Ainsley Martin stood in the driveway and stared up at her house. The California sun was high in the sky and beat down upon her. The taxi had just dropped her off from the airport and her giant ass suitcase sat on the immaculate lawn. After a year abroad, Ainsley was finally back home in Beacon Hills for her junior year.
Most people usually go abroad their junior year of high school, but Ainsley had somehow convinced everyone to let her go her sophomore year. Although after what happened freshman year, they probably thought that she could use a break from Beacon Hills. Ainsley just hoped the situation had been resolved.
Lydia, her twin, came running from the house and threw her arms around her sister in a warm embrace. "I've missed you, Ains," Lydia said as she squeezed her sister tightly. "Sophomore year sucked without you."
Ainsley hugged her sister back and responded, "Missed you too, Lyds."
The sisters released each other. They looked at each other and smiled. While they had done their best to stay in contact over the last year, it was never quite the same being so far away. Also they never seemed to have long enough to talk about things.
"So, what have I missed?" Ainsley asked Lydia.
"Oh, we have so much to catch you up on," Lydia responded.
Ainsley looked at her sister suspiciously. "How much could I possibly miss in a year?"
"So much."
Lydia looped her arm through Ainsley's and dragged her sister across the grass. They walked into the house. Something felt off. Ainsley glanced around suspiciously.
"Are you hungry?" Lydia asked.
"I...I…"
"Of course you are. You've been on a plane forever. Come."
Lydia pulled Ainsley down the hallway and into the kitchen. Ainsley's heart began to race as they drew closer to the kitchen. They walked into the kitchen to shouts of surprise! Ainsley was very surprised to see a bunch of people she didn't really know in their kitchen.
The only face that looked familiar to her was Lydia's. Lydia stood there smiling.
"Sorry, I had to reintroduce you to Beacon Hills somehow."
Ainsley wanted to disappear. She wasn't ready to face all these people yet. But she could tell Lydia put in a bunch of hard work. They place was perfectly decorated. Food and drinks were set out nicely. Ainsley didn't want to disappoint her sister. She put on a fake smile and pushed herself forward into the party.
It felt like everyone was staring at her. The girl with the stalker. The girl that had been kidnapped. That was what Beacon Hills had known her as. Living abroad, she hadn't had that reputation, but now it felt like she was sliding right back into it. And she didn't want that.
Maybe she shouldn't have even come home.