Chapter fourteen

     During lunch, Avery approached me and sat opposite the bench I was sitting on. I ignored her and focused on my novel while taking a bite out of the sandwich I found in my bag. As much as we hate each other, Alee placed the sandwich wrapped in an aluminum foil in my bag with fried plantain chips and a strawberry canned drink. She's eating the same thing as me but I guess her boyfriend bought her food from the cafeteria because she had a tray of food in front of her as well.

“So, missing your twin?” Avery said.

      She has pink highlights instead of purple and she dressed like an overgrown toddler. She had her hair in pigtails and she wore a pink miniskirt paired with knee-length pink boots and a handless pink and white vest under a pink leather jacket. She has on bright pink lipstick but her overall makeup was simple. She wore bangles on her left arm and a pink watch on her right. If I want to describe her, I would call her a pink barbie doll but of course, barbie dolls are usually pink.

      When I didn't reply her, she said,

“Which one are you supposed to be? I know you can't be Minty. Minty's the snobby one.”

    I rolled my eyes and looked at her.

“Oh please, like you know anything about me. I'm Minty and while you are still digesting that info, while don't you take your ass off my bench. You are crowding my arena.”

    She hissed and said,

“You deserve to be lonely. It's better you weren't Alee anyway. The bigger, the better.”

      I watched her as she took her little purse, which made me wonder what she had in there as a student. She left my bench and went for Alee's. I watched as she tapped Alee on her shoulder. I never really mentioned anything about Avery except for whenever I want to make side talks with Alee.

     The side talks are usually at random when I have nothing to say. I don't expect Alee to remember but maybe she will. She spoke to Alee in hushed whispers which the mad wolves around her must have heard because Emily tapped her on her shoulder. I watched as their little talk turned violent and Avery turned her anger at Alee but Randy pushed her off before Mason could react. A pack member screamed at her and I heard her clearly. Avery was angry as well but she knew when she's not wanted. She left after looking at the pack members with venom in her eyes.

    The funny thing was when she sat in front of me and vented her anger on me.

“Can you believe that girl? I was her friend when she was invisible and those no good group didn't even know her. All of a sudden, they are up my nose in my business threatening to beat me if I touched Alee. Were they fed poison? Why are they so loyal to her like she's a goddess or something. Like Minty, I understand why you wouldn't stand a twin like that. She's stupid and annoying. If those creeps knew who she was before now, they wouldn't even try to defend her. She's a nothing but a no-good breather occupying space. Like seriously, she's not even that pretty. Like it's a fact that you are the prettier one. Why would that handsome jock go for a female like her...”

       At first, I decided to let her vent her frustration while I focused on my book but what she's saying made me angry. Does she know that she's venting to the second twin?

     I looked up from my book and said,

“Hold it. Look, I don't care how Alee's group treated you. Get lost.”

      She stared at me for a while and said,

“I was right. You deserve to stay lonely for all eternity.”

     With that said, she stood up and left the cafeteria, probably to vent on anyone that's willing to listen. As I stood up to leave the cafeteria, I felt someone hit my legs which made me grip the bench below me. I looked up and found Randy smirking at me. I straightened myself and asked,

“What is wrong with you?”

“That's for planting rats in my locker and not defending the Luna's honor.”

     I felt my eyebrows rise up, automatically. Since when am I in charge of defending the Luna's honor? I stared at her and said,

“Since when is it my duty to defend your Luna?”

“As the witch that imprisoned our Luna unjustly. Don't you feel remorse for what you did. Impersonating her, torturing her, isn't that enough to make you feel remorse for her?” she said.

“Is that what she told you?” I asked her.

“She doesn't have to tell me. I can read the handwriting on the wall. Mason didn't convict you because you are her twin and she must have told Mason not to convict you.”

     I looked back at Alee and found her staring at me. We made eye contact but she broke it and looked away. Maybe, Avery wasn't wrong about Alee. 

“Don't look at our Luna. Look at me.” Emily grunted.

     I looked at Emily and said,

“You should check your facts before you jump into conclusion.”

     I took my stuff and left the cafeteria. I wish I didn't eat the meal that Alee packed. What I should have done was to dump the meal in the dustbin while making eye contact with her. All day, Mason's pack members tried to bully me however they could and whenever I catch Alee's eyes, she would pretend like she didn't see it. 

What's up with her?

