Disgraced: Twins of the Zodiac

Fixing What's Broken...Surprises, surprises

     He leaned against the large metal doors of Luxe High, looking out into the dispersing crowd as all of the kids gradually emptied the vicinity to go about their own personal business.

    "See you around Jeriko,"

     A few of the cheerleaders sauntered by him, winking in silent hopes to gain his attention. He had very little attention to spare, however, his mind racked with the guilt because of the aggressive conversation he had with Aurora the week prior.

    "Yea, sure," He finally replied with a half-hearted smile. After, he turned and went into the school.

    His twin sister hadn't parted her lips to speak and barely even spared him a  passing glance since the little spat that they had. She wasn’t harsh to him, however, as the rare few times she would look his way, she gave him a very small and cordial nod and smile before continuing about her day. 

    If Jeriko were being honest with himself, he thought that Aurora’s reactions to the heated argument would have been harsher and more vengeful with the way he had talked down to her that night. One thing that he thought that his sister would immediately do following their little spat, was quit the spirit squad out of spite when in reality Aurora did no such thing. She didn’t even show any less disdain for Jennifer than what she had already displayed in past times of their running into one another. Upon further thought concerning the matter, he realized that he should have known better.

    Aurora never was a run-of-the-mill sister by any standard-human or inhuman. He remembered her being the type to wear her feelings on her sleeve but that changed decades ago-and almost over night. In fact, Jeriko remembered the day that Aurora started staying closed off from not only him but their mother as well. Being a Gemini twin, Jeriko knew that his bond should have been stronger with his twin but he realized that day that it was nowhere near as strong as it should have been. Otherwise, he would have known why she had changed so suddenly. 

    Even before that, however...before his sister had become more closed off, Jeriko did notice that she never was the type to treat others indignantly; even when they were deserving of it. She never treated children the way that they would unmercilessly treat her and while she had changed in terms of being more emotionally available, she still acted surprisingly diplomatically in situations like the argument that they'd had before. Sure, she hadn't said more than two words to him since then, but he knew that it was more than likely because Aurora-being the cut and dry person that she was, literally had nothing else to say concerning the situation.Jeriko should have known better than to think that she'd act so negatively against him. This only made him feel worse. 

    She was right, he thought, shaking his head, ashamed at how he handled her. Aurora accepting her life as it was wasn't wrong. Jeriko realized that he had to come to the realization that playing mundane was significantly harder for his twin than it was for him.

    "i***t," He groaned, insulting himself as he thought about how many times his mother probably turning in her grave at how he'd treated Aurora. Jeriko made his way down the hallway, further questioning why he had suddenly become so harsh with her in the first place. He and Aurora had never been as close as they should have been as twins-even with love for his twin-but he had never been so hard on her as he had been of late. He found it sad that he only noticed it now.

    He heard, before he even entered the gymnasium, that the girls were making up random cheers and talking random gossip. He knew that Aurora would not be among the blethering teenage girls that were no doubt already cliqued up with the ones that they'd hope would be accepted into the squad as they were.

    Jeriko peeked into the doorway of the gymnasium just as Jennifer and the squad coach called for the girls to get prepared to go outside to practice routines and run a few laps. He didn’t see Aurora around the few, however. As expected, Aurora, instead, was sitting in the bleachers, far away from the crowd of chittering young girls. He watched as she then rolled her eyes before disinterestedly walking over to the huddle of girls that stood near the squad captain and the coach.

    As Aurora made her way over to the group of gossiping, excited cheerleaders, Jeriko walked into the gymnasium, turning everyone's chatter into excited giggles Yes, that was just how attractive Jeriko Valentine was. However, he paid it no mind as he had more important things to settle.

    Jennifer’s eyes lit up as she watched her boyfriend enter the gym; the expression on her face hinting at the fact that she knew good and well, how fine the man was that she had on her arm.

    “Babe.” Jennifer smiled brightly. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at football practice today?” She rushed to him and kissed his cheek.

