AN: here's chapter 24. Enjoy people. 17+?! Thanks for reading! Lila's outfit: (I don't own any pics)



Lila's POV:

"Lila," Miss Granmi sneered like my name was the filthiest swear word ever uttered. Her grey hair was screwed into a bun and her face was as wrinkled as ever. She wore the usual black gown and dark glasses and clutched a ruler in her hand.

"Hey Miss Granny!" I marched into the front, flung my bag under the desk, sat down and rested my feet up on the table- purposely being disrespectful. Hey, this lady made my life incredibly difficult at my old school- I was gonna give it back.

Miss Granny's nostrils flared, but she couldn't say anything since the steady stream of students began to trickle in.

Almost immediately, the whispers started.

"OMG! It's that creepy girl from that school!"

"I heard that she's in a gang!"

"I heard she's the long lost sister of the Vincentis!"

"You're all wrong! I heard that she's from Jupiter! Ow! What was that for?"

"No, I heard that she murdered someone for talking to her!"

"Wow, she's pretty!"

"She's not even that cute. I mean, where did she get that outfit? The trash?"

"She's-"

I had had enough, "Why don't you all mind your damn business an focus on your own lives rather than gossip about others," I said loudly, adding a glare for extra measure.

That shut them up real quick.

Throughout the lesson, I pretended not to pay attention. I was actually slightly smart for my age and grasped the concept quickly.

"Lila!" Miss Granny slammed the ruler on my desk, "answer the question on the board; fail to answer it correctly, and I will deduct everyone's grades by 60%," she smirked wickedly as everyone else groaned.

I looked up and answered the question correctly and everyone cheered.

"SILENCE!" Miss Granny screeched and didn't bother me for the rest of the lesson.

I smirked and leaned back. You mess with the bull, you get the horns.

X TIME SKIP TO LUNCH:

I entered the cafeteria and made my way to an empty table. Fortunately, I'd brought my own lunch so I didn't have to eat the healthified (is that even a word?) versions of food being served at the canteen. I mean, who puts spinach in brownies?

So there I was, sitting alone and glaring at anyone who dared approach me; I can't let anyone in.

Suddenly, two shadows loomed over me; I looked up and saw two wonderfully familiar figures.

"ALEX! ASHTON!" I squealed and flung my arms around them.

Xander's POV 😈 🔪 :

I was sitting at my lunch table, pretending to be involved and interested in the conversation. Instead, my mind was reeling about this morning's incident. The second Lila heard I would be dropping her, she sped out of the door and chose to walk.

I can't believe I said those things about her a few weeks ago. I have anger and trust issues and, to keep the ones I love safe, I push them away. Only my brothers and my parents managed to get past my cold exterior. I want to push Lila away So I said those things about her to try and hate her.

Ah, who am I kidding? I still love her.

Anyway, I was picking at my food, slyly keeping an eye out on Lila. My brothers and I respected her decision for her not be seen with us at school- which kinda hurt to be honest.

Suddenly, I see the 'bad boy' of the school- 17 year old Ashton- and his twin sister- Alex- approach Lila. To my shock, I saw her squeal, squeal, and fling her arms around them.

Alex laughed and hugged her back.

Then, Ashton hugged her tight and kissed her cheek.

To be honest, I wanted to go there and rip his arm off. I looked over and saw Vito had an expression that mirrored my own. Olly... well, he just kept eating his pizza. Vito nudged him and pointed subtly at Lila and Olly frowned, shrugged and continued eating.

I commanded myself to stay cool- I don't want Lila to hate me anymore than she already does.

I thought you didn't care about what she thinks about you, my stupid mind argued back.

I told it to shut up.

Lila's POV:

I followed my old twin step siblings to their table. Yes, step siblings. They were a part of my favourite foster family, they wanted to adopt me but some legal issues prevented them from doing so (AN: idk if that's possible but just pretend...) I was quite young, but I remember Alex and Ash hiding with me in the locked bathroom, screaming and crying at the social workers who'd come up take me away. I remember my tiny hand slipping out of theirs, and the look of despair on all four of their faces.

Don't tell anyone this, but Ashton was secretly my favourite. He would take me for ice cream, help me with my homework and basically acted like the world's best brother. Don't get me wrong, I love Alex but she was going through a phase when I was little so we didn't grow as close. She was the girl who defended me from bullies and taught me to hold my head high and not let anyone walk all over me. In fact, when I got older, I got into fights for standing up for those who weren't able to do so themselves.

"So, Lila," Alex said, her hazel eyes twinkling, "Meet Charlotte (she pointed to a blonde with thick glasses framing blue eyes and a shy smile), Noah (a curly black haired boy with a mischievous grin) and Greg (a boy with salt and pepper hair, thin gold glasses and grey eyes)."

"Hi," I said, sitting in between the twins.

"Hi!" Everyone chorused back. For the rest of lunch, they asked me questions about my life and I tried to answer as truthfully as possible without giving too much away. At the end, they all invited me to hang out with them after school. I told them I'd have to ask my brothers about it, pulling out my phone and texting Drake. Bold: Lila Italics: Drake

Can I hang out with some old friends after school?

Okay. But be back in two hours and STAY SAFE!

Thanks!

I looked up and smiled at my new friends, "I'll see you after school!"

Ash grinned, "great! I'll pick you up straight after. Meet me in the parking lot."

"Wait," Charlotte said, "let's add Lila to the chat group."

I shrugged and they added me to the group titled 'The awesome Misfits'. I chuckled at their name.

Sadly, lunch ended quite quickly after that and I waved goodbye to them, heading of to Art.

End of chapter 24.

Slightly sucky ending but I had to try hard not to leave it on a cliffhanger 😂

Who's your favourite brother?

Thanks for reading and I hope you liked it!