Virgin Fates.

(HARRY)

“The problem with foster homes is that you can’t really go out at night… without sneaking out,” Harry threw himself into Zayn’s passenger seat wearing a devious smile.

“Proud of you for making it out,” Zayn mocked, lighting a cigarette. His wrist lazily lay on the steering wheel as he pulled out of the driveway.

“Where to?” Harry wondered.

“To some cellar party in the city,” Zayn said. “We promised the others we’d meet them at that abandoned parking lot off of Lincoln.”

They pulled into the parking lot to see they were the first ones there. It was once a popular section of a grocery store and some other necessary small stores. But once the recession hit and a few floodings occurred, the stores went under and the parking lot forever remained uninhibited and empty.

“I think that’s Niall’s car,” Zayn broke the silence. They had been sitting simply smoking in the front seat listening to Zayn’s favorite R&B station ever so quietly. Zayn didn’t need the music loud but Harry was aching to raise the dial. It had been over a half an hour and Harry had grown impatient. Hoping the cigarette would calm his senses. He didn’t understand why they couldn’t have met at the club, but Zayn didn’t know where to go so he was planning on tailing Niall.

Zayn put the car in park and stepped out, Harry following suit.

“You guys won’t believe this,” Louis threw his body out of the car anxiously, sliding against the hood of Niall's car.

“Try me,” Harry threatened, a smile growing at Louis’ happiness.

Once Niall stepped out along with an annoyed looking Ember, yet another girl emerged from the back seat. She had similar hair to Ember, thick dark blonde hair and large bright blue eyes. But instead of Ember’s pale cheeks, this new girl had rosy and she had an air about her Ember didn’t have.

Ember was bitter and tough when this new girl looked sweet and soft.

“Meet Ember’s twin,” Louis grinned widely. "Literally," he was acting like he had been let in on a secret. “Her name is Raven.”

“Hi, nice to meet you,” even her voice was soft and carried like a bird’s song.

“Uh...Twin?” Zayn stammered.

“What?" Harry’s brows furrowed.

“I don’t get it,” Zayn said slowly.

“I have a fraternal twin, surprise,” Ember said, sounding rather bored. “Do you have a lighter?” she had been fidgeting with an unlit cigarette, avoiding eyes when she suddenly spat the question to Zayn. He nodded and she walked over to him.

“Don’t act like it’s no big deal!” Louis pressed. “She’s just like you, but… totally not,” Louis’ blue eyes were wide and he had now walked over to her and began eyeing her up and down, almost inspecting her like a new species had been found. "She's so pretty and... nice... and kind... and damn. Basically perfect."

“Leave it, would you Lou?” Zayn said, seeing Ember’s ears grow pink, her universal sign for complete irritation. “Let’s get going. Ember, you can ride with us.”

“About that,” Niall had been engrossed in his phone. “The party was blown.”

“Blown?” Raven repeated.

“It means it was busted,” Ember spat towards her sister.

“Tatum texted me saying to avoid it. They’re even making arrests,” Niall announced, interfering with the girls’ banter.

“Who’s Tatum?” Raven wondered.

“A friend,” Ember shot, her back turned to the group as she leaned on Zayn’s car.

“She was supposed to meet us there,” Louis said, now dangerously close to Raven.

“Let’s just head to Dan’s,” Zayn offered.

“Sounds good to me,” Niall put his phone into his back pocket.

***

(EMBER)

The way everyone was fawning over her other half was getting to her. To Louis it was beyond comedic and he almost keeled over from laughter when they had stepped down the front steps of their house. Niall was luckily unimpressed and ignored the twin the whole drive to the parking lot.

Zayn and Harry seemed surprised, but not so head over laughter as Louis had been. This put her at ease. Until Zayn’s curiosity spiked at the diner.

“What brought you to town?” Zayn was cutting his pancakes, accidentally elbowing Ember every now and again. But his eyes were intent on the Raven. The corner booth felt surprisingly small with Raven instead of Tatum. Tatum knew to pull up a chair, not to try and squeeze. But Louis was more than willing to offer his lap if necessary.

“Our mom wanted rid of me,” Raven’s smile was oozing from all of the attention.

