1

My alarm clock alarm goes off, making an annoying noise that causes me to jump up and down in my bed, opening my eyes in the process, but I close them a second later, mentally cursing the creator of alarm clocks. Especially that one that sounded so loud that I imagine all the neighbors hear it.

The horrible Monday had arrived, it was the middle of the semester. There were still months to go and I was praying for that to happen, to be able to escape the suffering that was high school. I reached out my hand, turning off the noisy thing and sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes and giving a little yawn. For some reason I stare at a shoe in the corner of my room, seconds pass and I wonder what I'm doing.

Half an hour after showering and putting on my usual baggy gray clothes, I grab my backpack and get ready to leave my room to go to the kitchen for breakfast. The first thing I see is Dad making toast, but I think he's burned one because I hear him curse.

"Everything okay?"I ask, hiding a smile, as I put my bag on the chair.

My dad watches me, smiling at me.

"There must always be something that burns on me"he says, setting the burnt toast on top of a plate. But I can also see the other plate full of more toast. And those are not burnt. He sets them down in front of me.

"I know" I tease him, sitting down. He gives me a withering look as he turns, picks up a glass of juice and puts it next to the plate of toast.

"And your sister isn't up yet?" he questions as he puts a piece of toast in his mouth.

My twin sister.

"No, but she'll be here in five, four, three, two, one...."

"Good morning, family," Angelique's voice made me smile at my guess, and I already knew her more than well. Dad gave me a strange look.

"You need to go out more," he said in a whisper and then looked at my sister and added: "Good morning, honey, your sister has the toast and the juice is on the counter."

Angelique takes the juice and sits down next to me, I notice that she is wearing a short skirt and a shirt up to her navel, as well as heeled sandals. Her red hair falls down her shoulders in waves. Her face is fully made up.

"Dad, I need you to sign something for me, it's to go to the Janesville Heart Fair this weekend."

The hearts fair was for part of Valentine's Day and they will be celebrating it in Janesville, the neighboring town. Everyone in the high school would be going and those who were not of age had to bring permission from their parents. At least I wouldn't go.

"All right" he agrees. When they come they give them to me.

"I won't go" I said, sure. Dad gave me a confused look, so I drank some of my juice to hide my face from him.

"Your sister's going, why aren't you?"he frowned.

The answer was obvious: they were going in pairs or else with friends and that and me, well, I had no partner and not a single friendship, so I'd better stay home studying or writing more chapters of my book. I adjusted my glasses and smiled at my father.

"I don't feel like going" I excused myself.

"Let her, Dad, it's better. So she won't have to be alone all the time" my sister interjected.

I shrugged, I had put on blue pants that looked like they were two sizes too big for me, a plain shirt and my reddish hair also fell down my shoulders, but unlike my sister's curls, mine was completely straight.

Dad stood thoughtfully, watching the two of us.

I finished my juice.

"Okay" he agreed, standing up, "But you and I" he pointed at me "we're going to do some father-daughter weekend, okay?"he smiled at me.

I smiled back, too, glancing sideways at Angelique, who was tensing up and clenching her jaw. I felt bad at that moment for her, I knew she was mad that Dad and I would be spending the whole weekend together and there are times when I think she gets jealous of me.

"Okay" I agreed, standing up, "I'll see you," I walked over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Angelique still stood up and ran to daddy to hug him and kiss his face with kisses.

"See you in the afternoon," I kept telling her. I grabbed my bag and headed out, the morning was sunny. As soon as I set foot on the sidewalk a convertible car pulled out in front of me.

What was missing, I growled between my teeth.

Loren Wesley was in front of me, along with her two other friends sitting in the back seats. Loren gave me a look of contempt as she looked at herself in the rear view mirror. I could hear the front door close, my sister was coming.

Angelique walked past me and into the passenger seat of the car.

"What are you waiting for, four eyes? You don't expect us to give you a ride," Loren mocked.

I didn't even know why my legs weren't responding. Angelique just gave me a quick glance.

"Let's go" she said to Loren. The girl nodded, pulling away and leaving. I rolled my eyes and set out to walk. I liked walking alone.

Or she just did it because she didn't have anyone to do it with.

