Rose gets down from Devon's car, and she's faced with the terror that is high school. She still doesn't know why she's wasting her time with high school when she can just be a paranormal investigator, not like the fake ones that showcase themselves on TV, looking for ghosts that aren't there.
But the witches and werewolves in L.A or New York, who solve paranormal mysteries.
There's more that meets the eye than the average ghosts, or wendigos or vampires or ogres. There's danger and thrill out there. And Rose cannot wait to run toward it. Nothing much happens in their town. It's just the normal killing of dark creatures who threaten it, but overall. Things are slow over here.
Which is crazy because Cupid's Hollow used to be a haven for so much supernatural madness and chaos. But now it's been reduced. They're probably scared to come here because they know the Lockwoods are going to destroy them with ease.
At least that's satisfying to know.
Devon sighs next to her, looking straight. He knows how she feels because he feels the same way.
"Don't worry, Rosie, this is the second to the last year; we'll be done in no time."
"Yay," Rose says dryly, walking toward the school block.
She could have just dropped out like her Aunt Megan's niece Kelly did, but her sister accepts the concept of dropping out. She doesn't.
The thing is for her to finish high school first, and then she can do whatever she wants. Rose hated it at first, and she was so angry, the only thing she was allowed to punch hard was the dummies in their training room.
But she learned to get used to it, so she just decides to be patient and wait until she graduates from this school. Sooner or later, she won't be seeing Cupid's Hollow high ever again. She promises herself that.
"OMG, Rose!" she hears a familiar voice yell her name with so much enthusiasm. "I'll talk to you later, my best friend is here," the enthusiastic girl tells the other girl she was talking to.
Violet Martinez, Rose's other best friend. One of the reasons why she didn't fight too much when her aunt said she should finish school.
"Rosieeee" She loves her friends and family, but she's getting tired of hearing that name. Violet embraces her in a hug, and Rose doesn't hug her back. She doesn't do hugs; her best friend knows this, but she doesn't care. She hugs her anyway because she thinks everyone deserves a hug.
"I heard that you passed your test last night. I would have texted you, but. You don't answer your texts." and that is true, Rose only uses her phone to get notified on missions or look into paranormal stuff happening miles away from her town, she even looks at that stuff from other countries.
"Let me see, let me see," she asks to show her the mark.
Rose gladly shows her the mark given to her by the gods for passing her test.
"Whoa!" Violet says animatedly, Rose knows Violet can imagine herself with heart eyes and a large mouth. She loves anime too much.
"This is so beautiful."
"Hey, you didn't react that way when I showed you mine," Devon says.
"Uhhh." Violet thinks. "Yes, I did."
"No, you didn't."
"Yes, I did."
"No, you didn't." Rose looks between them, going back and forth, and then she rolls her eyes, her face covered in a small smile.
Violet Martinez isn't a werewolf, but she does come from a long line of powerful witches. Witches and werewolves have been keeping the peace and making sure humans are protected for years.
Violet's hair is the colour of the night sky, but there's a pink strip in her hair. Both her and Rose got a strip together, but Rose took hers off and Violet kept hers. It makes her look punk rock. She says.
Her eyes sparkle like the stars, with natural, long lashes and almond eyes. Her face heart shaped, and the same goes for her lips. And her skin is beige.
She's also such a romantic. She loves romance. Meaning, the anime she watches isn't stuff like One Piece or Naruto, but Tokyo Mew Mew and the ones with heavy romance plots. She's more into rom coms anyway.
Rose thinks it's good that she believes in soulmates and happily ever after, but Rose doesn't; she doesn't even want to get married. But she'll be there for her best friend, though.
People wonder how both of them can be friends. Rose wonders how this happened, too. Rose is closed off and mysterious, but Violet is out there and animated.
Rose thinks it's because a lot of people were scared to be her friend, but Violet wasn't. She kept showing Rose her drawings and chit-chatting about cartoons, comic books, and romance.
She even followed Rose home by mistake while they were talking, and Rose just let her. This all happened in the sixth grade.
Rose probably just needed someone to talk to. Her Aunt and Uncle were wasting time coming to pick her up She knew they were probably on a mission, so she just walked home, and Violet and Derek kept her company.
Rose likes Violet's company even though she can be a chatterbox. So far, she only has two friends, and that's Devon and Violet. She loves both their company.
"I'm pretty sure I complimented your mark."
"No, you didn't."
"Oh my God, enough." Rose laughs. And Devon and Violet, or anyone who knows Rose, know that she has a very sweet laugh, and they love it when she laughs because it only happens once in a blue moon.
They just don't say it to her because they're scared she might stop laughing altogether.
Meanwhile, Daniel loves to laugh; he can never stop laughing.
"What is so funny?" Cece asks as the two of them walk side by side down the hallway. They've taken off their sunglasses because now they're inside.
"Your face, have I ever told you you look like those Cabbage Patch dolls when you frown your face?"
Cece rolls her eyes and then giggles. "I just can't believe we're in America."
"Come on, Cece, let's just give this place a chance," Daniel says, admiring the American high school setting before him. "It's like being in those American movies. You'll get to be a cheerleader."
"The only reason I want to be a cheerleader is because this country takes extracurriculars seriously for some reason. Also, I want to be a cheerleader because I love American movies, and I desperately want to be in an American high school. I just miss my friends back home."
"I know, but you're going to love Cupid's High. I know you are."
"And I agree with you there." A boy stops in front of them, smiling. "Wow, you guys have extraordinarily beautiful eyes." He says, looking at both of them, but then stops when his eyes come in contact with not just the silver in Cece's eyes but her beauty in general.
He's frozen for a bit. Cece smiles because she knows that look. It's the look of infatuation.
"I uh. I'm sorry." He shakes his head, getting his face back to normal. "I'm Brandon Siwa. I shall be showing you around Westlake High." Daniel shakes his hand, and Cece just observes him.
Brandon isn't like most guys here; he doesn't look like he fits in. He has short red hair, heavy lower lips, jade green eyes, and he's hella skinny.
He's wearing a patterned shirt, and he's outgrown his faded orange pants.
Yep, he looks like a kind of person who doesn't fit in with the popular that is why the school easily gave him the position of showing the two around.
"How did you know we're the ones you were to show around?" Cece asks with her hands folded.
"Oh, uh, well, because you both have weird silver eyes, and pale skin, and you dress more regally than the rest."
Daniel is in a checkered shirt, which is covered by a brown sweater vest, straight blue leg jeans and chunky shoes and Cece is dressed in a brown baggy sweater, a matching brown skirt, black flats with white socks, and she has a necklace in the shape of a shirt around her neck.
"I know everyone in this school, and I would have known you guys a long time ago because you're that-"
"Weird looking?" Daniel says.
"Uh, I was going to say attractive."
"Oh." Daniel smiles at that.
"I mean, everyone keeps staring at you."
That they have noticed. Unlike their old school, they're the only moroi vampires on sight. Which makes Cece miss her old school even more. But she can manage this place.
"You are Daniel and Cecelia Ivanov, right?"
"Yes," they both say.
"You see, and also they said you'd be twins, so." he shrugs.
"Wow, you're good," Cece says. And he blushes and thanks her.
And you're so fucking pretty. He wants to say, but he decided to keep it in his mind.
"So let's begin." They move forward.