Prologue
If there was one thing in the world Ava hated, it was rain.
She hated all of it; she hated the smell of it, the feel of it, the thunder it would bring later. But one thing she loved about it?
It put out fire.
Today marked rain. It marked thunder and lighting too. It also marked the day she came to Toronto.
The boxes were being unloaded from the truck. It had been a rainy week overall; today marking the first with thunder. She was met in her new room by her younger brother Luis, who wasn't mean or annoying to her at all. He was only two years younger, being 15.
"Hey," Luis said, peeking in her room.
"Hi, Primeiro," Ava said. Primeiro was Luis's middle name; Rosemaria was Ava's. They always called each other by their middle names.
Luis smiled. "Ready for school tomorrow?"
"Ugh, I wish. We literally just got here, and I have to go. Not fair."
"Don't worry. I'm pretty sure this new school will be good."
"Sure, to you, maybe. Do you see my skin?" Ava slowly rolled up the sleeve of her shirt to reveal a giant black and red burn scar. She'd been burned in a fire when she was 3.
"Yeah, but that's why you have foundation." Luis came over to Ava's bed and sat next to her.
Ava sighed. "Maybe, but I just don't know."
"It will." Luis said, hugging her.
"Wait a second," Ava started. "What school are we going to again?"
"You forgot already?"
"Yes."
"Degrassi, remember?"
"Oh. Yeah, that's right."