Chapter 2

ALEX'S P.O.V:

Mireya.

That's a different and unique name. 

I'd never noticed her until the small stunt or ruckus she pulled out in the cafeteria yesterday. But her amethyst eyes felt that I knew her somewhere and I couldn't point it out.

Yesterday,

As usual, I and jocks, to be precise they are my family are heading towards the cafeteria for our lunch. Today was a pretty boring day for us since we attended all the classes without fail. It was my senior year and I want to finish it without any bad impression. Even though I have been joking around all these years, I do want to finish my senior year without trouble.

When we entered the cafeteria there was already a scene taking place between girls. It's quite frequent nowadays. I don't care what the stuff they are bragging and fighting about but of course, that would be about a boy or something. When I peeked a look at what's going on (just for the drama, not to mention) my eyes widened at the sight that my sister is getting bullied. I was angry would be an understatement. No one messes with my sister. 

"Ugly bitch, finally you made your presence to the cafeteria." Bianca pulled her arm painfully as Isabella hissed in pain. Her minions laughed at her. Isabella why the fuck is she not standing up for herself. I marched towards that Bianca bitch to show a piece of my mind, I was dragged by Ryan back. Adam was furious as equal as me. Adam and I marched to give her taste, but Ryan pulled us back. 

"What the fuck man?" Adam spat at Ryan who held me and him back from going.

"Just watch!" He said coolly watching the scene unfold in front of my eyes.

"No, I'm gonna..." I was rudely cut off by Ryan who is glaring at me.

"Don't ever tell that you both are her brothers. You know Isabella wouldn't like that!" I nodded whilst not knowing what he is trying to say. I clenched and unclenched my hands keeping from it to beat her to death.

"Then just watch!" He looked forward. Myself, Adam, Ryan, Ethan, Theo watched the scene unfold. I couldn't hold myself from beating her and I was controlling myself so much not to lash at that stupid bitch. She has no right to bully anyone. 

A short girl with a height of 5'0 or 5'3 came there with a menacing glare and stood in front of Isabella, I couldn't see her face clearly but I can tell with the expression on side of her face. I moved forward to take a clear look.

"Here comes your Knight shining in Armor." Bianca spat tauntingly at the short girl.

"Of course, I am, you bitch!" She spat back calmly without any disturbance. Even with her height short she looked intimidating. She was a small girl with an average height of 5'0 or maybe more than that. She was wearing a few baggy clothes and had her brunette lustrous hair flowing beyond her waist. She has an olive skin tone and she is a little chubbier and I could tell that she looked beautiful, but I wanna see her face who is saving my sister from getting bullied.

"What are you gonna do? Save this ugliest ass in our school!" Bianca spat at my sister. I clenched my fists for slapping a girl. How dare she! No one is ugly in this world. To be precise, she is the ugliest one who wore makeup to cover their faces.  

Ryan and others were holding themself up not to lash at her. Everyone is protective of her, not to mention that Ryan loves her. He never told me and I knew it and I didn't stop it because he was way too deep in love with her. I know he loves her so much not to hurt her. From childhood, he has been in love with Isabella. 

"Well! Look who says that she is ugliest while you are the one who is hiding your damn uglier one behind that make-up." She said calmly not even bothered by the comment. This girl said the same thing I said in my mind just a few seconds ago. Bianca's face became red as her nostrils flared.

"What are you gonna do slut! You are nothing but an orphan. I think her name is Catrina or Carina, I mean your mom. Is she fucking guys to pay your school fees and bills? I think so right!" That bitch laughed. She is getting too much today. No one should judge by what their life is.

"Don't test my patience, Bianca!" She said in a calm yet dangerous voice. Isabella placed her hand on her shoulder whispering and warning about the situation. 

"What will you do uh! Go and fuck along with her!" Bianca spat shoving her. She stumbled a bit back. I ignored that urge to save both of them because of Ryan and my sister.

"Alright, Bianca! Since you are busy ruining me, I should tell Jake that she didn't want this." She said completely unaffected by Bianca's comment as she showed a red envelope wrapped with some message in her hand. 

Did she just say, Jake? He is one of the popular people in the school's swimming team and also a competent man. I talked to him only a few times. He is most of a player but rarely sleeps with girls. In other words, he is a good guy. Why does he even want to give an envelope to this bitch?

Bianca looked at the envelope and snatched it away from her hands. That short girl backed away from her standing at a little distance along with Isabella. Her face was red as she was going to burst out laughing at any time. 

