Clear As Day

Chapter 1 - Through the Eyes of Another

Laurence looked at his beautiful sister, long honey brown hair, brilliant green eyes with flecks of gold. Laura smiled, waving to the other students who screamed and clamoured for her attention. Laurence scowled, his amber eyes narrowing in disgust. He was a loner, always choosing to be by the sidelines. In truth, it wasn't his fault. The students of Rynn Academy were known across the district for always picking one out of a set of siblings. Maybe two if you were lucky, but that was only in sets of three. Laurence was the second sibling, the one left out of the crowd. He liked it that way, or at least, he told himself he did.
Amber eyes the color of honey locked with green ones flecked with gold. Laurence lowered his gaze, still scowling. He didn't want to look at his sister right now, with her perfect smile and her lovely face.
A tap on his shoulder caused Laurence to whip around, teeth bared. Another thing different about him. He'd always had sharp canine teeth, like a cat or dog. The boy behind him stepped back with his hands up in defense.
"Whoa there! It's just me, Laur." Alder, a boy with bright blue hair and grey eyes to match. He and Laurence were often seen together, so people assumed they were friends. The reality was they were less friends and more like backup calls for each other. Alder helped Laurence stay on track with his school work and Laurence updated Alder with news on the going on's in the school hierarchy. It was a good system, but none of them really knew much about each other.
"We have to go to class, come on!" Alder chirped, his Indian accent adding to his cheery persona. Laurence rolled his eyes but allowed himself a small smile.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming." He pulled his backpack over his shoulders and followed Alder to their first period class, English. Laurence didn't like the subject much. He never quite understood how you could see a story through the eyes of another with just words. Laurence thought that vocal stories and images told tales much better, since they could carry that kind of emotion in ways you didn't need to look too far into to understand.
As he sat in his chair, arms propped up on the desk and his hand moving in scribbles across the paper, Laurence continued to think about the morning. He felt a boiling hatred in his stomach, but it wasn't for his sister. No, even with her status above him he knew deep down he could never hate her. Not when she was kind and bright and loving. The way she would cast him sympathetic glances when he was teased and how she tried to get to him through the crowds. No, Laurence didn't hate Laura.
He hated the people who chose her over him. The way they would kick and beat him and keep Laura distracted so they could get away with it, even when they knew it was going to be hell to pay when she found out. How they treated the siblings of everyone else in that group of 'perfect' people. It was disgusting.
Laurence curled his hand into a fist, breathing in and out to calm himself. He flinched as the bell rang shrilly and stood up. Second period had begun and he didn't want to be late.

A resounding scream echoed across the hall. Laurence froze, pausing to see if he could recognize it. He hissed, recalling the voice, and the scream, such a familiar scream, as one belonging to another sibling of the popular group. Laurence edged around the corner, trying to see the student but not be spotted. He scowled, watching the poor girl getting smacked and beaten by a gang of groupies. Rage burned in his chest and he fought the urge to step out and defend her, but he would only make things worse.
All of a sudden, a girl with raven black hair and one dark lilac and emerald eye stepped out of a corner, her eyes blazing with anger. She pried the poor, bleeding girl away from the groupies and turned to face them. Laurence was about to warn her when one of them swung a punch, but she dodged it like it was nothing and flung them over her shoulder like a sack of flour. She turned to the rest of the group, eyes cold and enraged.
"Anyone else?"

Caila watched as the groupies surrounded the small, shaking girl. She had fiery red hair and beautiful grey eyes, but they didn't care. They mercilessly beat her, her screams of pain and desperation filling the air. Caila grit her teeth, the scene reminding her of her days before escape, being trapped in a school where independent and outspoken girls were taken daily and abused until they were subservient and broken. She's only just escaped by listening to her parents and feigning obedience.
One of the groupies gave a twisted smile, "Ugly b*tch. No wonder people hate you. Your sister should be ashamed."
Ashamed. The word rang through her head like a chant, memories resurfacing of her first beating for speaking out to the teacher on something they'd done incorrectly. She looked at her wrist and saw the puckered white scar.
You should be ashamed of yourself!
Caila's eyes flared and she stepped out from the corner, rage pulsing in her blood as she saw the poor girl, bleeding and battered. That's it! They should know what happens if they ever use that word again... She shoved the boy off the girl and pushed her away gently, hearing her footsteps fading as she ran away. Teeth bared and eyes flaming, she turned back to the group. One of them swung at her, but she sidestepped and sent him flying.
Idiot, doesn't know how to control his weight. Bet he never fought someone who could fight back before. She locked eyes with the other group members, her glare pointed and venomous.
"Anyone else? Or have I made my point?" Her voice was cool, cutting with an icy rage in her bones. Her eyes were hard chips of lilac and emerald ice, dark and threatening. She wasn't scared, not of these people, not of expulsion or suspension. She'd been through so many punishments much worse than anyone here could even imagine for even an offense like this. And those were for small discrepancies.
The group slowly backed away, eyes filled with a mixture of awe and terror. Finally, they had found someone who fought back. Someone who wouldn't put up with their bullsh*t.
Caila smiled coldly. Good, now they've learned their lesson. She growled as they left.
"And never use the word shame again."