"Hey man. How'd it go last night?" Asks Ben as I get into his car.

"Good I guess," I answer shrugging.

Seeing Travis again and talking with him and the others was the most fun I've had in ages. It felt so natural and relaxed being with them like that. The other stuff that happened though put a damper on the evening and left me with so many unanswered questions. Then going home last night I felt sick and had a sense something was missing. The feeling of loss still hadn't left me and anxiety had my stomach lurching.

Ben looked over at me and raised his eyebrow.

"Wow, so enthusiastic. What happened?" He asks pulling out from the kerb.

"Nothing! Their family's just a little weird is all." I reply. I don't want to have to lie to Ben but I'm not sure how much I can tell him.

"Well, they're from Russia right? Cultural differences and all that." 

"I'm not sure. Laiela and Alex told us . . . "

"Laiela and Alex? Laiela was that hot albino chick right?" He interrupts.

"Yeah, and Alex is her twin brother. Last night the five of us; me, Mom, Travis, Alex, and Laiela sat down and talked for most of the evening." I explain.

"Well that sounds normal to me, and you look happy about that bit, so what's up?"

"Their three other brothers. They kept acting weirdly and saying stuff that made no sense. I pretty sure they all hate me and think of me as some sort of freak and I have no clue why!"

"Really, you got no idea? They just up and started hating on you? You sure you didn't misread the situation or whatever?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure. You should have seen the way they looked at me. It was worse than the looks I get at school."

"Damn that's gotta blow. You meet your brother again after all these years and his bosses turn out to be jerks." he pauses for a bit and we sit there quietly listening to the car accelerated down the road. "Well, whatever dude. Not everyone in your life's gonna be friendly. As far as you know you did nothing wrong so it's not your fault. You just gotta shake it off and move on. Don't let it affect you too badly."

I sigh and look over at Ben with a grateful smile on my face. "Yeah, you're right. Thanks man."

"No problem. I'm always here when you wanna talk about stuff. We're best friends after all." He says giving me one of his famous hundred watt smiles.

We spend the rest of the drive talking about how it went at Ben's family dinner and the chaos that occurred when Grandpa Phil turned up 15 minutes late and carrying a bag full of dead leaves and mice which he proceeded to empty out onto the kitchen floor. I was still laughing at Ben's description of his dad standing on top of the counter and yelling at Phil to catch "the bloody rodents" by the time we reached school. 

Ben parked the car and we parted ways, Ben heading for the international block to meet up with Anna and Zara as I walked toward the main office. 

Last night mum got an email asking me to go to the principal's office first thing when I got to school. I was feeling a pretty nervous.

"Hello dear. She's waiting for you in her office." Said Mrs Taylor the kind, old receptionist.

"Thank's," I replied as I walked passed

I walked down the short hall past the other dean's offices until I came to the last one on the right. I knocked twice before I heard a familiar voice call for me to enter. I opened the door and stepped inside.

The office was the same as always. Stark white walls. Black leather couches. Dark hardwood bookshelves and the huge imposing hardwood desk taking up the back of the room, and behind that desk, just like always sat Mrs Harper with her immaculate pantsuit and her light brown hair pulled back in a severe bun, not a single hair out of place. To most people at this school, she was strict, imposing and a little bit terrifying to tell you the truth, but not to me, or not just that. To me, she was Michael's mum. She baked cookies, she drove us to Michael's concerts and she walked around the house in her pyjamas because she couldn't be bothered getting dressed. She worked herself to death trying to keep everything at the school running at 110% and yet she still made time for her son. The two of them were really close so naturally being his friend I got to know her better too. That didn't mean she wouldn't chew me out and punish me though, quite the opposite actually. Seeing the stern look on her face I knew I was in deep shit.

I came into the room and stood awkwardly in front of the desk and waited for her to say something.

"James. I suppose you know why your here." She stated evenly.

"Mrs Harper I can explain . . ." I started but she put up a hand to silence me. I closed my mouth and held back the torrent of explanations and apologies that wanted to burst forth.

