Thorns & Horns

Chapter Four

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•••

The whole car ride to school lasted in an awkward silence. I could tell my brother wanted to tell me something, but he couldn't speak on it.

He pulled up on the side of the street. Just as I was about to get out, Josh's voice stopped me.

"We lost someone to you know?"

I paused, not moving from my seat. I knew others were suffering from my brothers death, but they weren't suffering like I was. They didn't know what it felt like to lose their other half. I shared a womb with my twin brother, we grew up together, never separated from each other. Except now. These six months have been the hardest for me. Because I was missing a piece of myself.

"We're all suffering just the same too Hadley."

I didn't even glance at my brother as I let the words flow from my mouth. "I don't see you going to therapy for it."

And with that I hopped out of the car and slammed the door before my brother could respond to me.

As I walked to the school entrance, I heard the distant fade of my brothers car.

I knew I was shutting him out. I was shutting everyone out, but I felt better alone in my thoughts.

I didn't know if that was a bad thing or not.

As I walked into the school, I noticed people didn't stare as much as they did on my first day here. I felt a sense of relief. I hated being the center of attention. My brother loved it. He was known around in this school, so I knew he was missed dearly by many of these students.

When I reached to my locker, I noticed Stephanie was missing. So I shot her a quick text asking where she was.

A ding echoed in the hall. I reminded myself to put my phone on silence so it didn't get snatched in the middle of one of my classes.

I read over the text message from Stephanie, and my face dropped.

Steph: Sick. Won't be at school today.

Great.

Stephanie was literally my only friend in this school. Literally. I talked to no one else besides the West boys, but I know they would make no effort to talk to me. Neither would I make the effort to talk to them.

I gave out a sigh before grabbing my things for my next class. Today was going to be a long day.

•••

Since Stephanie was gone today, I had to sit by myself at lunch. Exciting.

I made my way to the lunch line, and grabbed a tray of food. Even though I wouldn't eat anything on it.

As I found an empty table, I sat down and pulled out my phone. Since I was seated by myself, I had no one to talk to. So I would pass the time playing a game on my phone.

I heard one of the chairs at my table move as someone seated their selves across from me. I didn't glance up at them, I was to captured into my game.

"Not hungry?"

By how deep the voice was, the stranger that decided to sit with me was a guy. How lovely.