    Jeriko smiled at her before his gaze landed on his sister a moment. She knew he was there; she probably even knew that he was staring at her, but she would not spare him a glance. Per usual of late. Instead, her gaze was facing the other way and her expression was distant, almost as if she was thinking about something. He wondered what was going on in her mind.

    “Was there something that you needed? The coach asked.    

    “Yes,” Jeriko answered, “Actually, I do.”

    “What is it?” Jennifer asked before Jeriko could even finish as if under the assumption that it was her that he wanted to speak to.

    “I was hoping we could talk.” He said.

    Jennifer nodded. “Sure!" She looked at the coach. "I can go, right? I'm sure everyone will be fine without me. You all can just go on ahead and I’ll be right there-” Jennifer was saying as she turned to alert the girls to go on without her before Jeriko gently grabbed her arm.

    “Jeni, I wasn’t talking about me and you, babe.” He said.

    “Oh, okay,” Jennifer's facial expression seemed suddenly confused and disappointed “Who else did you want to talk to in here?”

    It was almost as if she had forgotten that Aurora was present among them; something Jeriko didn’t understand considering, she was the best among all of the girls standing there-Jennifer included. It was also weird because...well, she was the one that really wanted Aurora on the squad in the first place. Odd, that she'd suddenly forget that she was even there. It was hard to ignore Aurora's presence.

    Jeriko, brow raised. “My sister.” He finally answered, deciding to chalk it up to jealousy; he was sure that Jennifer simply assumed that there was another girl that had found interest in outside of her.

    “Oh.” Jennifer retorted. “I’m so sorry!” She chuckled. “Duh!” Jennifer jokingly knocked against her forehead before she turned around. “Aurora?” She called. “Your brother wants to borrow you for a sec.”

      Aurora glanced over at Jennifer before attending her gaze to her twin. Admittedly, she had been in her own thoughts and hadn't heard much of what was being talked about until she heard her name being called. She could sense the envy radiating off of Jennifer because of the fact that Jeriko wasn't there for her. She smirked. “Me?” Her whole demeanor was filled with sarcasm. “What a pleasant surprise.” She then headed over to Jeriko. “How may I be of service, brother?”

    “Can we talk? It'll only take a minute," Jeriko asked.

   "Sure, why not?" Aurora shrugged,. “Got nothing better to do.” She said, being so sincere that she hadn’t even realized nor cared that she had offended some of her newfound teammates as well as the potentials.

    When they walked out of the gymnasium from prying eyes and ears, ending up in the cut next to a set of back stairs leading to the second floor, Aurora leaned against the wall and lit a black and mild laced  cigar, with hinted scents of lavender and vanilla. After the first puff and exhale, she held the cigar in her hand and looked at her brother, waiting for whatever it was that he had to say.

     “I thought you were full.” Jeriko attempted at small talk before he got into what he really wanted to say. Though after he said what he'd said, he realized, too late, that the subject of her feeding habits was probably not the best way to initiate the conversation.

    "You really want to start off with that?" She found this amusing-what made it further amusing was his shamed expression after she'd commented on his choice in subject. Nevertheless, Aurora decided that she'd oblige her big brother. To his assumption, Aurora chuckled as she took another puff of her cigar. “It’s not that simple, brother.” She simply answered. When he continued to look at her, as if needing her to further explain what she meant, she laughed again. “It was only one human, Jeriko," She simpered incredulously, all the while finding it unbelievable that her brother did not really know the ins and outs of her anatomy and how it worked. He never asked. This thought too, was found to be amusing to Aurora as she further thought about it. Hurtful...and amusing.  "One human out of maybe six that I've had for this whole year. Unfortunately, it takes a little more than that to satiate me...but I guess you wouldn’t know that, huh.” Her smile was genuine but her comment was bordering on sarcasm and hidden emotional hurt.

    Yet again, she’s right, Jeriko thought as he looked at his sister, shaking his head-rolling his eyes at himself as he did so.

