Twins

High School 2004

Lili moved to our school, after her parents divorce and her busy father boarded her at our school. Coming to study here at St John's School at fifteen would be hard to cement a solid group of friends - like any other groups in life, and newcomer would feel at a lost. Her mother is Italian while her father is English, she is rather taller than many girls in school. I noticed her as she joined my GCSE Biology, Maths and French class. Her name strikes foreign, her brunette beauty is a stand out. She's demure, and classy yet simple.

She sat next to me, as a third generation Scottish in South East England nerd in school. 'Hi, I'm Robert,' I smiled at her.

She smiled back at me, and extended her hand for a friendly yet formal handshake. 'Elisabetta, but you may call me Lili.'

'Have you made any new friends here?'

I thought I'd introduce her to my friends since our earlier years at St John's. They are twins Henry and Harold, Fiona,  Pauline - the closest in my inner circle, we have our outer circle too: Wesley, Benedict and Georgia.

'Not really,' she sounded rather modest. She's beautiful but I don't think she knows it.

'You may join me and my friends,' I offered.

'That's really kind of you, sure.' Her smile is beautiful like a daisy - pure, natural and sincere.

Biology class went on for an hour before lunch break, and I felt excited to introduce her to our friend group. 'Are you coming,' trying not to impose though I do hope she accepts my invitation.

'What are you friends like?' A normal question, it is normal to feel timid and wary to the unknown. Firstly, I'm Robert, you may call me Rob. I'm gay, but I'm not in your face about it, as you see I do like other men but I don't date my male friends and I love fashion. I showed her my Armani messenger bag, and she smiled at it.

I gave her my head signal that we should walk to the cafeteria, where she can meet my friends and for us to welcome her in to the fold. We walked along as I told her who they are one by one.

Fiona is lovely, you'd love her company. Elisabetta is an Italian name, you might love Fiona's company. She's a the daughter of a French diplomat, since it's towards university her parents boarded her already as they leave London for an Asian posting. Fiona will gladly explain to you why her name is Irish.

There's Pauline, a lovely English girl, she feels left out at school that's why she is in our friend group. I'm Scottish. Pauline cares a lot about her looks, and university for her is just a way to find more guys. You'd like her, she's full of fun.

The twins Henry and Harold, the athletic duo. Henry is rugby guy whom almost every girl here likes, I'm lucky to be close friends with him - it makes our group of friends look cool. But there's more to him than sports, he's very heads on, he just doesn't care about the every female onlooker he has. Getting in to Oxford is something he'd prefer, than being friendly to his doting female admirers.

His three minutes younger than him twin in Harold. He's also in to sports but more on water polo, he cares a lot about his friends and more open to women. He wouldn't mind not getting in to Oxford, and truly he's outgoing.

Between the twins, you'd go to Henry for advice while you'd you go to Harold for party invites.

As we are nearing the table, my friends have spotted us. Henry is easily noticeable with his 6'3 frame, though Harold is also tall but Henry is 2 inches taller despite being identitical twins. Twins normally would have their discrepancies as they age, one would be taller, the other might be hotter.

When we finally reached the table, only Henry and Fiona were seated. 'Where's Harold and Pauline?'

'They're getting sandwiches for lunch, so they had gone out,' Fiona said as she types a text message on her Nokia 6600.

'Oh let me introduce you to Elisabetta, one of the new students.'

I noticed Henry's distraction towards her beauty, he looked bemused.

'I'm Henry,' he sounded rather awkward not because he's shy around women. He is shy around Lili, someone who hasn't attempted to throw a condom on to him.

'Fiona,' she smiled amicably and sincerely, her eyes were squinting. 'I believe we are together in English, French and Italian classes. I saw your name in my class list,' she looks excited to find a new friend. Being the only French girl at school, it must have been exciting to meet a fellow romantic European.

'Enchanté,' Lili said and I can tell that they have that naturally chemistry and that connection.

'It's good to find someone to speak French in England, it's not easy.' Fiona was true to herself around Lili.

'My mother is from Piedmont,' she said in a French accent, 'a former part of France.'

'There's are Italians in school, but don't worry,' Fiona winked at her.

'I know. Vittoria, Cecilia and their group of friends. They're from Milan, Cecilia approached me earlier inviting me to their group of friends. She's too jovial for me that I find it rather insincere. Perhaps she's sincere, but Vittoria is cold and so was Carlotta. Cecilia is a bit too loud for me. After all I'm only half Italian... maybe part French. My grandmother is named after a French town.'

The fact that Lili has given her attention more to Fiona, another brunette beauty, instead of the handsome athletic Henry - the more he noticed her. His eyes were fixated on her, not in a lustful way. He looked intrigued and interested as if he wanted to explore her. Henry became busy in his thoughts and looking at Lili, he had forgotten about me but I can understand that's why I forgave.

I elbowed Henry, 'are you alright?'

'Dude,' he whispered as if he was trying not to be obvious at liking Lili. Even though it is very obvious.

'You're a bit too silent,' I said softly trying. Fiona and Lili were busy talking anyway for them to even notice Henry.

'She's beautiful,' Henry and I had been close friends since ten, thus he can be open towards me.

'I know,' I nodded.

'Would you ask her out?' I asked as I took a piece of chip and drank a bit of apple juice.

'No, I don't want to scare her away.'

His reply had caught my attention, he did see something very special about her for him to really get to know her deeply and well.