The liquor store was silent save for Grayson's soft snoring.

Rows of fancy wines like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay were stacked neatly on shelves attached to the wall. Kegs were in the storage room and a bar stand stood in the center of the room. The darkly lit room was quite sleep-inducing, so much so that my eyelids were beginning to droop.

Getting to work with my brother at his liquor store was not exactly a childhood dream, but it certainly helped with pocket money. I had enough to buy myself new sketchbooks and supplies for the new school year.

As I ruminated, I fanned myself with an advertisement pamphlet. The summer was almost over, and yet the heat was not. Even with the air-con switched on, it was like my armpits and scalp were having a competition to see who could sweat the most.

The little golden bell on the top corner of the glass door jingled and my head perked up.
I nudged my brother's shoulder and he hiccuped in his sleep.

I said, "Hey Gray, we have customers!"

"What is it, Sunny? Get dad to do it," Grayson mumbled in his sleep. I pushed his shoulder a little harder but he just waved me away. As the door opened I pushed my brother's swiveling chair further into the corner of the bar stand.

I looked up, and I was met with two pairs of amused eyes.

They appeared to be twins, though one of them was a little taller than the other. They had dark brown hair, and eyes speckled with amber. There was a storm in their eyes, and I wasn't sure if I wanted the rain. Both of them stood upright, like a pair of graceful, menacing swans.

"Hi, welcome to Gray's. What can I get for you?" I said.

"I need these and this." The taller one slid a list across the bar stand. His voice was rough.
When our eyes locked, his eyes widened.

I moved my head to the side, wondering why he was staring at me. I snapped out of my thoughts, remembering my job.

"Sure thing, can I see your ID please?" I said.

The shorter guy raised an eyebrow but his face remained quite impassive. The way his foot tapped against the floor and his folded arms told me he was impatient and wanted to leave.

"Can we see your ID?" The taller one said.

I shrugged and I said, "if you guys don't show any proof of age, I can't be sure if you are minors or not. I can show you my ID if that would help."

I flipped through my wallet to show them my ID, but a hand across my wrist stopped me.
I looked at my brother quizzically.

If our two customers weren't here I probably would have said something like, "ah, the sleeping beast hath risen!"

Grayson said, "You don't have to show them your ID, Sunflower. I've got this."

"Sure you got this. You have a little something on your chin though, just so you know," I told my brother.

Grayson wiped away the drool in a hasty swipe. His frown told me I would be getting payback soon.

Both boys glanced at me when my brother said my name. The shorter one said my name under his breath, rolling the words out, "Sunflower."

I tried not to pay attention to the fact that these two boys were incredibly handsome yet strange in their lack of emotions. I noticed the taller guy had a piercing on his eyebrow and the shorter one had a tattoo peeking out from the line of his t-shirt.

"Hi, welcome boys. What can I get for ya?" Grayson said.

The taller guy repeated the items on his list and Grayson nodded, asking for their ID once more.

I looked over my brother's shoulder to see what these two boys were called. I almost expected their names to be something like Dick and Harry.

A pit of dread formed in my stomach when I saw who they were.

Nero and Blaise King.

"Y'all having a party?" My brother asked them.

"Yeah, something like that," Nero, the taller one, said.

"Cool. Hey Sunny, help them get what they're looking for, will you?" Grayson was preoccupied with the cash.

The guys paid Grayson using their credit card.
I walked past them to the storage room with my work phone. I opened the door and I scrolled down to the inventory part on the phone. I was still looking at my phone, about to check the actual inventory when a voice made me jump in surprise, "Sunflower."

I turned, and in front of me stood Blaise and Nero.

"That's your name, isn't it?" Nero said.

"Uh, yeah," I replied.

"Your brother told us to get the kegs from here. We can handle it." Blaise said.

I ran a hand through my hair and I said, "okay, yeah. Wait, how do you know that was my brother?"

"He told us. He also told us to invite you to our party." Nero said with a straight line on his lips and his perfect jaw moving in sync. A small smile ghosted across his lips after he spoke.

Damn it, Grayson Keynes!

I checked off the inventory as their buff friends came into the store to haul the kegs on their shoulders. Just as I was about to close the storage door, Nero turned back to face me.

"Come to our party."

I looked at these two handsome swans and I thought, "what did he just say?"

It sounded more like an order than an invite.
I looked at the twins again, with a wary look.

Then I said, "no, thanks."

Somehow, my brother heard this with his super ears.

"Yeah, she will come with you! Give her the address, and twenty minutes." Grayson answered for me.

Grayson twisted a pen in the air as he spoke the casual reply to the two brothers.

I glared at my brother and I mouthed, "what are you doing?"

"Your shift is over and I know you have nothing to do anyways. You'll thank me later." Grayson said.

"No, I really can't." I started to protest.

"Come to 13 Electric street. Eight pm." Nero said.

They walked out of the store and my jaw dropped.

"What the hell, Gray! Why would you say that I'll go to their party? I don't even know them!" I said.

My brother's face twisted into a grimace. He replied with five words that would soon change my life, "you never refuse a King."