*****
When I woke up at eleven the next morning, Gianna was still asleep. I quietly got out of bed and went to the kitchen. My mom was in there at the stove. “Mom, why are you making breakfast?”
“For you and Gianna. Which reminds me, what exactly is going on between you two? I saw you holding hands last night and she slept in your room. I don’t think stepbrothers and stepsisters normally do that.”
“No, but boyfriends and girlfriends do.”
“What? You have girlfriend?” My own mother was laughing at me! “Don’t get me wrong, she’s gorgeous, Caleb, but do you think it’s the best idea to break your own stepsister’s heart?”
“Why would you say that? Who says I’m going to hurt her?”
She looks at me seriously. “Caleb, you’re my son and I love you, but I know how you are with girls. I’m just trying to be realistic here. Besides, how do you think her mother is going to feel about this?”
“Her mom is sort of intense when it comes to Gianna. She had her in high school and feels she missed out, so she wants everything in Gianna’s life to be perfect, including Gianna herself. But I don’t care what her mom says about it,” I said defensively.
My mom twirled a spatula in the air. “Like it or not, Gianna is only sixteen years old. Her mom still has a lot of say in what she does or doesn’t do.”
“We aren’t going to tell her or dad yet. When we do, they’ll just have to get used to it.”
“Well, I’m here for you two if you need me,” she offered doubtfully.
“We appreciate that, Mrs. Morrison.” a voice said from behind me. I turned around to see Gianna standing in the doorway. How long had she been there? Hopefully she didn’t hear the part where my own mother called me a player.
“Morning, Gianna. Come sit down, I made you guys breakfast.”
“Good morning.” Gianna yawned and took a seat at the table. Her hair was all messed up from sleep, but she looked cute like that.
“What are you two going to do today?”
“I don’t know, mom, whatever Gianna wants to do.” My mother raised her eyebrows at my comment. Jeez, why was she so surprised? Was I usually that selfish?
Gianna bit her lip. “Cece and some of the guys were going to check out 16th Street and see if there anyone was up for a cypher. I thought maybe we could go.”
“What’s a cypher?” my mom asked, handing us both plates full of omelet and fried potatoes.
Gianna looked from me to my mom. “It’s when a bunch of breakers get together and freestyle.”
“Gianna’s a b-girl,” I told my mom in between bites of omelet.
“Oh, that sounds like fun! You two be safe today.”
I could tell she liked Gianna, despite any doubts she had about me or Julie. She probably hoped having a girlfriend would keep me out of trouble. Little did she know, Gianna was more of a partner in crime.
Since my mom was using her bathroom, Gianna and I took turns getting ready in mine. My mom hugged us both as we left, which brought a smile to Gianna’s face. Getting off the elevator, Gianna called Cece to find out what their plans were.
Those of the crew not busy or working were already there. I assumed Jared would be there, but didn’t ask. It was funny that I stole Gianna right out from under him, almost literally. By this point, the dumbass had either figured it out and was pissed, or he was dumb enough to buy the protective stepbrother act and was going to suck up to me to get my permission to date my stepsister. After last night, he’d be asking to date my girlfriend. That was a big fat negative.
I paid for parking near the 16th Street Mall and we walked several blocks before finding the group. The outdoor mall was packed, with the MallRide shuttle buses transporting people up and down 16th Street. A crowd of mall-goers were already gathered around the street dancers. I recognized a few breakers from the crew.
When we circled around to where Cece and Jared stood, he gave me a weird look and asked Gianna, “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“No,” I told him, feeling that was clear enough.
He both looked and sounded annoyed as he said, “Caleb, I know you’re her stepbrother and all, so I don’t blame you for trying to protect her, but I’ve been her friend a lot longer than you’ve known her.”
“I don’t care how long you’ve known my girlfriend,” I corrected him with a triumphant smile.
Jared’s face fell and he looked to Gianna. “Is this true? Are you two together?”
“Uh, yeah,” she said guiltily, staring at the ground.
“What are you thinking, Gigi? You can’t date a guy like him. I asked Taye about him and do you know what he told me?” Jared’s appalled face was overly dramatic.
“No, and I don’t want to know!” She yelled, finally looking him in the eye.
“Fine, then I’ll tell you this. I love you and I have for a long time. He doesn’t love you and he never will. He’ll get tired of you and throw you aside like he has to all the girls before you!” Jared’s raised voice was drawing the attention of those around us. Poor Cece looked ready to cry.
And she said I wasn’t romantic. Bitching a girl out while you declared your love for her was a fool’s move. Gianna was stunned but I’d had enough of his crap. Taking Jared off guard, I pushed his chest, making him stumble backwards. “Fuck off, man! I don’t care what you’ve heard. You don’t even know me.”
Jared didn’t seem ready to back down. “I don’t need to know you. All I need to know is she should be with me, but instead she’s wasting her time with a loser like you. I’ve looked out for her the best I could for years and you just come along and decide to make her your next conquest.”
“She means more than that to me,” I argued through clenched teeth.
“Yeah, for how long?” Jared sneered. Obviously there was only one way to shut him up. I punched him in the face, drawing gasps from the girls. I heard Gianna call out my name, but he’d recovered quickly and punched me in the gut. From there it escalated and we went at it for a few minutes before some of the guys dragged us apart because some police officers are jogging down the street towards us.
We all got the hell out of there. Jared and I were both pretty roughed up, but I was pretty sure I’d won the fight.
Jackass.
Gianna and Cece were long gone.