why cant you love me

"So soon I just slept!" is what Stephanie says every morning when she wakes up to the sound of the alarm in her room.

"Another day is here to cope with everyone around, huh! When will it end?" complained Stephan as she threw her duvet away from her and waking up. The feeling of going out to college leaving everything behind at home makes her feel so happy. For the past few months college has been her safe haven. Away from everything. Stephan walks to her phone and turns on her favorite music by MEGHAN TRAINOR - Good Mornin' ft. GARY TRAINOR

That plays to her sound system connected wirelessly via Bluetooth. The swinging of her sweet body and hair makes one feel the day is going to be good. With so many activities, her days seem so out of this world. She dances to the rhythm as she opens her room's window and runs to the bathroom to brush and get ready for the day.

Dancing has always been part of her. She didn't need a choreography teacher. She had the moves. Nobody knows her love for dance as well as her talent for it.

As she searches her wardrobe to find something great to wear for the day, she sees her mother's photo. It has been years since her mother's death, but the pain is always there, and the emptiness.

Stephanie sits down on the floor looking really depressed; she cannot control the tears flowing down her cheeks as she caresses the photo.

"Mum, I wish you could be here with me. I miss you" said, Stephanie, as she sobs her heart out.

"Life is nothing without you around."

"I feel like giving up. I can't stand everything that is happening around me."

Having stayed in the same position for a while, Stephan gets up and places the photo of her late mother back to its place, and finishes dressing up.

Taking her backpack and headphones, Steph goes downstairs to join the rest of the family having breakfast.

"Good morning, family," Greeted Steph as she walked to her seat to have breakfast.

"Good morning sis, how did you sleep" Asked her sister Mercy as she helped her pour tea into her cup.

"Thanks, dear."

"Sis, can I walk with you to school?"

"It's okay, Mercy. But won't you be late for your class? Is better if dad drops you at your school." Replied Steph

"I feel like taking a walk today to school. And besides my school is not that far from yours. Pretty please, big sis." pleaded Mercy.

"It's alright."

"Thanks"

Footsteps were heard from the corridor as their dad and stepmother walked into the dining area, all dressed up for a walk.

"Good morning, dad, mom," said Steph as she stood on her feet to leave for school with her sister.

"Good morning, dear," replied her dad while her stepmom kept quiet while sliding on her seat next to her father.`

"We are off to school, then see you later," said Steph as they left the dining area.

"Wait," Said their father, Mr. Jackson

"Yes, dad."

"Why don't I drop you today?"

"Thanks, but no, dad. I like walking. It's part of my exercise. Besides, aren't you dropping Sheila and John at school? It won't be enough for all of us, so we better walk." Replied Steph, not sounding sarcastic or something

Since their stepmom came to live with them, their lives have significantly changed, and their dad no longer paid attention to them like he used to. That has become a pain for them; unlike their mother, Sheila and John are good kids, except Sheila may be a pain in the ass sometimes.

"Alright. See you later then and take care of you two. It's not safe out there these days."

"Thanks, dad. Don't worry. We will be okay."

It took Steph and Mercy 10mins to reach Mercy's school, and then Step proceeded to her own school.

Steph was walking on the corridor towards her class s when she heard someone call her name. She turned and found her friend Amanda calling while running.

"Hey there, Steph. Have called you this morning, but you were not picking."

"Sorry. Had set my phone on silent mode didn't hear it ring. Anyway am here now."

"Well, it's okay. Let's go to class now the lecturer is on his way."

"Okay."

Apart from Amanda, Steph has no other friends. She tries as much as possible to have her own life not interfered with other people and avoid dramas that come with too many people in one's life. As much as she is friendly, she walks and works on her own most of the time when Amanda is not around.

She walked to her seat at the back of the class settled down, waiting to start her calculus class with the lecturer. The class ended then her next class, and without even knowing it, the day was over.

She walked into her room, changed to her home wear, and went downstairs to help make dinner in the kitchen.

Time flew first, and before she knew it, it was the weekend, the most boring time for Steph, especially with her stepsister around during this time. There is nothing as boring as being somewhere you are not happy.

Have you ever been lonely but you are surrounded by so many people. This has always been her lifestyle for months. No matter how many times she tries to forget what Sheila did to her. Every time Sheila walks into her space, she does not even want to breathe the same air with her. The pain, betrayal, and heartache she felt a few months ago were still fresh to her. She can remember as if it was yesterday itself.

The urge to slap her is always there. Sheila being around her make sit feel like a malignant tumor that keeps on popping up when it's removed or does not just go away.

And the jerk that broke her heart is the most despicable person she has ever met. She had trusted him with her life; in fact, he was her best friend; they had gone to school together since high school, and now in college, they were still together. But the betrayal he made her experience was beyond what words could describe.

It's being stabbed by the person you trust with your life. Imagine the pain

Sorting out her laundry, Steph opens her bedroom door and heads downstairs to clean outside and to enjoy the morning as it comes. The last person she wanted to bump into was Sheila. Sometimes she wishes she could move out, especially when her Stepmom and Sheila gang on her.

As she landed on the last step on the stairs, her gaze met that of Sheila seated at the dining table having breakfast with her father.

"Good morning, dad."

"Good morning Steph" Mr. Jackson answered before she strode outside. Just as she was about to step out, her father called her out.

"Hey Steph"

"Yes, dad!"

"What's going on between you and Sheila? Why does it seem to be tension between you two for months now?" Steph's dad asked curiously.

"Dad, nothing is going on."

The last thing she wanted was to start talking to her dad about the relationship or love life.

"Do you think because I have been keeping quiet all this time, I have not noticed the tension in this house? What's really going on with you guys?

