20. Consistant

"Family?!" I repeated the final word my dad had said.

Chris came to speak to me this morning, saying my grandparents, uncle and cousins wants to meet me. Like okay father why didn't you tell me about them when I FIRST GOT HERE.

"Since when did we have family?" I questioned the man who looked so clueless at my reaction.

"Well I had to have come from somewhere Cal, I didn't just get brought by a stalk." He chuckled to himself as if I found this funny.

My brains a mess, it's like that dumb blonde fucking messed it up, why didn't you tell he have to take the blame for me yesterday.

He even stayed till Alexis left and I had to hide away in my room till he left, I was freaking the fuck out and I didn't know why!

"How come I didn't meet them earlier?" I finally took a breath and spoke like a normal human being.

Did his family want me here? What if they just thought I was some freeloader, I mean they didn't like my mom so why would they like me?

Chris sat down opposite me at the kitchen table, "they're a rowdy bunch, I didn't want you to get all spooked off." He shrugged and smiled pathetically.

"Whatever, when are they coming, I'd love to meet them." I sounded sarcastic but I truly meant it, I did want to find out more of my dad.

And Chris knew I meant it deep down.

"At the weekend your grandparents will come down here with your cousins, your uncle may come but I'm not to sure, he runs businesses so his work can change." My dad explains and I just nod.

The only thing registering is that I'm meeting some of my dad's family on the weekend.

"They don't play hockey right?" I think I'd move back to the city if one more person in this town played hockey.

"No, they don't Cal." He laughed at my question as if i was joking, I was not.

I need to get far away from any hockey players, especially Grayson Maverick.

It was a slow morning at Lakehurst's only decent coffee shop. The kind of place where everyone knew everyone, and the air always smelled like burnt espresso and vanilla syrup. I wasn't planning to stop—I had time to kill before school, but not that much time.

Then I saw her.

Calliope Brooks, sitting alone in a corner booth, stirring her drink with a straw like she had nothing better to do. She looked... off. Not her usual self. No sharp edges or sarcastic remarks locked and loaded. Just quiet, lost in thought.

That annoyed me for some reason.

I made my way over, sliding into the seat across from her without an invitation.

"Didn't peg you for the type to sulk in a coffee shop alone, Angel."

She jumped slightly, her expression twisting into irritation. "Didn't peg you for the type to be this annoying before eight in the morning."

I smirked. "Guess we're both learning things today."

She huffed, looking back down at her drink. I expected her to tell me to piss off, but she didn't.

I leaned back, studying her. "You good?"

She let out a dry laugh. "Why do you care?"

That was the million-dollar question, wasn't it? She was always wondering who cared, why wouldn't someone care. I may not know why I do, but it would be hard not to.

I shrugged. "Just curious."

She twirled the straw between her fingers, staring at it like it held all the answers. "I found out my dad's family actually exists today. Apparently, they've been alive this whole time, and he just... never thought to mention them."

That caught me off guard. Chris never talked about his family, but I figured Callie at least knew them. "You never met them before?"

"Nope." She popped the 'p' and took a sip of her drink. "They didn't like my mom, so I guess that meant they wouldn't like me, either."

"So how come you never lived with your dad before?" I pushed, wanting to know all the answers.

Her shoulders fell back slightly, like she was just letting go, as if she didn't have the energy to hide herself away.

"My parents couldn't stand eachother so when my mom was pregnant she moved to the city, then I just never met my dad."

There was something in the way she said it—like she was trying to brush it off, but I could tell it got to her.

Before I could think of something to say, she turned to me with a smirk that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Your turn. What's got you lurking around coffee shops alone? Secret addiction to overpriced lattes?"

I huffed a laugh. "Just couldn't sleep."

"Nightmares?"

I tensed for a split second before shaking my head. "No."

She hummed like she didn't quite believe me but didn't push it.

For a moment, it was quiet between us. A rare, comfortable silence.

Then she tilted her head, smirk growing. "So, what tragic backstory does Grayson Maverick have? Abandonment issues? Secret identity? Or did a girl break your heart in ninth grade?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "You're ridiculous."

She grinned. "I try."

I should've left it at that. Should've let the conversation stay light. But something about her made me reckless.

"My sister," I said before I could stop myself. "She died."

Her smirk faltered. Just for a second. "Oh."

I nodded, looking away. "Yeah."

She didn't say sorry. Didn't offer some pity-filled apology like most people did. Instead, she just sat there, her expression unreadable.

After a moment, she slid her coffee across the table toward me. "Here. You look like you need this more than me."

I raised a brow. "You don't even know what I drink."

She shrugged. "Doesn't matter. Coffee fixes everything."

I smirked. "Except your terrible attitude."

