Two pairs of Jade eyes under overly long chestnut hair, Lake and Storm observed their mother who hadn't stopped pacing and making hand gestures while murmuring to herself. Her hair, same shade with her sons, bristled against her shoulders and the folds of her full A line dress danced about her ankles.
A small explosion had occured but luckily, everyone wasn't at home. Why would anybody want to attack the Richards? They were sure it was a threat because of the little note found atop the ashes of their house and that was what really scared Mrs. Richards.
She had specifically stayed under the radar and away from the spotlight when her husband had passed away leaving her with two sons and a daughter but now it seemed she was being pulled back into that same spotlight she was trying to escape.
"Mom, please calm down." Strom's rush baritone voice rang out in an effort to calm his mother but he knew it was useless. Whenever Sara Richards started panicking, nothing could calm her down. Not even her first sons.
"Someone is out to get us and it's eating me up that I won't be able to protect you." She confessed and turned to get a good look at her sons whose identical eyes returned the look. A little flick of pride overcame her whenever she looked at the two young boys together. So different yet so alike no matter how much they denied it.
"Okay, new plan." Celia who had been leaning against Lake, typing away at screen of her phone spoke up. Her Rhino grey eyes similar to her father's, shone even under the poor lightning condition of the street lamp. "Let's get a roof over our heads first then order some food rather than standing here and playing detective."
Sara's eyes widened at her youngest daughters order. "Celia, you will control your tongue this instant!" She reprimanded the young girl with untamed irritation lacing her words. "But you do have a point."
Storm wasted no time in opening his phone to search for the closest hotel while Lake rose from the chair to embrace his mother. Of the two boys, Lake was the obvious mamas boy. "Don't worry mom. Maybe we could move to throw this guy off out trail."
Sara's head bobbed at the agreement. Celia was almost through with her current grade and would soon graduate into junior high. What more could she have wanted. "Yes Lake, that's exactly what we're going it do. Move."
"Move?" Celia exclaimed, her fair ponytail bouncing with each word. "Another country? Seriously guys but I like my school and was really looking forward to attending the highschool here. My life is here."
Her lush lips turned upsidedown in a delicate frown with her arms crossed over her generous chest. For a girl her age, she could easily be classed an eighteen year old when she was barely sixteen."We have no other choice and I think a move would actually be good for us." Sara said. "Don't you think so Storm."
Storm's head snapped up from observing the map in his phone. "Uh, yeah. Mom's right cee, moving could throw this guy off our trail." He said before lighter shade of chestnut hair covered his eyes when he focused on the phone in his hands.
"Fine." Lips pressed together, Celia agreed. No matter how much she disapproved, she knew the decision would apply to her no matter how much she screamed and protested. She went back to swiping at the screen of her phone.
"Uh, mom the nearest hotel is just a few blocks away." Storm said, the blue illumination reflecting on his face. Along with their house, everything else in them including cars, laptops and important documents had been destroyed too. "If we start walking now, I think we'll be able to get there before it's too late.
Sara nodded for him to lead the way which he went ahead to do, pausing to raise his head, pointing out landmarks until a two storeyed structure came into view. They checked in, Sara and Celia in a room and Storm and Lake in another. Mr. Richards had left a fortune behind but Sara refused to have a single spoilt bone in the system of her children. She'd sooner loose an arm than let than happen.
With their Nike converses flung carelessly on the floor beside their beds Storm and Lake hopped into bed.
Lake was the first to break the peaceful atmosphere between them." So what do you think about moving to Lakeland, Florida?"
Storm was already used to Lake's questions which had no visible end. From the most dumbest questions down to the most deep head scratching questions concerning life. " I don't see anything wrong with it." He said. "Besides I was kinda already getting bored of this place."
Lake's full lips pressed together again holding off his next question. He really loved this place and they had just started a new semester in senior year. He was just getting to live the life of a senior.
"Go ahead." Storm said. He could always sense when Lake was in discomfort or any other feeling for that matter. Their mother always explained that that was the beauty of having an other half.
Lake's eyes lowered and he slouched. "Do you think the new school'll be as cool as the current one?"
"Heck yeah." He didn't hesitate to respond. "We're the Richards. What could one little move do for us."
The corners of Lake's mouth tugged upwards into a smile similar to that of his brother but brighter with rosier cheeks. People could have easily accused Lake of being too soft while Storm of being too hardheaded but they still got along in perfect harmony.
Storm's body snuggled deeper into the sheets, his secret frown directed to the roof. He sure wasn't used to changes and the thought of a slight change in changing schools and friends didn't sit well with him.
