Another hour passes, and Lucas specifically ignores his friend, not intending to forgive her for such a ridiculing speech in front of the whole school. Veronica has her kinks and sometimes doesn't think about what she's doing and the harm she can do to another person, but despite her flaws, she also has qualities that make her a good friend.
She has been taking care of him from a young age, and although she doesn't admit it in public, she is even capable of cooking him a delicious breakfast, and she proved it on their recent family vacation.
She has a big heart, although she plays the ice lady and pretends in front of others to be someone she is not.
— Hi, my height twin. — The blond man looks over his shoulder as he is hit on the back of the head with exaggerated force.
It's going to be a cursed year for Horace Mann students, as another Scott has just joined their ranks. Eric is more mischievous than his sister. He's selfish, although the only upside is that he doesn't like to be the center of attention. He hates school popularity, although it's hard for him to live in the shadows because of his beauty.
During arguments, he is a god of slander. So far, no one has won against him.
— I forgot about your existence — mutters Lucas.
Eric smiles devilishly.
— Relax... you will remember. We have three, long years ahead of us.... We will live in one room. — Brunet puts his arm around him, and his gaze only now finds Miranda. — What is this plastic monster?
What Eric hates the most are painted-up, pink ladies. He despises such girls.
Miranda throws back her hair, feigning great indignation.
— I am sixteen years old. I am one hundred percent natural beauty.
His gaze is indulgent.
— After the last renovation in the house, a bucket of plaster was left in the basement. It should last you a month. You'll save money and get an extra whitening.
Her face turns purple.
— Who is this insolent fellow? — She turns to Lucas, burning with living fire.
— Ignore him. He feeds on your anger.
Eric forewarns her ridiculously.
— Who does he think he is? He wore a hood over his head and thinks it makes him look more dangerous!
The brunet puts his hands in the pockets of his sweatpants, and his gaze softens. He looks at her with compassion in his eyes.
— Don't get tired of coming up with new sentences, child. Your head is probably as light as a feather due to your lack of brain, and we don't want you to pass out on us here.
Lucas puts his hand to his forehead, guessing that the same thing that happened in middle school is beginning.
— Why are there no normal children in the Scott family? — he mutters under his breath.
— My mother had head problems, my father acted like a psychopath, and my aunt had something of a criminal streak, even faking her death at the age of sixteen — declares Veronica. — Don't look at me like that. I'm simply reminding you why the little moron and I are not normal. Although he's worse in the head than I am.
Her brother smiles falsely at her and, tilting his head, crosses his fingers in greeting.
— Do you have siblings? — The friend accompanying her looks surprised. — You didn't tell me anything about his existence! — She points to Eric with her hand.
— Until he showed up, I didn't remember that I had a brother. Lucas is his replacement. I would most gladly not admit that this little monster is related to me, but I have to, since he also sees ghosts.
— What?
— I mean, we are both abnormal. — Nicki nods, fully agreeing with her statement. — When he was little, he didn't play with me and Lucas because he would bite our arms and legs. He sat isolated, and his father claimed he was possessed like mother when he was young. He even questioned whether the phantom had returned to us. — Veronica spoke in a lazy voice, paying no attention to the surprised faces of the others.
— Are you serious? — The blonde is troubled by her words.
— And does it sound serious? — Only Lucas knows that there is truth behind these words. Nicki and Miranda, just consider it not a funny joke.
— It is immediately apparent that they are related. — Barbie snorts under her breath, with which she once again draws Eric's attention. The boy still hasn't cooled down and feels like teasing her. He has found himself the perfect scapegoat.
— I've heard that plastic fades pretty quickly in the sun is that why your face is expressionless?
— Eric, stop it. — Veronica grabs her brother by the hood and pulls him toward her. — Miranda may have the look of an annoying person, but she's a fragile being, and you can't treat her like that. What did your parents tell you before you came to Horace Mann?
— I'm supposed to watch over you so that you don't date.
Nicki covers her mouth with her hand, trying to hold back a giggle.
— Those are probably my father's words, and that's not what I meant. You are supposed to treat a woman with respect, regardless of what she looks like, is that understood?
— Well, exactly, a woman, not a plastic toy. You play with a doll until you get bored with it. — He winks at Miranda and pulls herself out of his sister's embrace to fix her sweatshirt. — I hate Barbie, and it's entirely your fault. As a child, you made me cut their hair and rip their heads off when one upset you. It's because of you that I have a phobia — he turns to his sister.
He walks away.
Lucas looks with sympathy at his friend. He guesses what awaits her now that Eric is at Horace Mann.
— And have you gotten over your anger at looking at me with kindness in your eyes? — Veronica snorts under her breath.
His expression changes dramatically.
— No — he replies coolly, then also walks away.
Nothing good awaits her this year.
*
It is past midnight. The girls lie in their beds, unable to fall asleep. Nicki exchanges messages with the boy she met two hours earlier at the party. He was the one who got brave and approached her, saying she was beautiful, and he would be happy if she gave him her number.
The blonde is a social person who likes to flirt with boys, so she immediately agreed, especially since she loves bold guys.
— He could have gone to another high school.... — mutters Veronica under her breath, staring blankly at the ceiling for several minutes.
The thought of taking care of her younger brother terrifies her. If she had the chance, she would gladly give him up to an orphanage without his parents' knowledge.