She gasped, placing a hand over her chest like I'd mortally wounded her. "You wish my attitude was terrible. I keep your life interesting."

I rolled my eyes but didn't argue. Because maybe she was right.

The clock on the wall caught my attention, and I frowned. "You're not skipping school, are you?"

She scoffed. "No. I walked here."

I frowned harder. "You walked? The hell, Brooks—why don't you just drive?"

She shrugged, grabbing her drink back. "Don't have a license."

I stared at her. "You can skate like that, but you can't drive?"

"Blame my mom." She stood up, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "She never let me."

I didn't know why that bothered me, but it did. Before I could think too hard about it, I stood too. "C'mon, I'll give you a ride."

She eyed me. "And what do you want in return?"

I smirked. "Nothing. Just don't make me regret it."

She sighed dramatically. "Fine. But I'm picking the music."

I groaned. "Great. Can't wait to suffer."

She grinned, pushing past me toward the exit.

And as much as I hated to admit it, the morning didn't feel so restless anymore.

Well, I guess staying away from the blonde was harder than I thought.

Or I just didn't want to stay away.

Grayson Maverick had a way of getting under my skin. One second, he annoyed the hell out of me, and the next, he was offering me a ride like it was no big deal. And maybe it wasn't—to him. But to me? It felt like I was letting him in, even if just a little.

I sipped my coffee as we pulled into the school parking lot, the low hum of music filling the space between us. He had tried to complain about my playlist, but I shut that down real fast. If I had to endure his presence, he could endure my music choices.

"So," he said, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel. "You're really just now finding out you have an entire family?"

He asked again as if even he couldn't take it all in.

I sighed, resting my head against the window. "Yep. Apparently, my dad has a whole bunch of relatives he never mentioned. And now they want to meet me."

Grayson let out a low whistle. "That's... a lot."

"No shit." I turned to look at him. "Wouldn't be surprised if they just want to meet the long-lost mistake to ease their curiosity."

His jaw ticked. "You don't actually believe that, do you?"

I shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time I was someone's unwanted problem."

His grip on the wheel tightened, but he didn't say anything right away.

When he finally spoke, his voice was softer. "You don't know them yet. Maybe they actually want to know you."

I scoffed. "You sound hopeful."

He glanced at me. "You sound scared."

I hated that he could see through me so easily. Hated it even more that he wasn't wrong.

I looked away, watching students filter into the school. "Whatever. If they suck, I'll just pretend they don't exist."

Grayson pulled into a spot near the front and put the car in park. "That your thing? Running away when things get too real?"

I shot him a glare. "No. My thing is not wasting time on people who don't want me around."

For a second, he just looked at me. Like he wanted to say something but didn't know if he should. Then he sighed and leaned back. "Well, if they end up being assholes, you can always crash Thanksgiving at my place. My mom makes a mean pumpkin pie."

I blinked at him. "Are you inviting me to a family holiday?"

He shrugged. "Maybe."

I snorted, shaking my head. "You're weird, Maverick."

"And you're stubborn, Brooks."

I rolled my eyes and pushed open the door, grabbing my bag. "Thanks for the ride, I guess."

He smirked. "Anytime, Angel."

I flipped him off over my shoulder, but I couldn't stop the small smile from tugging at my lips as I walked away.

The second I stepped into the school hallway, the buzz of small-town high school life hit me full force. Students loitered by their lockers, couples made out like they wouldn't see each other in five minutes, and the hockey guys—because of course they were the loudest—were talking about last night's game like they hadn't already dissected every detail a hundred times.

I pulled out my phone, scrolling through messages while weaving through the chaos.

Jonah: City's boring without you. When you coming back?

Theo: We got a new guy. He's trash. You'd hate him.

Tess: U alive?

I smirked at Tess's message and shot back a quick reply.

Unfortunately. What's up?

Her response came almost immediately.

Tess: Just checking. U good?

Define good.

Tess: That bad?

I sighed, shoving my phone in my pocket before I could respond. I wasn't about to get into the whole meeting-my-dad's-family thing over text.

"Brooks!"

I turned my head just in time to see Alexis fall into step beside me. She looked me up and down, then narrowed her eyes. "You look weird."

I raised a brow. "Wow. Thanks."

She shrugged. "Not, like, bad weird. Just... not as murdery as usual."

"Gee, I'm glowing with joy."

She rolled her eyes. "What's up with you?"

I exhaled. "Just found out my dad has a family who actually wants to meet me. You know, casual stuff."

Her eyes widened. "Shut up. Since when?"

"Apparently, since forever, but he just decided to tell me now."

"Damn." She winced. "That's... a lot."

"Yeah. Maverick said the same thing."

Alexis blinked. "Grayson Maverick?"

