Chapter 2

First day at school

Well, after getting an earful from my parents and my brother, I’m grounded and my dad finally decided to buy me a phone, well don’t be shock but you know we’re home schooled and if we ever go out, if not together, at least one of them so it’s not really necessary though. I’m not mad or anything though, I know that they’re just worry about me but sometimes I just want them to stop worrying all the time, I’m not going anywhere, not yet.

 Here I am humming with the tune of Someone like You by Adele when Leo enters my room.

“Hey, sis”, he greeted and I give him a closed smile and he lay beside me on my bed.

“Are you nervous?” he asks and I know he meant about school.

“Yeah,” I barely whisper.

“You know it’s going to be different and crowded right?” he inquires, while he turns his head to meet my gaze.

Rolling to the side so that I’m facing him, I answered “Yes, but you’ll be there right?” he just nod and scoot closer to me to kiss my temple.

“I’ll take care of you, I promise”, he whispered and I know he mean it, without a doubt because ever since that incident, he was always there for me, together along with my parents.

 

      Finally, it’s my first day being a senior in a real school! I can’t get help but be excited to the point that I set my alarm clock in one hour advance. I immediately go to my walk in closet and think as to what to wear. Of course, I wanted to make a good impression and prove that I can actually fit in. After shacking my wardrobe, I finally give up and I just decided to wear a gray leggings and a loose white tank top that says, “Geek is the new Sexy”, now don’t get me wrong I’m not a nerd, I just love to read and study, but Leo on the other hand is a genius, I swear I will trade anything for his photographic memory. I pull out my pair of white sneakers and glance at the clock. I spent almost 45 minutes! I quickly rush in the bathroom to brush my teeth; I loosely French braid my hair and ta-da! I’m good to go. I grab my pack bag and head downstairs, immediately, the scent of maple syrup invaded my nostrils, and it must be mom.

      “Hey, mom. Good morning!” I greeted her enthusiastically.

“Hi, sweetie. You sure are excited”, I did not bother correcting her because I am so I just shrug.

I kissed her check before I ask “Where’s dad?” I place my bag beside my sit

“He’s waking up your brother”, of course Leo is not a morning person, and I swear he can sleep all day if he wanted to. She turns around and hand me my stack of pancakes.

      “Good morning, my most beautiful daughter in the universe”, dad lean down and kiss my hair.

“Dad, I’m your only daughter”, I pinpoint while teasing him.

“Well, yeah but you’re still the most beautiful”, he retort. Now, you see I’m a good combination of my mom and dad. I’ve got my dad’s hair, so I’m a brunette but mostly my feature came from my mom, including my big green eyes and my creamy white skin. While Leo on the other hand, got my mom’s hair. Yeah, he’s a blonde, well a different shade of blonde though, more like a shade of honey. But, we have the same green eyes although he looks exactly my dad in other aspects.  

“Hey, mom”, Leo greeted her groggily and kiss her cheek, he walk around her and kiss the top of my head while he mumble morning.

      I really love my family; we rarely fight, well except for some random bickering between me and Leo. They are so loving and kind, I couldn’t ask for more, I just wish I can always paint every moment I have with them.

      “Lian, are you done?” Leo pulled me from my thoughts. I look at him and nod.

“Let’s go, we don’t want to be late now, are we”, I stand up and bid my mom and dad goodbye. At first my mom is having a withdrawal syndrome, she’s crying and she’s refusing to let us go, her babies but my father save us from it.

      “Hey, Jim”, I greeted our designated driver. You see, my dad always hire a driver whenever we will have to stay in a place, in case of emergency and stuff. Jim here willingly submits himself for he has been jobless for a couple of months and the pay severance that my dad offered is actually quite good.

“Hi, Mr. and Ms. Reid”, he greeted us politely.

“Oh, quit the formality, you can call me Lian and him Leo”, I pointed to my brother who nods curtly. After a 20 or so minute drive we finally arrive at West High and let me tell you, it’s huge. As we walk out from the car, students are looking at us, like an unidentified-flying-object. I start feeling uncomfortable and Leo senses it.