Look at me, short girl. Show your face! I chanted in my mind. I want to see her face. 

I looked at Bianca who is struggling to open that simple envelope. When she opened it, greenish-brown glitters burst out from it. Not to mention along with glue. Bianca and her minion's hair and body were covered with glitters. Everyone in the cafeteria started laughing their asses off including me. That color looked like sewage color mixed with brown or something. 

I was shocked at their little stunt. They did the deed to keep her pissed, now it takes a week to wash it from their hair.

"Damn! Glitter glues. It must take days to wash that horrible color from her face and body." Adam muttered laughing out loud. Ryan eyeing me with an I-told-you look. I rolled my eyes away resumed laughing. 

"Remind me not to mess with this girl ever!" Ethan and Theo exclaimed in unison. 

"Same thought dude!" Adam butted in.

Bianca's nostrils flared and that made her look even funnier covered in the ugly color. 

Bianca was about to hit them. The short girl muttered 1...2...3 and shouted at Isabella "Run!" She and Isabella ran laughing loudly as Bianca stormed off stomping her foot along with her minions. She deserved it anyway.

I followed my sister and her crazy friend pushing among the crowd. They were laughing loudly sitting on the ground as tears were flowing out of their eyes. 

"That was hilarious, Hope." 

"My stomach is paining, Rose. Make me stop laughing." They burst out laughing even louder. Her back was facing me, so I couldn't take a look at her face.

"She completely believed that Jake gave her," Isabella said wiping the tears appeared of laughing.

"She is a dumbass."  She stated that it was pretty obvious. 

"Hey Ryan, what's her name?" Adam asked curiously still not moving his eyes from them. 

"Find it for yourself, Adam," Ryan mumbled looking away. Adam groaned. The bell rang indicating that we have to head to class. I glanced once more at them making sure they are ok. I moved to the class not wanting to get late.

As we all were walking to the class,

"You... You know that Isabella gets bullied, yet you didn't tell me anything. That's why you stopped me, Ryan." I said looking at him dead in the eye. Ryan looked at me unfazed and said,

"Undoubtedly, she's there for Isabella even when we are not here. If you leave the school after this year, she will there for her and Isabella will eventually learn to stand up for herself. Don't worry about her. For your question ask Isabella, she was the one who shut my mouth." He shrugged casually and continued,

"At first I was furious and angry, but Isabella reasoned me. She never showed herself as a rich kid in the school Alex, she didn't want trouble because of us popular people, that's why." Ryan reasoned me. I knew it, that's why Isabella stopped us from establishing that we are her brothers and family. I don't blame her if that's her decision I respect it. If she would have told me I would have been calmed, but it was something I found out today.

"Why didn't she tell us?" Adam questioned confused. I shrugged my shoulders looking ahead. I impatiently waited for my school to get over. I was beyond mad at Isabella.

Doesn't she trust me?

Why didn't she tell me?

Do I look like I haven't cared about her?

Why Isabella?

Too many questions swirling in my mind. When the bell rang for the last class I and Adam scurried out of the class and directly headed home. Isabella always comes home without us. But we made sure she comes home safely. We quickly came home and waited for Isabella.

"Alex, Adam!" My mom greeted us cheerfully. I and Adam kissed her cheek as she ruffled our hair laughing. 

"How was your day?" She questioned both of us still her smile playing on her lips. 

"The same boring, classes." We said in unison and chuckled. Mom shook her head as she went to bring snacks.

My mom is the best one you would ask for anything in the world and my dad too. They are very supportive of me in every aspect of life. They love me so much as much I do them. They are with me always whenever I feel so down as well as during my happiest times. I love my family so much than any other thing in the world. I always envied their love. Mom and dad would look at each other like they are the only ones in love. Even at this age, their love never fails to amaze me. After hearing about my mom's past, I started respecting women. I know that I sleep with girls, they are the one who wants me to sleep with me. I don't have any tragic past or break up with a girl. I chose this way to be a player. 

Adam is my twin. He is just born five minutes later than me. The only difference you can find between us is our eye color. Mine is black just like my mom. He got ocean blue eyes just like my father. As I said he is my twin, we are the same in every aspect. He likes singing very much, while I like football and business very much. I can be cockier or arrogant, but Adam is such a softie. We always never give up on each other and held us together during our tough times. He too is my baby brother. I like saying that because I love to annoy him so much. Adam has loved someone which resulted in heartbreak, he was on the verge of depression, but we got him out of it. It is also one of the reasons I'm afraid to commit and wait for the one who loves me dearly without any expectations.