Even with these thoughts running through their minds, they slipped into their subconscious dreams not prepared for tomorrow but as long as they convinced themselves that by sticking together, they could overcome anything.
Oh how little they knew...
“Come on Spindly, you got this." Leilani's scarlet curls bounced with her movements where she stood, crouched over the sweaty and panting mess which was her new friend. "Just two more.""You make it sound like it's such a small thing," Adana grunted straining her arms to carry her weight once again.She succeeded this time and finally completed the twenty pushups assigned to her by Leilani. Making sure to lay on the floor for as long as she wanted, Leilani exited the room and came back with a bottle of water which Adana accepted and gulped down most if not all the contents greedily while eyeing Leilani's rounded frame sway with the tune in her head."I need a long, hot shower. I feel like dirt," Adana said and hauled herse
They winced along with each stroke of the brushes that ran through their tangled mane as Sara Richards and Celia combed as gently as they could."Oh, it isn't that bad," Sara persuaded trying to reach for Lake's darker shade of chestnut hair when he swatted her hand away. "Just a few more strokes and you're all good to go.""I think that's enough or we'll be late," Storm reminded before hauling himself into a standing position and checked the screen of his phone.Celia hands reached upwards, standing on the tip of her toes to run the tip of her fingers through the thick strands, "oh, I'm so proud of you two. Looking so gorgeous on your first day."Lake eyed his sister's reflection before rising to his feet and stretching his arms out, "who
Dread filled Adana when a familiar building loomed over the school bus. She wasn't ready to experience the shocked expressions of all her grade mates.She straightened her back and smoothed the thick material of her cobalt blue denim pants in an attempt at distracting herself from her nerves.Leilani's usually dark eyes lightened with curiosity which Adana couldn't help but admire. She wished she was also curious but nothing about those pigeon gray lockers and their owners stirred her curiosity."Omg, omg, omgeee," Leilani's fiery curls which she had decided to leave loose, bounced while she hopped in her seat beside Adana. "We're finally here Ada, can you believe it?""Yeah I can't believe it either," Adana's voice laced with sarcasm at h
She shifted in her seat when those jade orbs continued to bore a hole into the side of her head."What do you want?"He didn't respond but only scooted closer then placed his hands under his chin.
After dragging her friend off another new student, they hopped into the school bus."Oh, great," Leilani muttered after motioning to the occupied seats. "Where do we sit now?"Adana scanned the seats before her eyes brushed over two empty seats at the extreme back row of the bus. "Hey, those look empty to me. Let's go.""But—" Leilani wasn't given time to object before Adana started to pull her.She later realized there was another occupant of the row of the seats. A boy who was taking more than his fair share of space occupied a seat with head angled downwards at the mobile in his hands.Why did he seem so familiar? Adana shook her head to get rid of the thoughts. "Did you get the last part of the assignment?"Arctic rims darkened when Leilani broke from her trance to give her a blank stare, "you didn't get the assignment?"She didn't
Lake didn't expect to win but yes, he won this bet and he would rub it in Storm's face till he got agitated."It's fine okay," Storm blurted and waved his hands over his head. "You won. Happy?"Lake rose and did their infamous chicken dance. "Nah, I'm not happy. I'm freaking proud of myself."Storm lowered his head and muttered, "yeah, don't get too comfortable."They had placed a bet on which house their mother would pick for them to live in. Storm had gone for a beach house while Lake had gone for a house not too big and not too small but comfortable and right in the middle of town.Storm, being overconfident of the two, had been convinced his choice was the best but alas Sara Richards went for Lake's pick."Okay my beauties," Celia clapped twice and ambled into the room clad in her usual morning attire; an oversized cotton tee and short shorts.&nbs
Seconds turned into minutes and minutes into hours. Two periods must've passed because the loud chime of the bell penetrated the door twice.Fiddling with her fingers, the thoughts of what her mother would do to her if word got out that she skipped classes and with a boy at that, made Adana's insides shudder."The window." Storm half exclaimed and heaved his weight off the floor and took hurried steps to the window.His long fingers played over the windowsill. How had he missed it earlier?With all his upper body strength, he managed to push it open causing the humid air to fill the small room. A stream of relief washed through him. He wouldn't have any problems with squeezing his way out. How Adana was going to squeeze through was his concern.The window level reached his chest region. He could just hop unto the sill, sit and balance, then fold up his legs to turn
"Okay, I think we all know why we're here." Mr. Albert pushed his thick-rimmed glasses up his thin nose and crossed his ankles. "I want no talking, gossiping, littering, and most importantly, don't try to take your phones."Not too long after his instructions were given, he nodded off, snoring heavily. The class consisted of eight students in total. They were to be here till late evening.