     After school dismissal, I left the school without telling her. At home, I was eating a salad while working on my assignment when she walked in. I didn't say anything when she said hi. She made it seem like everything that happened at school didn't happen at all. She sat on the chair opposite me and raised her arm on the table. For a while, everything was quiet but then, her annoying voice said,

“Minty, you didn't tell me when you were leaving. I wanted to formerly introduce you to my pack members.”

     I slammed my pencil on the table and said,

“Get out! I want you out of this room.”

“Technically, this is our room.”

“Taking the fact that after mum and dad died, I've been taking care of this house including your smelly butt, this is my house. So, I want you to get out. Pack your things and go live with your boyfriend and his pack members.” I said.

“Are you jealous?” she said.

“Considering that your mate is like a piece of pie to mine, why would I be? I want to live alone, in the house that I worked hard to keep clean.” I screamed at her.

“Minty! Look, I'm sorry that I didn't defend you but I am embarrassed right now.” she said.

      I was startled by her confession. I stared at her and quietly, sat on my chair.

“What are you embarrassed about?” I asked her.

“I hated the way they treated you because you are like a hero in my eyes. You did everything to protect me and this is how I repair you. I feel bad.” she said.

“If you feel bad, why don't you tell them what happened?” I asked her.

“Because... I told Mason what really happened.I thought that he would really not like me but it was opposite. He feels bad for treating you like that. I'm trying to apologize to you for him.” she said.

“Well, are you going to tell your pack members?” I asked.

“I can't. When mum and dad died, I really lost it but you were so strong. You walked through your grieve like it was nothing and protected me at the same time. I tried to hold back mine then. I really did but I just couldn't. I felt... If you were taking care of me then, it wouldn't matter. I could stay grouchy for as long and as much as I want. But Mason came and I got my legs back and I just felt so happy. I thought that you would let it go and pretend like it never happened. I didn't know that you had so much to deal with. I'm so sorry, Minty.”

     I closed my eyes and said,

“I don't really like your pack members but if they hate you because you lost your parents at a young age, they are not worthy to be your pack members.”

“I'm so sorry, Minty.”

       She threw herself at me from across the table and I hugged her in the same fierce spirit. We were locked in a hug for a while before she released me.

“I will tell them but can you hold on for a little while.”

“It's no biggie, Alee. You are my sister after all.” I told her.

“Oh, I know but despite everything that happened, I came out first. That means one thing.” she said

“You should respect me?” I said.

“Wrong! You should respect me. I'm definitely older than you.” she said.

“No way. I remember coming out first. So, you should respect me, young pupil.” I said.

She laughed.

     This is how we should have been, I thought. This easy banter and laughing with each other. I like it and I didn't want it to end.

“Oh, I almost forgot. I made contact with my dragon yesterday. Her name is Amelia and she's fire. I've not shifted yet but I would like my first shift to be with you. I want you there.” she said.

“Me? What about Mason?”

“Sisters before boyfriends or mate. Amelia wants to meet you and I really want you there. I will show Mason later.” she said.

“Really? I'm touched. Speaking about boyfriends, you and Mason seem to hit it off, hmm. The extremely perverted PDA...” I said while smiling at her.

“Stop it... He couldn't hold himself and I usually forget that there are others around.” she said.

“He suffered a lot, you know. Just like us, he lost his parents to a rogue attack and he had to take over his pack at an early age.”

“Wow! There are more ophans around here than I thought.” I said.

     She laughed and said,

“But you can see while he was desperate and why his pack members hate you so much.”

“Hmm, not really.” I said, holding my chin up with my fingers while pretending to be deep in thought.

     She slapped me on my arm and said,

“Come on...”

     I laughed and said,

“I get it. Though your pack members are different. They want to hate me. It doesn't matter whatever you say. Their stand will not change.”

“I was afraid of that.” she said.

“Not to worry, Alee. They are only human, well, if you leave the wolf part.” I said and she laughed.

      We continued chatting until I looked at the clock above her head.

“OMG! I am late for work!” 

“I'm so sorry. Your boss is gonna kill you.”

“I think he will murder me not kill me. I'm sorry, Alee. I can't take the day off. I finished it sometime last week to two weeks ago.” 

“It doesn't matter. Take your time. I'll be waiting.” she said.

       I used magic and changed my clothes before I disappeared from my house and appeared at the alley close to the watch shop. I looked around me and found a homeless kid staring at me with his mouth wide open. I recited a spell and made him forget what he saw. Then, I left the alley and walked to the watch shop.