Glimmer & Gleam Duet

Chapter 1

ONE

Every bad decision I’ve ever made started with a night like this—thick air, quiet streets, and a twin sister who should’ve stayed home.

At night, Phoenix feels like a secret, the kind that promises trouble if you’re stupid enough to go looking for it. Rosalee and I walk side by side down the cracked sidewalk while she tugs nervously at her glittery jacket, her eyes darting to every shadow as if something might jump out at us.

She’s always been like this, ever since we were kids—cautious and careful. Meanwhile, I’ve always been the one dragging her into trouble. We balance each other out, her caution and my recklessness.

“Can we go home already?” she pleads. “I really want to stay with this family until we age out. I’m so done with moving around.”

I scoff, waving a hand as if to brush away her worries. “Oh, come on, they don’t even know we’re gone.” I try to sound carefree, but my words only make her frown deepen.

That’s my sister, constantly worrying about the consequences.

I’ve never been that way. Consequences are a problem for tomorrow’s Novalee. Tonight’s Novalee wants to feel something other than the dull ache of routine.

“Yeah, it’s not like we have a reputation or anything,” she mutters, rolling her eyes. Her sarcasm hides her concern, but I know she’s probably right.

Still, I grin and bump her shoulder with mine, trying to lighten the mood. “I have a reputation. You can stay home if you want.” I say it lightly, but a part of me wishes she would. Rosalee doesn’t belong in these places, these sketchy corners I drag her into.

She’s too good, too pure.

She’s also stubborn as hell.

“As if I’d let you go out and do shit without me,” she mutters but then laughs, the tension easing from her face as she hooks her pinky around mine. “From the cradle to the grave, remember?”

I squeeze her pinky, feeling that familiar swell of love for her. “Yeah, I remember.” And I do. Rosalee has always been there. She’s my constant, my mirror image. Even when we’re at odds, she’s the one steady thing in my life. “Seriously, you worry too much. This neighborhood’s not so bad.”

Rosalee glances around, her brow furrowed with doubt. “This place looks sketchy as hell.”

“That’s because you don’t know it yet,” I say, shrugging. “You were never afraid in the last place we lived.”

We went out like this almost every night, but it was different there. It felt more like a home, even if it was temporary. We had friends, people who watched out for us. Here, we’re two more faces in a sea of strangers.

No one knows us. No one cares.

“True,” she admits, but her eyes still dart around nervously. “This place looks even rougher, though.”

“Maybe next time you shouldn’t wear your glittery jacket when we sneak out,” I tease, nudging her with my elbow. “You’re shining like a disco ball.”

She huffs and lets go of my pinky to tug the jacket tighter around her. “Not everyone’s favorite color can be black.”

I laugh, a genuine one that’s swallowed by the empty street. “Touché.”

Rosalee sees the world in colors, sparkles, and glitter while I see it in shades of gray and black.

As we walk, the distant thrum of a bass beat reaches my ears, growing louder with every step. I perk up, my senses honing in on the source of the sound as I increase my pace. “That sounds fun.”

Rosalee hesitates, her steps slowing as she grabs my hand. “You don’t know that. Maybe they’re all criminals.”

“Come on. Let’s at least have a look.”

We follow the music until we turn a corner and spot a garage with its doors wide open and neon lights spilling out onto the street. It’s packed with people, some around our age, others older, their silhouettes moving and swaying to the beat of the music.

Rosalee hangs back, her hand gripping mine tighter. “I think I was right.”

“Well, maybe we look like criminals to them,” I joke, squeezing her hand in reassurance.

We stand there for a moment, taking in the scene. People laughing, dancing, and living in the moment. I feel a pull, a strange sense of belonging, and I’m about to step forward when a voice cuts through the noise.

“Hey! You two wanna join, or are you just gonna stand there judging us?”

I turn to see a guy leaning casually against the garage wall. He pushes himself off and walks over to us, his gaze locking onto me with an intensity that makes my heart skip a beat.

He’s about our age, maybe a little older, and he’s cute in a rugged sort of way.

He’s got a mop of unruly blond hair that falls over his forehead, and he’s dressed in all black with a worn leather jacket clinging to his lean frame.

But it’s his eyes that catch me—ice-blue and piercing—the kind of eyes that seem to see right through you.

“Never seen you around here before,” he says smoothly.

Rosalee tugs at my hand, ready to bolt. “Yeah, we were just about to leave.”

But I can’t stop looking at him. Something about the way he stands there, so sure of himself, draws me in. He notices, and a slow smirk spreads across his face like he’s used to having this effect on girls.

