Life after you

Chapter 1 - Back to the land of the living

Ainsley

I got home and Stella was already getting ready to leave for the hospital. She was a doctor and she worked the E.R. It was terrible hours, but she said she saved lives every day there, and that was the reason she became a doctor, so she had to deal with the lack of sleep and social life. Stella had this gorgeous long, curly, dark blonde hair, just like her twin Riley. But she was much taller than Riley, and had a much leaner figure. They had the same face, but totally different bodies. I looked at Stella's long, thin legs inside tight black skinny jeans and her tiny waist and flat stomach, covered with a classic white button up. Riley was more like me. Her body was voluptuous, but there was not much fat there either. Her hips were wider, and her bottom fuller. Her waist was smaller than Stella's but her breasts were tiny in comparison. Where she lacked boobs, she had ass. Just like me.

   Stella caught me staring and gave me a wink.

   - "You hitting on me, gorgeous?" - Her smirk was full of mock.

   -"Absolutely. You look hot doctor lady" - I answered mockingly. 

   - "Not too messy?" - She asked while she put her curls up in a messy bun.

   - "Not at all. You working all night?" I already knew the answer. Yeah, she was. She didn't say anything. She grimaced and grabbed her purse. 

   -" Well, I cooked. Eat something tonight will 'ya? I even made that tea you like so much and put it in the fridge." - She pointed at the oven and walked to the door. - "I gotta go. Be good 'cuz"

   And with that, she left. I went into my room and started stripping. In the bathroom, I dropped my robe and stared at the mirror. I looked tired. My hair was really short, hitting only my chin, as dark as ever, raven black. I'd cut it and dyed it the day after Noah kicked me out. It used to be dark blond like the twins. My eyes looked odd to me. Grey, with blue specks. They were too big for my face and made me look like a Japanese anime character. I had long lashes tho. I liked that. My mouth and nose were okay. Nothing out of the ordinary, really. I had really pale skin, and some freckles around my nose and cheekbones. I had no makeup, I had given up on it for the past month. Somehow, I looked half dead. 

   What had Noah done to me? 

   I was a shadow of the person I had once been. I made mistakes, but I didn't deserve this. It was time to start living again. I have no idea why I decided on it, that day. But I did. I took out some face masks out of the bathroom cabinet and started putting them on my face. I shaved all of my body and washed my hair thoroughly, adding hydrating masks. After everything was hydrated, I straightened my hair to perfection and put on a plaid yellow and black school girl-type skirt with black tights, a black turtleneck and black booties.  As I was staring into the mirror again, I looked more like myself with each step. I grabbed my phone and texted Riley.

ME: Babe, wanna grab some dinner?

RILEY: Hell yeah, I DO! Where 'r u?

ME: Stella's.

RILEY: K, let's grab sushi then. I'll pick u up in 20.

ME: See u than.

   I smiled at my phone, happy that she was so available. I put on some concealer to try to hide the massive dark circles underneath my eyes. Some mascara and peach blush. I even added a light burgundy lip. 20 minutes later, as promised, Riley waltzed inside the apartment looking adorable and sexy all at the same time, wearing a  cute denim overall dress with a striped sweater underneath and black vans. 

   - "Hey babyy" - She sang running to hug me, lifting me up from the floor a bit - "Uh, I missed you, you agoraphobic maniac!" The laugh she gave me with the accusation was so sincere I had to ignore that hit. I missed her too. It's been almost 3 weeks since I had the strength to go out and Riley had been busy with work and life, like a normal person would be. 

   - "I know. I'm awake now and I'm ready to return to the land of the living" - I spat with sarcasm and twirled so she could see I had made an effort.

   - "Yeah you are babe! And you look HOOT" - She exaggerated.

   - "For real?" - I wasn't so sure. I felt weird. - "Don't you fucking lie to me Riles"

   - "Oh my God, you are paranoid, for real! I promise!" - She said throwing her hands up in the air in frustration - "Cross my heart"

   - "Hope to die." - I whispered - "Let's just go Riles, I'm starving"

 Ethan

I was once again dragged to a sushi restaurant against my will. My annoying mother was currently obsessing about oriental food, and this month it was sushi, which made the mandatory Friday night dinners more than undesirable. I liked sushi just fine, but my mother has a way of ruining things for me. 

 - "I got the job" - I said loudly, making her look away from the menu and glare at me. - "The Samsung job" - I clarified.

 - "I figured. Darling I just don't get why you would want to work for a company like that when your father has been grooming you to take over the family business all your life" - She said with a dismissive tone. - "We both know you will get bored with this "normal" life you insist on living. Why you are annoyed with our family's money is beyond me!" I looked at her with my mouth hanging open. This woman absolutely ignored me, because I had explained this over and over. It was exhausting.

- "Oh mother. Not this again, please" - I sighed heavily.

- "Darling, is your trust fund not enough?"

- "Mother, I barely touch my trust. You should know this." - This conversation was so tiring I was ready to leave. I looked around the restaurant looking for the nearest exit so I could go smoothly without my mother coming after me in those 12cm heels.
I couldn't believe my eyes tho. Just across the room, sitting on the middle section was the girl from earlier today. She looked different. When I saw her the first time, I didn't really need to know how to go to Samsung, I was just curious about her. She had a sad look in her eyes and kept staring at her boots, as if she looked hard enough she could will herself to go inside the metro station. She was beautiful.
Now, she looked radiant. As if she washed the pain away. Her short, dark hair framed her face like a fallen angel. She had huge eyes, and longer lashes. Even from where I was sitting, I could see how beautiful they were. Just like a living, angelical doll.
I'm gonna lie, she also had a fucking great body, although I couldn't see it now, I could tell her skirt was short. Shit, the only thing I would change was the dark lipstick. But then again, maybe not. She pulled it off.
I could vaguely hear my mother's voice begging for attention, but I stoped listening as soon as I laid eyes on her.

Fuck.

I have to talk to her.