She is his older sister, and yet he does not listen to her at all. He is stubborn and selfish. Even as a young child, he caused problems. He was able to lock himself in a room and not open it until his parents went to get an extra key. They guessed that this was not normal and that something had control over him. He could bite Veronica and Lucas, and because of this, he didn't play with them until he was older.
Many times he complained to his older sister that it was her friend who had control over him, that she was not good at all. He asked her to stop playing with her, and then she would surely leave.
Veronica couldn't believe him because Julie was and is a good spirit.
— Why didn't you tell me that you have a handsome brother? Next to you, he is like a work of art.
This is the moment when the pillow lands on the blonde's face.
— I mentioned to you earlier that this shithead has head problems.
— Like you. — This time the quilt flies towards her, but it's too heavy and lands on the floor. — I'm serious, Nicki. He is difficult to raise. Occasionally, he's cold as ice and acts like he has no heart, but there are also times when we get along great, and he could give his life for me.
— A mysterious guy, since even his sister doesn't know him well.
— That's not the point. I know him perfectly well. I just sometimes can't understand his behavior.
— I have that with you.
Veronica tilts her head to the side, looking at her friend with offended eyes.
— A few more words and I will really stop loving you.
A quiet knock on the door sounds. The girls look at each other with concerned eyes.
— Do you think the babysitter heard the noise from our room?
— After the party, she made sure everyone went back to their rooms. I'm sure she went to sleep, as far as I know her wakefulness is impaired at night. Apparently, she sleeps like she's dead.
Someone taps their fingers on the door once again.
— Ghosts? — asks with horror in Nicki's voice.
— It's some fucker, not ghosts — Veronica replies to her as she gets out of bed and walks to the door. She turns the key and is about to grab the handle, but someone does it faster. Her brother walks inside. — I was right when I said he was a fuck-up.
Eric looks at his sister with wide-open eyes.
— Julie...
— What — Out of the corner of his eye, he glances at a curious Nicki. — What's going on? Why do you come to me in the middle of the night? If the babysitter catches you, you're finished.
He doesn't give a damn about her warning. He grabs her hand and forcibly leads her out into the hallway, so her roommate won't hear their conversation.
— Send Julie back to the devil.
— What are you talking about? I thought you had already forgotten your childhood lie. Did you dream something?
— Julie is an evil spirit. In front of me, she shows her real face, and today she did it again. She pulls the wool over your eyes, Veronica!
The girl has had enough of this.
— Wrap yourself up, for God's sake!
He looks at her with big black eyes, breathing hard.
— I have been trying to reason with you for over ten years because you are the only one who can understand me. Why do you think I came to this damn school? Do you think it's because I dreamed of studying here? It was something that drew you here! And I came after you because you are in danger!
— Since when are you a beloved brother? Your mood changes are spectacular.
Veronica intends to return to the room, but he does not allow her to do so.
— She says she will finish me off first and then you. She wants revenge for our parents, since they won with her. Haven't you ever thought about why we've both been seeing her since we were born? She is the curse of our family! She has to finish something she failed to do, and Horace Mann gives her the most power! She's a fucking demon, Vera!
The brunette feels like laughing. Her brother loves to make up and create fictional stories, preferably chilling ones.
— And how do you supposedly know all this? Did she tell you tonight?
— Yes, because she understands you don't believe me!
The 17-year-old opens her eyes wider as she notices Julie standing to the side. Crystal tears are streaming down her face.
— It's not me, I swear. I'm not the one who comes to you. Something is claiming to be me. It's not me!
The siblings look at the ghost, having total confusion in their minds. This is only the first day at Horace Mann, and inconceivable things are happening here.
— Stop playing innocent! — shouts Eric in a whisper, pointing his finger at her.
At the same time, Miranda comes out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. She stops in mid-step and blanches at the sight of them.
— What are you guys doing here in the middle of the night? What is he doing here? — She asks in an embarrassed voice, pointing at the boy.
— Family meeting, doll. Go to your place and keep your mouth shut.
Her attitude changes when she realizes she can report on them.
She smiles mockingly.
— Revenge is sweet. Do you think I'll keep quiet after you humiliated me? — She brushes her wet hair back, strutting like a "Sunshine Patrol" actress.
— I don't like such ladies either — Julie claims, wiping tears from her cheeks. — And since revenge is sweet....
The towel that the 16-year-old has wrapped around her body unexpectedly slides to the floor, showing her siblings her naked body.
Miranda lowers her head and looks at the lying material under her feet. She slowly lifts her face and, reddened up to her ears, looks at Eric.
— Childish shapes. There is nothing to admire — the boy announces in a bored voice, then turns to his sister. — Tomorrow we will finish our conversation, and you.... — He points his finger at the ghost, but Miranda is sure he's talking to her, given that no one else is with them. — Don't try to play innocent. Your tricks won't help you. I will destroy you.
He walks past and speeds up his step when he finds himself at the stairs.
The pretty girl picks up a towel from the floor and carefully wraps her body with it.
— Did he threaten me? Is he going to tell everyone about what he just saw?
Veronica sighs loudly.
— We have more important things on our minds than your ruddy nipples. Put your mind at ease, doll.
When Miranda is left all alone in the hallway, she bursts into hysterical crying.
— I'm finished. This boor is sure to tell everyone what he saw.
The ghost of the girl, standing behind her, takes on an entirely different form.
— It could be much more interesting than in the days of Hannah and Joseph. It didn't work out then, but this time I'll take back what is mine...