I groaned internally. Shouldn't have said that. "Yes, Alexis."

She smirked, eyes practically sparkling. "Why were you talking to Grayson Maverick?"

"Because he's annoying and doesn't mind his own business."

"Mmhmm."

I shot her a look. "Drop it."

She snickered. "Fine. But I'm so asking Vince if Mav told him anything later."

Before I could respond, the bell rang, cutting through the noise.

Math and I had a very complicated relationship—mostly because it hated me. Numbers never made sense the way words did. And Mr. Hoffman had the patience of a rock.

"Brooks," he called, snapping me out of my half-daze. "What's the answer to number seven?"

I blinked at the board like it was in another language. "Uh... twenty-six?"

The class snickered. Mr. Hoffman sighed. "No. Try again."

I frowned. "Twenty-eight?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's fourteen."

"Right. That was my next guess."

More laughter. I slumped in my seat, already counting the minutes until lunch.

I plopped my tray down at the table next to Alexis, stealing one of her fries before she could slap my hand away.

"I saw you struggling in math," she said, amused.

"Shut up."

"You really don't get it, huh?"

"Not even a little."

She smirked. "Well, lucky for you, I'm a genius."

I raised a brow. "Debatable."

Before she could argue, my phone buzzed. Another message from Tess.

Tess: If u need an excuse to bail, just say the word. We'll fake a kidnapping.

I huffed a quiet laugh, shaking my head.

"What?" Alexis asked.

I turned my phone so she could see.

She snorted. "Honestly? I'd take the offer."

I sighed. "Yeah... me too."

the worst—history with Mr. Daniels, a man who was somehow both ancient and insufferable.

his glasses as he peered at me over his desk. "Would you care to grace us with your presence and perhaps pay attention?"

I leaned back in my chair, coffee in hand. "Oh, I am paying attention. I just don't care."

A few students snickered. Mr. Daniels sighed like he regretted every life decision that led him to this moment.

"You seem to have a problem with authority, Miss Brooks."

"Not authority. Just you."

More laughter. Mr. Daniels pinched the bridge of his nose. "Remind me, do you want to pass this class?"

I took a slow sip of my coffee. "I do enjoy a challenge."

At this point, the class was entirely invested. Mr. Daniels, however, was not amused.

"Detention," he said flatly.

I grinned. "Wouldn't be the first time."

"Make it two."

I shrugged. "Sounds like a date."

The class lost it.

Mr. Daniels looked like he aged ten years on the spot. "Out. Now."

I grabbed my stuff, smirking as I strolled out. Totally worth it.

By the time I got to science, I'd already decided to coast through the rest of the day with minimal trouble. Then she walked in.

Samantha Carter, Luke's self-proclaimed girlfriend. A girl who didn't like me on principle—because apparently, talking to her guy was a crime.

The moment she saw me, her eyes narrowed. "Wow, look who decided to show up."

I raised a brow. "Wow, look who still hasn't figured out how to shut up."

Her friends giggled, but Samantha wasn't laughing. She stalked over to my lab table, flipping her hair dramatically.

"I know what you're doing."

I blinked. "Cheating on this worksheet?"

"Don't play dumb," she sneered. "You're obsessed with Luke."

I stared at her, deadpan. "You mean Luke Dawson? Our goalie? The guy who still says 'bro' unironically?"

Her nostrils flared. "I see how you look at him."

"Oh, you mean with basic human eyesight?"

More laughter. Samantha hated not being taken seriously.

"Stay away from my man," she snapped.

I smirked. "Maybe he should stay away from me."

That set her off.

Without warning, she shoved me—hard. I stumbled back against the lab table, nearly knocking over a beaker. Gasps echoed through the room.

Oh. So we were really doing this?

I clenched my jaw, every instinct screaming at me to fight back. But the moment I so much as moved, Samantha dramatically gasped and stumbled backward, knocking over a chair.

"What the hell, Brooks?!" she shrieked.

The teacher turned just in time to see her on the floor and me standing there looking pissed off.

"Calliope Brooks!" the teacher snapped. "Principal's office. Now."

I gaped. "Are you serious?! She started it!"

Samantha sniffled, flipping her perfectly intact hair. "I was just trying to talk to her."

Lying. Manipulative. Bitch.

"She shoved me!" I protested.

The teacher crossed her arms. "Given your track record at previous schools, I find that hard to believe."

Oh, so now I was just a walking criminal record?

Samantha smirked at me, all innocent and smug as I seethed.

I could argue. I could fight. But I already knew how this would go.

So instead, I grabbed my bag, turned on my heel, and marched straight to the office.

At least I was consistent.

—————

A/N: I don't like this chapter, is it to boring?

I still hope u enjoyed it though!!

Words: 2814