“Hey, it’ll be fine”, he took my hand and squeezes it lightly for reassurance.

      When we finally walk in the middle of the ground, I thought everybody will submerge the fact that we’re new here but how wrong was I. Instead, I can hear their questions and meet their scrutinizing gaze. Is high school always like this? I thought bitterly.

      ‘He’s hot’

      ‘She’s gorgeous’

      ‘Sexy legs’

      ‘Are they a couple?’

      ‘No way, she’s too ugly for him’

      ‘Their babies will be cute’

      That’s it! Are these people blind? I mean we encounter people say that we don’t look alike except for the eyes but at least they don’t jump to conclusions! Couple? Yuck! We’re not incest. I feel disgusted.

When I look around once again, I can see girls waving their hands, biting their lips seductively or flipping their oh-so-gorgeous hair, while the guys on the other hand is either winking or mentally undressing me. I shudder at the thought.

      When I look at Leo, his face turn into a scowl, so that means he can also see or hear the fallacy in their judgment. After a torturous walk, we finally arrive at the schools registrar “Excuse me miss?” my twin ask the lady who seems busy glutting her face with make-up. After a few seconds, she finally put her mirror down to entertain us.

“Yes, what can I do for you?” I’m sure as hell, that question is only directed at my twin.

“We’re the new students, we’re here to get our class schedules”, Leo answered dryly ignoring the lady who is furiously batting her eyelashes, I’m afraid it might come off.

“Oh, I see. Here”, she chirped

“That’s your class schedule, school map and everything you needed for school”, we mumble thanks and my brother practically jog away from the place, and I can’t help but stifle a laugh.

      While finding our way to the big school, we exchange schedules and sadly, we have different subjects well, excluding AP Chemistry and AP Physics, as I’ve mentioned my brother is practically genius so, he’s classes are mostly BC, so I guess there’s no helping it.

      Being a caring brother he was, he insisted on finding my classroom first, and actually I’m grateful for it because, I’m not sure if I can find it before I can be late. After a few steps and a turn, we finally found it.

“You gonna be okay?” he ask warily as he stop by the door.

“Yes, Leo, I’m 17 not 5”, I joke and he just sigh. He kissed my forehead and walk-off to his class, I hope he will not be late because of me.

      It feels like my legs are composed of tons of granites that it barely move, when I saw the room already full with students that I might add suddenly observing me like a thin glass waiting to break. I took a deep breath and stride across the room and I’m more than thankful that there is a vacant seat by the window.

      “So, you’re the new girl they’re talking about”, I move my head to the left and girl who beam at me

“Yeah, I am?” It’s more of a question than a statement,

She chuckles and “I’m Melinda by the way, Mel suits me though”, she offers her hand and I gladly shook it.

She seems nice, and I love her shiny black hair and her coal eyes. “And you are?” she raise her eyebrow at me “Oh, I’m sorry. Lianna by the way, but Lian is cool”, I hastily respond.

“Can I see your schedule?” she asks and I willingly handed it to her.

“Hmm… base on here we can be buddy-buddy because we have most classes together except P.E and Arts”, I just stare at her “I mean if you want to”, she immediately said as if retreating her words

“Yes, yes I would love to!” I answer enthusiastically and she laughs lightly. Well, you see, sometimes I tend to embarrass myself whenever I’m too overwhelmed.

      After a little chit chat with my new girlfriend, our homeroom teacher finally arrived. Mr. Fisher takes our attendance while suddenly someone came in.

“Nice of you to join us Mr. Parker”, he said sarcastically “Sorry for being late sir, it won’t happen again” he mock at him.

My eyes snap because my ears hear something familiar, too familiar though. When I look up, I saw him there standing. Wearing a ¾ sleeve shirt in black with a small pocket in the top of the right side and washed denim jeans with white converse, he sure knows how to swoon girls with his outfit. Simple yet didn’t make him any less handsome.

