Charles woke up to hushed voices coming from the room next door, the one that belonged to his brother Derek. He stumbled out of bed half-awake as he trudged towards the room, only to see his parents emptying his brother Derek's room. Empty, that's how he felt seeing that his parents had discarded his brother, just like he was one of their failed experiments. He stopped watching when they dragged out Benjy, Derek's pet hamster, and threw it at the pet wolf Windsor who gobbled it up in one gulp.

Suddenly feeling hungry, he walked downstairs into the kitchen. He opened the fridge and spotted a cup of chocolate pudding behind his mom's green bean casserole. He took it up to his room and sat on his window seat watching the sunrise. The rays fell on his face illuminating it and warmth filled his body the rage at the thought of his brother leaving him to carry the family burden.

The smell of burning plastic suddenly filled the air, and Charles realized that the cup he was holding had melted forming a weird shape. He stared at it for while then threw it in the trashcan, as he went into the bathroom. His parents worked quickly cleaning out Derek's room by the time he had bathed and got ready for school.

His dad was making crepes while his mom sat down reading a newspaper already in her work clothes. As a plate of crepes covered in excessive berries was placed in front of him, they began to discuss what to do to the new room available in the house. And by they I mean Charles's parents as Charles did not want to have any part in this particular conversation.

"We could turn it into a second games room, "his mom said as she took a sip of tea "show those dastardly Williams what we're capable of. "

"Or, we could turn into a second kitchen so we could hold more people during our pastry tastings "his father countered.

They argued back and forth until Charles who had enough cut in.

"Or we could just leave the room as it is, how about that? "

He stood up, then stormed out of the house. He walked to his bike which he had hidden in a bush, started it, and drove away.

He arrived at his new school much later as he stopped for a  cup of coffee, which in his defense tasted much better than his mother's ghastly tea. He pushed the gate open and walked in. The building seemed to tower over him and had a forbearing aura around it as if it was hiding something. But then again, Kloakville was always known for hiding something, no surprise if its school was hiding a secret cult. Charles began to have second thoughts as he neared the principal's office. He stood there for a while contemplating his options then sighing loudly he opened the door and stepped in.

Charles had expected the principal to be a witch dressed in office attire but this one smiled brightly at him with such warmth that he couldn't help but smile back. He had expected to be stared at and insulted as soon he entered the hallway but no one had spoken or looked at him since he entered, for once he felt normal even though he knew he was far from that. He noticed movement behind the principal and looked behind her.

What he didn't expect was to see his best friend from many years ago, with the same look of disbelief on her face. It's official, Charles thought I'm on a secret reality show.

" Girls, this is Charles Knight," the principal said as If she didn't notice the awkward silence that filled the room.

 Charles decided to be the one talk first, he began" Shade, I know you're angry an-"

Shade cut him off "ANGRY, I'm more than angry I'm furious, look at me thinking that today would be a fresh start far away from you and your insufferable family. But life just had to be a bitch now didn't it?

" Language, Miss Huang."

Shade turned to glare at the principal, who hurriedly looked at her phone "Would you look at that? It's nearly time for the orientation. Excuse me." 

Then walked out of the room.

Charles smiled to himself, Shade had always been intimidating even when they were kids. There was that time when she scared the Morrisons bulldog away... 

" What are you smiling at Knight, I'm yelling at you here"

He looked at Shade who stood really close to him, her arms crossed. He laughed and hugged her much to his surprise she hugged him back.

" I'm sorry" He whispered.

" I'll forgive you, eventually" she whispered back.

" So," came a voice from behind them " who's the cute boy?"

They pulled apart and looked at the two girls that had been standing near the window. One was staring at them, her brown eyes bright with curiosity and her chestnut hair all over her face. Her phone was out which was probably recording the whole ordeal. The other seemed uninterested as she peered at them over the large book she was reading. 

Shade went over to the"Charles meet my twin sisters Bai and Bao."

Charles waved at them surprised at how fast they had grown since the last time he saw them. Then again the last he saw them they were ten, so it wasn't much of a surprise.  

Bao eyed him up and down suspiciously "Shade, are you sure it's him? Cause last I remember he was a bit on the chubby side and had no eyebrows." 

Charles turned red at this comment, he had assumed they had forgotten that particular time when ate the blueberry pie Shade had baked. He became swollen and his mom thought that shaving his eyebrows would help. It didn't.

Shade and Bao laughed as the memory was as hilarious as it was embarrassing. The door opened when Shade was in the middle of recounting the bulldog scenario. 

The principal walked in" I assume you are ready now. Your guides are outside."

******

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