Chapter 2

I woke up to the sound of my old alarm clock. It was six in the morning, leaving me with plenty of time to get ready and walk to school

Melissa would already be at work, and Frank typically slept in until 11 a.m or later.

I crept out of my bedroom and into the bathroom, making as little noise as possible. Frank was an absolute nightmare if you woke him up.

I went into the bathroom and combed my long chocolate brown hair. Everyone on Melissa's side of the family had extremely light blonde hair, making me stand out even more. I also have this rare condition called Heterochromia Iridum, making my eyes two different colors. While my left eye was an incredibly light blue, my right eye was a deep chocolate brown.

My grandma would rarely ever speak of my father, but when she did she would mention he also had the same condition.

l had a feeling that was why Melissa didn't like me, my own mother. Something bad happened between her and my father, resulting in him leaving the two of us behind.

Grandma would always receive a mysterious check every month, always written out for me. The minute I moved in with Melissa, she began receiving the checks too. The only difference was she used them for herself and Frank.

I looked in the mirror and frowned. I constantly felt like a walking abnormality. While I had friends at my old school, there were always kids who bullied me for my condition. It took me a long time to accept that part of myself and find it beautiful.

I slipped on a simple and inconspicuous outfit. A simple pair of skinny jeans, a white tank top and a black jacket. The point was to blend in.

I grabbed the granola bar that I bought yesterday and left the house. I followed the girl's instructions and was happy the school wasn't too far of a walk away. My walk took up half of my time and by the time I made it to the school, the parking lot was nearly full. Student's hopped out of their cars and headed to the front doors. Chattering and conversations filled the air around us.

I merged into the crowd of student's and tried to blend in.

My first stop was the office, which I managed to find quite easily. A large sign hung from the ceiling pointing out the small office.

"Well hello, dear." A plump woman in a purple sweater smiled at me, her rounded glasses hanging low on her face. "Are you new here?"

I nodded at her and gave her a small smile, "Aurora St. Claire."

I had been given my father's last name as a child, and while Melissa insisted I change it to Frank's last name, I refused.

"Beautiful name." The woman smiled, rifling through a bunch of papers. "Here you are Ms. Aurora." She smiled up at me.

"Thank you." I smiled back at her and turned to leave the office.

I was looking down at the class schedule she had given me, when I slammed into someone.

I would have thought it was a brick wall if it weren't for the strong smell of cologne.

My bottom hit the floor with a thud, and the hallway quickly became quiet.

I looked up at the person I slammed into and my jaw dropped.

Standing in front of me were two, very large and very angry twins. I had never seen two guys who looked the way they did, as if they belonged on the cover of a magazine instead of at a highschool.

The two of them had jet black hair, strong jaw lines, and extremely dark eyes. They were both extremely muscular, but held that athletic slimness in their body. One of the twins had his hair shaved on the sides and back, but long on the top. The other twin had hair down to the top of his ears, but it had that messy look that other guys try and fail to achieve. Each one was drop dead gorgeous in their own way.

One of the twins had a tall blonde clinging to their arm, an incredulous sneer formed on her heart shaped face.

"What the hell is wrong with her eyes?" The tall blonde sneered, looking down on me like I was a piece of trash.

I hardly glanced at the blonde, my eyes kept flickering to the two god-like twins standing over me. They glanced at each other, as if they were having some silent conversation.

I stifled the urge to roll my eyes, but my mouth replied without warning. "It's a condition."

"Fucking freak." The blonde spat. "Watch where you're going next time."

With those last words, the severely attractive twins and the tall blonde walked away. The twin's hadn't said a single word to me, and I wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing. The look in their eyes was cold, and I had the sinking feeling I was looking into the eyes of my new bullies.

Staying to myself was already proving to be a nightmare.

I picked myself off the floor and somehow managed to find my locker. I couldn't help but scan each hallway. Some small part of me wanted to see the twins again, to let my eyes roam them once more.

After a stern conversation with myself on blending in and not drawing attention, I continued to avoid them at all costs.

My first class had neither the gorgeous twins or the mean blonde girl. The teacher pointed me to a seat in the back and I plopped down next to a girl with large glasses and curly red hair.

She gave me a small smile and told me her name.

"I'm Tori." The curly redhead smiled at me, and I returned it with a small smile of my own.

I cleared my throat and glanced around at the nosy student's around us, "I'm Aurora."

"Woah, awesome name." Tori nodded as she doodled on a piece of paper.

I shrugged, "My father picked it out."

"My Dad wanted to name me Charlie." Tori gave me a look of horror and I giggled. "Your eyes look awesome by the way."

"Thanks." I smiled, getting compliments on my eye condition seemed to be rare.

"My childhood friend had the same thing, but only in one eye." Tori grinned back at me.

I spent most of the class talking to Tori, and trying to subtly ask questions about the god-like twins I had quite literally ran into.

"Oh the twins." Tori blushed as she scowled down at her paper. "Kade and Alec."

"Which one is which?" I frowned. Their names seemed to fit their bad-boy persona's perfectly.

Tori frowned, "I always get them mixed up but I'm pretty sure the longer haired one is Alec and the other one is Kade."

"Oh okay." I nodded.

As much as I wanted to, I couldn't get the two of them out of my head. The way they looked at me was cold, and it made me feel strange. Yet I continued to think about them.

"I wouldn't mess with them if I were you." Tori shook her head, "They sleep around, a lot."

"Wasn't planning on it." I shook my head.

I promised myself then and there that I wouldn't get involved with the twins. Not that they would ever go for someone like me. It seemed like they were into the glamorous model-type girl's anyway.