Half an hour later I had arrived at the huge high school, students were laughing, others were fighting, others were staring at me and muttering things; it was something I was more than used to. I walked with my head down to my locker. I had Spanish first period so I would get my book out.

Since I didn't want to go back to the hallway I took out the books for the next classes as well, closing the locker very carefully so as not to make noise and not to attract attention, I turned to get to the classroom, but before that, my books collided with a boy's back, making them all fall to the floor.

Silly me, I didn't notice.

"Forgive me" I said, but my mouth threatened to unhinge when the boy turned around.

He was tall, his hair was black and tousled, he wore a nose piercing and I noticed he had a rather large tattoo on the side of his neck. His eyes were very black and... empty. I had never seen him around here before.

The guy gave me a quick glance and then passed it to the floor, immediately kneeling down to pick up the books. I was in nervous mode. I couldn't even move. Even though he was wearing a black jacket, I could tell he had more tattoos on his arms.

"Here you go" he said, handing me the books, but my hands wouldn't move, come on, Monique, move. Heeding my voice, I stretched out my hands, taking the books; somehow his eyes were very attractive and it was impossible for me not to get lost in them. Be more careful.

He gave me a quick glance and then brushed past me, leaving in the direction of the classrooms. I shook my head, trying to come back to my senses. The bell rang announcing the entrance to classes, I spun on my feet and hurried to walk to get there on time, the last thing I want is a scolding from the teacher.

But, it seems that my luck is not on my side today, because I bumped into someone again, causing my books to fall to the floor again; but this time it wasn't the tattooed boy from before, but even worse, Loren Wesley.

"Don't you notice?" She sputtered. I lowered my head.

"I'm sorry" I muttered.

She folded her arms.

"Hey, Monique, it's obvious that Angelique is better than you, even though you're twins." She crooned to annoy me. But I wouldn't give her the pleasure. "Watch where you're walking for next time" she stepped over my books and walked away, guffawing.

I didn't understand why people like her existed. I knelt down and picked up my books, there were no more kids outside. When I got to the entrance of the classroom, I knocked twice. Teacher Karmen gave me a questioning look.

"First time you've been late, Monique" she said, raising her voice a little, making everyone in the room look at me.

"I'm sorry" I managed to articulate. The teacher smiled sideways at me.

"Come in, there's an empty seat at the end, your place has already been taken."

I walked into the classroom, looking for the empty spot, my breath hitched as I saw who would be next to me. The same boy full of tattoos. Using all my willpower I approached the place, sitting down.

The teacher started the class, but for the first time I wasn't paying attention, my thoughts were elsewhere. The boy next to me sat with a carefree air and looked irritated, exasperated, as if he didn't want to be here; or just didn't want to be near me.

"So you have a twin, huh?" His voice made me look at him immediately, confused. He looked at me waiting for an answer, I turned to see where Angelique was, sitting a few tables ahead, surprised that she had her eyes on us, but when she saw me she looked away.

I looked at the boy.

"Y-yes" I hesitated.

"... Are you a virgin?" he blurted out just like that. My eyes widened in astonishment and I bet if I was drinking something I would have thrown it out of my mouth. I looked at him in horror.

"E-excuse me ?"I stammered; I could feel my cheeks flushing. The boy let out a laugh that I imagine didn't go unnoticed by the others.

"Ingenue" he muttered.

I frowned in his direction, why would he ask me that? Was he teasing me? But my thoughts were lost the moment I saw that he was still smiling, his smile was cute.

"I'm Monique" I said without thinking.

The boy looked at me for a moment.

"Colton Dashner"

"What made you come here, Colton?" I questioned, although to tell the truth I think it was a bit hasty on my part as the boy became serious for a moment, thoughtful.

"A new beginning" he replied, and then grabbed his things, stood up and hurried out of the classroom, leaving the teacher talking to herself.

I was confused, why was he acting like that, was it so bad what had happened to him? I looked down at my notebook, but a sheet of paper next to mine, Colton's place, caught my eye. It was in a ball; I looked both ways as if to make sure no one was watching me and picked it up. I unwrapped it, looking at what I had drawn.

It was a face, the girl had glasses and long hair, her eyes looked familiar, as did her nose, and her mouth, and the girl herself.

Was it me?