"No need. I have been informed of the situation no less than 6 times already so I don't need to hear it again. I called you here to inform you of your punishment."

My heart both alternately sank to my feet and got lodged in my throat. A whole storm of thoughts went racing through my head at what that punishment could be, so fast that I barely registered half of them. I was panicking. My vision started going from extremely sharp and clear to dim and fuzzy. 

"James! James relax it's nothing serious! You just have to show some new students around the school and serve a couple of Sunday detentions." 

It took me a second to register what she said but as soon as I did my breathing eased and I sank down into the chair behind me. I sighed and rubbed my hands over my face.

Thank goodness. I thought I would get suspended for a second there.

"That doesn't seem so bad. Who do I have to show around school?" I ask after pulling myself together.

"Two new international students. Alexander and Laiela I believe are their names," she says looking through some papers on her desk. 

My heart started racing again but this time for a completely different reason.

"Alex and Laiela Volkov?!" I ask excitedly.

"Why yes. Do you know them?"

"Just met yesterday. My brother works for them."

"Oh. That's good you'll be able to recognise them then when you go and collect them from admin then. Take them and show them the international block and where all their classes are as well as things like the toilets and the cafeteria. Help them with any questions they may have and make sure they won't get lost. Introduce them to a couple of people in their classes and make them feel welcome. I'll see you back here after school to give you the dates and times for your detentions. Go now and here are their timetables." She thrust two pieces of paper into my hands before getting up and ushering me out the door. Before I knew what was happening I was standing in the hall with the door closed behind me.

Five minutes later I'm standing at the admin desk waiting for Alex and Laiela to show up and chatting to people as they come past. I'm not really paying attention to the conversation and keep zoning out and thinking about Laiela. I have so many questions I want to ask her. Hopefully, some of which she'll answer. 

Just then something causes me to look over at the door and all my senses focus in on the person standing there staring back at me.

Laiela

James

The hole that had been in my chest since last night was suddenly filled and I found a smile breaking out on my face. My whole body felt lighter like there had been a weight pushing down on my shoulders and my heart started racing. Upon seeing me Laiela's expression brightened and I felt positive emotions flowing to me over our bond, but there was also worry and relief. It confused me and I wanted to ask what was wrong but one look at her face and I decided against it. I'll ask her later. Not now. I can see she doesn't wanna talk about it. 

She came further into the room followed by Alex who smiled and nodded at me. I pushed off of the desk I had been leaning against and went over to the twins.

"James, what are you doing here?" Laiela asked in form of greeting.

"I'm your guide. I'm gonna be showing you two around the school." I tell them.

Laiela brightened and Alex smiled warmly relaxing a little bit. He seemed so stiff and serious. Something definitely happened, but what? And how to get them to tell me about it? I'll have to just wait and see.

"That sounds great. Where shall we go first?" Asks Alex.

"I think we'll start with the international department. This way." I say handing them their timetables and heading out the door.

We walk to the international building mostly in silence with me pointing out stuff here and there. The twins seemed to be distracted though and I could tell there was a silent conversation going on between the two.

We reach the building and go into the main common room. I see Ben, Anna, and Zara sitting in our usual spot by the floor to ceiling windows. I lead our little group over to them. Anna sees us approaching and stands up, she looks a little star struck as I bring the twins over and start introducing everyone.

"Alex, Laiela, these are some of my friends. That's Anna and Zara, Laiela you've already met Ben. Guy's this is Alex and Laiela Volkov they are gonna be starting school here today." I say gesturing to everyone in turn.

"Nice to meet you all." Says Alex smiling warmly. I can tell it's a little forced though.

Anna nods and continues to look star struck. Zara saves her, sticking out her hand and greeting Alex. "It's our pleasure. You are part of the famous Volkov family after all. It's not every day you get to meet people such as yourselves."

At that Alex's smile falters for a second and I feel dark emotions flow over our bond.

"Yes well, our father does run one of the biggest and most successful power and oil companies in the world, And mother's clothing brand is very popular in Europe at the moment." He say's conversationally trying to cover up his reaction to being recognised. 

