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RHEA'S POV
"Who was that guy?" I asked as Ava pulled me along. We walked quickly through the halls until we slipped into the Chem lab, which was, thankfully, empty.
"That was Damian King," she said.
"Damian who now?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Damian King—as in the son of the late Morris King," Ava clarified, her voice a little more serious.
"Okay..."
"No, Rhea. It's not okay." Ava said sternly.
"Why?" I asked, uneasy. "Ava, you're scaring me."
"You should be scared," she said firmly, grabbing my shoulders. Her grip was tight, eyes intense. "Damian is Stacy's ex-boyfriend. Back when they were together, she was obsessed with him. And I mean dangerously obsessed. She destroyed the lives of any girl who even looked at him the wrong way."
My mouth went dry. "Why should I be worried? I didn't flirt with him."
"Rhea, you're missing the point. When Damian caught you today—right before you fell—you two stared into each other's eyes for, like, five minutes. That wasn't normal. There was a spark. I saw it. And trust me, so did he. He obviously couldn't resist your beauty."
I scoffed. "You just called me beautiful."
"I did. You are beautiful. Inwardly and outwardly. You're the prettiest girl I've ever laid eyes on."
"Aww, that's so sweet," I teased.
"Don't mock it," she scolded playfully. "Let me ask you something. What do you think of Rina, physically?"
"She's gorgeous."
"Exactly. And how can you be anything less when you're identical twins? Rhea, Rina's whole game is to dim your light so hers shines brighter. She doesn't want you confident. She doesn't want you to see what everyone else sees. And she definitely doesn't want you pulling Damian King."
"This has nothing to do with Damian," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Doesn't it? After what happened today, I'm telling you—avoid him. Avoid Aries too. I have a feeling something bad will happen if you keep crossing paths with them."
"Hey!" a voice called out.
We turned. Speak of the devil. Damian King jogged toward us.
"Oh no," Ava muttered. "Run. Let's run."
"Let's just hear what he has to say. You're being paranoid," I said, brushing my hair behind my ear.
"You just did it!" Ava pointed.
"Did what?"
"Tucked your hair behind your ear—that's universal code for 'I have a crush on him.'"
"I do not! Stop it."
Damian finally caught up. "Uh, hi... am I interrupting something?"
"Yeah," Ava deadpanned.
"N-no, we were just talking," I smiled nervously.
"Sorry about what happened earlier. Are you okay?"
"I should be the one apologizing. And yeah, I'm fine—thanks to you."
"Glad to hear that. Looks like you're heading out," he said, noticing the bikes.
"Yeah," Ava jumped in. "We're heading to my place. Really want to get going before Stacy catches up and murders us."
"Rhea, that's your name?" he asked.
I nodded.
"It's beautiful. Just like you."
Ava shot me a look. I could practically hear her saying, I told you so.
"Don't worry about Stacy," he continued. "There's nothing going on between us anymore. I'm Damian King. And I hope we can be friends."
He extended a hand.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think—"
"It's fine, Ava," I interrupted, shaking his hand. "Let's be friends."
"Great," he smiled. "Don't let me keep you. See you around."
He walked off. Ava turned to me, her expression thunderous.
"Are you out of your goddamned mind?!"
"What?"
"I literally just told you to avoid him. Now you're friends?!"
"Technically, he asked to be friends. No harm done."
"Massive harm done! Stacy is a psycho when it comes to Damian!"
"He said it's over between them. And you're the one who told me to stop living in Rina's shadow. Consider this step one."
"Becoming friends with the ex of a lunatic wasn't what I meant," Ava grumbled.
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AVA'S POV
"This is me," I pointed out my house.
It was a small, aging bungalow with a rusty gate. Not much to look at, but it was home.
"I'm home!" I called, stepping into the cozy chaos that was my grandma's house.
"Sorry it's a mess. It's tiny compared to yours."
"Oh, Ava," Rhea smiled. "This place is so warm. It feels like it matters."
I smiled. That's why I loved her. She could make a shack feel like a castle. If Rina had come instead, I'd be getting eye-rolls and backhanded compliments.
The living room was modest—three chairs, a fireplace, and Grandma Maggie's favorite rocking chair. The dining area nearby had four chairs and one spare. The kitchen was small, and a hallway led to the bedrooms.
The door flew open and my siblings ran in.
"You're back!" Erica smiled. My fourteen-year-old sister had grown up too fast. After our parents died, we had to. Ben, our little brother, was only eight. Sweet and innocent. He barely remembers Mom and Dad.
"Where's Grandma?" I asked.
They hesitated.
"It... it happened again," Erica said.
I froze. "No. Not again."
I rushed to her room. Grandma Maggie lay on the bed, her breathing shallow.
"Grandma? Are you okay?"
"Ava? Is that you?"
I held her hand. "Yes, Grandma. I'm here."
"Is she okay?" Rhea asked, standing by the door.
"She's sickly," I said. "Dementia. And asthma. She's tough though. She hangs on... because she knows she's all I have left."
Rhea knelt beside me. "I wish I could be as strong as you, Ava. I admire your strength."
"You're stronger, Rhea. I've seen you fight—"
"What obstacles, Ava?"
"Remember the hiking trip in grad school? You carried me to the top when I was sick. That's strength."
"That was just helping a friend. Emotionally, I'm a mess."
"Then channel your physical strength into emotional resilience. Stand up to your bitch of a sister and everyone who treats you like dirt."
"Is that Rhea?" Grandma asked weakly.
"Yes, Grandma. It's me," Rhea said, smiling.
"Come closer, dear. My, how you've grown. I'll never forget a sweet girl like you."
"It's good to see you, Grandma."
She smiled, then closed her eyes to rest. We went to my room. It was small—a bed, a stool, two windows.
Erica brought cookies. She placed them down and offered one to Rhea.
"Thanks," Rhea said.
"What do you want?" I asked, eyeing Erica.
"Nothing! Just wondering if anything exciting happened at school."
"Ha! I knew it. You only get nice when you want money or gossip."
"Not true!"
"Totally true."
"Well, can you blame me? We're stuck taking care of Grandma while you go off to school and have fun!"
My blood boiled. "Fun?! You think I go to school for fun?!"
"Ava, I'm sorry—"
"Sorry if caring for Grandma is such a burden," I snapped.
"I didn't mean it that way."
"You have no idea how hard I work, how much I carry. This house. School. Everything!"
"Ava," Rhea said, alarmed.
"Yet you act like I'm on vacation!"
"Ava, that's enough!" Rhea interrupted firmly.
I stopped. Realized I'd gone too far. Erica was crying.
"Get out," I muttered. She ran.
Rhea turned to me gently. "Ava, I know you're overwhelmed. But Erica lost your parents too. You're an amazing sister. But you can't fill that hole for all of them."
Tears spilled from my eyes. "I'm... I'm exhausted, Rhea."
She pulled me into a hug. "I know. And you don't have to carry it all alone."
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