    “You’re right.” He expressed. “Gah! I-” He sighed, disgusted with himself. Jeriko dropped his head in his hand momentarily, smoothing his hand through his curls as he thought. "Almost two...almost two hundred years and I..." He said, his gaze not reaching his younger twin sister.

    “One hundred, and ninety-seven, to be exact.” Aurora said wryly, though, not completely sure of what he was getting at.

    Jeriko nodded and looked at her. “And I didn’t know that.” 

    Aurora didn’t respond with another sarcastic statement, as what would have been the norm for her. Instead, she just stood there-even taking a break from her cigar and just decided to listen to what her brother had to say. She could sense by his sudden shift in demeanor that this really bothered him.

    “I never asked.” Jeriko continued. He sighed, closing his eyes at the embarrassment of a brother he had become. “I have...I have been so selfish...so self-righteous." He thought about how long she'd been going through this and probably more and how long he had never even bothered to get to know Aurora in depth in terms of what she'd had to go through. "All our lives.”

    Aurora smirked. “Not all our lives.” She replied in an attempted to ease the sudden self-loathing her brother had casted upon himself. “Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

    “That’s just it, Ro,” Jeriko countered. “I’m not...not hard enough on myself. And you’re not either.” He scoffed. “I’ve treated you terrible over the years. Mom would be ashamed of me.” He fought the tears that he began to feel rising behind his eyes as he thought about how much their mother sacrificed to keep them safe and how he was taking the act for granted for so long. “We left together because I vowed to keep you safe. We stuck together because you’re my little sister and I do love and care about you-way more than what I’ve been showing over the decades, And even in my neglect you’ve stood by and done all that I ask to keep the peace.” He realized, the more he relinquished his feelings the more his old world accent showed itself. “I don’t deserve that Aurora. I don’t deserve to have a little sister as good as you. I am ashamed to call myself your older brother. Lord knows I surely have not been acting the part. Especially, of late.”

    Touched by this, Aurora averted her gaze, the tears mocking her unbothered facade. She shook her head and sighed. “I know that staying with me couldn’t have been easy all of these years, brother.” She said, scoffing as she averted her eyes from him and towards the ceiling. “Being what I am...has always been a burden. To you, to mom.” She shrugged, her amethys stare looking up, not daring to show how vulnerable she suddenly felt. “Quite frankly, I’m surprised that you’re still here.” She harshly chuckled, her gaze still averted from him.

    Aurora never had the luxury of showing how vulnerable she was-not since she was a child and even then it was involuntary. When she grew up, however, she learned to mask, the pain and fear, and torture that she continuously felt day after day-from both Jeriko and their mother. Though, her mother was far more adept in deciphering Aurora’s feelings than Jeriko or anyone else ever was. But now-now her shell of invulnerability had cracked a little-only a little. “Jeriko, I do not want to be a burden; and I certainly do not try to be.” She gestured her head in frustration. “But, it is...so...hard. You have no idea how torturous being this way can be. But I am trying...and that is all that I can give as I am.”

    It was still hard for her to look at him, he could feel it. Her attentions seemed to have found the ceiling far more interesting than their conversation, though, he knew, judging off of what she had just confessed, that it wasn’t the case at all. He stepped closer to his little sister and turned her chin up to face him. 

    “I know.” He simply said with a smile. He then wrapped his arms around her neck and pulled her close to him, kissing the top of her black mass of curls before laying his chin on top of her head gingerly. “And I should have never asked for more from you. I may have your immortality, inhuman strength, and agility, but I have no idea what you’re going through, little sister, and it was crazy and downright selfish of me to assume to know. I promise things will change, Ro.” 

    Where Aurora’s body had tensed at first, around his embrace, she gradually felt the sincerity of his action in his hug. She loosened a little and before she could stop herself, she wrapped arms around his significantly larger form and relaxed a little in his brace. A small part of her was doubtful but only because of the so many times before where the world, her brother included, both the inhuman and human alike, had let her down. However, this time-this time, a hopeful part of her, struggled to think...Maybe things can change. Maybe.