I can see it's not working though. All three of them saw it and all three of them want to know why. I can tell that Anna is about to ask and I send a warning to Alex and Laiela over the bonds.

"I hope you will all be willing to help out me and my brother. It's always confusing starting a new school." Laiela says stepping forward, stopping Anna's question and steering the conversation away from their family.

Ben, seeing what she's doing and understanding the need to change topic goes along with it. "Of course! Any friend of James's is a friend of mine."

"Oh! Yes, definitely! I remember what it was like when I first started school here. You see I came here from New Zealand when my dad got a job transfer and Zara is from France, she's staying here with her Aunt and Uncle." Anna explains breaking out of the almost trance she had been in.

"Really? Dans quelle région de France habites-tu?" Asks Laiela.

Zara looks surprised and hesitates before replying, also in French. Laiela nods and the conversation continues with me, Ben and Anna looking on in astonishment.

"What are they saying?" Ben asks Anna.

"I'm not entirely sure. I can't keep up." She replies looking and sounding shell-shocked and a little putout.

"But you've been studying French for three years now!" Ben exclaims. I'm shocked as well. Anna is the queen of languages at our school.

I look over at Alex for an explanation.

"Our mother is French. She taught Laiela and will only ever talk to her if it's in French. She tried to teach the rest of us but Father wouldn't let her." He explains. I can sense all sorts of bitterness in that statement. Seems like Alex doesn't have a good relationship with his dad. Now that I think about it the two of them barely mentioned their father at all yesterday, in fact, they seemed to avoid anything that had to do with him.

Mental note; don't mention the Father. I think to myself.

I sense there's more to it than just what he said but I leave it as it is.

After that Laiela and Zara finished their conversation and explained some of what they had said. Anna and Zara had then given the twins the run down of what it was like in the international department and we had all looked at their timetables seeing which classes we had together. The twins and I had then said goodbye and continued the tour. I showed them where all their classes were as well as the cafeteria, where my friends and I sat at lunch, the gym, the various toilets, the nurse's office, the auditorium and the notice boards. They asked lots of questions and we chatted a bit as well, mostly about my friends and the various things you could do at school. By the time we finished the tour it was almost time for first period and the halls were bustling with people. Most people just walked past and ignored us like they normally ignore people but every once in awhile we would get a strange look or hear a whispered comment. They were mostly to do with the twins being albino. You didn't see people with white hair every day, but some were about me and the fight from yesterday. It seems someone must have taken a video and posted it online. Damn.

I quickly lead them down the hall and away from all the people.

"Why don't we head to homeroom?" I ask a little too enthusiastically.

James, what's wrong? Laiela asks

Nothing. People were staring is all. I reply.

You don't like it when people look at you?

It's not that. It's just the way they judge you silently and how their eye's say something different from what they tell you.

She doesn't reply to that. She doesn't need to. I can tell she knows what I'm talking about.

We enter the classroom and I see Mr Coleman standing at his desk with a mug of coffee in one hand and a copy of the book we're currently studying in English in the other. He turns to greet us but as soon as he see's who's standing behind me he freezes. The mug and book slip from his hands and the mug shatters on the floor, spilling hot coffee everywhere. A million emotions fly across his face and he opens his mouth to say something, but instead, he quickly pulls himself together and plasters a fake flustered look on his face before bending over to pick up the bits of broken crockery, mumbling to himself. I hurry over and start helping him clean up. When the twins don't come and join us straight away I look back to ask them to help, but stop as soon as I see Alex's face.

He's pale as snow and shaking like a leaf. His expression is a mix of amazement fear and confusion. I instantly open the bond and start searching through his thoughts and feelings. They're all a complete mess. Flying all over the place and ranging from joy to disbelief to utter terror. He just kept repeating two words over and over.

Not possible. Not possible.

"Alex. Alex what's wrong?" Beggs Laiela tugging at his arm. That arm raises and points to Mr Coleman.

"Mate."