"Dad, if you want to know the truth, ask your favorite stepdaughter. She can give a better explanation of what she did."

With that, she moved back closer to them and gave Sheila a look to go ahead.

"Come on, Steph, you know it was a mistake, and besides, 'Before she could finish, Steph snapped on her.

"Shut the hell up. I don't even want to hear your filthy words. You make me want to puke. If it were not for my dad, I would have moved out of here. You're despicable," Steph shouted.

"Shut up, both of you. Why don't you guys fill me in on whatever is going on? And I won't tolerate behaviors and street language here. Come on, your sisters."

"Dad, I didn't do anything to her. Her boyfriend seduced me forced me to kiss him, and in the process, Steph caught us and thought we had been having an affair with him, honestly. "

"Kissing? You were practically naked on to- "

"Keep quiet. I think I have heard enough to know the whole thing."

"Steph, this is a small thing to fight your sister because of a despicable man. If he didn't get close to her, I don't think your sister would have done anything to hurt you. Forget about this. Get over it. Remember, family, comes first.'

"I should have a known dad. You would always side with her. You never cared about me anyway." Steph said as she laughed while tears ran down her cheeks. She couldn't hold it anymore as she ran back to her room with her laundry. She dropped at the door as soon as she closed the door and sobbed.

It has been like that for a while. Her dad always took their side. The excuse he gives for doing this has always been that they are new in the family and need to feel welcomed.

Waking up early in the morning, the only thing in Steph's mind was going to college and start looking for an apartment near the school. It didn't matter what she had to pay for it, but she really had to get away from all that surrounded her at home. She knew she needed space to think and figure out herself, and the environment around her was not helping at all.

She took her breakfast fast and took a cab to school. She hates riding in the same car with Sheila. She remembered they were good friends at first, though not that close, but at least they could talk in length about things, and one of them included their boyfriends and the plans they had in the future. But things began to come to a standstill after she became so close to Sam. He was my confidant, best friend, and he knew everything about me that not even my parents knew.

Sometimes she wondered if he went for Sheila because she was more beautiful or was she too ugly to be with him. The thoughts that run to her mind are so wild that she thinks maybe she is not good enough for anyone.

She was too deep in thoughts that she did not realize she was walking towards someone. She bumped into him, and she fell down, hurting her elbow, trying to find support. The guy bent over immediately, trying to help her out.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes," she said as she looked up to see the guy helping her. She could not help but stare for too long before snapping back to reality.

"Y- Yes. Sorry for bumping into you. I was deep in thoughts didn't realize I was walking towards you," Steph says as she tries to compose herself.

"It's okay. It happens sometimes." Says the guy as he looks over at her elbow.

"Let's get that treated at the dispensary before it gets infected," He says as he leads her to the dispensary. The school nurse cleans and disinfects the wound before placing the Elastoplasts on it.

' My name is George, by the way," He says, extending his hands to shake hers.

"Stephanie. Nice to meet you. Though I know, it was a little clumsy on our meeting.' Responds Steph shaking his hands back.

"Well, it was a bit hard, if I may say. You are one strong lady, to be precise," Said George playfully.

Steph stares at his feature carefully, leaving none behind as she comprehends how beautiful and handsome he looks. Though she hates being around men, this guy seems different, and a connection attracts him to her.

She shakes her thoughts. Well, Thank you for taking me to the dispensary though it wasn't necessary. But it was really kind of you.' She says as she tries to control her confused feelings.

"It was nothing. Anybody could have done that," He says as he watches the time and signs." It seems I am late for my class already, and it is almost over."

"OMG am late as well. Mr. Miles will kill me if I do not present my algebra assignment for my group. Have got to go. Hope to see you around, George. And thanks". Steph says as she runs off to the remainder of the class.

A few days had passed, but George had not seen Steph again since the dispensary. He doesn't understand what's going on. Since he bumped into her, all that was in his mind was her images as well as in his dreams.

"What's going on with me? Why can't I stop thinking of her? I really have to see her again." Thought George loudly. He goes off to the library to study for the upcoming exam but finds himself not concentrating at all. He packs his belonging into his backpack and leaves for the search.

He had been asking about Steph to his classmates since he was new and found she is in the same mathematics and computer science department. But since he has been here, he had not set eyes on her. He waited in the corridor they met to see if he could see her again.

A group of people passed severally, but there was no sign of her yet. He almost gave up when he saw her coming from the administration office. He couldn't help but stare at her suggestively, undressing her from top to bottom. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, though most of his friends found him weird not seeing him with a lady for most of his life.

It is not that he has never had an interest in having a girlfriend before. Still, he just had responsibilities at his company before in stabilized. Now that he had everything under control at the company, he had time to date and study. The best part of being a software developer, you can work from anywhere and anytime.

Steph is unique; something about her makes him want to be near her and know more about her.

She seemed to be deep in thoughts as she came his way, and he had to stop her before she could bump into him again.

"Hey. Do you always like to bump into people in the corridor?

"Wow. It seems it's only you that I want to bump into. Sorry. It's just that I have been having a stressful day and am deep in thoughts." Steph says, coming back to reality

"Anyway, how have you been? It's like a week we have not seen each other."

"Well, have been busy and missed almost most of my classes this week, but I am back now. So what's up?

"Nothing much was wondering if you could go for a cup of coffee with me at the Java house at the corner outside the school," George says expectedly and nervous. This would be his first time asking a lady out for coffee. It's not that he had never gone out for coffee with a lady before, but this would be his first doing it himself, not ladies throwing themselves at him.

"It's okay. I was going there anywhere, and I could use company at the moment.'

"This way, please. I parked my car at the North entrance parking lot."