I looked at myself in the mirror, one last time to make sure that I looked decent enough for the first day of school. After deciding on a white pull neck and a pair of light-wash jeans, I swept my inky black hair into a high ponytail, adjusted my glasses and slapped on a few bracelets.

I swung my backpack over my shoulder and jogged downstairs where my sister Allison was having her usual low carb breakfast. Spicy shrimp omelette and something green and murky in a teacup which I could safely assume to be herbal tea. A loud thump made us both turn our heads to the ceiling. Either we had giant mice upstairs, or one of Aunt Becca's exploits had overstayed. Either way, we would have on our hands a pest problem.

The scantily discarded items of clothing around the living room confirmed my fears and my face involuntarily folded into a grimace. Allison lifted her eyes from the fashion magazine she'd been reading. She took a sip of her herbal tea and swept me with a curious gaze.

"You're looking all dressed up today." She noted.

"Don't start with me." I warned.

"What, I can't give my dear sister a compliment?" she asked with large doe-like eyes.

Whenever Allison was nice, it was always because she wanted something from me. On the first day of school, it was easy to guess what it was. I got a new car last Christmas after saving up for years. It took all the quarters in my piggy bank and tips from work and Becca's surprisingly generous donation to get me the car.

"You want a ride to school don't you?" I fixed her with a glare.

"Well, if you're offering…" she batted her eyelashes.

My eyes narrowed.

Allison was as fake as the extensions on her head. She always made fun of me for not having a boyfriend when we were fourteen. She was always lucky when it came to guys. I didn't really have much interest in dating at all. That is, until we both met Drake Cunningham. He was really nice and sweet and friendly. We became best friends, but over time, I developed feelings for the guy. I made my move at our fifteenth birthday party. Unfortunately, he didn't reciprocate. Ironically though, he had a thing for my sister. Ally also had a crush on Drake and that did not end well for me. She found out. And she was livid. As revenge, she read my diary to the whole school, all my fantasies of being a princess with Drake as my prince and whatnot, you know the gist. Then she painted my hair blue and I didn't realise it until the next day when someone pointed it out at lunch. After that, I lost it and I replaced her shampoo with hair removal cream.

Heh.

"I'm not," I cut in. "In fact, feel free to walk to school; you might cut more carbs with the exercise."

Her hands balled into fists.

"Well that's not something nice to say to your sister Penny," said Aunt Becca.

"In case you haven't noticed, I don't do nice," I spat. "And it's Aspen."

"Whatever," she rolled her eyes and pulled on the hem of the jersey she was wearing.

A few minutes later, a man came down the stairs. His shaggy hair, brown eyes, stubble on his chin, gave off the average hot-lecturer vibe. He was the kind of guys who were Becca's type. Young and smart. You'd think he'd be smart enough to know that this relationship was headed nowhere. That she'd string him along until she got bored and found a new conquest. He was in her pink robe and bunny slippers. I tore my eyes away disgusted.

"And…that's my cue to jet." I nabbed an apple off the fruit bowl on the counter and made for the door.

"Wait!" Allison called. "Don't leave me here with these two, please."

The guy waved at me and gave a friendly smile. I turned to Allison who was looking at me desperately. I hated her but even not so much as to leave her in here with Becca. In the next few minutes, pots would be clanging for all the wrong reasons and I wasn't planning to scar myself for life.

"Get in the car, before I change my mind."

I pulled out of the driveway and in no time, we were on the road. Allison jacked in her phone into the system putting on a familiar song. 'Senorita' sifted through my ears as I drove on. I found myself silently mouthing the lyrics. Allison leaned on the window as the houses blurred past. Though my sister and I disagreed on a lot of things, at least we had a similar taste in music. Other than that, the only other similarity we shared was that I was a mirror of her. Even Becca could never tell us apart unless she saw my birthmark.

…And until I opened my mouth.

Allison suddenly wrinkled her nose.

"Ugh, Penny, your car totally smells like dog." She pegged her nose.

"Makes sense since there's a bitch in the front seat," I snapped. "Shut up or walk. Take your pick."

She huffed and rolled down the window, not bothering to speak again.

When we got to Pepper Pot High School, we gaped at the mere size of it. It wasn't one of those elite private schools that Becca had always wanted us to go to but it was pretty close. The main building was large and imposing, bright white walls and polished windows shining the glaring rays of sunshine onto the green lawn below. In front of the building, was a large fountain with a mermaid statue spraying water into the concrete basin below. A bit baroque for the twenty first century but it still fit the whole private school picture.

I wasn't easily impressed, but so far so good.

I pulled into an empty parking spot to the far right of the building away from the other cars. I guessed, (and confirmed) that the more clotted parking spaces were either the staffs or the popular kids'. I got out and breathed in deep fresh air, I hadn't realized it, but Allison's perfume could be suffocating.

Students filed into the school. Some in groups, some embracing solitude with headphones on their heads or airpods jammed in their ears. I followed suit and turned the volume up on my phone as I listened to Max Geisinger's 'Taxi.'

"I'm planning on joining the cheerleading squad Penny so don't even think about leaving without me." She threatened.

"With all the money Becca gives you shouldn't you be able to take an Uber home or something?" I asked.

"I have priorities you know," she pointed out as she searched her handbag and muttered furiously. She ducked into the car looking around frantically.

I rolled the lip gloss in my hand and found myself asking a question whose answer I already knew.

"Like what, shopping?"

"See, I knew you'd get it." She smiled. "I'm a model in the making and soon, I'll be joining Jaylen Sizra's Fashion house in Paris." Her head shot up.

"You're not a model Ally. You're a bitch with a smartphone and at least thirty seven editing apps." I lifted the lip gloss and tossed it to her.

"So what if I photoshop my pictures? At least I live in the twenty first century where girls use make up. I'm still prettier than you." She shot back. "Try not to burn the school down while you're on your period Penny."

She walked away her heels clacking with each step she took. I swear, I felt my IQ decrease with every conversation I had with her.

I heard someone laugh from beside me.

It was a girl with long dark blue hair in a bun atop her head shining in iridescent hues in the sun. She had this whole Paris Jackson look about her with the nose ring and the messy bun. But the dark lipstick and the MIB duds kinda threw me off. Maybe she was one of the theatre kids, dressed up for rehearsal or something. Or maybe she was in a rock band. My bet was on the second one.

She kicked herself off the stone wall she was leaning on.

"That your sister?" she asked.

"Yeah," I answered. "Though I'm pretty sure she's an alien wearing my face. We never get along."

"Too bad she can't photoshop her personality." She said.

We shared a laugh.

She extended a hand.

"Kyla, though my friends call me Kye for short."

I smirked.

"Can I safely assume we're friends already?" I joked.

Her brows furrowed and she let out a low laugh.

"Depends," she said. "You know what you're signing up for with me? People say I'm trouble."

"I like trouble."

"Then we'll get along just fine." she smirked back.

"Aspen," I introduced myself. "Just Aspen,"

I shook her hand.

"Why don't I give you the grand tour?" she spread out her hand in front of her as she led me to the school.