"Your little triangle of nerds has decreased to a lonesome solo."
My head cranes up to look at Laurance. My math book is thrown carelessly into my locker, creating a thud, before I turn back to him. "Damn, you woke up and chose to be an asshole."
He doesn't find my words to be amusing. Laurance must've quickly learned of the twin's disappearance because he's at my locker before lunch has even started. He normally walks with Garroth, so it's surprising that he's here with me. "There are some days where I decide to be a good brother. Other days, I come to the conclusion that that's stupid and to pick on a sister. Cadenza's at college, sooooo. . ."
I roll my eyes. If I made that comment, he'd fake being offended and tattle on me to our friends. He's a big baby. Sometimes I wonder how he's older than I.
Laurance begins to make a comment about how Zianna made me lunch and pulls it out of his bag. He hands it to me, saying that Garroth gave it to him. I smile at the brown paper bag before slipping my backpack over my shoulder. Zianna quickly found out that Kandi and I were swapping lunches, so Vylad showed up one day with a lunch that had my name on it. I get little notes and everything.
It's the little things.
"Where are the other two anyway?"
Laurance ends up walking me to our lunch table. It's a lengthy walk because my locker is farther from the cafeteria, but I'm thankful I'm at least on the same floor. Others aren't as lucky.
"They're at some academic conference. Phoenix Drop was invited, and they wanted a few people to go that they deemed to be prime examples of amazing students. The two Ro'meaves were chosen."
"Were only two allowed to go?" Laurance asks, looking down at me. We somehow make it to the table before others. Laurance still has to go into line for his lunch, but he's willing to be late because of our conversation.
"No. They just wanted some people. The school spread it around the four grades. Two to three people each."
"Why weren't you invited?"
I can't help but to fall silent. I know the answer to this. It's just not a good one. My fingers stumbled over the folded up top of the brown bag. I can hear the paper crinkle under my grasp.
When I refuse to answer, Laurance presses me for answers before more of the others come to the table. Before Garroth comes to the table. He goes on to explain why I would be a good candidate. If they allowed three to go, it was unfair for me not to. We share the same GPA. We're good students, and moved up a grade. The three of us do community service together. There's just one thing that we don't all have.
"Laur, my last name isn't Ro'meave." This causes him to go silent. He sits down in the chair slowly and nearly misses. He wasn't looking for a chair. "The school didn't have to explain that to me. Their reason was vague, but I'm not stupid. Garte and Zianna donate a generous sum to the school every year. The last name is well known everywhere you go. That damn company. They'd be stupid not to take them. Stupider to take just Vylad and put me in Kandi's place. Can you imagine Garte's reaction to hear that she was a substitute for me? We both know he'd go batshit because of what it can do to the name."
His face is pale. It's like Laurance has grown ill suddenly. Almost like there's guilt for the name we fell under.
"Did you tell Vylad?"
"Vylad doesn't need to know."
"Al-"
"Vylad doesn't need to know. They don't need to be-they don't need to be reminded of what their name does."
Laurance drops the conversation after that. Seconds later, Garroth comes and sits down in his spot after making a confused comment as to why Laurance didn't walk with him. Laurance fakes a happy face and jokes around before getting food of his own. Garroth and I lock eyes, but there isn't a connection anymore. He's first to break away, leaving me to look down at the bag I messed with.
How does a stare that was once filled with mutual affection turn into one of strangers?
You may not be with the other two, but that doesn't mean you're any less intelligent. The school would be gloating if they had all three of you going. Keep your head up. <3
I wonder if Zianna knows.
°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°
It was a one-day trip. Vylad and Kandi were back by that evening. It's a Friday night, and Vylad insisted I come over to continue our daily occurrence of working on homework together. I don't mind it. Dad is working late today, and Laurance went out with some friends. I would've been alone anyway.
Vylad and Kandi were quick to explain how the conference was over dinner. I couldn't help but fall silent as we ate. Zane snickered once or twice, making fun of the "nerd convention," as he called it. Garroth was quick to scold, but Vylad made comments of how he didn't care. Kandi didn't pay much attention to his words anyway. Zane was quick to pick up on my silence and rubbed salt into the wound.
"I'm sorry about Zane," Vylad says, sighing as he sits on his bed. The wax from his candles have formed into a hard solid since he used them this evening.
I try my hardest to act like it doesn't bother me. I giggle and shrug it off. This proves my blonde stereotype even more. "I'm just glad it went well for you two today. How many schools did you say were invited?"
"Laurance told me what happened." I freeze. "Al, I didn't know. If we had known-"
"It's fine. I didn't care about that stupid conference anyway. I'm happy for you two. You deserve it. Working hard and all. Being smart." I tap my finger against the side of my temple with a wink.
That's a lie.
I'm pulled forward onto Vylad's lap. He wraps his arms around my torso and has my back pressed against his chest. His chin is bony against the top of my head. My heart beats faster. He can't see my blushing face.
"Maybe the others are right."
"What?"
"I feel butterflies."