"Hey," Claire greeted me with a smile, placing her tray in front of me. Noah and Bryce had gone to get lunch, leaving me captivated by Claire's enchanting chocolate eyes. "Mind if I sit beside you?" she asked, her sad puppy dog expression lingering in my mind.

"Where's Shawn?" I inquired. Claire threw her backpack on the seat next to her and sat down.

"Shawn had his wisdom teeth removed and won't be here for a week," she replied. Her foot slipped next to mine, and we briefly played footsies.

"Are you guys going to try out for football?" I asked, stuffing a chicken tender into my mouth, swallowing my pride. "That new guy told Shawn he'd make you join only if he got to kick your ass." Was it a challenge? My eyes briefly shifted to Mark, who seemed to watch me somberly.

"Mark?" I clarified, taking a sip of my drink. "Yeah, he's a jerk." I sighed and rolled my eyes.

Claire frowned, intertwining her hand with mine as I gazed at the table. "At least it's not Sebastian," she said, recalling my brother's wise words. She smiled, linking her foot with mine. "Maybe this is an opportunity for you two to work things out. He doesn't seem like a bad guy, and whatever issues you have with him—"

I growled, directing my eyes toward Mark, who was scowling at his food. "You have no idea what you're getting into, Claire," I responded, taking a deep breath.

Claire shook her head. "What is it about him that bothers you?"

I rolled my eyes and muttered, "You wouldn't understand."

"Try me," she challenged.

"I'm sorry for being a jerk to you," I said, gazing into her beautiful brown eyes again. "I like you, but you shouldn't invade my personal life—"

"It's alright, James. I know, and I like you too. You're not a jerk. You're right," she replied, hurt evident in her eyes as she looked away from me, sunlight twinkling through the window.

Suddenly, Noah and Bryce slammed their trays on the table. "Will you two lovebirds just kiss already?" Noah puckered his lips at me, causing laughter to escape his mouth.

"Fuck you, Noah," I growled, watching him laugh like a maniac.

He glanced shyly at Claire, who was hiding behind her hoodie. "He likes you, you know," he whispered, tapping his temple.

"Shut up, Noah. I don't like her... maybe? I don't know," I stammered, feeling my face turn bright red. All three of them watched me, amused by my embarrassment.

"And if he doesn't try out for the football team, I will," Noah declared. My gaze followed Noah and Bryce to Sebastian sitting at a corner table. Bryce handed his letterman jacket to a cheerleader, and his lips met with Meghan Goffman, his girlfriend. Noah's palm hit my shoulder, and I shot him a glare. Even thinking about football tryouts, Noah was convinced it was a terrible idea. But he was doing it for Bryce, and I reluctantly agreed, only for Bryce's sake.

"I never said I wouldn't," I blurted out before stuffing fries into my mouth. Claire playfully stroked my foot with hers.

"How cute. You have a little crush on Claire, mate," Noah squinted his eyes, teasing me while stuffing mac and cheese into his mouth. How did he manage to do that so effortlessly? Someone, please explain his superpowers to me.

I leaned on my palm, consuming the high school cafeteria mac and cheese. It was surprisingly better than expected. We still hadn't gathered the courage to invite our cousins to the table. The anxiety of revealing our powers held us back.

"Ugh, I hate school," Noah groaned, leaning against the lunchroom table. I sat there quietly, absentmindedly pushing around fries and the remaining chicken tenders on my tray. Suddenly, I felt a warm breath behind me.

"If it makes you feel any better, it's pretty sucky for me, too," Mark's voice sounded from behind. Noah and I groaned simultaneously, observing Bryce's reaction amidst the crowded cafeteria.

"Hey, Mark," Bryce greeted, giving him a wink.

"What do you want?" Noah growled. Mark pulled up a chair, flipped it around, and sat beside me, leaning against the backrest as if preparing for a serious conversation. I rolled my eyes.

"I just wanted to warn you guys about Max and Mia," Mark offered his help, although we were hesitant to accept it. I still didn't trust him, and Noah felt the same way. Noah rolled his eyes again, and the attention shifted to Mark. "They're planning something big together with Alexander, possibly a siege or another kidnapping, and if—" Mark paused, licking his chapped lips, and gestured towards Claire. "She doesn't know, does she?"

"No, you idiot. She doesn't know about our powers." Noah snapped in our heads. Mark's eyebrow rose. Nice job. Fortunately, she was focused on playing footsies with me, so I played along.

"Mark, I have a family full of cops," Noah grumbled. Mark huffed, annoyed with Noah. His eyes landed on Bryce, and his demeanor softened against the chair.

"Never mind," he said, taking a deep breath. He chuckled with bitter disbelief. Then, Mark stood up and turned the chair around. "See you around, Knight," he patted my shoulder and walked away. Who did Mark think he was? Maybe he was reconsidering his actions. Maybe he had a heart, after all.

"What was that about?" Noah asked. Bryce shrugged, and I pushed my tray away, losing my appetite.

"I don't even want to know," I replied. My eyes wandered to Mark, who sat with Madison, Dylan, and Easton. The nerve of that guy. They didn't seem bothered when he joined them, which worried me. But they also didn't know what was happening on our side of the family.

"Are you going to tell me what happened?" Bryce asked his brother. Noah froze, staring at Bryce before tapping his temple. I played footsies under the table with Claire, giving her a quick smile.

"I'll tell you later," he said. Sebastian glared at us from his seat. All four of us looked at him, and he approached, his chest puffed out as cheerleaders and football jocks cheered him on.

"Kick their asses," one boy shouted as Sebastian stopped before Noah, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

"She doesn't know about you, dorks," he asked, gesturing to Claire, then resting his hands on Noah's shoulders, squeezing tightly.