I was the complete opposite. I tend to stick to myself, and most often than not I was completely clumsy.

Tori and I made plans together this weekend while we made small talk. She told me how she works at this restaurant in town and even offered to get me a job as a waitress.

She told me she'd give me a ride after school tomorrow to interview at the restaurant.

"It's not fancy or anything, but it's the fanciest we have in this town." Tori shrugged. "You get decent tips though if you know how to be flirty."

I chuckled, "I have no idea how to be flirty."

I was definitely worried about working as a waitress. My clumsiness seemed to increase the more nervous I became, and the last thing anyone wanted was a waitress spilling drinks all over them.

'You'll learn. It comes with the job." Tori shrugged.

I felt as though I were having a lucky day when I walked to my next class and saw Tori sitting in the back.

We spent the next class continuing our conversation.

"The people here really aren't all bad." Tori smiled, "You'll survive with no problem as long as you avoid Grace and her friends."

"Grace?" I frowned.

"The blonde girl who hangs around the twins." Tori replied and finally I could fit the name to a face. Grace was the supermodel looking girl that called me a freak. What a great start.

"I think I already blew that one." I frowned.

Tori shuddered, "Just completely avoid the twins from now on. She's with Kade at the moment and she's super possessive."

I was more than happy to take Tori's advice, but it seemed my luck had finally ran out.

My next class held both of the twins. They sat by themselves at a large square table. My heart nearly fell out of my bottom when the teacher told me to sit at their table. As I was walking towards the back, my foot hit the leg of someone's table and I nearly fell to the ground. I managed to catch myself in time and ignore the snickers from other students.

With my face burning and my stomach doing flips, I sank down at the twin's table. I avoided all eye contact with them until I could get my thundering heart under control.

I could feel two sets of eyes burn into me and I let out a shaky sigh. I turned my head and met the gaze of both of the twins. The two of them were sitting across the table from me, their dark eyes boring into my own.

Sitting this close to them was both a blessing and a curse. It was a blessing because I had a much better look at them. They were so much more intoxicating up close.

Kade was the slightest bit more muscular than his brother, but their faces were nearly identical. Full eyebrows followed by long eyelashes and plump lips. As I sat there in silence, I tried to choose between the two and it just wasn't possible. The two of them were equally incredibly attractive and I simply couldn't pick.

"Oh look, Kade." Alec smirked, his voice tinged with amusement. "It's the little girl with the strange eyes."

I could feel my voice catch in my throat at the sound of Alec's voice. It was deep and rough around the edges.

Kade's full lips turned up in a smirk, while his cold eyes roamed me. "This is the girl Grace was talking about?"

"She's the one who didn't watch where she was going." Alec smirked at his brother.

They were both talking to me and about me. Like the incredibly alluring and smart girl that I am, I sat silently and tried not to gape at them.

The two of them knew how attractive they were, it was completely obvious. That didn't mean they had to act like assholes. I was beginning to regret my strange and instant attraction to the twins.

"I hadn't noticed." Kade sneered and I held back the urge to flinch.

As much as Frank berates me when he's drunk, you'd think I would be used to it by now. For whatever reason, what the twins said actually bothered me and I found them much harder to ignore than Frank.

"Oh look, Kade." Alec smirked. "The little doll is trying to ignore us."

My heart jumped at what he called me. I couldn't figure out if it was an insult or a compliment. The way they both looked at me scared me and enticed something deep within me.

"Ignoring us will only make it worse for you, sweetheart." Kade stared into my own eyes, his dark ones felt hot on my skin.

My heart continued to jump at the names they called me. I wasn't familiar with the game they were playing. Borderline bullying yet calling these names made it sound like they liked me. I scolded myself for actually thinking they might like me. Why would I of all people draw the attention of two god-like twins.

I continued to ignore the twins, and Kade was right. It was most certainly worse.

The entire class they continued to make comments that pushed my buttons. I wasn't sure if they wanted a response from me or some kind of outburst, but I wasn't giving it to them.

They made me do all of the work myself including the project that was supposed to take a week to complete.

I wasn't sure which class was worse. The class I had with the twins or the next class, the one I had with Grace and her friends.

My next class featured Alec, Tori, Grace and the rest of her friends.

I was lucky enough to sit by Tori the entire time, but Alec continued to smirk and pester me.

I could tell from one look, Grace absolutely loathed me and that wasn't going to change anytime soon. The more attention Alec gave me, the angrier she got. Why she was concerned with her boyfriend's brother was beyond me.

Somehow I managed to get through the rest of the school day. Each day only consisted of five extremely long classes, and I was unlucky enough to have both of the twins in two of those classes.

My last class of the day was gym. Gym class was always hated to begin with, but knowing I had it with both of the twins only made it worse. I was naturally uncoordinated and feeling the hot gazes of the twin's only made it worse. Luckily, I was able to sit out until they found me an extra uniform. Knowing I would officially start gym Monday put a huge knot in my stomach.

An entire week passed before I fully realized it. Frank was as bad as ever, but I did my best to avoid any confrontations or handsy grabbing on his end.

The twins continued to torment me, both managing to upset me and leave me confused. Grace and her friends escalated from petty glares and snickers to full blown mean comments. Tori and I became closer once I was hired at the same restaurant she works at, a little italian place in the middle of town.

I had even made a new friend in one of my classes, an athletic girl named Autumn with sandy blonde hair and large blue eyes.

My first weekend in Georgia began, most of which I plan to spend on working. After getting myself school supplies and food for the week, I had a lot of money I needed to make up.

I wasn't sure if things were looking up, or slowly settling down.