 “Take a seat beside Ms. Reid, please raise your hand Miss”, did I just hear him right? He’s gonna seat beside me? Mel nudge my shoulder and I figure out I’m still in daze, so I immediately raise my hand to save myself from further embarrassment. He look at me and when our eyes locked, his mouth is quirking upward, like his fighting a smile. In no time, he is already seated beside me. Should I say hi? Or hey, I’m the one you bumped with your stupid skateboard. No. What if he doesn’t remember me? I turn my head to the side and wrong move, he’s looking at me and he smirks. I quickly look away to hide my cheeks that are sure tainted with red.

     

      Thank the Buddha or whoever I call into that our first class finally ends because to say that I’m uncomfortable will be an understatement.

“Hey, girly! So, how do you know Mico?” Mel ask and I look at her blankly “The boy who’s sitting next to you?” she fill up noticing my confusion. So, that’s his name. It’s odd but I like the sound of it.

“Oh, yeah. We bumped to each other last week. No biggie”, I answer nonchalantly and she just nods passively.

      I can’t believe we have similar classes in the morning. I hope we have different classes in the afternoon, I sigh inwardly.

Mel and I are heading to the cafeteria and I immediately saw my twin, well who can’t? When he’s waving his hand like his waving the flag of America during July 4th.

While making my way through the crowd and mumbling a few excuse me, I finally arrive at their table. Forthwith, I notice two guys sitting with him. I’m not surprise; Leo’s a people’s person.

“Hey, how was class?” he ask as I sat beside him and put my bag over the table            “Good, actually, yours?” I retort “Likewise- he answer “-oh, you don’t have to line up, I already bought your food”, he push the tray towards me and I can’t help but grin ear to ear. I’m staring at my chicken sandwich, Ice tea and an apple, he really knows me well.

“Awe, thank you, but you don’t have to though”, I cooed at him and peck his cheek.         “Yeah, I’m best I know”, he brag and I shove him playfully. Suddenly, someone cleared their throat

“So, are you two done flirting?” Mel tease. We burst into fit of giggles, because seriously, people? When I finally sober up, I look at Mel frowning at us, and in instant my twin brother smirks devilishly

“You like me as a flirt, honey bunch?” Leo said and I know what his playing at

“No, I don’t”, I reply seriously but I’m trying my best not to laugh though

“You love me though”, he comeback and I release a heavy sigh “Yeah, sadly. How can’t I? When we’re practically swimming together our mother’s womb”

 I look at Mel, and her jaw drop and her eyes bulge. Even the boys choke on their food. Before Mel can speak up, I answer her unspoken question

“Yes, we’re twins. Mel this Leo my older twin brother”,

“No way”, Mel slump across the table beside the two other guys

“Seriously, you’re not alike at all! Well, except for your emerald eyes”, she said in disbelief

“Well, I’m Leonard, Leo for long”, and Mel giggle at his joke like a schoolgirl. They shook hands and I swear I saw Mel blush.

“Anyways, guys this is my younger twin sister Lianna, Lian this is Clark and Steve”, the guys wave their hand at me. Clark has blonde hair and blue eyes and lean structure. Steve is handsome though with his raven hair but I’m not sure if his eyes are black or grey, ‘because his eye glasses are in the way. But, he wearing glasses made him look sexier.

“Hi, guys” I greeted back.

 

Time flew by and lunch ended. Mel and I eventually part ways because I have Art and she has P.E which I figure out she play soccer very well. But before I can step forward, her curiosity shoot up and ask me why I don’t have P.E, where it’s a required subject, I just answered her I’m more of an art person than a sporty one which is true and I’m glad she buys it.

I excitedly enter our classroom and meet our art instructor Ms. Greene, I swear she’s like Aphrodite who decided to show up in human form. Many of the boys try to flirt with her but she just ignores them, I think she’s in her middle twenties or something. Besides her beauty she’s also so sweet and very nice.

She immediately gives us something to do. She said paint something that represents us. After thirty minutes or so, I’m done with my work “It’s beautiful”, I watch Ms. Greene in my peripheral vision that is assessing my work. After a few seconds, recognition flashes her eyes but immediately leave, she then pats my shoulder and smile at. I touch the swirl letters in blank paint Nelumbo Nucifera.