Recently I have felt that our bond is breaking little by little.
We are not as close as we used to be.
I don't want to lose their friendship;
I don't want to lose anyone else.
But something is off.
Not obvious.
Just… off.
I feel our relationship slowly unraveling, slowly pulling apart piece by piece.
We still sit together.
Still talk.
Still laugh.
But it feels forced.
Like we're all pretending everything is the same.
But it's not anymore.
We're currently at our usual table for lunch.
The girls engage in a conversation and laugh at something Sasha said.
The twin sat at my sides as always—James on my left and Cutter on my right.
They were my anchors.
But rather than feeling safe.
I felt wrong.
My mind was consumed.
I was not aware of the conversation or my surroundings.
Deep in thought, not feeling the silence that prevails.
Till I felt a presence.
Unwelcomed.
Depressed.
Heavy.
I came out of that clouded place in my mind.
Looked around.
My breath hitched as I saw Alexander.
He was walking to our table, followed by Demetri and Jared and their friends.
Like he owned everything.
He was walking toward our table.
My stomach coiled instantly.
A frown graced my face without controlling.
I questioned the twin instantly.
"What is going on?" I whispered. "Since when are they friends?"
Cutter and James face mirrored my own in confusion.
Their steps moved like slow motion and were deliberate.
Like something was already decided….
We were just not aware of it
Then shook their heads.
The moment they reached the table, everything froze.
They sat down.
They are watching us.
We are watching them.
I curled into James and Cutter.
I always sit between Cutter and James, as it makes me feel secure and safe.
People are cautious of them because they always look built.
Fierce and hardly smile when they are not with us.
They keep fit for sports and they are great at what they do.
They assured me with their shoulder and arm brushed against me.
Their eyes were constantly staring at Alex.
And he at them.
The air shifted.
No sound was made.
I was broken out of my thoughts by a question, "What's for lunch?" asked by one of the girls.
Like nothing was wrong.
"You are all eating with us?" asked Cutter.
"Yeah, if so, why?" asked James.
My brother face changes from the smile that was there.
He doesn't like them just because they are not afraid of him.
I felt his gaze land on me.
Cold.
Heavy.
Possessive.
A shiver ran down my spine.
The twins hugged my shoulder, not taking their eyes off him.
They still didn't look away from him.
I swallowed.
Hard.
The girls knew my relationship with my brother wasn't good.
They didn't know everything…
But they knew enough.
So why were they sitting with him?
Like this is normal.
Just then something twisted inside my chest.
A quiet warning.
A foreboding feeling of loss.
"So Demetri's party? Are we still going?" asked Kayla.
This question brought me out of my thoughts.
I was so busy looking anywhere else that I missed the look that passed among them.
Didn't see it.
Didn't catch it.
But the twins did.
The twins looked at me and me at them.
They replied to my silent question that they be "ten minutes late at the most."
I nodded.
The rest of lunch was… strange.
All eyes were on us.
Some are confused.
Some are curious.
Some… angry.
Alexander was popular.
Respected.
Admired.
And me?
I heard the whispers.
Even when I pretended not to.
"Why is he sitting with her?"
"Isn't that his sister?"
"She's weird…"
"Freak."
I stared at my hands.
Pretended not to hear.
The bell rang.
And just like that… it was over.
The rest of the day passed quietly.
It passed uneventfully, to which I was really grateful.
I always enjoy my classes, and they are not too difficult for me.
I thought about what I would wear to the party tonight.
It is my first time attending.
I wanted to look nice.
This party is kept every year since we were awarded our departments.
I say awarded as there was a graduation to congratulate us on coming so far and then it was made known to us which department we were in, like Harry Potter and the sorting hat.
I've never been there; the twins were not living on campus then but with their parents, but we were discussing going on. They will be finalizing their moving to the campus today; that's why they'll be late.
I wanted to try.
Just once.
To be normal.
So I stood in front of my closet.
Staring.
What do normal girls wear?
My hand hovered over my usual hoodie.
Safe.
Familiar.
Invisible.
While I was racking my brain on what to wear.
The girls came and ripped the hoodie from my hand.
They persuaded me to wear a pretty pleated skirt with an off-the-shoulder blouse with a slipper they brought with them.
Their fashion sense far outweighs mine.
I felt safer with the twins, but the girls had not done anything for me to be suspicious of them till lunch that day, and at this point they still had my trust.
"Wow…" I whispered.
I barely recognized myself when I looked in the mirror.
For once…
I didn't look like the outsider.
"You look great." Sasha smiled.
"You fit," Karla added.
Carly just smirked. "Obviously."
I smiled.
Maybe…
Tonight would be different.
"Let me call the twins," I said, reaching for my phone.