"Alex!" Raymond, my little brother hugged my leg squealing. He is only eight years old. I knew it was a pretty late guy in our house. Did I mention that I love him so much! He is a little bundle of joy in our home also the craziest one too. He is already a charmer as he impresses girls with his cute smile. I lifted him twirling around as he giggled. 

"Adam!" He jumped on him making him laugh. Isabella came home smiling fully. I glared at her as she frowned. 

"What's with the look? Both of you." She asked us confused as she came near us and stood taking the snacks from the bowl kept on the dining table. 

"What happened in the cafeteria during lunch?" Adam asked calmly because I was about to burst off any minute. She looked shocked as she avoided eye contact with us.

"Isabella!" I exclaimed as she flinched hung her head lowly. I sighed and pulled her for a hug.

"I'm sorry, Isa. You know that we care for you. Why didn't you tell us?" I asked her calmly and I can never get mad at her more than a second.

"You know, you can talk to us, right!" Adam said softly stroking her hair. She nodded against my chest.

"What's happening?" Mom questioned as she saw the three of us talking seriously. 

"Nothing mom, we are just talking about school," I said, she shook her head dragging Raymond to the kitchen. 

"You have a lot of explaining to do girl!" I flicked her head playfully. She chuckled shaking her head.

"Let's just head to our room," Isabella said as she dragged us to her room

"Well, you need to explain what's going on in school. I thought you were safe and happy with your friends, but you never told us that you get bullied in the school." Adam asked her as she sighed. She took a deep breath and said,

"I'm sorry, Alex and Adam. I know that you both were looking out for me, but I couldn't tell you guys that I get bullied. It started when I was in ninth grade, but not much. They would just pass comments, that's all. If I said that you both were my brothers then everyone would treat me differently and mostly would befriend me to get you two. I don't want that kind of people with me." She paused and looked at us.

"I understand you, Isa. But you could have told us. We could have done something with the bullying, not only for you, but for the other students too." I reasoned with her.

"You are right, Alex. The bullying is never been physical till now, so need to worry and I never care about it. It's just going to be another year. I'm learning to stand up for myself. I want to handle my problems myself." She reasoned.

"I can't believe that you are grown up. I thought you were our little sister whom we took care." Adam chuckled ruffling her hair.

"I'm still your baby sister, but I'm grown up. Let me handle some things, okay." She eyed me. I smiled nodding at her.

"Damn! That stunt you both pulled at the cafeteria was hilarious." Adam started laughing thinking about it as we both joined him. 

"I just gave the idea, but I never thought she would execute it on the spot," Isabella said in between her laughs. 

"So, who is your friend that saved you?" I asked her. I was curious and I want to know about her. She is brave enough and sassy to handle it in high school. I'm happy that she is there for Isabella. 

"I already said that I have this one friend whom I share everything with is this girl." Isabella's eyes twinked saying about her. She must be close with Isabella.

"What's her name?" I asked out of curiosity. 

"Why are you asking?" Isabella eyes me suspiciously. 

"I was just asking, nothing more." I said to her.

"Mireya... Mireya Waters." She said. It was a unique name. I liked it. It sounded different and good. Her name and her personality piqued my interest for her in me. 

"Different name. I like it." Adam said without thinking.

"Does she know that we are your brothers?" I asked her. She definitely must know that we are our brothers, but she didn't even approach us and I could tell she is one true friend of Isabella.

"Yeah, she came to our house a few times, but you both were not here at the time," Isabella answered. 

"Could we like talk to her or befriend her?" Adam smiled sweetly. I shook my head at his thoughts. 

"I will kill you, Adam."

"I was just going to befriend her, nothing more, not sleeping with her." He surrendered his hands up making me chuckle.

"We just want to meet her, Isa," I said to her as she thought about it. 

"I can't arrange for the meeting. You guys can talk with her when you guys get a chance. She is not an awkward person, she will get along well." She paused and said,

"No funny business!" She warned us as we nodded our heads obediently.

"Where can we like see her?" Adam asked Isabella.

"Well... She comes to Mary's cafe in the morning to spend time with me. The evening she works there till nine or something it depends on her schedule." 

"We will try meeting there in the morning. If not we will talk to her." I said as Isabella nodded.

