~De-crowning The Kings~

~All Rights Reserved~

~© 2021 Shmittylove_~

"Who's that?" I ask Jake wearily. Already knowing what he is going to say.

"Oh, her. She is the devil's advocate." Jake mutters.

"What lies are you spreading about me you dung beetle?" Isabella says putting on her clothes.

Should we even be watching her?

Okay, now is not the time to be worrying about invasion of privacy. Because, what the heck is going on!

Okay El, don't freak out. Just, just, just act normal. Don't faint.

Yeah that's it! Don't faint. Have a panic attack instead.

Fricktastic!

"I see you came with a friend. Let's just hope you didn't seduce them with your breath because it stinks. Now get the fuck out of my house before I beat you with my leg!"

Yep, it's definitely her

"Hey! My breath does not stink. And my dearest Ellie came willingly. Right princess?"

"Right." I mutter.

"Did you say Ellie?" Isabella squints her eyes. "Oh my gosh, El!"

She rushes over to me and brings me into a bone crushing hug.

"El, tell me how you know this weirdo?" Jake interrogates.

I shrug my shoulders. "We met at school and hit it off."

To say I'm shocked is an understatement of the millennium. I'm... flabbergasted!

"I didn't know you were friends with a-ahm, Phoenix." I speak up.

Isabella snorts, "Friends? Like I'd have that choice. We're flipping twins. Attached to the fucking hip."

Fuck. My. Life.

"Oh isn't this cute. You too will become sisters one day." Jake squeals like a kid on crack.

Sisters?

Both Isabella and I stare at each other confused, then turn to look at Jake with the confused look on our faces.

"No duh. Isn't it obvious." Jake deadpans. "Sisters as in sister in law. Because your seeing her brother." Jake states.

Well this just got a little bit serious.

"You know what. I'll just go look for Phoenix myself." Jake says storming off.

I watch him run off and almost tripping over a garden gnome.

"So you and my brother huh?" Isabella begins.

I nod my head yes. "This just got awkward hasn't it?" I chuckle lightly.

"More like shocked to me. My brother hasn't dated anyone since his last break up. Which was in ninth grade." Isabella says.

I wonder who that may have been.

I'd take a wild guess and go with... Candace Young!

This, is gold.

"I've been meaning to invite you over to my place, but you haven't been at school since the last time we met." I begin.

Isabella signals for me to follow her. "Aww, that's so sweet of you. I was actually at Brantford to see the place. I actually like it—besides the whole ranking. But every school has that don't they?"

"True." I say nodding my head in deep thought.

So Isabella and Phoenix are brother and sister. Meaning that things have just gotten a lot more complicated.

And a whole lot messier.

Because Phoenix is a Prece, it automatically makes Isabella one too. And even though she has made it clear that she is not for the ranking, I still feel weird about her being added to the mix of complicated.

Amy and I strategically chose Jake and Phoenix because they are the two power houses of the entire ranking system. They are like the mitochondria in both plant or animal cells.

Yes, I'm academically smart, which translates to...I'm a major nerd.

I wanted as little people to be 'used' as possible. And even though Phoenix and I both know our little dating thing is fake, the people around us don't.

Meaning, and hopefully it doesn't come to this. But Isabella and whoever else gets involved might feel like I used Phoenix, which I am, to stop a bunch of meanies.

Oh gosh.

"Wait, are you telling me your surname is Ash?" I ask, still trying to get used to the fact that my arch nemesis of a fake boyfriend is related to my possibly new and outgoing, nice friend.

"Yope!" Isabella shouts as we enter what looks like her room. "But at least I won't be stuck with it for the rest of my life."

I laugh at that. "I can just imagine your brother's scowl as he walks you down the isle."

"Girl, imagine two scowls. I have two equally overprotective brothers." Isabella says sighing. "And the I'm youngest!"

I laugh at her misery. "It can't be that bad. I mean—I'm an only child so I know it gets boring sometimes."

Isabella scoffs and opens her closet. "Please, I'd kill to be an only child. My brothers absolutely hate each other. The amount of drama this family attracts is insane." She says throwing out clothes one after the other from her closet.

"Every sibling hates the other." I deadpan trying not to laugh.

"It's different with them. They can't stay in the same house, let alone the same room without breaking something or going at each other's necks."

"Is it that bad?" I ask her feeling kind of sorry for her.

"Well actually, it's just Phoenix who really does most of the damage. James—my other brother just sort of takes his crap. But then sometimes he too gets angry and so and so on."

I nod my head in deep thought. I honestly didn't know Phoenix had so much family drama. He just always seemed like a pompous jerk who had it all.

Maybe I shouldn't be quick to judge...

But then again, having family issues doesn't give you a ticket too piss everyone the hell off. But at least I know where all the aggressiveness is coming from.

But then again, a little sibling quarrel here and there isn't at all that bad.

"I'm surprised he didn't tell you." Isabella speaks. "But enough about my dysfunctional family. Are you two going to the dance together tomorrow?"

Oh crap!

I totally forgot about that. And even though I remembered that I had to get a dress when I was still with Jake in the car. It totally didn't register in my head that it was tomorrow. And that tomorrow was actually tommorow.

"Actually, no. I'm going with a friend of mine—Amy. Your welcome to join us, I'm sure she'll fall in love with you and your personality immediately."

"Are you sure. I don't wanna intrude or anything." Isabella trails off.

"Intrude! Pahhleasee! The only thing we'll be doing is eating. The dance will start and end with us at the food table."

Isabella claps her hands in excitement. "Yay! Two girls who know what the heart needs and wants."

We both look at each other knowing exactly what we're about to say next.

"Food!" We yell, laughing hysterically.
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Yes you can kiss me now, four updates in one day! We almost at the chapter twenty mark! Hoot hoot! This books is far from over.
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