ANAMOLY - STANFORD PINES.

RISE

The sounds of the rain were all Iris could hear as well as her record player but the loud sounds of the rain silenced it quite a bit. It was early in the morning which meant it was time for school. Iris didn't particularly hate school; she was smart but it was annoying to stay in a stuffy class with other students all day long. Either everybody was stupid or annoying so that meant she had no friends at all.

At schools, girls tend to bully her for her birthmark. It was a huge red splotch over her eye, covering half of her face. She wasn't insecure about it but it was annoying having girls bug her about it.

Iris simply sighed and got ready for school. Pulling the coat over her shoulders, adjusting her glasses, and checking her hair once more; she nodded and headed out of her room.

Exiting her room she noticed that the house was eerily dark. The low voices of their broken TV buzzed throughout the home. The smell of smoke filled the house, heading towards the living room, Iris was met with her mother. Iris loved her mother. But most of the time she didn't, It was complicated.

Her mother didn't spare her a glance, only lifting the cigarette to her mouth and inhaling the toxic smoke. Iris grabbed her backpack from beside the couch, checking through it to ensure her things were in order. Once she checked everything she slung her backpack over her shoulders.

"Get me some cigarettes on your way home." Her mother mumbled under her breath and slid a couple of bills towards her. Iris meekly nodded and took the money, stuffing it in her pocket. Iris checked herself once more then rushed out of the house. Trying her best to save herself from the rain.

The sounds of a car's motor sputtered harshly, the car barely on its last limb. Iris ran up to the car and jumped in. Her older sister, Sherri, scoffed, "What took you so damn long?" Iris only shrugged off her backpack, placing it by her feet. Sherri sighed, reaching over and she harshly pinched her sister's cheek. Iris smacked her sister's hand away, "Mom held me back, told me she wanted me to buy her a pack."

Sherri drove out of the driveway, heading towards Iris's middle school. "What? I'll do that instead," Iris nodded, reaching into her pocket for the money but Sherri waved her off. "Keep that, Buy yourself something with that." Iris slowly nodded her head and leaned back in the passenger seat.

Before they knew it they were in front of her school. Iris sighed and Sherri chuckled. "Come on, get out, Kid. I got places to be too." Iris looked up at her sister in defeat. Sherri sighed, leaning down she placed a kiss on her sister's head. "If those girls bother you again, tell me so I can beat their sorry asses up, you hear me?"

Iris laughed lightly, "You don't have to do that. I can beat them up myself." Sherri smirked and pushed her lightly. "I know you can, now get the hell out of here." Iris laughed again, opening the car door she spared her sister one last look and then rushed into the school.

School went by unexpectedly fast. Iris had successfully managed to avoid those bullies. Then sixth period rolled in, science. Iris sat in her seat which was behind the class, feeling eyes on her, she turned around and looked around the room. Shrugging it off she went back to paying attention to the teacher. Science was easy but Iris didn't enjoy it. She excelled in all of her classes, Margo didn't know where she got her brain probably from 'All that liquor our Ma drank when you were still in her stomach.' So she said herself.

"---Iris Cruz, Stanley Pines, and Stanford Pines will be paired together."

Before she could ask the teacher what was going on, other teenagers' loud voices erupted in conversation. The loud sounds of chairs and tables screeching against the tiled floor. As she looked around for her partners she saw identical twins looking straight at her, waving her over. Iris sighed, sliding off the chair she placed her backpack on the table and pushed it to where the twins were.

Getting herself settled once more she was faced with the twins, she'd seen them around before but she never got to know them. Iris knew bullies pestered them too but she never knew why. Maybe she'll find out now... But it was awkwardly silent, "I'm sorry but why are we being paired up again?" Iris spoke up, her finger tapped on the wooden desk.

The twin with unkempt hair looked up, shrugging at her, and turned to his lookalike, "Huh? I dunno, Why are we Ford?"

'Ford' looked up and made eye contact with Iris when he did he immediately looked down, his face flushed. Iris looked at him confused for a second but then shrugged him off. "Well, we're supposed to create the solar system." Stanley groaned and leaned back in his chair. "Ugh, boring."

It sounded like an easy project, she didn't get why he was complaining, science teachers have been assigning this project for years now. So it won't be hard to finish, it'll just take some time. Iris leaned over for her backpack, taking out her notebook. Skimming through pages she found a blank page and settled it on the table. "Alright let's get this done."

Stanford leaned to take a look at her notebook, Iris was sketching out a rough draft of what the project could look like. Stanley only watched from afar, letting the smart kids do all the work. Once Iris was finished she turned the notebook to Stanford. "Here, Do you have something you want to put in?"

Stanford glanced up at her and nodded. "May I see your pencil?" Iris nodded, handing the wooden pencil to the twin. Stanford hesitantly reached forward for the pencil; half of him thought Iris would freak out about his extra finger or look at him with disgust but when he took the pencil from her, she didn't even acknowledge it. He let out a sigh of relief and fixed the sketch here and there.

Hence the project started. It was due in two weeks so they had enough time. Once class ended, Iris was quick to pack her things and run out the door. But unbeknownst to her a pair of twins were quick on their feet, following right behind her.