Rhea and Ava walked to the farthest corner of the cafeteria where Ava's usual crew was already seated.
"Hey guys, I want you to meet my best friend, Rhea St. Clair," Ava announced, plopping down beside them.
"No way. St. Clair, as in St. Clair Fashion Industries?" a guy asked.
Rhea nodded, a bit shy.
"That's literally my dream job! I want to be a famous designer someday," said a chubby guy with cotton-candy pink hair. "Oops, where are my manners? I'm Daniel Walis — but call me Danny."
"That's Danny, and he's gay in case you couldn't tell," Ava added with a chuckle. "That's Alvin Myers and Lisa Cain."
Alvin gave a shy wave behind his thick glasses and frizzy curls. He was lean and tall — the awkward kind of cute. Lisa, dressed in layers of dark clothing with streaks of blue and purple in her hair, barely looked up.
"Hi," Alvin and Lisa said in unison.
"Hello," Rhea replied with a polite smile.
"Guys, the resemblance is uncanny," Danny said, eyes flicking between Rhea and a distant Rina.
"Obviously — they're twins," Ava sighed.
"Ah, that explains a lot," Danny mused.
"Don't mind Danny, he's not exactly... brilliant," Lisa said, chewing on raisins. "But I gotta ask — why's your twin at the VIP table and you're not?"
Rhea hesitated. "I—I..."
"...wasn't invited," Ava cut in sharply.
Danny scanned Rhea's casual outfit. "Is it because you dress like that?"
"Hey!" Rhea shot back, offended.
"You're nothing like Rina — and that's a good thing," Ava said warmly.
A strange warmth filled Rhea's chest. For once, she didn't feel like the outcast. Here, she felt seen.
After school, they all hugged goodbye, and Rhea couldn't stop smiling. That is, until Rina called.
"Rhea, let's go! Stop wasting time," Rina snapped from the limo.
"Whoa, nice ride," Alvin said.
"I heard it's assigned to them. Man, must be nice to be born with a silver spoon," Danny sighed.
"Being rich isn't everything," Ava muttered.
"When will you stop despising the wealthy?" Lisa teased.
"She doesn't seem to hate Rhea," Alvin noted.
"Rhea's different — humble, sweet, and she doesn't act like she's better than anyone. She's my best friend," Ava said proudly.
"But she's boring," Lisa said.
Ava gasped. "That is... absolutely true." She laughed. "Let's go, guys."
ST. CLAIR MANOR
The girls arrived home to suspicious quiet. When they asked the maids about their parents, the staff blushed and scurried off.
"Girls, you're home!" their mother said, rushing downstairs in a bathrobe, hair a mess.
Rhea and Rina exchanged glances.
Mom headed straight to the dining room for a glass of milk. Moments later, their father emerged — shirt halfway on, pants unzipped.
"How was your first day?" he asked.
Rina smirked. "Looks like you had a good day."
"Did we just walk in on our parents..."
"...Yup," Rina muttered.
"Parent sex. Yeesh," Rhea whispered, heading upstairs.
"Same," Rina followed.
In her lavish suite — more of an apartment than a bedroom — Rina collapsed on her silk sheets and squealed. She was officially part of Stacy Ross's inner circle. She didn't even have to try.
Her room sparkled with wealth. A chandelier glittered above pastel silk wallpaper. A plush canopy bed, velvet chaise lounge, a vanity with designer makeup, and a walk-in closet filled with Chanel, Louis, and St. Clair.
She couldn't stop thinking about Aries Mantle — his tousled dark hair, piercing blue eyes, and those dreamy shoulders.
A knock snapped her out of her daydream.
"Dinner's ready," Artie called.
"Be right there."
Downstairs, Rhea wore a tracksuit and messy bun. Rina joined her shortly, gulped down some juice, and sat at the dining table.
"So, what happened today, girls?" Thomas asked.
"Dad, you won't believe it — I got into Stacy Ross's circle! Aries is dreamy, Aisha's obsessed with our fashion brand, and James is... a bit of a womanizer."
"A womanizer?" Macy gasped.
"Don't worry, Mom. It's not that deep."
"Sounds like you had a blast," Tom chuckled.
"The best," Rina beamed.
"What about you, Rhea?"
"It was okay... Aside from being humiliated in class," she admitted.
"Details," Macy pressed.
"Remember Ava Wilson?"
