His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 7

**Chapter 7**

Claire’s POV

Sitting on the cold, tiled bathroom floor felt like an eternity. The numbness in my legs was a stark reminder of how long I had been there, trapped in a whirlwind of emotions. My eyes were puffy and red from the relentless tears that had streamed down my cheeks, each sob echoing the ache in my chest.

“Dad…” I murmured, my voice barely a whisper, cracking under the weight of my sorrow. “Why did you leave me? I wish you were here… I don’t know what to do anymore.” The silence that followed was deafening, a void where his comforting presence should have been. I longed for him to respond, to tell me everything would be alright, to wrap me in his arms and shield me from this pain.

Just as despair threatened to engulf me, my phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. I forced myself to rise from the floor, dragging my weary body to check the notification. It was probably Lily and June, pestering me for pictures of Elijah, but instead, I found a message from Naomi.

Naomi: Hey babe! Want to hang out tonight?

I stared at the screen, my lips caught between a nervous chew. A part of me screamed to decline; I had no desire to go anywhere after the chaos of the day. Yet, another part of me craved an escape from this suffocating house, where the mere thought of Elijah lurking under the same roof made my skin crawl.

Naomi had been my only beacon of kindness since I arrived here. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to step outside for a breath of fresh air, to reclaim a fragment of my normalcy.

With a quick resolve, I typed a message back to Lily and June.

Me: Going out with a friend… chat later!

Then, I replied to Naomi.

Me: Sure! Send me the address!

Her response was instantaneous, filled with a flurry of enthusiastic emojis that made me smile despite my mood. As soon as I saw it, I booked a ride, my heart racing with anticipation.

I hurried through a shower, washing away the remnants of my tears, and threw on a pair of fitted jeans and a loose top—something that felt comfortable, nothing that would cling to my chest. I had to be cautious; fainting in front of strangers was not an option I wanted to entertain.

Once I was ready, I grabbed my bag and stepped outside, only to feel my heart plummet as I entered the backyard.

Elijah…

There he was, splashing around in the pool with three other guys, laughter ringing in the air like a mocking chorus. Naomi had mentioned them earlier, and I recognized their names—Adrian, Chris, and Noah.

I kept my gaze down, hoping to slip past them unnoticed, but luck was not on my side.

“Hey, Elijah!” Chris shouted, his voice cutting through the air like a knife. “Isn’t that the new girl from school? What’s she doing in your house? Wait… don’t tell me… woah! You’ve already slept with her! How is she in bed? Mind passing her over?”

What?! The audacity of his words made my skin crawl. The way he spoke about me as if I were an object to be passed around sent a shiver down my spine.

Adrian, standing nearby, frowned and shot back, “That’s a really stupid thing to say about someone you just met.”

But Chris only smirked, waving off the concern. “Come on… relax! I’m just joking!”

Elijah, however, didn’t share in the laughter. He emerged from the pool, droplets cascading down his sculpted chest, accentuating the definition of his muscles and the sharp line of his abs. His hair clung to his forehead, water glistening as it slid down the column of his neck.

But the tears came anyway, no matter how hard I tried to be strong. Elijah had humiliated me, made me feel insignificant, and the worst part? I couldn’t shake the image of him climbing out of that pool from my mind.

It took what felt like an eternity—thirty-five minutes—before the car finally came to a stop. I quickly wiped my tears, not wanting Naomi to see the evidence of my breakdown.

The venue was alive with music, an outdoor garden party illuminated by strings of twinkling lights hanging from the trees. Tables laden with food and drinks beckoned invitingly.

I swallowed hard, wiping my clammy palms on my jeans. The last party I attended with Lily and June had ended with me fainting and waking up in a hospital bed. Mom had made me promise never to attend parties again, but tonight felt different. I wanted to feel a semblance of normalcy, especially since she was going on a date herself.

I texted Naomi to let her know I had arrived, and within moments, she burst through the crowd, her face lighting up with joy.

“Babes! You made it!” she exclaimed, enveloping me in a warm embrace.

I blinked, momentarily taken aback. Naomi looked absolutely stunning. She wore a short denim skirt that accentuated her curves and a white crop top that shimmered under the lights, her makeup flawless.

Suddenly, I felt self-conscious, glancing down at my plain appearance. “Naomi… I feel underdressed. Why are you so dressed up?”

She laughed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Are you really asking me that? Everyone knows I only go all out when my crush is going to be at an event.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Wait… what?”

“Yes, Claire! Elijah’s coming! This is my chance! Maybe tonight, he’ll finally notice me!”