Scream Little Sister (Little Sister #1)

Chapter 1

“DUALITY” SLIPKNOT

I watch my older stepbrother from the swings during recess at school.

He’s hanging out with his group of friends.

They scare the willies out of me. The one time I approached Ryder while he was with them was the scariest day of my life.

His friend, Jaxon, glared at me and looked seconds away from shoving me against the lockers and pummeling me with his clenched fist. He curled and uncurled his fingers, as though my mere presence annoyed him, but Ryder distracted Jaxon, saving me from a knuckle sandwich.

I still don’t know what I did to deserve that kind of reaction, but either way, it didn’t get me what I really wanted.

What I still want.

I want Ryder to look at me. To acknowledge me and treat me as a normal person and not some nuisance he wishes would disappear.

My brown hair flutters in the wind as I swing back and forth, watching Ryder like a hawk. He hides his hands in the front pocket of his black hoodie, his expression flat while his friends talk. I shudder as I peek at him and find the same angry look he wears twenty-four seven.

I wonder what they’re talking about and why Ryder is hiding what’s on his mind.

Though, he always keeps to himself and never shows his feelings.

At least not around me. Ryder’s been this way since I first met him when I was seven and he was eight.

I still remember that day like it happened yesterday.

Dad brought me with him to lunch to meet my new family. This was before he married my stepmother, and I think he planned the meeting to gauge how I’d react to the possibility of having a new mom and brother.

When Dad and I arrived at the restaurant, Ryder sat on the other side of the table as Dad seated himself next to Carolyn after brief introductions.

I sat beside Ryder and kept glancing at him, expecting him to say something to me.

It didn’t matter if it was just a simple “hey” or even a compliment on the new fake-seashell necklace my Aunt Mary—whom I’ve always called Minnie—bought me.

But he wouldn’t look at me.

He simply sat there, silent, hands fisted on his lap and a blank stare on his face while he stared sightlessly at the space where his plate of food would go once it arrived.

“Hi,” I said, then waited for him to blink out of the zombie state he was in.

Ryder didn’t move a muscle. Didn’t blink. He just occasionally peeked at my dad, who was talking to the server about different wines and what would pair better with a dish.

Anger simmered in my veins, and I had the urge to yell at Ryder.

I wasn’t used to being ignored—the exception being my father, but it was nothing new for him.

Everyone at school talked to me. They wanted to be my friends.

Even my aunt spoiled me and gave me attention.

But not Ryder. It was as if I were a ghost, flicking items off the counters and still not getting any reaction out of it.

Just look at me! I wanted to scream at him. I want to be friends with you!

I blink out of the memory and kick my legs out to gain more momentum as I swing.

Look at me. Please look at me, I beg Ryder in my thoughts. It’s useless, but if I screamed, then I might get in trouble and look stupid in front of the other kids on the playground.

As if he can hear my desperate thoughts, Ryder turns his back to me, ignoring me as he always does.

I just want to play with him. Get to know him more than the basic things, such as his favorite color—which is black—and his favorite candy—Starbursts.

He’s always snacking on them whenever his mom brings him along with her to the store while leaving me at home.

A few times, she brought home some candy for me, too, but never Starbursts, which I always want because Ryder makes them look delicious.

It’s always M if I part ways, he’ll make my life a living hell.

Nova and Olivia feel the same way. It’s a given because their brothers are Mickey’s targets.

Nova has a better relationship with her brother, Aiden, who seems to understand and forgive her for Mickey’s actions.

Hawk is a bit more standoffish with Olivia, but he doesn’t completely ignore her like Ryder ignores me.

Mickey peers over his shoulder at Ryder and his friends as they walk toward the bleachers. His expression clouds with annoyance, and his lips curl back in a slight snarl.

“The outcasts, huh?” Mickey turns to me. “Is that true?”

I try to hide my panic, but my eyes widen all on their own, revealing my true emotions. “What? Pff .” I wave my hand to dismiss what he said. “No way.”

Mickey cocks his head, his lips curving into a smile that screams he’s up to no good. “Let’s go say hi to them. See if they’re up for playing with us.”

“C’mon, Mickey,” Olivia says with a shake of her head. She’s in the same boat as I am, not wanting to partake in the bullying. “Let’s leave them alone. I want to play hopscotch.”

I nod. “That sounds like fun, Oli.”

Nova nods but warily glances at Aiden, most likely debating if she should chase after him to warn him of what Mickey has planned.

Olivia brightens and holds out her hand for me to take. “Then we should play!”

“No, don’t be a wuss.” Mickey grabs me by the arm, and I wince at the harshness in his grip as he drags me toward Ryder’s group.

“Oh, crap.” Olivia groans behind me, and I know she and Nova are following us. They’ll have my back.

“What the heck are you doing?” I drag my feet and frantically shake my head. Whatever he has planned, it’s not good. It never is, and I don’t want another wrongdoing added to the growing pile of reasons why Ryder should hate my guts.

“Hey!” Mickey yells, ignoring me as he leads me across the playground, catching up with Ryder and the others.

Ryder, Jaxon, Hawk, and Aiden turn to us, each with their own degree of a glare.

I duck my head and dig my heels into the ground as Mickey hauls me toward Ryder’s group.

My shoes catch on the pavement, annoying Mickey enough that he jerks my arm and digs his fingers deeper, which I’m sure will leave bruises.

“Why are you guys running from me so fast?” Mickey says as he stops a few feet from the outcasts.