Ch.5

Caesar

"Can you smell it, guys?" West paused and looked at each of us intently. "Delicious food." He hummed over his cafeteria chili cheese fries. I grimaced as he practically inhaled his food.

"That is disgusting." I grunted going back to texting the legging blonde Miley.

"Seriously Caesar were you born with that stick up your ass or was it implanted afterwards?" Our small group of friends. Me, the twins- Max and Alex, and Izzy and Ellis was off somewhere. I'm sure Max will be asking about her soon, they've been dating since middle school. "Grow up." I flick a carrot from Alex's tray at West and he dramatically acts out like he's been shot. Alex slaps my shoulder.

"I was eating that!"

"Oh, please the food here is shit." Her male other half buds in and green on green clash in an angry glare. Rolling my eyes I glance back to my chirping phone.

Miley- you busy tonight? I've missed you.

My fingers hover over the keys, did I really want someone at my house tonight or was I just bored? I chalked it up the later since I even spent the night at my dads house. Mainly because I didn't feel like driving back to my place after all the food I inhaled.

"Hey guys! Hello babe." Ellis appeared with her normal chirped attitude, I look up from my phone decided not to respond. Surprised to see someone in tow of Ellis.

Dark wild hair swirling around her like a lions mane. It matched her sharp cat like features with honey colored eyes scanning around the busy cafeteria before settling on each and everyone of us at the table until they landed on me.

I shivered as she scanned me from my torso up, the rest of me covered by the table. Shaking off the feeling I watched as she continued her small journey to my eyes.

Before our eyes could connect West spoke up and she looked to him and I had the opportunity to scan her myself.

Ripped black skinny jeans paired with a black tank top and army fatigue jacket that still seemed to be damp like she had just come out from the rain outside.

"Shut up will you West? Whose this Elly?" Alex snaps from beside me to cut off whatever ridiculous rant West was pulling us into and finally turned to noticed the girl standing behind Ellis with an impassive face.

It was odd to see Ellis such and bright and happy person with someone so dark, that wasn't me. She actually introduced me to the twins and then we met Izzy and West. For a long time they were the only people I opened up to and I was still arrogant and nonchalant to everyone around me.

"This is my sister Marley." Ellis smiled brightly and pulled the girl in front of her like she was producing a prize. Marley face stayed impassive as our group digested what Ellis said.

It was a little shocking, I never knew Ellen Ryan had any kids outside her long marriage with Peter. Let alone Marley's father was obviously not white. Also shocking.

There's a small moment of awkward silence before Max, as usual comes to his girlfriends need to please and smiles brightly at Marley.

"Hey I'm Maxwell, Ellis boyfriend and this is my twin Alexandra." He out stretched a hand but she just nodded and took seat on the other side of Ellis across from Izzy.

"I'm Izzy and that's my cousin West. Please don't mind him. He isn't house broken yet." Izzy jolts and we all but West and Marley acknowledge her joke with slight chuckle.

"And that's our pit bull Caesar." West smirks at me and I toss another carrot at his forehead, this time with more force and he yelps and rubs the spot the carrot whacked him. I turn back towards the girl and nod my head in greeting and she does the same.

My friends easily slide into conversation around me and I try to interact here and there but they weren't really talking about anything worth indulging.

I chance a glance at Marley and she seems to be in her own world staring into the thin air between her and her food that's been untouched since she put down the tray. A deep frown etched into her face.

Then green eyes and strawberry blonde hair come into my view and I have to blink a few times, before focusing back on Izzy.

"You alright?" She puts her hand on my shoulder and I nod shrugging her off. "Good well, West and I are going up to the cabin this weekend. Are you coming?" West and I relationship quickly grew into a brotherhood of sorts and I often accompanied family trips. It's how I met Izzy. One Christmas we visited his aunt in Canada and not too long after Izzy decided to try her sophomore year of high school in the states. Now she clung to us but it was quite odd since we were so much older.

"I don't know, maybe." I mumbled and found my self wishing she'd move so I can look at the wild lion at the end of the table. Then she was in full view suddenly, standing abruptly she grabbed her bag.

"See ya." She tossed over her shoulder and slipped into the crowded cafeteria just as the bell rang.