    As they both embraced, Jeriko kept one arm wrapped around his sister as they re-entered into the gymnasium. It was at that moment, however, that he realized that he didn’t even want to be there anymore.

    “Let’s get outta here,” Jeriko suggested. “Go grab a drink and ditch these mortals for a day.”

    “You read my mind, brother. We’re certainly old enough for a drink.” Aurora smirked. They both then turned around to leave.

    “Hey, Aurora!” Jennifer called. When Aurora stopped, along with Jeriko, Jennifer stared at him as well with confusion. “Babe?” she quickly looked at Aurora again. “Where are you going, Aurora?”

    “Away,” Aurora said. “From here” She started to turn and walk away.

    “Bu-what-wait, Jer.” Jeriko looked at her. “What’s going on here?” She asked, her gaze switching between him and Aurora.

    “We’re leaving for the day.” Jeriko replied

    “Wh-why? Is everything alright?”

    Jeriko nodded. “Yea, babe.” He simply answered.

    Jennifer seemed to have become even more flustered than before as she looked at the Valentine twins incredulously. “Then-then where are you two going? Shouldn’t you be at football practice, Jer?” She asked once again and then turned to Aurora. “And well, Aurora, practice just started. I know we’ve been pushing back tryouts but today is the day.”

    Aurora was uninterested in this bit of news. “You asked me to be on the team. I assumed I did not necessarily have to try out. In fact, I am pretty you said as much.” To be perfectly honest, Aurora didn’t really remember whether Jennifer said this or not as most things that the girl said would usually go in one ear and out the other. Still, she could sound convincing enough to make her think that she may have said something of the sort. 

    “But-I-I don’t.”

    “Look,” Aurora said, cutting Jennifer's fumbled sentence off before she gave herself an aneurysm, trying to remember whether she said it or not. “I’m sure practice will be short anyway.” She reassured.

    “And...why is that?” Jennifer asked in further befuddlement and frustration.

    “Haven’t you heard?” Aurora said innocently. Both Jeriko and Jennifer looked at her curiously, along with the other girls in the vicinity.

    “No.” Jennifer reluctantly countered. 

    “Weatherman’s calling for rain.” Aurora smiled, all the while speaking a short incantation in her head that would bring about the very prediction. “Thunder, I’m sure.”

    “What-but I didn’t hear anything-” The words barely left her mouth before the sound of booming thunder and c***k of lightening bounced off of the walls of the gymnasium. The sound so loud and powerful it almost sounded as if it stemmed from within the school. 

    Jeriko looked at his younger twin, shocked, at what had just happened. Somehow, he could feel the power that shot through his body right before the thunder cracked outside. He knew that Aurora was capable of sorcery but certainly not to this extent.

    “Ooh, terrible, that sounded,” Aurora muttered. “I heard there were flash flood warnings accompanying this bit of rain.”

    Jennifer looked around, another sound of the thunder cracking off of the walls causing her along with the other girls to nearly jump out of their skin. 

    “So, guess, I’ll see you Monday?” Aurora smiled innocently again. Before Jennifer could answer her she turned on her heels. “Good.” And walked away. 

    Jeriko curiously watched his twin walk away before he approached Jennifer. “I have to go.”

    “Where are you going?” Jennifer asked.

    “My sister and I have not been on the same page lately, Jen.” He said, though, it seemed that they never were. Not until this moment; and whatever Aurora had just done confirmed as much. The fact that Jeriko wasn't even aware that she was capable of such magic hinted at just how little he knew about his twin. “Besides Mags, Ro is all that I have and the only family left in my life.”

    “But you have me too,” Jennifer reassured. "Aren't I source of importance in your life?"

    Her saying this brought a smile to his face; but as sweet as that was and as happy as he was to hear this, even he knew that it wasn’t enough and that this-whatever it was that he had with Jennifer, certainly would not last forever. 

    “I am so happy to hear you say that.” He smiled. “But it doesn’t change the broken relationship that I have with my sister. And if I can’t face and fix that, then what we have won’t last much past the walls of this school either.”