“Who would want to get rid of you?” Louis put a false mocking voice on.

"So, are you staying?" Zayn wondered.

"Yeah... actually I am. For the time being."

Ember normally wouldn’t feel her blood boiling while hanging out with her friends, but Zayn’s keen interest in the wrong twin was making her itch. Zayn had allowed Ember to hook up with him a few times earlier in the summer. But with the heavily drunken tongues, Zayn always depended on that to trick him, and Ember, into having a reason not to remember. Ember knew though that he was never that plastered. The way his eyes would dart away from her the following day made it all too obvious. He remembered. He was just nervous she would fall for him, and of course she didn’t. She wasn’t like that. But she was growing jealous at her twin catching his eyes when she couldn’t herself.

“Tatum’s here,” Niall said, looking up from his phone. Suddenly a dark haired big browned eyed girl strode inside. She looked confident, but not cocky.

Everyone greeted her but she only gave a sly smile, as usual. Her smudged make up eyes feel over Raven and she just stared, awaiting an explanation.

“My twin,” Ember grunted, through a bite of toast. The smirk Tatum wore grew.

“Raven,” her blue eyes danced at the introduction and something in Tatum’s eyes twinkled artfully.

“Well isn’t this interesting,” was all Tatum said before flagging down a waitress and ordering a plate of hash browns.


***

(RAVEN)

Zayn had offered to take the twins home. Louis also offered, but he didn’t drive.

As soon as Raven approached the dark front porch, leaving Ember to talk to Zayn and Harry on her own, Ember came running.

“Not the front door,” Ember whispered, her voice stern. “The window! Dad doesn’t know we left. That’s why we tiptoed out… Jesus…”

“Oh,” Raven blushed. Ember did a cute little salute to the boys as they drove off.

“This way…” Ember heaved the reluctant window open. Ember kept an uneasy heavy silence to sink in between them.

“Louis’ kind of cute… so is Zayn. Hell, all of your friends are,” Raven tried lightening the mood. “Zayn’s eyes though… Damn.” When Ember only mocked her with a face, she couldn’t hold the question it. It just stumbled out. “Is something wrong?”

“Zayn just loves you… Everyone just loves you! Look at Louis, offering his lap to you. You’re just so wonderful, aren’t you?” Ember threw her sweater on the ground as she turned to face her sister in only a laced bra.

“What are you on about…” Raven’s heart was thumping.

“I think I’ll just let you hangout with them. Who needs me?” Ember snipped.

“Ember… I wasn’t trying to take your place,” Raven’s eyes widened, seeming to open them for the first time all night.

“Yeah, okay…”

“Ember, I want nothing but to be your friend. I want to be friends with your friends so I becoming closer to you. I don’t care about them. I care about you. My sister who I barely know, but I want to change that.”

Ember stayed quiet for a few minutes.

“Fuck it… Just do whatever you want. I’m sorry for overreacting,” Ember sighed. Raven hugged Ember tightly.

But Ember’s stomach was still filled with bitterness and hurt when she laid her head down for a night’s, well morning’s, sleep.


(LIAM)

“What’s the game plan today, son?” Liam’s father flattened the newspaper down as he sipped his coffee. “A little father son round of golf?”

“Actually,” Liam swallowed a bite of waffles. “It's the first day of school, remember? I have to swing by and get Annette. Then after school we're going to do something.”

“Ah, right,” his father cleared his throat. “When are you going to ask that little lady on a date?”

“I’m not interested in Annette like that and she isn’t either,” Liam sighed, feeling déjà vu.

“Son, Annette is a truly lovely girl,” his father urged, leaning forward.

“She’s like my sister, I mean c’mon dad.” Liam stood and began to walk out of the house. “A really cute… smart… fun sister.”

--

“Aren’t you excited?” Annette smiled giddily. She wasn’t in her usual floral dress, but instead high waisted leather shorts and a white crop top with a beanie.

“You look…”

“Rebellious?” Annette’s smile grew and her eyes widened.

“Yeah,” Liam settled. “That’s it. So ready for the first day?”

“I have another idea.”

Notes

ta da daaaaaaa,

trust me... it'll get good.

there's a twist a comin'

xxx