A New Life

3: New Faces

The first week passed quickly. Oliver took me shopping for new clothes and other things I needed. I didn't want him to spend so much money on me and I didn't know how to thank him. But he just said that seeing a smile on my face was all he needed, which I found weird. So I picked out clothes to humour him, picked out more books to humour me and when he offered to buy me more art utensils I almost cried in gratitude. He and Nick were the kindest people I knew and I could see they were still very much in love. It was endearing to catch them sneak glances at each other sometimes and I found myself wishing for a relationship like theirs. On my fourth day I had found them in a heated make out session in the kitchen. I had blushed and retreated back into my room. They didn't know I had seen them and I was too embarrassed to tell them. I mean, it's not like I have a problem with them being gay, but I mean, Nick had Oliver lifted up onto the kitchen surface, kissing him hotly and his hand was creeping dangerously close to Oliver's butt and I... well... you would be uncomfortable if you caught your parents in a situation like that, right? Not that they were my parents but I guess in a way they were now.

-

On Sunday we were sitting in the car to go to Nick's football game. We were dressed in his team's colours and I had bought some face paint and painted their logo onto our cheeks or as in Fin's case his whole face. He looked kinda funny, I have to say. Oliver was driving us; Nick was already there. I was sitting in the back with Fin. He was babbling on and trying to explain the game to me. But as hard as I tried I couldn't understand it. Fin himself was in the football team at school, as well as basketball and running. Thinking about it, I turned to stare out of the window. I was dreading Monday, I didn't want to go to school; I was afraid that the others wouldn't want anything to do with me, but at the same time I wanted nothing more than to avoid all people and be alone. But for today I buried my worries deep within me, for Fin and Oliver and Nick.

-

We arrived at the big stadium and parked the car. Oliver led us to a back entrance, because he wanted to see Nick before he started the game. We followed him through corridors lit up with a sickening blue-white light until we reached a red door. Oliver opened it and I could immediately smell that this was a men's changing room. Sweat, deodorant and that husky smell of men crushed down on me like a wave. I choked and had to adjust for a second before stepping inside. Fin was looking at me in a weird way.

"What? Just because you don't smell the reek coming out of this room." I shrugged, Fin was still giving me a look. "It stinks." I deadpanned. He laughed and then followed me inside. Oliver had already found Nick and was talking to him. When they noticed us, Nick smiled broadly and Oliver turned to us. We walked up to them, to have Nick slinging his arms around both our shoulders. It still made me uncomfortable but he did it so many times the last week, I had kind of grown used to it.

"So, kiddos, you excited?"

"Definitely! I can't wait!" Fin exclaimed.

"Well, as soon as I actually understand the game, I will probably cheer for you." I said seriously. Nick threw his head back and laughed. His teammates that had heard my response chuckled and turned back to what they had been doing.

"Okay, guys. Nick gave me our tickets. We can go to our seats now." Oliver told us, gave us each a ticket and motioned for us to go ahead. When we were at the door, I turned around to see Oliver giving Nick one last kiss and then following us out. He saw that I'd seen their kiss and a blush spread on his cheeks. I only smiled at him.

I followed a very excited and buzzing Fin to our seats that were in the VIP area. At first I wondered why, but then I remembered that Nick was the star in this stadium tonight so we'd obviously be sitting there. I wondered if I would ever get used to that. When we found our seats we sat down and I let my gaze sweep across the arena. The seats were slowly filling and I could just sense the vibrating excitement in the air. Everyone was looking forward to this game, which would decide if Nick's team could compete in the world championships. From what I had heard from Fin they had a good chance to do so. After a while I could sense Fin stiffening. I looked at him questioningly but his eyes were trained on the entrance. I looked around and saw a girl enter. She was about our age and to be fair she was kinda pretty. Blond hair flowing down her back, blue eyes piercing and her make-up immaculate. She was skinny and her legs went on forever. The only thing was that her skirt was a tad on the 'short' side and her cleavage left nothing to the imagination. Her legs were bare and her feet stuck in a pair of high heels. An expensive looking mobile in her hand and a definitely expensive handbag dangling on her arm. She looked around the VIP area in a bored way until her eyes landed on Fin.

"Fin!" oh god, her voice. It was, to say the least, annoying. A high-pitched, kind of screeching voice. I looked at Fin and raised an eyebrow. He groaned and the stood up to greet the Barbie.

"Isabelle. How are you? What are you doing here?" I could hear he was struggling to keep the polite tone in his voice.

"I'm good, better now that I've seen you though. I'm here to watch my cousin play. He gave me the tickets for my birthday. I love this game!" It was very obvious that she actually hated this game and I could hear the fake excitement in her voice.

"Isabelle, I don't believe you've met Isla yet." He turned to me and grabbed my hand to pull me up. I let him and stood next to him. I put my best friendly face on even though I already disliked her.

"Isla, this is Isabelle. Isabelle, this is my twin Isla." Isabelle's eyes widened. She looked at me and I could see her dislike for me in her eyes.

"It's nice to meet you, Isabelle." I smiled and extended a hand. Isabelle reached for it hesitantly and fake-smiled back.

"Same here. I didn't know you had a sister, Fin?"

"Yes, you did. So stop trying to make conversation and go to your seat." Isabelle looked snubbed at Fin's remark and said her good-byes. She left to sit across the room from us. I turned to Fin and only raised an eyebrow in question.

"She's a bitch. What can I say?" he shrugged and smirked. "Besides she thinks she can get every guy at school and she probably has had every guy at the school, the older ones anyways, and now she has made it her goal to make me her next conquest. I don't think so." He looked annoyed and I laughed. After a few moments he joined me though.

"You have to admit, it is quite funny. Why would anyone go for her?"

"Issi, that's a question I've been asking myself since I started school here. Has to be an American guy thing." He shrugged again and sat back down. I joined him and waited for the game to start. When it did, I was glad I came.