    Jennifer sighed, looking away as she seemed to think about his words. “You’re right-you’re right.” she chuckled. “Not like we’re practicing today anyway.” She pecked his lips with her own before giving him a bright and understanding smile. “Have fun.”

    Jeriko smiled and kissed her lip twice before catching up with Aurora. When he did, he heard Aurora smirk.

    “You really care for this one don’t you?” She asked curiously.

    “Unfortunately,” Jeriko said, thinking about the conundrums that could follow actually seriously pursuing his feelings for Jennifer..

    Aurora sighed. She didn’t understand the first reason why Jeriko felt the way that he did as Jennifer seemed to be just like every other little girl that Jeriko dated over the decades, only more annoying. But even more than that, there was just something about the girl that rubbed Aurora the wrong way. She just couldn’t wrap her mind around the girl or getting to like her. Nevertheless, it was her brother’s life and his choices that he had to make for himself. She only hoped that in him slipping up, he didn’t both their lives in jeopardy.

    “As long as you’re happy, brother,” Aurora said. “Just...be careful with that one.” She added. “She doesn't smell right.”

    "Smell," He laughed. "That's...a funny way to put it,"

    Aurora shrugged. "It's a vampire thing....hard to explain," 

    "Ha," Jeriko chuckled dryly. "Well, then I guess you can elaborate over this drink,"

    Aurora smirked. "Sure,"

    As she said those words, Jeriko agreed as he continuously began to wonder about his younger sister and all that she really may have been hiding. Instead of dwelling on the subject of Jennifer, he had another more pressing question in mind that he felt needed to be answered.

    “Ro, how did you do that?” He suddenly inquired..

    "Do what?" She asked, though some part of her had a feeling as to what he may have been talking about. She wouldn't assume, however.

    “You know what,” Jeriko said, though not in an aggressive rain. “The rain.” He finished. Before they even pushed through the doors to the exit, he paused as he heard the immense downpour outside. He looked at Aurora. “You did do this, right?” He countered, "You had to. I know you did,"

    "Is that right?" She replied bemused. "You seem quite sure. I don't see any need to confir-"

    "Ro..." He halted her in her oncoming sarcasm. "Did you?"

    Cautious of what Jeriko's reaction would be to her answer, Aurora played it safe by answering with a question. “And if I did?” She asked. 

    “Aurora, I-” Jeriko started to tell her that he could feel the power emanating when she used it but decided to keep that to himself, just in case he needed the advantage in the future. “It’s amazing.” He said instead, as he truly thought it was. "I didn't know  you could do that,"

    “Thanks.” Aurora finally said, after eyeing him a moment. She'd have been lying if she didn't admit to herself at least that she was relieved that that was his answer.

    “But it's no small feat, manipulating the weather.” Jeriko added reluctantly. “I didn’t think you had access to such power.”

    Aurora smiled, sensing a hint of suspicion in his words. Maybe mother was right. Maybe he isn’t ready to know everything, she thought. “It’s the extent of them.” She lied. “I doubt have much juice left after that-unlike the likes of you.” The cigar that she had put out earlier before returning to the gym, she lit again, as if wordlessly letting him know that it took a lot out of her. He didn’t have to know the truth, right? “The things I do to spend quality time with my brother.” She teased, as she walked down the stairs and into the rain. “Now, come, let’s get that drink.”

    Jeriko watched her a moment as she walked into the rain, allowing herself to get soaking wet. He couldn’t help but wonder if such a thing tapped her out, why didn’t she just mentally link with him and ask him to do it? Maybe, it’s the pride in her, he thought. Regardless, of what it was, though, Jeriko realized at that moment that he really did need to keep an eye on his sister, now suddenly wondering, how powerful was she truly?

    “You going to just stand there or are we going to get out of this deluge and get that drink?”

    Aurora’s words took Jeriko out of his reverie. He then caught up to his younger sister, summoning an umbrella along the way.

    “Yea! Yea, I’m coming. Think I’m really going to need that drink after all.”