Sasha grabbed it.
"They said they'll be late. Why call?" she asked. "You're going with us, right? Your friends?"
I hesitated.
"I still need to call," I said softly. "Or I'm not going."
There was a pause.
Then she handed it back.
At the same time, Carly's phone rang.
She stepped outside to answer it.
I called the twins.
Explained everything.
"Go ahead," James said. "We'll be there soon."
"Don't drink," Cutter added firmly. "Let the girls get you juice."
I smiled.
"Okay."
We hung up.
Carly came back in.
"All ready?" she asked.
We nodded.
When we got downstairs…
I froze.
Demetri.
He was standing there.
Waiting.
"For us?" I asked quietly.
"Of course," Carly said smoothly.
I didn't question it.
Maybe I should have.
We got in the car.
Karla, Sasha, and I are in the back.
Carly in the front.
Demetri is driving.
The ride was… strange.
They talked.
Laughed.
But I wasn't really listening.
I was texting the twins.
Telling them where I was.
What was happening?
Trying to stay… connected.
Because without them…
Something didn't feel right.
When we arrived…
My breath caught.
The house was massive.
Lights everywhere.
Music loud enough to feel in my chest.
I stayed close to the girls.
People approached.
Introduced themselves.
Tried to talk.
But I couldn't.
Not without the twins.
So I sat on a couch.
Watching.
Waiting.
Time passed.
The girls moved in and out.
Dancing.
Laughing.
Leaving me alone.
Coming back.
Leaving again.
I told myself it was fine.
Then the slow song started.
And I saw them.
Alexander.
With Sasha.
Demetri.
With Carly.
Jared.
With Karla.
Something twisted inside me.
When the song ended…
Demetri whispered something to Carly.
She looked at me.
Then at Sasha.
Then back at me.
But I didn't understand.
I didn't see it.
Not yet.
They came back.
Sat beside me.
"You're taking a break?" Sasha smiled.
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourselves," I said softly.
Carly frowned.
"Where's your drink?"
We all looked at her.
"What drink?"
Confusion spread.
"Didn't the twins say we should get her something?" Karla asked.
They shook their heads.
"I forgot," Sasha admitted.
"It's fine," I said quickly. "I'm not really—"
I stopped.
My hand lifted slightly.
I was about to call the twins again.
Then—
A glass was pushed into my hand.
I looked up.
Carly.
"No, it's okay," I said quickly. "I'll just have water—"
"No."
Her voice was sharp.
Too sharp.
"This is a party," she said, smiling.
"Enjoy it."
Her eyes held mine.
And for the first time that night…
I felt it clearly.
That something wasn't just wrong.
It was already happening.
TWINS' POINT OF VIEW
As we were putting the last of the items in the moving truck.
James's phone rang, and he called me so we can listen to it.
We heard how nervous Dria was on the phone.
But we had no reason to doubt the girls.
We calm her fears and convince her to go.
Stressing that she should not drink and just to let the girls get her juice till we arrive.
We will soon be there, as this is the last trip.
Throughout the trip she contacted us regularly.
We were so happy when we finished and rushed to go to her without even changing.
Who thought that our bubbly feeling would deflate in a manner of seconds?
DRIA'S POINT OF VIEW
When we reached.
I was amazed at how big the house looked
I kept myself attached to the girls.
People would come around and introduce themselves.
Wanting to have conversations.
But without my safeguards, I was especially shy that I would not.
I parked myself on a couch while the girls would go to get something to drink or go on the dance floor to enjoy themselves.
On a slow dance that played, I saw my brother and Sasha.
Demetri and Carly.
Jared and Kayla.
I never knew they knew each other closely.
The song ended I saw Demetri whispering to Carly.
She looked at me and went to talk to Sasha when she saw that Alex had left.
She also looked to me.
I, however, was not paying attention.
I did not pick up on anything.
I was constantly glancing around the room, anticipating the arrival of the twins.
I felt somewhat safe again when the girls came back to it beside me on the couch.
"So you're taking a break! "I'm glad to see you enjoying yourselves," I said while smiling with them.
I saw Carly face etched with confusion. "Where's your drink?" she asked.
We all looked at her. "What drink?" we all said.
Kayla replied, "Didn't the twins say we alone should get drinks for her?
Carly Kayla, did you get her any? "to which they shook her heads."
I did not get her any; sorry, I forgot. "No problem, never fell for any."
I stared in a daze, wondering how the twins are not here yet.
I raised my hand to call them when a glass was pushed into my hand. I saw it was Carly giving me a glass. "No, it's okay; I'll just have water"
"No," she shouted at me. "This is a party; enjoy it," while smiling at me.