"I did not ask for the things that I've been through, and I certainly did not ask my mind to paint and repaint the pictures in flashback form."

- Michelle Groth

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The stares, those hard, scrutinizing stares. How I wish I could be away from them. Their laughs, their harsh snickers, while taking in my whimpering form.

Why me? Free me, I'm done being caged within fear. Take me away, someone, from all this. What did I do to deserve this?

Their laughs and snickers continue to grow louder until I feel my ears bursting. I shut my ears tightly trying hard not to drown in their sea of insults.

Those sounds, demeaning, judging, and ruthless seem to feed upon my fear.
I have to stop them, but how?

I scream and ask them to go away, till my quiet voice grows hoarse, hoping they would leave me alone for once...

Kate tossed about in sleep. Her face contorted tightly as she struggled to free herself from the nightmare she had been seeing.

Leave me!

The dream ended abruptly and she woke up with a gasp, looking around her surroundings in fear.

"I'm home, I'm home, nothing will happen to me, not anymore."

She placed her hand on her chest to calm down her erratic breathing. She looked at her left to see Elena sleeping in a side form. She was unaware of her sister's state. It wasn't her fault as she had been a heavy sleeper since childhood while Kate had been the opposite.

It's a thing of wonder, how two individuals sharing the same zygote can be so different from each other. Right?

Kate got up from their bed and walked right towards the window. She noticed Ivan's silhouette in his house opposite to theirs. He was sleeping in a fetal position, similar to her sleeping style.

A nightlight which had been placed on his bed's right side caught her attention. Amidst the dark room, its soft, green glow created indecipherable shadows.

Her lips twitched into a slight smile. Still sleeping with a nightlight, Van?

She was wide awake and knew that getting sleep was impossible now. Her fingers, now cool after gripping the windowsill, traced her sweaty eyelids and the bridge of her nose.

She sat on the windowsill, and let her long legs dangle across it. The night sky was marked by countable twinkling stars which she gazed at fondly. The breeze kissed her serious face, and blew her ponytail slightly, soothing the Mother Nature's child.

Kate turned her brown head to glance at Elena and exhaled a sigh. She knew what she had to do.

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Elena let out a frustrated groan as Kate had gone back to sleep again after bathing. She had a good mind to grip her own hair in irritation, but that would spoil her hairdo.

"Kate, we are going to be late," Elena shrieked and shook her younger twin who just let out a muffled noise of disapproval.

"Hey, wait that rhymed, Kate and late, woo!"

"What am I doing? Ugh, Kate wake up, how much more sleep do you need?"

"How in the name of Astronomy, can you sleep after a bath, huh?"

Elena stripped the covers off her sister's face, revealing her closed eyes.

"Five more minutes," Kate mumbled, stretching out her palm which smacked Elena's face.

"Kate! You're spoiling my lipstick."

"Get up now," Elena ordered hastily and shook her. "We just have ten minutes left."

When Kate made no effort to get up, Elena sat by her side and peeled off the covers completely.

"Old Kate was never like this. She used to be the one to get up first, get our clothes ready, and reach school on time," Elena commented irritatedly.

Kate upon hearing this peeked one eye open, and got up within a second. Her blazing, amber orbs bored into her sister's widened ones.

"Kate, I'm so sorry," Elena covered her red lips with her palm, "I shouldn't have--"

"Old Kate is dead and buried in New York," Kate spoke in a clipped tone.

"I'm never going to be that girl again," Kate spoke with finality, the glare never leaving her face. She sprinted away the next second.

She returned a minute later, wearing an oversized olive shirt and black jeans.

"Kate! That's my shirt," her father hollered from below.

Kate grabbed her backpack, glancing at the alien theme briefly. Her serious gaze flickered towards her sister who stood there awkwardly.

"Never bring that up, El..."

"Kate, I'm sorry..."

But, her was apology was unheard as Kate walked away without sparing her another glance.

"Sorry, dad, I'm wearing your shirt to school," Kate apologized, though not meaning a word of it, and hopped onto her bike once downstairs.

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Elena sat on Ivan's left and offered him a wide grin, which was met with nothing but an icy glare. Kate sat in front of Ivan, beside Max who was staring ahead into nothingness.

"Maxwell Steele," Mr. Lancaster, the Astronomy teacher, called out the roll call a second time.

"Haha, who is that?" Max asked as he grinned at Kate.

"That would be you," she answered with a shake of her head.

"Hey, Van, can I borrow your pen?" Elena whispered, receiving not even a glance from the brooding ice king.

"Van!" Elena whispered once again.

