Remi POV

I stood there, frozen in disbelief, as Mom smiled at me and said, "Hey sweetie, come meet your new stepdad... and your new stepsister, Amelia!"

"No!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the room.

"Is there a problem, sweetie?" my mom asked, concern etched on her face.

Amelia attempted a smile. "Hi, Remi."

I glared at her. "Don't greet me, Amelia."

I sat down beside Lilly, pointedly ignoring my new stepdad's presence.

"You guys know each other?" he asked, trying to break the tension.

"Yes, we go to the same school," I replied curtly.

My mom intervened, "Enough, Remi. Go freshen up, then come have lunch with us... your dad-"

I cut her off, my eyes flashing. "He's not my real father, Mom. Don't jump to conclusions by calling him my dad."

He extended his hand for a handshake. "I'm Mr. Jones."

I shook his hand, forcing a smile.

Lilly asked, her voice laced with curiosity, "Mr. Jones, are you going to be living with us?"

He replied, "I'll visit on weekends, but I've discussed with your mom, and she's agreed to let Amelia live with you guys. She's always bored at home."

I exploded, "Hell no!"

Amelia shot me a sad look, but I didn't care. I stormed upstairs, changed into comfy clothes, and fumed about how my popularity would be ruined with Amelia as my new step-sister. Ugh!

I was about to text Michelle when a knock on the door interrupted me. I tossed my phone aside, not bothering to answer. But Lilly didn't take the hint. She walked in, plopping down beside me on the bed.

"Remi, Mom's finally happy," she said, her eyes sparkling. "I haven't seen her smile like that in ages."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Mom's happy. But that doesn't mean I have to be okay with it."

Lilly's expression turned stern. "Remi, stop being so shallow. Being popular doesn't mean you have to be mean and stupid. You can be smart, nice, and pretty without being a slutty popular girl."

I scoffed. "That's just being a nerd, Lilly. And don't even get me started on Amelia. She's a total nerd-girl. I can't believe she's going to be my step-sister."

Lilly sighed. "Remi, give them a chance. Come downstairs and have lunch with us. Mr. Jones and Mom are going on a dinner date tonight."

With that, she got up and left me alone with my thoughts. I flopped back onto my bed, dreading the idea of having Amelia as a step-sister.

I reluctantly made my way downstairs, my popularity plummeting with each step. The dining table was filled with chatter, and I spotted the only available seat - beside Amelia, the nerd who was single-handedly ruining my social status. I grudgingly sat down, trying to ignore her presence as I began to eat.

Mr. Jones and my mom were engrossed in conversation, giggling like teenagers, and I forced myself to join in, pretending to be happy. But deep down, I was seething. How could my mom do this to me? Amelia's presence was a ticking time bomb, threatening to destroy my popularity and reputation.

After lunch, Amelia fetched her bags from her dad's car, and my heart sank. My mom dropped the bombshell - we'd be sharing a room. I couldn't believe it. My popularity was doomed. The queen bee of the school, reduced to sharing a room with a nerd. It was a social death sentence.

"Sweetie, your dad and I will be back late, he's staying over tonight and heading to work tomorrow. Lilly's coming with us," my mom said, her voice cheerful.

I raised an eyebrow, my mind racing. "Does that mean I'm stuck with Amelia?" I asked, my tone laced with disdain.

Mr. Jones nodded, his smile annoyingly cheerful. He planted a kiss on my forehead, and I felt a surge of irritation. My mom, Lilly, and Mr. Jones left, leaving me alone with the last person I wanted to be stuck with - Amelia.

I flopped onto the couch, grabbed the remote, and started binge-watching "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" on Netflix. Amelia sat beside me, her eyes fixed on the screen. Suddenly, she spoke up, "Do you still want to know who leaked the video of Sasha bathing in the bathroom?"

I nodded, my curiosity piqued. "Michelle did it," Amelia said, her voice matter-of-fact. "She knew people would think it was you."

