Lost in the Flames

The Twins

I wake up to the sound of things being moved.

"What's going on?" I ask rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

"Camille got adopted. Ragen moved out and Sofie didn't want to be in this room anymore. She made up stories of it being 'haunted,'" Mr. Burks informs me.

"So what. Now I'm all alone? Great," I sigh turning so my legs are hanging off the bed.

"Not entirely," she smiles. "You're getting new room mates. They should be here around noon which is why we are replacing the desk and helping Camille move out."

I nod before getting a disagreeing frown from Mrs. Burks.

"What. Do you expect me to be happy?" I ask.

"I expect you to show them the ropes. They are new here and their parents passed away last week. They are still trying to get over the traumatizing event. Just, show them some sort of feeling. Make them feel welcome," she says sitting on the edge of my bed.

"So, show them what I never got," I snap.

Her stare seems lifeless. Hurt.

"I'm sorry," I whisper.

"Make them realize they can come to you. Alright?"

"Alright."

The twins. Avory and Danielle. The are so alike that the only difference is their hair. Danielle's is a bit longer than Avory's. Brown and perfectly straight. Their brown eyes are beautiful and bright. They are super skinny, even skinnier than me. They always have their hair pinned in a braid or bun, always a treat to see how they plan to do it. They hate when they wear the same clothes. As little girls, they told me, that they made a pact to 'never, ever wear or look the same.' The lookalike part failed but I've never seen them in the same outfit.

"Umm, hi. I'm Ally Beckett," I try and sound calm and collected.

"I'm Avory, and this is my twin sister Danielle," she smiles.

"Well, looks like you'll be spending sometime here so, this is your bunk bed. You guys can fight over who gets top or bottom later," I laugh gesturing toward the bunk against the wall. "Here are two dressers, one for each and we all share this desk."

"Will you be our tour guide," Danielle laughs.

"I guess so," I admit.

"Well I'm glad," Avory says nudging Danielle's shoulder with her own.

"Well you can call me Danni and Avory doesn't really have a nickname."

"Same with me. My name is just, Ally," I say sitting on my bed.

"So, why are you here?" Avory asks, her brown eyes scanning the new room.

"My parents passed when I was two," I confess. "I guess the orphanage couldn't find any other kin so, here I am," I'm laying on my bed now, staring at the fan.

"I'm so sorry," the twins say in unison, their voices so alike they sound like one.

"It's alright, its been years. Your parents passed too I heard."

"Message travels fast," Danielle states blankly.

"Well, about a week ago, our parents died in a fire. I've had this pain in my chest knowing that just a few days ago, I was laughing at my mom for spilling sugar on the floor," Avory says pressing her hand to her chest.

My mind tries to wrap around the words that have just left the new girls lips; "our parents died in a fire." How is this even possible? Our parents dying the same way. This can't be a coincidence? Can it?

I am about to open my mouth for more information but decide against it. I'm not quite sure how its possible but, they are here for a reason...I just don't know it yet.

We sit in silence for a moment. You can feel the pain.

"Are you going to enroll in Back Woods High?" I ask breaking the painful silence.

"We already are. Do you go there?" Danielle says standing and unpacking.

"Ya, my best friend Brian drives me everyday."

"Is he cute?" Avory wiggles her eyebrows at me before helping her sister unpack.

I choke before laughing. "I don't know, maybe."

"Can we meet him?" Danielle asks zipping up the now empty suitcase.

"I guess. He can take us to school tomorrow."

"Can you show us around?" They hound me with questions.

"Sure. This way," I gesture holding the door open.