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"We lie beneath the stars at night."

Sawyer

MY ENTIRE LIFE CHANGED IN A FEW WEEKS. The happiness I once knew had crumbled beneath my feet, sending me plummeting down the abyss of darkness. My previous life no longer existed. I had to leave it all behind. To start my junior year away from the only home I've ever known - a month into the school year.

Marshtown Creek, Ontario.My new home.

It was so small that I could barely find any articles on Google. It was a huge contrast to the big city life I'm accustomed to.

I looked out the window and watched raindrops race down the glass. The dark clouds made it seem like night instead of midday. I glanced to my left to find my older brother, Noah, passed out with his headphones. The music was so loud I could hear every word. His mouth was open, emitting subtle snores. I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to the mundane view. The car hummed as we drove past the never-ending forest. The trees were like skyscrapers towering over the battered roads and branches extended like claws, reaching out to grab us.

"How much longer until we're there?" I asked my mother.

It felt like we'd been driving forever.

"Not much longer." She glanced at me through the mirror. "You're going to love it."

I slouched in the seat and folded my arms.

"I doubt it."

It's not as if I had many friends when I was leaving back home, anyway. Noah was the one. Mr. Popular. I was a wallflower. He was the coveted rose. My recognition was due to him—Noah Whitlock's little sister.

He wasn't too bitter about the move. He was the star hockey player in our old school, and he was going to move to Ontario for college. It all just started earlier than planned. I reached for my copy of Pride and Prejudice, hoping to get sucked into the fantasy world where I could only hope of finding my own Mr. Darcy, but I could never relate to Elizabeth Bennet. I always felt more like The Hunchback of Notre Dame or The Grinch - undesirable. Love is a foreign concept for me. The closest I'd ever been to it was in the pages of books.

"We're here." My mom said just as I was about to start another chapter.

I closed my book and punched Noah in the arm. His eyes shot open, and his headphones fell off from his sudden movements.

"Was that necessary?" he asked, rubbing his arm.

"A little."

The sullen clouds dried out, leaving everything foggy and damp. I scrunched my nose as my Converse hit the wet driveway. I clutched my book to my chest like a shield as I looked at the idyllic neighborhood. It thrived as people were everywhere. A group of kids bustled out of their home to greet their father with a hug.

"Heather!"

I turned at the sound of my mother's name. A middle-aged woman with moppy brunette hair embraced my mother. She was a few inches shorter than my mom.

"Grace, it's been too long."

Grace Hart. My mother's best friend from college. I met her once when I was four but hadn't seen her since. Despite staying in contact, they rarely had the chance to meet up.

The woman turned to me with a glint in her eyes, embracing me.

"I cannot believe how much you've grown up."

She turned to my brother and embraced him with equal enthusiasm. The corner of my lip rose.

"Where's the boys?" My mother asked. "And Gracie?"

Mrs. Hart gasped as if she'd just remembered she had children.

"Boys!" she yelled. "Come and say hello."

I could hear them before I even saw them. The moment they exited their home, my jaw was unhinged. It was like a scene from Baywatch. Two outrageously attractive guys walked out as if they were in slow motion. A middle school-aged girl trailed behind them, not looking pleased to be following their lead.

Perhaps the slow motion was just in my head.

My mother mentioned they were twins, but I would have never guessed they were even brothers. The one had brown hair so dark, it almost looked black, whereas the other had sun-kissed locks. Once they got closer, I noted their contrasting eye colors. Both would fit on the cover of Vogue, despite their different appearances.

The hazel-eyed brother reached us first. His radiant smile lit his entire face up with joy. The other looked as if someone kicked his puppy. He'd rather be anywhere else.

"Joshua." My mother greeted the friendlier brother with a hug. "I could recognize those eyes anywhere."

My mother wasn't wrong. He seemed delighted by the sign of affection. She reached out to hug the other, but he recoiled.

"Hey." He said.

"Asher, be nice." His mother scolded.

"I said, hey."

Mrs. Hart grimaced. She placed her hands on the younger girl's shoulders.

"Hi, Gracie." My mom said. "You've grown up so much."

Noah, being Noah, extended his hand to the friendlier sibling.

"I'm Noah."

He shook my brother's hand.

"Noah is a hockey player, too." My mother said.

I guess it was her way of trying to help Noah make friends, as if he needed it.

"You're just in time for tryouts." Joshua said.

Asher scoffed, and our heads turned to him.

"Can I go back inside now?"

We were unsure of how to respond or act.

"Do you always have to be such a jerk?"

Maybe his brother did.

"Do you always have to be such a kiss-ass?"

It was like every episode of a reality show, except this drama was unscripted.

"Boys, not now." Their mother said.

The aggravated dirty blonde rolled his eyes and stormed back into his home, slamming the door behind him. His brother sighed, then turned to me with widened eyes, as if suddenly aware of my presence. He extended his hand to me.

"You must be Sawyer."

I never knew brown eyes could be so enchanting, but he'd just proven me wrong. My face flushed at his intense gaze. I shook his hand.

"Nice to meet you."

It shocked me that I could introduce myself without stuttering. I had little experience talking to boys who weren't related to me.

"Come inside for some snacks." Mrs. Hart said. "We'll help you unpack later."

"I won't argue with that." My mom said.

Giggling like college students, they interlocked arms and whispered to each other. Joshua and Noah fell into conversation, leaving me trailing behind everyone into the home.

The smell of cinnamon and cocoa invaded my nostrils the second we walked in. It smelt like my mom's homemade cookies. It was like an aroma of nostalgia. I stepped further into the home, only to collide with a figure turning the corner. I groaned at the impact. It felt like I'd walked into the wall.

"My bad."

I glanced at the figure towering over me from underneath my lashes. Asher. He kept his eyes on the book, which was still held against my chest.

"Where are you going, Asher?" His mom asked.

"Out."

His eyes moved to set on my face. He smirked as if he was a predator spotting his prey.

"See you around, Ms. Bennet."

I froze as he brushed past me, slamming the door behind him. The wall paintings jiggled before settling again.

Mrs. Hart's shoulders slumped in defeat before she resumed her conversation with my mom. I looked out the window, watching him strut toward a beat-up Chevy truck. He seemed furious and, in a rush, he reversed so fast the tires squealed.

"Sawyer." I turned at the sound of my name. Joshua stood there, hand behind his head. "You want to join us?"

Before I could ask what he was talking about, Noah interjected.

"She's fine here."

I nodded my head, not wanting to argue, but Joshua beat me to it.

"No way. She can chill with us."

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and I could feel my cheeks burning. It was rare for guys to give me the time of day, especially guys as attractive as Joshua. He might just be nice because our moms are friends, but the delusional side of me was imagining it was because he likes me.

I think every guy likes me, only to be disappointed and humbled.

I let him lure me outside to find a makeshift field hockey setup. Joshua handed me a stick, but I declined. He shrugged and got ready to test out my brother's abilities. I slouched into the seat behind me and spent the rest of the afternoon watching them play.