Seven Days With Stepmum (Patreon)

CHAPTER 1

“Why meeeeee.” Charlie muttered with an overdrawn whine.

Here the young man found himself standing in the doorway of his new room; well the one he would be staying the next week in. The room was very typically girly and juvenile in every way possible. If his friends new he was staying here he would never hear the end of it. Pink, ultra girly feminine pink encompassed the whole room in all of its pastel glory. The wardrobe…. Pink. The bedspread, also pink. The pillowcases, those were purple, literally no better in his mind.

This room was a prison, a young man; a college graduate should not be condemned to spend even a singular night in this vulgarity let alone a full week. But it was the reality he had no choice but to accept, the sentence having been carried out by his father. His girlfriend and soon to be wife would become Charlies new stepmother. There was no avoiding this future; he was fine with it to an extent. His dad deserved all the happiness that life could offer, but it was so hard to see the rosy side of the flower when the thorn was jamming into him. He really shouldn’t be having such a big meltdown over a room’s décor, but when you’re a skinny young man with a girly name that everyone loves to remind you of this sort of thing really gets to you.

The long hair didn’t help with the image but it was his way of rebelling against his father. He hated his scruffy look and metal head wardrobe, it was very striking in contrast of his own neat smart casual business attire. He would never force his son to do anything, but he would constantly berate him for not putting more effort into his appearance. Charlie felt like this room would swallow him dressed in only black he stood out like a sore thumb in the sea of pastel. Even the dolls sitting atop the shelving looked as if they were openly mocking him, staring at him with their beady lifeless eyes. He shuddered, letting his duffle bag drop to the carpeted floor with a thud he sat down on the edge of the bed and sighed.

”I see you’ve mad yourself at home then.”

Looking up Charlie was met with the cheery grin of Anna his soon to be stepmother. He was very determined in his ways not to call her mum, she had asked if he would like that and he quickly scoffed at the idea. His father chastised him being disrespectful about it but understood that maybe it was too soon. It was one of those rare occasions that they seemed to agree on something. Why would it matter anyway, he was an adult now it felt weird that she even asked him to call her that. But it didn’t matter he had already brushed it aside, chalking it up to yet another awkward interaction he had shared with her.

“Yeah…. It’s, ummmm all a bit much, isn’t it?” Charlie asked scanning the room.

Anna chuckled. “Well yes it is very pink isn’t it; Danni was obsessed with the colour her wardrobe was just as bad.” She pulled the wardrobe open revealing rows and rows of pink girly dresses and other juvenile clothing.

Ugh, why was she showing him all this he really could care less he just wanted to be left alone. Pulling his gaze away from the wardrobe he cleared his throat. “Yeah it’s…. great.” He blurted out, cringing at his strange choice of words.

“Oh well if you like them that much I’m more than happy to find you a pretty dress to wear, it will be much better suited to a sweetie like you instead of that vulgar clothing you insist upon wearing.”

Charlie looked down momentarily at his choice of shirt for today; it wasn’t that bad it was just from one of his favourite metal bands concerts. “Haha, yeah shame I don’t think any of that will fit me.” He said, finding himself playing along with the joke for some reason.

“Oh you would be surprised.” Anna said as she rummaged through the closet. Eventually resting on a rather simple sundress with little daisies adorning it she pulled it out presenting it to Charlie.

“See, it might be a little short on you but you could squeeze your scrawny body inside I guarantee it.”

Charlie looked it up and down and shook his head. “Sorry but I think I’ll pass.”

“Well if you change your mind I’ll leave it here for you.” She said replacing the dressed on a hook hanging outside the wardrobe. She walked over and planted a kiss on his cheek. “I’m glad you’re staying with me Charlie bear I promise we will have lots of fun.”

Turning her heel she moved for the door stopping when the odour of his duffle bag passed her nose.

“If you insist on wearing such scruffy, tasteless clothing I insist that you at least allow me to wash it.” Anna remarked pulling the duffle bag from the floor.

“Sure go for it, thanks I guess.” Charlie remarked very unenthusiastically.

His clothes probably could deal with a wash anyway, his dad made him do his own chores. Which was fair he was in his twenties now, he just hated being told when to do it. He watched Anna leave the room holding his bag at arm’s length with an obvious look of disgust. ‘I wonder how golden girl is doing.’ He began to wonder, scoffing as he imagined all the sucking up Danni would be doing to his father. In an effort to bring them all closer together, well more specifically Charlie and Anna they were to spend a week with each other’s parent. Of course everyone jumped at his dad’s suggestion; he and Danni had planned a week getaway at some resort and he was stuck here doing nothing.

He did have the opportunity to decide on something, but whenever he was pressured to come up with something he brushed them off. ‘I don’t know, I don’t care.’ Were the replies he offered when asked to make up his mind and choose. In the end Anna just said they would stay back at her place and have a nice ‘homely’ experience, whatever that entailed. Kicking off his shoes Charlie leaned back against the bed head, once again scanning his surroundings and shaking his head in disdain. He didn’t have any way to contact his friends, ‘no phones.’ He said with a mocking tone before groaning into a pillow.

Anna suddenly came strutting back into the room, Charlie didn’t even bother turning back over pushing his face further into the pillow. He heard her spraying a can of aerosol around the room giving it a generous dusting. His nose was met with the strong aroma of lavender and he responded with an exaggerated coughing. He felt Anna looming over him as she bent over and gave him a good whiff. He groaned again brushing his hand aimlessly toward her signalling her to leave when she he felt her tugging at his shirt.

“What are you doing?” He demanded, pulling his hands down to stop the invasion of privacy.

“Clothes off, these stink too, I just washed these sheets I wanted everything to be nice and fresh for you.” Anna stepped back and Charlie quickly readjusted his shirt in place.

“Bathroom now, scooch.” She said giving him an encouraging slap on his knee.

“Alright fine I’m going.” Charlie said standing up in a huff.

He begrudgingly shuffled down the hallway following Anna until they reached the bathroom.

“Do you need any help in there or can you manage washing yourself?” She said standing at the doorway.

“I can manage.” Charlie muttered before closing the door.

“Leave your dirty clothes in the hamper, and wash that greasy hair.” Anna spoke, her voice muffled by the wooden barrier between them.

Charlie reluctantly undressed himself following her instructions he chucked his clothes in the hamper before stepping into the shower. ‘Typical.’ He thought to himself seeing the only bottle of shampoo was some girly strawberry scented flavour. The warm water cascaded over his body and he took a whiff from the bottle, almost grimacing at the fruity smell before succumbing and massaging a generous amount into his hair. ‘Whatever,’ atleast no one else would be able to smell it. It seemed a better solution then arguing with Anna over it, he wanted the week to be bearable and he didn’t feel like pissing her off on the first night. He was almost beginning to enjoy the shower and felt himself relaxing when he heard the bathroom door creaking open.