Was it normal to feel... outcast? To feel like people could never look at you quite right, because for some reason something about you reeked of outsider, or freak? I wasn't quite sure. I never seem to be.
My name is Lovino. I am sixteen years old. I have a strange curl that sticks out of my head and won't ever flatten out. I am not entirely popular. I have always felt this way. Between me and my twin brother Feliciano, I was the odd twin. The quiet twin. In some cases where people somehow magically weren't BLIND, the smart twin. Feliciano, on the other hand, is almost entirely opposite. He is completely outgoing, without a care in the world. He makes friends more easily than a millionaire with money to burn. However, he is a complete and total idiot. His grades are amazingly poor, but he manages to pass every semester with Cs.
The two of us attend a multicultural high school, meaning most of the kids are all from different countries. We had to apply to enter, and since my essay and test scores were so outstanding, they decided Feliciano could come with me so he wouldn't "be forced to be separated from my dear fratello!" If you haven't guessed by now, we're Italian.
Anyway, attending this high school is not as fantastic as it may seem. At least, it's not for me anyway. I don't really like people all that much. They tend to annoy the shit out of me. My brother on the other hand loves to socialize. He becomes well known with as many people as possible. And as soon as his new friends see me, they are baffled that we are even related, despite the fact that Feliciano and I are IDENTICAL. Down to the haircut identical! And since we have to wear the traditional boys' uniform, we look like someone put a mirror next to one of us and the other is merely a reflection. THAT'S HOW DAMN IDENTICAL WE ARE. But because I'm such a secluded soul they remain amazed. Of course they talk to me from time to time, but it's only because I happen to be in the same room as Feliciano and they don't want me to feel awkward, although I think they do it more for themselves than me.
Feliciano is probably the most popular boy in our school. He is president of student council, which makes him head planner of all parties and school events. Blech. He does announcements over the PA system, goes to most sports games (and acts like a cheerleader the WHOLE DAMN TIME), and also happens to be a sort of advice counselor to other students. Then there's me. For some ungodly reason, Feli made me a class representative. I have to go to every student council meeting, and arrange class stuff. Although if I can, I let the girl representative to most of the planning (her name Mei something, I think). I hate being involved because it invades my anti-social policy.
Normally, I couldn't care less about being separate from the social aspect from school. But for some reason, this school gives me a different feeling. For one thing, every time someone looks at me while I'm reading, or just off to the side, they have this aura about them that feels like a mix of resentment and pity. Like they don't understand how I manage to live the way I do, under a shadow my brother seems to cast. However, I choose to be this way, so I wish they would just stop. I can FEEL them look at me. I can feel them judge me. It's eerie and painful.
