbing it gently to try to comfort her. I wonder if something with them happened. Did they break up?
"Yeah, it's just..." She sighed, ruffling her red locks. I could see the confusion in her eyes, as she thought about how to say what she was thinking. "Luke and I were talking, and we decided to move in together." She smiled faintly at me. I wonder why she is acting like this. This is a great. She should be celebrating. Wait I'm going to hear sex noises. Ewww.
"Isn't that a good thing?" I furrowed my brow at her, bringing my focus back on her turmoil.
"I've been hiding something about Luke. Actually we both had been hiding this from both of you." She huffed, looking at me guiltily.
"Both? What are you talking about?" I wanted her to say it already. She was beginning to make me nervous. What is she taking about?
"Luke has a son that's your age. He goes to school with you, and you guys don't like each other very much. You actually rant about him a lot." She gritted her teeth, taking a deep breath.
"Who is it?" I deadpanned, realizing that this is going to be a complete nightmare.
"Jace Herondale." She said quietly, squeezing her hands together, as she prepared for impact.
"What?!" I exclaimed, shooting up into a standing position in less than a second. "Luke's last name is Graymark! This doesn't make any sense." My eyes were wide with fury.
"He was adopted my Luke after his parents died when he was 10. He kept his last name. Sweetheart, I know you don't get along, but we really-"
"We don't get along!? He bullied me all throughout middle school, mooches off of me whenever we are in class together, undermines me, and calls me little girl." I yelled, flailing my airs in the air.
"Clary! Calm down. I have met the boy multiple times, and he isn't that bad." She crossed her arms, beginning to get mad at me. How dare she get mad at me for this? This is all her fault that I have to live with this moron.
"Where are you expecting him to sleep? The living room?" I snapped, crossing my arms. I swear if he has to-
"Actually your room is big enough for two twins. He's staying in your room." She responded, sighing heavily.
"No way! Are you insane? He's a total pig and will probably assault me in my sleep." My voice was getting louder and louder, and I couldn't make it stop.
"Stop overreacting! Jace and Luke are moving in, and there is nothing you can do about it. So shut up and go to your room!" She yelled.
"Fine!" I barked, storming to my room, which was followed by a slammed door. I collapsed on my bed, screaming into my pillows.
OoOoO
Three days later it was time for Luke and my worst nightmare to move in. I leaned against the wall with crossed arms, as they carried the first of their boxes in. I really wish they weren't moving in. At least he goes to college in a year. Then I don't have to deal with him snoring in the bed next to mine. Jace nodded at me in acknowledgement, and I rolled my eyes. He didn't have the common decency to say hello. Dick. "Where am I staying?" He stopped in front of me, adjusting the box in his arms.
"Over here." I sighed, leading the way to my room. This is the beginning of hell.
"Did you even bother to clear half of your stuff?" He scoffed, tossing the box to the ground.
"I've been busy with school stuff." I lied, picking up my laundry. Jace sighed heavily, sitting on the edge of the second bed my mom moved in here.
"Clary, I'm done with this thing. I get it I've been a jerk to you. You've been a jerk to me. I'm done. We're family. Please just help me get this day over with." He huffed, getting his keys out to rip the boxes open
"We're family?! No, you are the son of the guy my mom is screwing who I'm forced to live with, but you know what whatever; I don't understand why we couldn't just get a bigger place. Two incomes coming in you would thing we could get a better place." I snapped, moving my things around so he could fit.
"We can't afford a bigger place. I get it you don't want me here. I don't want to be here either, but our parents are broke! It was either we get evicted from my house or move in with you and your mom. Your mom is three months behind on her credit card bills, which she only uses to feed you. So stop being a brat and help me." He threw his key across the room, which crashed against the wall in a fury of noise, making me flinch heavily.
"I didn't know." I murmured, pursing my lips together.
"I know you didn't." He groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't mean to yell. It's just been rough at home, and we need each other right now. I'm done being a jerk to you because we are depending on one another here."
"How rough has it gotten?" I murmured, sitting next to him.
"Luke had to make a choice between food or rent bad." He exhaled a breath, resting his head in his hands. I didn't know things were so bad for him. He had this façade that everything was fine. Now that I look back on it, he's been wearing the same clothes for the few years, his backpack is a mess, he doesn't always have lunch.
"I'm sorry." I breathed, clasping my hands in front of me. "I had no idea you were having trouble at home. I just assumed-"
"You assumed wrong as usual. Do we have a truce? I don't want us being at each other's throats while we live together." He murmured, turning his gaze towards me.
"Yeah, truce." I nodded, holding out my hand for him to shake. "Let's get you moved in." I clapped, pushing myself to my feet.
OoOoO
I collapsed on my bed after spending all day working on combining Jace's stuff with mine. My room went from spacious to a cramped in about 5 hours. It was really disappointing, but we don't really have a choice in the matter now do we. We had been laying in an awkward silence for about 20 minutes. Both of us were staring at the ceiling, occasionally glancing at one another.
"Now what do we do?" Jace huffed, glancing over at me.
"Sleep?" I suggested, turning my eyes towards him.
"I'm not tired." He whined, kicking his feet on the bed.
"I don't know!" I exclaimed, as I smacked my hands to my face.
"You're not helpful." He grumbled, rolling onto his back.
"It's not my job to entertain you. Figure something out." I pushed myself off the bed, making my way towards the door.
"Where are you going?" He asked, pushing himself up on his elbows.
"I don't know. Stop following me around like a puppy." I groaned, stepping out of the room. I wandered into kitchen, where my mom was leaning against the counter. "Hey." I exhaled a breath, leaning across from her.
"Hey, want some coco?" She grabbed two mugs from the microwave, setting them on the counter in front of me.
"Yes." I smiled faintly, wrapping my hands around the warm mug. I held the mug to my nose, smelling the sweet coco. I sipped it, feeling the heat spread across my body. "Why didn't you tell me we were having trouble with money?" I pursed my lips, setting my cup down.
"I tried to, but you started yelling at me." She ran her hand through her hair, circling her mug around.
"I'm sorry." I murmured, nursing my drink.
"It's ok. I'm just glad today went smoothly. I was really worried you two would kill each other after the way you yelled." She shrugged her shoulders, playing with the mug.
"He called a truce when he got here." I sat on the bar stool, resting my elbows on the counter.
"A truce?" She snickered, shaking her head.
"Yeah." I started to laugh at the idea, but I knew we needed that. "Where is Luke?" I asked, tracing my finger along the crappy tile on the counter.
"Showering. Settling in. I don't know." She scoffed, taking a drink of her coco. "But I like having him here. I can keep my eye on that man." She teased, walking around to sit next to me.
"Cause a bookstore owner is so scandalous." I smirked, bumping against her lightly.
"You don't know that." She grinned slyly.
"Eww mom." I groaned in disgust before busting out laughing.
A/N: So laying the ground work for their future interactions. Living in a cramped room with someone will make you learn a lot about someone.
What did you guys think?
What do you think will happen?
What do you want to happen?
Please review!