I laughed, the idea absurd. "Michelle would never do that," I said, rolling my eyes. "She's like my handbag, always by my side."

"Is that what you think?" Amelia said, her eyes locked on mine. "I heard Sasha and Michelle giggling in the bathroom during third period."

My anger flared, and I snapped, "Listen, you lying bitch—" My hand rose, ready to strike, but Amelia caught it, her grip surprisingly strong.

"You're surrounded by people you hate, and I was just trying to be your friend," she said, her voice calm.

I seethed, "You'll never be my friend, you lying bitch!" But Amelia stood her ground, her eyes unyielding.

"It turns out, I'm your step-sister now, and I'll be living here from now on," she said, her words dripping with audacity.

I scoffed, "Who dares gives this nerd the power to talk to me like that?"

Amelia held her ground, "I think you're a cool person, Remi, but Sasha knows how to manipulate Michelle, and it seems they're planning something against you again."

"Just end it, I know you're jealous of Michelle and me," I spat, my words laced with venom. I mean, Michelle was practically under my spell, even if things did feel a bit off lately. But this Amelia girl was just a lying bitch, right?

Amelia's eyes welled up, and she asked, "I don't know why you hate me so much, Remi. You constantly call me a flat-chested idiot. It hurts. If I called you a slut, how would you feel?"

Her words struck a chord, and I felt a pang of guilt. "Sorry," I muttered, not knowing why I apologized but feeling a twinge of remorse.

"I'll be in my room," I said, fleeing the scene and leaving Amelia's tears behind. As I retreated, my mind wandered back to Michelle, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

I lay on my bed, my mind racing with thoughts. Memories of middle school came flooding back - the bullying, the awkwardness, the feeling of being an outcast. But then came the glow-up in high school, the transformation that gave me a new lease on life.

Three years ago...

"Hey Dad," I said, hugging him tight. I had just gotten my piercings and was eager to show them off.

"Rem," he replied with a smile, shortening my name like he always did.

But his smile faltered when he saw my piercings. "What have you done, Remi?" he asked, his voice laced with disapproval.

I felt a surge of anger and hurt, and our argument ended with me storming out of the room, feeling ashamed and unaccepted.

Present...

I lay on my bed, memories of that argument still fresh in my mind. My mind wandered to my dad, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of resentment. Why did he have to be so critical, so unaccepting?

But as I thought about it, I realized that I had been just as critical and unaccepting towards Amelia. And for what? Because she was different, because she didn't fit my mold of what was cool?

I felt a twinge of guilt, and my mind turned to Michelle, my only friend at Oakwood High. I reached for my phone and dialed her number, needing someone to talk to.

"Hey, girl," she answered, her voice cheerful.

"Hey," I replied, feeling a sense of relief. "I just needed a hug."

"Aw, I'm there for you, Remi," she said, her voice comforting.

I smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Michelle. This girl couldn't go behind my back, I thought, as I played some music and danced along, losing myself in the beat.

Damion POV

As I sat on the couch, watching TV, Jake pulled up in his car. I opened the gate, and he burst in with a bottle of Louis XIII. "Brr!" he exclaimed, as we exchanged a bro hug. He plopped down on the chair, regaling me with tales of his latest conquest - some girl he'd picked up down the street. I chuckled, amused by his antics.

But then, I asked the question that had been on my mind. "Do you like Remi?" Jake's expression turned incredulous. "That bitch? Bro, don't tell me you actually like her. I mean, I don't want to be a boyfriend to a slut like her." He shook his head, and I nodded in agreement, hiding my true feelings.

The truth was, I was head over heels in love with Remi, but she was always available to everyone else, never saving herself for me.

Hours later, another knock on the door interrupted our hangout session. It was Sasha, trying to kiss me, but I pulled away. Jake, ever the ladies' man, swooped in, whisking her upstairs. The loud moans that followed left little to the imagination.