"Hmm... dark hair, she had bangs in the past, loud laugh?" Macy asked.
"Yeah. We reconnected today."
"That's wonderful," Macy smiled.
"And annoying," Rina mumbled.
"Rina," Tom warned. "You're sisters. You should be each other's best friends."
Dinner ended in silence. Back in her room, Rhea stared at a shark-shaped toy she turned into a phone charm. It belonged to someone from her past. Someone who didn't even recognize her anymore.
Her phone buzzed.
[GROUP CHAT: G.E.E.K.S.]
Ava: Hi Rhea! Welcome to the group 😄
Rhea: Thanks! What's this group about?
Alvin: Are you a virgin?
Rhea blinked.
Rhea: ...Why do you ask?
Lisa: Because only virgins are allowed here.
Rhea: ...
Danny: So?
Rhea: (sigh) Yes, I am.
Danny: Thought so. Tsk, poor girl.
Rhea: Aren't you all virgins?
Danny: They are. I'm not.
Rhea: Then why are you in the group?
Danny: Duh. I created it. For you innocent, boring creatures 😌
Ava: I'm not a virgin.
Lisa: Don't lie. We all know the door's still locked.
Ava:GASPS Lisa!
Danny: She's not wrong, lol.
Ava: F*** off! My sex life is none of your business!
Alvin: There is no sex life until there's sex.
Lisa: Alvin! 😂
Rhea laughed quietly. She finally had people. Weird, wild people — but they cared. Still, a part of her feared getting too attached.
THE NEXT MORNING
"Good morning, Mom. Dad," Rhea greeted, kissing them both.
She wore a green tee, loose black jeans, sneakers, and her sideways cap. Big glasses still on — but no more cast.
Then came Rina.
With her glam makeup, flat-ironed hair, thigh-length pink dress and cropped white jacket, she turned heads the moment she entered.
"Morning, Mother. Father," she said, eyes on her phone.
"Where are you off to looking so... extra?" Thomas asked.
"School, duh," Rina smirked. "Gotta make the Hot List."
She grabbed an apple.
"Aren't you eating?" Macy asked.
"Too risky. This dress is tight — I can't afford stomach blubber," she said.
"Rhea, let's go! Don't make me late," Rina barked.
Outside, a guard stopped Rhea.
"Ma'am Rhea, a girl named Ava Wilson is here for you."
"Let her in!"
Ava ran in and hugged Rhea. Just then, the limo horn honked. Rina lowered the window.
"What are you waiting for? Get in!"
"I came so we could go together, I didn't know you were already on your way," Ava said.
Rhea opened the door. "Let's go together,"
"Oh hell no. There's no way I'm letting this church rat into my limo," Rina scoffed.
"Rina!" Rhea gasped.
"You know what? Shove your fancy limo up your—"
"Language!" Rhea said, mortified.
"Let's just take our bikes," she told Ava.
"Suit yourself," Rina snapped. "Drive, Andy."
"My name's Andrew, ma'am."
"And I don't give a flying f***. Drive!"
Rhea turned to Ava. "You okay?"
"No. I get I'm not rich or prestigious like you guys, but your sister had no right to insult me that way." She said, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
Just then, Thomas and Macy walked out.
"Everything alright?" Tom asked.
"Mom and Dad, this is Ava, my friend," Rhea introduced.
"Oh God, this is awkward," Ava muttered, wiping her tears. "Hello Mr and Mrs St.Clair, it's a pleasure to see you again,"
"Lovely to meet you too Ava. Sorry you had to deal with that," Tom said.
"With all due respect, maybe you should try parenting her differently. Rhea's amazing — I don't know what went wrong with the other one," Ava said bluntly.
"Ava!" Rhea hissed.
"What? She's cruel — even to her own twin. She shoved you yesterday, remember?"
"She what?" Macy asked.
"Ava!" Rhea cried. She clearly didn't want them knowing.
They hopped on their scooters and rode to Silver High.
Once there, Ava broke the silence.
"You haven't said a word since we left."
"Why would you tell my parents that?"
"Because they should know."
"You need to stop fighting my battles, Ava."
"No, Rhea. You need to stop hiding. I've known you since seventh grade — you used to shine. Trendy clothes, bright hair, sparkly eyes... now you dim yourself so Rina can outshine you." Ava said, "Stop sucking up to Rina,"
Rhea stopped in her tracks, her voice sharp.
"That's enough, Ava."