"Don't tell her that I said this to you both," Isabella warned me and we were confused. Why does she doesn't want to tell her that she said that she works there? Anyways I nodded. 

"Our mouths are zipped, little one." The door opened to see our dad come in with a smile. 

"Adult talks uh!" He teased us. We all groaned shaking our heads.

"Come downstairs, dinner is ready. Everyone is here, buddies." 

"Coming dad..." We all went downstairs for dinner.

"Alex, Adam! I made your favorite for dinner." Emily and Rosaline, our aunts handed me their special lasagna. Trust me they are skilled cooks and it tastes heavenly. They are not our aunts more like our other mom

"I love you both. You both are the best!" Adam and I said in unison as they chuckled at our twin talking. 

"Ethan, Theo, Ryan, I made your favorites." My mom handed them their favorite dessert. This is our family. Taking care of each other and loving each other dearly. 

"We are the left ones, Lucas, Liam." Aiden, our uncle pouted. Isabella laughed beside him. 

"We feel unloved by you all." Lucas, our uncle wiped his imaginary tears from his eyes. They both are like my fathers. 

"You both act like kids, dads." I said as Adam snickered beside me. Our brother Noah who is the eldest kid in the home successfully pursued his career as an architect in Boston. We all miss him so much. He visits us whenever he gets time. He must come home when his semester holidays show up.

"I want chocolates." Hailey pouted at Raymond. Raymond handed his chocolates to her without grunting. 

"Good boy!" My mom kissed his cheeks as he smiled at us proudly. 

"Isabella, let me copy your History homework this time, please." Theo showed his puppy dog eyes as Isabella glared at her. 

"Only this time." Theo pleaded with her.

"Fine, only this time." She gave in anyways because she can say to his brother. 

"Can I borrow your biology homework?" Ryan asked next making her huff. 

"You guys always sleeping in the class making me do all the work. Next time, you both are doing the homework with me." She glared at them making them nod. They don't have a choice when Isabella made a decision. Our dads snickered at them.

"They are just like us!" Aiden said making all of them laugh. As they were talking all of us gathered to chat. Isabella and Ethan started bickering about something. Ryan was swooning over Isabella. Theo was copying her homework without any disturbance. Adam was butted in between Isabella and Ethan's ranting. My thoughts were drifted only to her, the only girl. Why haven't I noticed her, after all, she was in the same school as mine and to be fucking, she is my sisters' best friend for years, damn! My sister is getting bullied, for fucks sake, and I didn't even notice it. 

You were busy fucking a bimbo, My inner sense mocked me. 

"What are you thinking about so deeply?" Adam asked me as he sat beside me. 

"You can tell me, Alex." Adam asked. He is my twin and he knows what exactly I'm thinking.

"How could we be so careless about Isabella?" 

"Well, we need to give her the space she needs, Alex. She is a grown-up girl, not the small little girl who would come to her brother crying that he beat me up. Things need to change." Adam was wiser than me, to be honest. His suggestions were the best. I envied him. 

"You are right, if we leave the school, she needs to take care of herself." Adam nodded as we talked about random topics. The day ended with the endless ranting of our family. 

At morning, 

I woke up Adam early in the morning. 

"What the fuck, Alex? I need to sleep." Adam grumbled as he disappeared beneath the duvet.

"Wake up, we are going out to get coffee." I tried waking him up.

"Ask mom to get you a coffee." He sleepily said and closed his eyes drifting off to sleep. 

"We are heading out to get coffee. Get ready." I took off the duvet as I pushed him into the bathroom. We got ready as I said mom that we have project work. She believed it and I hate lying to my mom. We reached the cafe as two people were sipping their coffee. Adam and I ordered our coffee and sat at our usual table. Sometimes we came here to celebrate our team's victory, it is a party. Mary is the owner of this cafe and she is an old woman in her late fifties, but she is close to our boys. This cafe sometimes feels warm and good. 

"If you want to drink coffee desperately much, why don't you ask Isabella to buy for you. She will be here, after an hour anyway." Adam grunted yawning. After a few moments, Ethan came in. I sipped my coffee as he seated opposite us. 

"Morning, guys." Ethan chuckled at Adam who was about to sleep. Adam and Ethan questioned me about why we are here in at early morning. I said that we could just have some time alone as we discussed our upcoming football match. 

The doorbell chimed letting us know someone entered. After a few moments, the same girl strolled past us as she sat on her table she took out her sketching book and her journal and started sketching something. 

I looked at her face, she is insanely beautiful. 

