When Skies Align

She scowls.
He smiles.
She glowers.
He laughs.
She's cold.
He's open.
She hides with hate.
He hides with jokes.
Polar opposites.
That doesn't stop them from loving each other.

People say that some stars shine brighter than others.
Leo Caldas knew that quote by heart.
Being in a family of nine was hard. And he was the youngest. You would think, "Wow, the youngest? Lucky!" No. NOT lucky.
Leo hated being the youngest. Not only was he bullied by his older siblings, he was shoved around like the middle child.
His parents forgot he existed. They looked at him like, "Oh. He's still here." The worst part? They were divorced. Which meant he was always tossed around back and forth to each guardian, just waiting to be loved!
His other siblings- might he add were ALWAYS given attention- had found their home. Some of his siblings stayed with his mother. And the rest stayed with his father. Both permanent.
And Leo? He appreciates the concern. He went from place to place. He just couldn't find his home.
What did he do to cope?
He smiled. Instead of moping and sulking and doing what everyone else would have done, Leo Caldas smiled through it. It was all he knew how to do.

"Pain is the best teacher".
Jade Skai hated that quote with all her heart. Partly, because it was true.
Pain was the best teacher. Fear coming in halfway. What was worse? When pain decided to side with fear and work together.
She had felt both. Multiple times. And the feeling sucked.
Jade was not your normal happy sunshiny girl. No. She was cold, having a snappy tongue and a heartless nature.
That was her father's fault.
Her mother had died when Jade was born. And it tore her father apart. He now sat at home. Drinking alcohol anytime she saw him.
To add to the trauma, her father also beat her. Almost every night. For years since she turned ten. She was a very troubled girl. It wasn't her fault.