When Love and Hate Collide

CHAPTER 16- STEPHANIE'S WORD OF CAUTION

CHAPTER 16- STEPHANIE'S WORD OF CAUTION

NO ONE'S POV

It was the biggest news in the whole of Barton the following week. Who would have thought that the school's most famous rivals turned out to become the school's most talked about lovers. Well, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger became Romeo and Juliet. But for the two of them they were Beauty and the Beast. A lot were skeptical. Many also doubted. Still some were glad for the new found love between them. But one was doubtful and the other was in a jealous rage.

FLASHBACK

Heaven stood at the side as she watched Kisses and Edward walked towards the middle of the dance floor. She wasn't even able to have that dance with him and here she was having that moment with him.

The following events hit her like a truck. It wasn't just a dance. Edward was making a confession in front of the whole school. A bracelet, a kiss and his declaration. As she watched them, she unconsciously balled her hands into a fist as she watched them dance as if they were alone in the room.

"That should be me." She thought. "I should be his woman. I hate you Delavin." She ran out making sure to hit Tanner by the shoulder as she passed by heading towards the balcony.

Tanner was frozen in place. So, it was him all this time. He was stupid. So, so stupid. After all these time, his unexplained jealousy towards him was after all, with basis. He was his competition. He was the man who took Kisses away from him. He was the one she chose over him. That explained the cut down on the biting remarks as Yong said, the stolen glances, the seemingly jealous remarks of Barber whenever he was around.

He watched as the two danced in the middle as if they were all alone in the room with nobody watching. He saw it. The way he looked at her was like she was all he can see. The same way Tanner looked at her for so many years. His hands turned cold and so did his heart. He walked out and Steph followed him to the garden.

"Tanner."

"Leave me alone Steph." He kept his back to her.

"You have to understand something. My brother, he's a good man."

Tanner stopped so suddenly and Stephanie was taken "Your brother?!" He made sharp turn and stared at her hard. "Who do you mean your brother?"

She gulped at the sudden increase in the tone of his voice but she had to stand her ground. "Edward. Edward is my stepbrother."

Tanner laughed almost maniacally at hearing the declaration. "And you knew about the two of them?" he asked, eyes boring into hers. "Were you trying to make me look like a fool?!"

Steph stepped forward trying to reach out to her friend but Tanner stepped back to afraid that if she comes an inch closer, he would lose control of his anger. "No, I wanted to be your friend but after seeing how my brother and you felt for Kisses, I was too afraid on how you'd react and look at you now."

Maria suddenly came around holding on to her gown trying to walk steadily. "Tanner. Steph."

Tanner faced his cousin, very much red in anger and frustration. "Tell me you did not know about this!"

"Tanner, please." She wasn't able to take the anger etched on her cousin's face any longer. With a resigned sigh, "Yes. Yes, I do."

"How could you?" Tanner said, not hiding the resentment laced in his voice. "I'm your cousin. I'm almost like your brother!"