"I'm Noah, you idiot," Noah growled, and Sebastian released him. Bryce rolled his eyes.

"I don't care which twin you are," Sebastian taunted. Everyone's attention shifted from their food to our table. "Why don't I reveal who you guys are?"

Sebastian stepped toward Bryce, who clenched his fists. "I'd step back if I were you."

"Why? Because you're going to hurt me?" Sebastian chuckled.

Mark stood behind Sebastian, towering over him by a few inches. "No, but I will." Mark shoved Sebastian against the table beside Bryce, holding him firmly in place and challenging him momentarily. Mark garnered glares from the other boys and girls at the table, their phones capturing the scene. Then, Mark pulled Sebastian away from the table and swung a punch, connecting with Sebastian's chin.

"Son of a bitch," Sebastian stumbled a few feet back, holding his jaw as blood and drool escaped his mouth. Mark pushed him against a nearby table and forcefully slammed Sebastian's head into the faux wood surface. He lay there, unconscious, looking strangely peaceful in slumber. Students briefly stared at us before returning to their meals.

Mark then slid into the seat next to Bryce. "You're welcome," he grimaced at Bryce, who glared back. Mr. Abraham approached, his gaze fixed on Mark.

"Who punched Sebastian?" he growled, scanning our table. It's not like Sebastian didn't deserve it for being a jerk, but why did it have to be Mark? There was a moment of hushed murmurs before students pointed at Mark, who held hands with Bryce beneath the table.

Mark stood up abruptly, releasing his grip on Bryce's hand. "He was being a jerk, so I hit him."

"Mr. Reignson, go to the principal's office," Mr. Abraham ordered. Mark grabbed his backpack and half-eaten apple from Bryce's tray without a word, winked at him, and exited the cafeteria.

∆∆∆

MARK

"That changes nothing," James mumbled, closing his locker.

"I know," I frowned. "Look, Max and Mia are starting school, and I have to play the bad guy for them, but I promise I want to help. I don't want to be the bad guy anymore."

"The fuck?" Noah cursed.

"I don't want Max pushing me around anymore," I reiterated. We walked toward the school's exit and paused outside the front double doors.

"What do you want us to do?" Noah growled, adjusting his backpack on his shoulders.

I licked my lips. My eyes focused on Bryce. God damn, he looked stunning in the sunlight. It was as if his thoughts magically formed in my mind as he nodded at me.

"I want to tell them, Mark," Bryce spoke. Did I imagine things, or could he communicate telepathically too? Could Bryce possess that ability, or was Noah messing with me? I couldn't tell if I was going crazy, but there was something I had held back for weeks since meeting Bryce. I licked my chapped lips and leaned in, brushing Bryce's curls from his face.

"If this proves nothing, I don't know what will," I hesitated, staring into Bryce's deep chocolate eyes. I leaned in, my eyes meeting Bryce's, and my lips crashed into his soft pillow lips. Bryce didn't pull back. Instead, his arms wrapped around my neck and pulled me in deeper. It was heaven on earth. We melted into each other the longer our lips stayed locked together. I gathered every strength I had not to go weak in the knees as he shoved me against the concrete wall. My feet barely left the ground for a moment, but Bryce weighed me down, keeping me steady on a solid foundation.

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment, realizing that James knew my little secret. Noah screeched, high-pitched. "Bryce, you... Mark, you..." This time, Bryce looked at his twin, coming for a deep breath with a bright, satisfied grimace on his lips. "You're kissing the bloody enemy, mate."

"Relax, Noah. I've been talking with Mark since we first met. Think of him as a double agent, mate." He took a long breath, mocking Noah's accent, and winked.

"What the fuck!" Noah screeched again. I rolled my eyes and leaned against the wall behind me. James was quiet, staring at me, his eyebrows melting together in an almost confused and angered glare. I'm sure he was mad. How could James have known I was gay? How could he know I had a crush on him for years?

"Chill, dude," I said.

Noah grunted. "Are you fucking kidding me? You kissed Bryce. I have a right to be angry."

James growled out of annoyance. "You've been bullying me for how long, only to turn your back on Max because you're gay? Wow." He rolled his eyes and walked away down the street. Bryce squeezed my fingers, reminding me of his presence.

"I should probably go after him, but he's right," Noah said. "You hurt my brother, and you'll pay." Noah threatened, staring me down before following James.

"He wants to kill you," Bryce tapped his temple three times. It confirmed my suspicion. Bryce intertwined his fingers with mine, and I gave a nervous chuckle.

"I know."

"So now that they know, would it be wrong if I took you to my place?"

I rubbed the back of my neck as we continued walking, then wrapped my arms around Bryce's muscular back. "I don't see a problem with it. Do you think your dad will or something?"

   Bryce shrugged. "Sebastian might."

"Who gives a fuck about Sebastian? He's an asshole, and you have superpowers." Bryce and I stopped walking for a moment.

"That doesn't mean I'm going to hurt him. He's still my cousin."

   I laughed and shrugged. "I get it. You're a nice guy. I find it adorable and a little annoying."

    Bryce chuckled this time. "You find me adorable?" Bryce snorted and slid his hand with mine again.

"Yeah. You're cute, in a sort of dorky kind of way." 

"Ha," he chuckled. "And you're the bad boy?"

"If you put it that way, yeah." I chuckled. We started walking again, clutching hands as we made it off campus. "Your house?" I asked.

"Sure, " Bryce smiled at me, his top and bottom teeth showing like a dork, and we walked down the street toward Bryce's home. Damn, that felt so fucking good, but now I was in deep shit, especially if one of those jocks posted my video on the internet and Max saw it or if they found the footage of Noah and James in the investigation room. Never mind fucking good; I was a dead man walking.