1. Maya #2
Unlike his brother’s indigo eyes, bright blue eyes like two crystals looked back at me.
They were framed by thick, dark lashes and matched the diamond piercing in his dark brow.
The white polo he wore stretched across his shoulders but didn’t cover the shadow of dark tattoos that trailed across his chest and wrapped around his arms. I didn’t understand the words within the tattoo, but the swirled pattern was comforting, almost reminiscent of something familiar.
I think the pattern even extended over his shoulders and down his back…
I found I wanted to trace each one of them until I met their end. It was like a shirt under a shirt.
“Anani.” He offered a hand and flashed me a brilliant smile that reminded me of lightning. I met his hand and was surrounded by the scent of electricity. It made me breathless.
“Maya,” I mumbled. I was completely enamored.
“Ledger,” the orange-tipped man said, offering his hand as well. I couldn’t tell if tattoos adorned his body because of the comfortable hoodie he wore.
I bit my lip while looking between the two of them.
How could they be twins? Anani seemed to spark like something dangerous in the air, while Ledger reminded me of strength and warmth.
It was in his comfortable demeanor and oversized clothing.
It encouraged me to trust him. Plus, his orange-tipped hair reminded me of fire.
“Beautiful name for a heartbreaking woman.” Anani winked, making me blush.
“So sorry about Lorn,” Ledger said. “He’s a bit of an ass.”
I smiled. “I gathered that. Thanks for helping out.”
“Your voice… Are you sick?” Anani asked with a frown.
I shook my head. I didn’t offer more than that but smiled as the bell rang, turning on my heel and gliding away from the handsome men. I was thankful for them helping out, but I had no idea what to say next. I felt like the normal thing to do was just to leave. That made sense, right?
“Maya.” Ledger chuckled and spoke louder. “Where are you going, firefly?”
“Firefly?” I scrunched my nose up. Anani laughed as Ledger’s easy smile grew bigger. There was a light pink to his cheekbones.
“Yeah, little one, where are you going?” Anani tried instead. I frowned at that as well. I wasn’t that little. I mean, I wasn’t a giant like them, but ‘little one’?
“Class,” I responded with a head tilt. “Don’t you have class as well?”
“With you, yes.” Anani offered me a smile that made my chest bubble with excitement.
“How do you know my schedule?” I rose a brow.
Ledger chuckled but threw him a look. “Everyone knows what classes the new kid gets tossed into. We’ve been in school a week, so the teachers announced it.”
I nodded. I guess it was plausible that was how that worked?
Ledger grinned knowingly, then spotted someone he knew in the hallway. “Henry!”
My head snapped from the relaxed yet playful twins to the person I assumed was Henry.
“Hey, guys,” he greeted. “And girl.” His pale face flushed pink, a rumble seeming to slip from his throat that didn’t match his expression, and the twins both chuckled.
Henry was leaner than the twins, and shorter, yet his chest and shoulders were built like the swimmer I’d seen in the school’s brochure.
His hair was a soft blonde that waved over his light gray eyes. He had a pair of dark-framed glasses that glinted slightly in the gloomy school lighting, and a light spatter of freckles that covered his pale nose. He was a total cutie.
“This is Maya.” Anani winked at Henry. “Isn’t she just the cutest?”
I heard a growl escape my lips that made all three of them freeze.
I flushed because that sound often made an appearance when I was frustrated, and it didn’t help when they all broke into a fit of laughter. Loud laughter that echoed through the hall.
“She growled!” Anani could barely breathe with how hard he laughed.
“I’m in love,” Ledger gasped while leaning into the lockers.
Henry’s eyes were lit up with amusement and something a bit darker as he shook his head, almost embarrassed. “I’m sorry Maya, ignore us. We aren’t used to being around women, especially those two.”
I was still embarrassed, so I nodded and walked toward the classroom.
Henry followed after, and I preened a little at the idea of them not being around women a lot.
What made me special? Why did I get to be their friend?
The three of them weren’t nearly as intimidating as Marco, and I could see myself spending a lot of time with them—my new friends.
If they wanted to be friends with the girl who growled, that was their choice.
When I entered the classroom late, my face returned to bright red once again. Henry placed a hand to my back as the four of us avoided the scowling look the teacher sent us. It was a gentle touch, but it still hurt my bruises. I didn’t want him to ask questions, though, so I didn’t say anything.
“Mr. Asfour,” the middle-aged man scowled, “if you and your brother would be so kind as to stop interrupting my class, I would be thankful.”
Anani saluted him and followed in last. I chose a desk to sit at, the twins sitting to either side of me and Henry choosing the desk behind me. His hand squeezed my shoulder in a reassuring way. I shot him a soft smile, trying to hide the pain his actions caused.
When I turned around, I noticed a woman with crimson hair staring at the four of us, her eyebrows bent in confusion. Not wanting her to dislike me, I offered her a smile that she returned.
As the instructor began teaching, I quickly realized the class covered United States History from World War I to the present.
Pastor Malcolm had been obsessed with World War II, so I felt fairly comfortable with the subject.
Only half-listening to Mr. Fields’s lecture, I soaked in the scents surrounding me.
I recognized the electric and warm scents the twins put off, and a new scent of mint came from Henry.
It was a fresh, clean, scent that reminded me of spring rain.
When the bell finally rang, I moved from my seat and went toward the door, the three men following as they talked casually about class. I turned and walked backward for a moment.
“If you’re wondering,” Ledger said, offering a lazy grin as he took my backpack from me and swung it over his shoulder, “we’re in all of your classes.”
I frowned. I wasn’t positive that was how school worked, but I did my best to keep my questions to myself. If they wanted to hang out with me that much, I wasn’t going to complain?—
Someone banged into me by accident and I hissed, but turned around to a hand steadying me. A pair of warm brown eyes stared down at me, his scent a soft forest one and his face handsome with curly black hair. He tilted his head in a way that reminded me of a dog.
“Sorry there.” He didn’t let go of me. “You must be new,” the man said with an authentic smile, but I still felt nervous. I almost got the feeling that he had purposefully run into me. Why would he do that?
“I am. My name is Maya,” I said, feeling uncomfortable.
A soft, low sound came from behind me as the man offered a hand. “Well, Maya, I’m Seth. Sorry for bumping into you. You okay?”
I nodded as another growl ripped behind me. Seth looked up, his lip twitching. “I’ll see you around?”
“Sure,” I whispered, feeling very confused. I didn’t know a ton about interactions, but that felt odd.
An arm came around my waist, startling me, but when I recognized the electric scent that filled the space, I relaxed into the hold slightly. Anani shook his head, muttering something unintelligible before leading me towards our next class.