The fuck! Beautiful. Going so smooth, Alex. She is just your sister's friend. 

She has chubby cheeks which made her, even more, cuter than I thought. Her curved eyebrows suited perfectly for her round face. Her straight nose highlighted her olive skin tone. Her dark brunette hair cascaded down her waist. Her eyes are the most alluring ones. She had different and rare colored eyes, Amethyst. She had the most beautiful colored eye. Her sun-kissed face made it glow even more and the golden flecks around her pupils radiated more. Her eyes had calmness in them. 

Is she the same girl who pulled that stunt yesterday? Or maybe not.

She suddenly turned around disturbed as her eyes searched and landed on me who was watching her intensely. I smirked looking at her face. Her eyes widened and her face heated up maybe due to the sun or maybe because of me? She turned around back to her sketching and I could feel her gaze from the corner of my eyes. I talked and chatted with them. Isabella came in and I hoped that she is not the girl. Much to my disappointment, Isabella sat opposite her. 

She is Mireya. They were talking and I couldn't gather what they were whispering about as Isabella turned around and saw me with her I-will-kill-you eyes. I gave my sweet smile to her, but she glared at me. She is pissed and I'm going to get a lecture from her. They left so quickly, but it was time for school, as we all headed to school from there. Adam and Ethan never asked any questions which I'm happy for and I kept them distracted talking about the rivalry team. 

After the first half-day of classes, I saw Mireya and Isabella in the playground. They were talking intently not even noticing that I was approaching them. I saw Ryan at the end of the ground looking like he was about to kill someone. I noticed that Isabella went to talk with Jake, the guy they used to pull the stunt at that bitch. Isabella had a tiny crush on Jake, I now know why Ryan got all riled up. I could tell her that it was all Mireya's idea. 

"Setting up my sister with Jake would rile up Ryan more," I said as Mireya was startled by my appearance. She placed a hand on her chest calming herself as I let out a breathy laugh. She is a short girl. I named her right. 

"You scared me!" Her amethyst eyes were wide as she huffed. She cleared her throat and asked me again as her cheeks turned pink and she looked straight into my eyes. 

"What were you saying?" She licked her lips quirking an eyebrow at me. 

Damn her lips!

"You heard me and I know that. Don't pretend." 

"Maybe this way would make Ryan confess his love?" Her statement came out like a question. 

"Ryan doesn't know that Isabella loves him back. It scares the shit out of him if you ask me." 

"I knew it. Both of them are crazy for each other and what the heck is stopping them!" She threw her hands in the air as I chuckled looking at her. She is an easy-going girl. But her cheeks were still pink and I don't know why. 

"Give them time-" I didn't even finish as Ryan dragged Isabella aside away from Jake.

"At last, my guessing never goes wrong." Mireya clapped her hands laughing. A smile woke in my face involuntarily.

"What are you, a cupid?" I asked her as I ran my eyes all over her face memorizing every single detail. 

"If I want to be." She shrugged and picked her bag from the ground.

"I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Alex and you know that I'm Isabella's brother." She shook my hand as if we were business professionals. 

"I'm Mireya, the so-called good girl." I chuckled shaking my head. 

"Well... I'll see you around." She waved and she went away. She is not attracted to me. This is new, I'm earning attention and starting a conversation with a girl that I don't even know. 

I'm going insane!

"Alex! Let's head home." Ethan called me as we all went home. 

Isabella came home as she asked was all happy and gooey and she was humming a song. Ryan at least told her something about his love. I can feel the happiness radiating from her. Adam looked confused at her. Mom looked at her like she has grown two heads. 

"Care to share the happiness, Buttercup." Mom chuckled as Isabella twirled her around making her laugh. 

"I have good news for you all!" She said clapping her hands excitedly. 

"I'm already sleeping." Adam yawned making her flip his forehead.

"I got transferred to AP Calculus class. That means..." She dragged eyeing Adam and me. 

"You are going to be in the same class as us!" Adam completed shocked by her revelation. 

"The only good thing in school is I don't get to see her face, now it is also ruined." I groaned before and facepalmed myself. Raymond chuckled at my reaction. 

"I'm way smarter than you." Isabella flipped her hair.

"Yeah, dumber," Adam muttered as they started to fight. They started pulling each other hair. Finally, Adam gave up making Isabella proud of herself. 

"That's good, Buttercup." Mom kissed her cheeks. Dad was too happy about it and the dinner went by like normal.