**AUTHOR'S DISCLAIMER: All characters in this fictional story are legal adults. This story has incest elements (step dad/step daughter) so if that subject is a trigger for you, just be forewarned. **
Jill fumbled with her key, trying to fit it in the lock and failing miserably. Even the easiest task could be made difficult with a little too much alcohol. She was high, horny, and tired and just wanted to get in her bed and play with her vibrator before crashing out. Finally, managing to get the key in, she opened the door to see her stepfather, uncle and a few of their friends drinking and playing poker at the table. Jill sighed and closed the door behind her, already resigning herself to the fight about to take place.
Without taking his eyes off his cards, Jill's stepfather addressed his wayward daughter with deceptive calm.
"Do you happen to know the time, Jill?"
She wasn't in the mood for this. She was so tired of him trying to control her life. All he seemed to do since she turned 18 a few months ago, was bitch about when she was getting a job or if she had applied to any colleges. She couldn't even bring any guys home without him asking five thousand questions and ruining the mood by making everything awkward!
She felt a volcanic storm brewing inside her and before she could stop it, the words erupted from her in fury,
"Yes I do, in fact! It's time for you to get a fucking watch and stop trying to run my life!"
He started to respond, but she wasn't done yet.
"I turned 18 nearly three months ago, and I'm an adult now, and one who is quite capable of making her OWN decisions! So that's what time it is, James."
She threw out that last word with as much sarcasm as she could muster. She had always called him Dad, so she knew using his first name would get his attention, and by the look on his face, it seemed she was right.
The challenging stares of accusation between the two were almost audible over the awkward silence that permeated the room.
Her stepfather, looking too tired for this fight, put down his cards and sighed.
"I'm sorry to cut it short, but looks like I'm going to have to call it a night. We'll finish the game another time."
Everyone got up to leave, trying not to make eye contact with irate Jill as they awkwardly walked past her to get to the door.
The first one to finally speak was Brad, her step father's 26 year old younger brother who had moved in with them six months ago. He had just gotten back from a deployment and his wife had asked for a divorce. Brad usually tried to stay out of the way when Jill and her stepdad would fight, though it was clear whose side he'd take if pressed- not hers.
He sat down on the couch and tried to talk reason into his niece.
"Look, I've been watching this bullshit go on for long enough."
He paused, making an effort to soften his tone before continuing, "Jill, I know it can't be easy living without your mom. But she passed away when you were 13, and my brother has spent the last five years doing everything he can to take care of you. This disrespectful attitude you have while living in his house needs to stop. You need to get a job. Or get in school- do something besides waste your time and my brothers resources on partying all night and sleeping all day," he said before adding, "You want to be treated like an adult so bad, start acting like one!"
Jill, who was still feeling some effects of the alcohol, combined with her hormones and exhaustion, was not in a state of mind conducive for productive dialogue.
In a deceptively calm voice she addressed his concerns, "Brad, you are absolutely right. It was difficult losing my mother. But I can't even imagine how difficult it must've been on you to lose a wife. My mother left me because she had no choice. Your wife left because she WANTED to."
It was a cheap shot, and even she could hear the immaturity of her remark, but she was too angry to care. Jill took a minute to let that sink in and watched with self-satisfaction as the shock washed over his face.
Brad actually had to run her words through his mind several times to believe he had heard her correctly. Before having a chance to reply, his brother quickly intervened, attempting to diffuse the situation.
"Brad, she's just an 18 year old kid. She doesn't know what she's saying. Let it go," he said. "It's late and we all need some sleep. We can talk about this tomorrow."
Jill smiled with triumphant satisfaction. Basking in the glow of her self proclaimed victory, she started to her room.
And if she had just kept walking, the night night most certainly would have taken a different turn. But instead, stopping right next to Brad, she leaned down and sealed her fate with her last words.
"What was it exactly, Brad? Were you just not man enough to satisfy her sexual needs? Did she have to find somebody else for that?"