"Pen, please?"

"Come on, it's just a pen, I'll return it to you, I promise."

"Pen, please, hello?" she asked as she poked her finger at his side.

This time, Ivan's glare focused on her smirking face.

"What's your problem? Can't you see that I'm studying?" he remarked rudely, earning everyone's attention within a second.

"Is there a problem, Miss Russo?" Mr. Lancaster asked, pausing his lecture about the stars.

"No, sir, I just wanted to a borrow a pen."

"Lend her one, Mr. Moore. I don't need any disturbances in my class. Got it?"

Ivan handed her his pen, still keeping his hold on half of it. His bright blue eyes appeared like a violent storm, and Elena was lost in admiring them.

However, she quickly composed herself and tried to pull the pen out of his strong grip.

"Let it go, let it go..." Elena whispered, and smirked evilly, trying her best not to snicker.

Ivan glared at Kate's low ponytail and then at Elena, choosing to be quiet. I knew that it was Kate. Now Elena knows it too. I'm so lucky, right?

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The cafeteria line was long making Kate grumble. She could easily ask Elena who was far ahead in the line, to get her some food.

But, she was mad at her and didn't want her favor.

I can get food for myself too.

But, when will they move ahead?

Is it just me or are they moving like snails?

Shut up, brain, I can't play this internal debate.

That's just coz you're hungry.

As if I didn't know that! Do me a favor, please shut up and stop my tummy from rumbling.

"Elena's a hot chick," a guy behind Kate commented.

"Yeah, just look at her, she's a bombshell!" his friend remarked with a chuckle.

"She will be my girlfriend soon," the first guy said with a grin.

"Have you seen your face, Kyle? No one wants to date you."

"Wanna bet?" Kyle asked with a smirk. "One week and that hotness is mine! Oh, the things I could do to her."

"Mind your words! That's my sister you're talking about," Kate said angrily, balled her fists, and turned towards them.

"What are you going to do, little kid?"

"Trust me, you wouldn't want to know," Kate threatened, and popped her knuckles in front of them, drawing the stares of the students near her.

"Oh, I'm so scared," Kyle gasped in mock-horror. "Jamie, does this girly threaten you in any way?

Jamie, his friend, grinned and grabbed Kate's right arm.

"Now, if you butt in our conversation next time, you'll see what we can do," Jamie warned, his grin replaced by an ugly glare.

Kate's amber eyes landed on Jamie's hand, which held her right arm roughly. Rage boiled up within her, her jaw clenched, and she looked at them with a glare that could easily cause forest fires.

She looked dangerous, a side of her that was rarely shown. She knew her anger was the worst as it made her berserkly, but there was no backing out now.

With an iron-grip deceiving the frailty of her arms, she removed her right arm from Jamie's grip and punched his nose without warning.

Amidst Jamie's howls and Kyle's horrified expression, a crowd formed around them, eyeing a panting Kate curiously.

Kyle grabbed Kate roughly by her shoulders digging his fingers into her flesh. She saw red at this point, and kneed him in his groin, satisfied by his howls.

But, just that wouldn't stop her.

She sat on top of Kyle's chest who was writhing in pain and punched his cheek.

"I'm not a kid!"

"Girls are not weak!"

"Learn to respect girls!"

"Girls are not some prizes to be won!" Kate cried angrily and punched him with each sentence, her bloodshot eyes filled with a crazed look.

"Kate!" Elena hollered and pushed her way through the crowd of gaping students.

"Kate, no! Stop!" she screamed, and pulled her away, wrapping her arms around her sister's wriggling form.

"They're not worth it. Calm down, come on, take a deep breath," Elena's voice quivered as she hugged Kate tightly, rubbing her back soothingly.

Ivan and Max watched the whole scene in amazement. It was the first time that Elena-- the badass, new girl, had cried. The first time they had seen an angered Kate, a trait totally opposite to her calm demeanor.

There is so much more to a person than they let on.

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Hey, people! How are you all? ❤ I'm back with a new update. 🤗

So, did you expect Kate to get into a violent fight? What do you think of the cafeteria scene? What will happen next? Any ideas?

Elena has cried for the first time, especially in school. Any guesses, why?

Haha, honestly, I'm out of questions to ask. But, feel free to comment on your opinions and feelings. I'd love to hear them.

Sneak-Peek of Episode 7:

What will happen next? A penny for your thoughts? Ugh, I sound so "cringy" LOL. 😂 Well, I'm off now! Goodbye! Have a nice day/night!

Keep smiling! 💕
Lots of love ❤💙
Sakina

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