“Got something to drink here?” I ask, more to keep him talking than anything else.

He chuckles, nodding toward the back of the garage. “We do, but only for friends. And I don’t even know your name.”

“Novalee,” I share quickly. “And that’s Rosalee.”

“The twins, Novalee and Rosalee.” He raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Sounds like your parents are creative people.”

I snort. “They were drug addicts, so honestly, I’m glad we’re not named Crystal and Meth.”

He bursts out laughing, and it’s the best sound I’ve ever heard. It has a hint of something wild underneath. He looks at me, eyes twinkling with amusement. “You’re trouble, aren’t you?”

I shrug, playing it cool despite my pulse hammering in my ears. “What’s your name?”

“Ace.” He leans in a little closer, his breath smelling faintly of alcohol, and his lips are curled into that same damn smirk.

“Your parents are pretty creative people, too, huh?”

“You have no idea.” He slips an arm around my shoulder as if we’ve known each other forever. “Let’s get you something to drink, friend.”

He starts to lead me toward the crowd, but when Rosalee lets go of my hand, I stop in my tracks, and we glance back at her.

She’s standing there, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, and I give her a pleading look.

She sighs, then shoots Ace a glare and steps closer to me, gripping my hand tightly once more.

“I don’t wanna stay here, Nova,” she whisper-shouts over the music.

Ace just grins. “Oh, come on, Glitter, don’t be like that.”

I grin and lean into Ace a little more, wrapping my free arm around his waist. It’s clear he’s already picked up on the fact that Rosalee needs a bit of coaxing to come out of her shell.

“Yeah, Glitter, don’t be like that,” I tease, feeling the warmth of his body against mine as Rosalee’s glare turns into a reluctant smile.

While we walk, I slip my hand into Ace’s back pocket and swipe his phone.

It’s always good to have more than one.

Or I could sell it for a few bucks.

His fault for getting that close to strangers.

We step inside the garage, where the music pounds louder and the crowd presses in closer.

Rosalee glances around, her eyes landing on a table covered with red Solo cups. “You got red wine?”

“You’re funny.” Ace laughs, grabs a couple of cups, and hands one to each of us.

Just as I’m about to take a sip, Rosalee stops me with a hand on my wrist, sniffing her cup suspiciously. Ace rolls his eyes and takes the cups back, taking a big gulp from each to prove they’re safe.

“Better?” he asks as he hands them back to us.

Rosalee still doesn’t look convinced. “I don’t know if it’s better to get roofied or to have your saliva in my cup.”

Ace laughs again, shaking his head. “Your sister doesn’t like me, does she?”

Rosalee’s glare intensifies. She’s clearly unimpressed by any of this, but I’m having too much fun to care.

“It’s not that. She doesn’t like anybody but me.” I grin, finally taking a sip of my drink, the strong liquid burning down my throat.

Whiskey?

“Huh.” Ace tilts his head, those ice-blue eyes still fixed on me. “I don’t think I like anybody anymore except for you, either.”

Fuck, I don’t think I’ve ever felt my heart flutter like that.

We drink for a short while, talking and laughing, the energy between us crackling with something I can’t quite put my finger on.

Rosalee keeps glancing at her watch, and finally, she nudges me. “Nova, it’s late. We have our first day tomorrow.”

I glance at Ace, feeling a strange reluctance to leave. “You in school tomorrow too?” I ask. “We’re new… would be good to know someone.”

Ace chuckles, shaking his head. “No, but I’m here every night.” His eyes linger on mine in a way that makes my stomach flip.

I nod, a little disappointed but not surprised. We stand up to go, but when I reach into my pocket to check my phone, my hand comes up empty. Patting my other pockets, panic rises as I realize his phone is missing too.

Turning to Ace, I find he’s already watching me with a knowing smile. “You’re not very good at keeping track of your things, are you?”

What the hell?

He stands and reaches into his pocket, pulling out my phone and holding it up with a grin. “If you want to learn how to pickpocket without the guy noticing, give me a call.” He slips my phone back into my hand with a smirk.

I’m stunned, a rush of adrenaline and surprise flooding through me. But before I can say anything, Rosalee tugs at my arm. “Come on, let’s go.”

My mind is still spinning as we turn and walk away.

Nobody has ever noticed me stealing from them.

I’m not a fucking noob.

As we head back out into the night, my phone pings with a new text from an unknown number.

Unknown Number

Sleep well, Trouble.

How the fuck did he manage to get my number?