Chapter 1: Chloe

I can't go to school. Correction. I don't want to. I don't want to see people. Especially him.

The famous him who broke me in pieces. I don't want to see people's faces.

"Chloe?" My twin brother, Caleb knocked on my door. "Chloe, come out please."

"No," I said, although it came out muffled since I was covering my face with a pillow.

"Chloe..." Caleb sighed. "You have to come to school."

"I don't want to."

"Come on, baby sis."

"Shut up, Caleb. We're the same age."

"I'm older."

"No, you're not."

"I came out first."

"Doesn't mean anything."

"I'm the guy."

"That's sexist."

"Chloe, just come out." He sighed. "You can't skip school."

"Dad will allow me to." I pointed out.

Yeah, I have a cool dad. One time, I was playing my phone in school and got caught. My dad scolded me because I wasn't being "professional" in hiding my phone. So he had me lessons on how to hide my phone better and other tricks to convince the teacher on giving me a better grade.

I don't know, man. Never knew this kind of parent existed until I met mine.

"Chloe, I swear, I'll drag you out."

"Nooooo..." I mumbled. "I don't want to see... him."

"Chloe..." Caleb sighed. "I know he broke your heart. I was the one to watch you break down. But Chloe, it's a new year. New grade. It's time you meet some people. Forget about him."

"Easy for you to say." I replied. "You're liked. Popular. Chick magnet. Loved. I don't know, lots of people like you for some reason. And me? Look at me. I don't have any friends, Caleb. None. Ze to the ro."

I could imagine Caleb facepalming. "Chloe..." Caleb sighed, and it seemed that he was close to giving up. "Okay, Chloe, do you honestly want to stay home?"

"I don't want to see him." Or anyone, in fact.

Caleb sighed. "Chloe..."

"Okay fine!" I shouted, jolting out of bed. Which was a really bad idea, by the way. Now I have a mild headache. "I'm up, I'm up."

###

"Chloe, you'll be fine." Caleb tried to assure me.

"I hate school." I said to him. Last time, the only reason I went to school was because of Ashton. Now that we've broken up and memories turn into a torture chamber, I really, really hate school. 

Caleb sighed. "Let's go."

I looked at Caleb. It was a shame he dyed his hair blonde before school started. I loved his hair when it was brown. His eyes were the same shade as mine, chestnut brown.

I don't know why we're so different. I mean, he's so social and good looking and liked and I'm... not.

I mean, I'm not hated throughout or anything, but I get some hates from "self proclaiming" that I was even a bit related to Caleb.

Maybe it's because we're fraternal twins. Maybe it's because my hair is wavy light brown while his are straight blonde. Maybe it's because of my lack of communication skills. Whatever it was, no matter how much Caleb tried to convince everyone that we're actual twins, no one would believe.

And of course, not even five minutes in school and everyone starts crowding around Caleb.

I sighed. I'm used to this. Although by now, Ashton would've come up to me and...

Stop, stop it Chloe.

I admit, I was stupid. Very, very, stupid. I was 14 or 15 at that time. Ashton and I met, we hung out a while, he asked me to be his girlfriend and I accepted. Now I'm going to be 16 soon and never making the same mistake again. I groaned in frustration, making my way to the locker.

Then I stopped. To think about Ashton. I loved him so much. So. Freaking. Much. His hair, his smile, his laugh...

And his eyes. Oh god, his eyes. I can still remember them. I loved looking at them so much. Forest green. That was the shade of his eyes. They used to be my favorite color. I hit my head against my locker. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

"Hey guys, look." An annoying voice said, which made me groan. "It's the whore."

I turned to face her- them. You know those people in movies or storybooks or even in real life that are bitches and everyone hates them but pretend to like them because they are scared of what they will do back? Yeah, I know that there are lots of nice people out there but this girl...

This girl seems to be against me for some reason. I wish I knew why so that I could make it up to her, but honestly I just don't have the guts to. I don't know why.

Delaney smirked. Her best friend, Piper, copied her. I can see why Delaney is well-liked. She has this beautiful curly blonde locks that falls on her waist and dark, brown eyes. Her fashion sense is, I have to admit, really nice. She never fails to wear branded stuff.

Piper on the other hand, has auburn hair and bright, blue eyes. I heard she's a nice person, but I guess she was only following her friend's footsteps.

"Look, I don't know why you're so against me." I sighed. "But I'm really not in the mood to talk about... well... anything."

Delaney frowned. "Why? Oh, that's right. Your wittle boyfie broke up with you." She made a fake pout. "But hey, that's none of my business."

And I watched her walk away with Piper. Where did I go wrong? I don't even know why Delaney is against me, really. I really wish she'd tell me. Maybe I killed her whole family unconsciously?

And the bell rang. Honestly, I felt so so so relieved. In class, nobody can disturb me. Delaney as hell can't. Then I just realised something. She called me 'whore'. Damn, what did I do? That girl has been hating me since I dated Ashton. But why would she care? Ashton is a year older. I barely see them talk.

I shook my head, then made my way to homeroom. You know those cheesy love stories when the girl and the guy bumps into each other, then all their books fell, and when they reach down to take it, their hands touch, they make eye contact and they get up slowwwwlllyyyyy. After that, they'd make out and have sex and bla bla bla.

Yeah... that definitely wasn't my case. I bumped into a guy, yes. I dropped his books, yes. I said sorry and bend down to pick it up, yes. But I definitely did not eye-rape him.

"I am so sorry." I mumbled. Is the universe against me or something? "I wasn't looking and-"

Okay, maybe I did a little bit of eye-raping. I mean, who could blame me? He's gorgeous. He has sandy blonde hair with some brown highlights. His face is just... pure perfection.

Then I realised something that made me frown. Something that made memories of him come back. His eyes were a shade of forest green.

Forest freaking green.

Ashton. Oh god. I'm not even kidding, I am going to cry.

"Oh no, it's okay." He smiled. I tried my hardest not to look into his eyes. I tried looking everywhere. His mouth, his nose, his ears. But nothing. I can't do this.

I shook my head. I tried to run away but did it work? Of course not. He just had to grab my wrist.

"Woah there, tiger. Slow down. I haven't even gotten your name. I mean, sure, we have some classes together and I always see you around, but that doesn't mean that I know it."

I shook my head. Brayden Nicholas. How did I not know that he had forest green eyes? Oh, right. Because I didn't bother noticing other guys when I was with Ashton.

"Chloe Benson."

"Benson? Oh, you're the one rumoured to be Caleb's brother. Or, proclaimed to be, at least."

I did a small smirk. Rumoured? Proclaimed? I'm not that pathetic.

"Yeah. If you don't mind, I'm- we are late to homeroom."

Our position remained the same. He's still holding my wrist and I'm trying my best to look down or anywhere else that's not his eyes.

"Cool, cool." He said like he didn't give a damn. "So I'll see you around?"

"No." I said with a hint of hatred in my tone. Was I too harsh? Actually, I'm not even sorry. Who in the heck grab someone's hand, especially when they're in a rush?

"No?" He repeated.

"No." I confirmed.

"Why not?"

"Because I don't like you." I said through gritted teeth.

Brayden stepped back. "Woah, what did I do?"

I stopped. What did he do to make me so irritated? He didn't do anything, actually. It's just... his eyes.

Great. Now I'm hating people for things they can't control. Bless me, man.

"Nothing. Just..." I shook his hand away. "I'm late for class."

I walked away without looking back.