I was Melissa’s polar opposite. Where she just wanted to keep her head above water in all her classes, I was a studious nerd, and had straight As in all my classes to show for it. She was a social butterfly, whereas I was a self-proclaimed introvert. You’re a virgin too, my mind added. Not that it matters, I reprimanded the nosy voice in my head. It was by choice, really. There simply wasn’t anyone I wanted to be that intimate with. I wasn’t the most outgoing of people, and kept close to my small circle of friends. The only reason I got into the cheerleading team was because of Melissa, who dragged me to the tryouts at the same time she tried for the team in freshman year. That and how flexible and lithe I soon found out I was. I also enjoyed it thoroughly - being an integral part of keeping up the school spirit, cheering our football team on. Parties and the associated social life were a different headache altogether, but I had been quite insulated from it all by Melissa and Tony, as well as Randy, my ex, whilst I was still dating him.
“Ella honey, I hope the twins will treat you right,” Marcus’ voice jolted me out of my thoughts. I looked up, startled by his choice of words. I hope they will like you would’ve seemed more appropriate. “They can be a little, uh, aggressive sometimes.”
I smiled with a calm surety. Life always turned out okay, even when it seemed bleak at times. And I had never made a single enemy in my life. “I’m sure we will hit it off, don’t worry.” I wanted to reassure Marcus, who treated me like his own daughter from the moment he and my mother started dating a year back. We were both lucky to have him. His desire to have us all as a family together showed in the way he spoke highly about Cole and Hans, as well as trying to connect me – unsuccessfully - with the twins several times in the past few months. I had both their numbers but after a passing hi to both of them in the new group chat Marcus had set up – with zero reply from Cole and a wave emoticon from Hans – the chat was basically dead. Not that I was expecting much from two strangers who lived several hours away. I believed relationships could only be built once you spent enough time with the other person, and now that we were all going to be living together, I was looking forward to getting to know my future stepbrothers better.
My mom nodded with a smile, massaging Marcus’ forearm as he drove us to the airport. “Ella’s got a special touch with people. I don’t think we have to worry about her.”
Marcus still appeared unsure. “It’s not her I’m worried about, it’s Cole and Hans. But you’re right, if anyone can bring out their good sides, it would be Ella.” Doubt still laced his tone.
If I wasn’t nervous about meeting my mom’s fiancé’s twin boys before, I was now. Their own father was worried, and Marcus was not one to think the worst of people, at least not that I could see in the time I knew him. The twins had gone to their mom’s place in SoCal for the long break, so I had yet to meet them. I would be joining them in my senior year at the Gray Lake Academy, where they were both attending.
I knew a little about them from what Marcus had told me – both were football players, with Cole playing defense and Hans being the team captain. They were good enough that they were considering going professional. That was pretty much all I knew, except for the few pictures of them I had seen around the house. Tall, dark-haired, identical twin athletes. Mentally, I tacked on: Do not respond in group chats.
The nervousness that I had suppressed from the moment I learned about them bubbled up in my chest until it made me nauseous. I had never had any siblings before, let alone two guys my age. Everything will be fine. Everything will be fine. After a few deep, calming breaths, I was able to plaster a smile on my face and convince myself it was the truth.
Mom’s and Marcus’ wedding was in three months, giving us some time to adjust to our new life here. We had already picked out her dress, a dreamy white gown with a long train and a bodice that showed off just enough of her small waist and décolletage. Looking at her glowing skin and hair, it was no wonder Marcus Isaac fell in love with her at first sight. She had a peaceful radiance about her that I hoped to have, despite all the hardship she had been through.
The BMW cruised into the huge parking lot in front of the airport where my mother and I had landed a couple of weeks ago. I remembered the sense of unease I had experienced the moment I stepped out of the glass doors and into the chilly breeze that welcomed us to Gray Lake. I wasn’t superstitious, but the icy prickle I had felt just beneath my skin made me want to turn back. Thankfully, Marcus’ warm smile had greeted us then, and the sensation was soon forgotten. It came back full blast now, probably because of the dark clouds hanging low in the sky, bringing with it an unforgiving wintry wind. I shook my head, clearing the weird feeling out of my mind.
Marcus stepped out of the car. I was about to do the same when I heard him say, “Oh, there
