The Meaning of Beauty

Chapter 1

Reid

I didn't bother listening to yet another one of Herman's lectures. Like I gave a rat's ass about the history of America Literature. Couldn't we just call it really old books and let it end with that? No. The damn education system of America wouldn't allow our brains to rot with simple Algebra or Chemistry. They had to add in a whole class devoted to talking about dead people and the books they've written. Freakin' interestin' stuff right there. NOT.

Baby Boy sat beside me, my official partner in crime since Caleb and Pogue were too smart for their own good and got themselves into AP classes. Sure it was the beginning of our senior year, but let's face it: Baby Boy and I were gonna get into Harvard no matter what classes we took this year.

I guess Ty found whatever the hell teach was going on about fascinating so I just put my head in my hands on the desk, planning on taking my usual 4th period nap. I didn't even bother looking up when there was a knock on the door and soft footsteps walk into the room.

"Ah, Miss Jaspers. Welcome to Spenser Academy." Herman addressed a new girl, I guessed. I still was too lazy to look up at the new chick, expecting some smart girl with glasses and zits. That was the usual "new girl" phase after Sarah left last winter, after the Chase thing. "Please take your seat beside…Mr. Garwin."

Shit.

I sighed, looking up at Herman with an exasperated look on my face. He smiled warmly before turning back to the blackboard. I slumped back into my seat, planning on continuing my nap when I heard the new girl sit down beside me, setting her books on the desk.

I had just started to close my eyes when I glanced at her from under my arms. And I felt my mouth drop open at what I saw.

Long, tan, gorgeous legs revealed by the navy plaid skirt that was part of the Spenser uniform. I sat up instantly, glancing over at her swiftly.

Dark curly hair was pulled into a ponytail that hung over her left shoulder. A gorgeous face that made me smirk a little. She was hot as hell.

She crossed her legs, getting out a notebook to take notes in. I watched her out of the corner of my eye, seeing her actually paying attention to Herman. There was something seriously wrong with this girl if she actually wanted to pay attention to Herman.

A sharp jab in my ribcage caused me to whip my head in Ty's direction, ready to smack him upside the head. He slid his notebook towards me, nodding at it for me to read.

Caleb told me about her this morning. She transferred in from Europe or something.

I raised an eyebrow at the paper before picking up my own pen. Golden Boy's stalking the new girls now? Cool, cool. It's kinda how he got Sarah, right?

Ty glared at me and I smirked in response. As cruel as it was, I still liked to pick on Cale about Sarah. And that was low, even for me. Shut up, man. I can't wait for the day he kicks your ass for opening your big mouth. No, he just happened to be coming out of the Provost's office as she was getting her papers at the front desk. He accidently bumped into her or something and helped her to her first class.

See, that's something Golden Boy would do, Ty. Help the next damsel in distress. What's up with him sometimes?

I don't know, Reid. Maybe if you actually treated girls with some respect, you'd understand.

I smirked as I wrote my response. Growing some balls to talk like that to me. Nice, Baby Boy. I'll kick your ass later.

Whatever, Garwin. I just thought I'd let you know before you could continue your staring at the new girl.

No name? Did Caleb not even bother to ask her name?

I don't know, man. He never told me.

I shook my head, sighing softly before looking back at Herman, who was going on about the amazement of America Literature-again. Out of the corner of my eye again, I looked at the new girl, checking her out again.

I noticed now that she had these amazing deep blue eyes, like sapphire blue but darker. She was biting on her bottom lip gently, looking extremely cute while doing so. I smirked a little, turning back to face Herman.

As soon as the bell rung, Baby Boy raced out of the room, leaving me alone.

"You know, I was about to ask if there was something on my face." A voice to my right caused me to look away from the door and at the new girl.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, my eyebrows squashing together on my forehead.

"From the way you kept staring at me. I assumed that you either thought I was a freak or that there was something hellacious on my face." I noticed the accent she had then: Irish. Ah, so she was from Europe. Interesting.

I smirked a little, shaking my head. "Nah, I was just checking out the new girl."

"Do I not meet the standards of you American boys? Do tell me." She gathered her stuff standing.

"No, I think you meet the standards." I grinned, wiggling my eyebrows and she shook her head.

"Listen, I'm not a bit interested in being an object to stare at. So I'd appreciate it greatly if you'd leave me alone. Thank you very much," She started to turn away.

I grabbed her wrist, stopping her with a shit-eating grin on my face. "What, do I not get the honor of knowing your name?"

She scoffed slightly before giving me a tight smile. "It's Aiden Jaspers," With that, she turned and walked down the stadium stairs of the classroom, heading out the door.

I smirked again, grabbing my bag and heading out of the class, towards the cafeteria where the other boys waited.

Cale and Pogue were already there, ready to go get food. Ty ditched us for some studying in the library. The prude.

The three of us got our food and snatched one of the empty booths towards the back, so we had a pretty good view of everyone here. I scooped out the cafeteria, over the gazes of the freshmen girls staring our way.

I found her towards the back, eating on a sandwich with one hand, holding a battered book in the other. Reading at lunch. Somebody needed to tell Baby Boy we'd found his dream girl.

"Something is seriously wrong with that girl," I muttered to myself and Pogue followed my line of vision.

"What, the new chick? Yeah, I heard she's like this wicked smart girl from Britain. Aiden or something, I think is her name." Pogue said, taking a swig of his water.

"Just because she reads at lunch doesn't mean there's something wrong with her, Reid. Maybe you should follow her example and actually try around here." Caleb sighed, shaking his head.

"Shut up, Golden Boy." I grinned, punching his arm lightly. "I just think she's a bit…weird. She sits next to me in American Lit and she's like completely into it. It's weird."

He shrugged, looking back down at his tray. "Maybe she's just trying to pass his class. Not everyone here has the same opportunities we do, Reid."

I rolled my eyes, sighing. "I know, mom. I just was wondering what the hell makes his class so interesting."

I looked back at her as the boys ate; switching the subject to our plan to go to Nicky's that night.

Aiden still sat there; completely engrossed in that book like it was the most interesting thing ever.

She was one weird-yet hot-chick.

After school, I headed to my dorm to change so I could head to Nicky's early. I was so freakin' glad it was Friday that I wanted to sing but that wasn't happening, for damn sure. I changed into my black Spenser hoodie and some baggy jeans, as well as my DCs. I grabbed my beanie, sliding it over my hair before I grabbed my car keys and phone, ready to leave. I jogged down the nearly empty hallway, reaching the staircase and practically running down it.

Just as I got to the bottom flight, I ran into someone. All of her stuff went crashing to the floor, all the paper scattering. "My God, I'm sorry—" I heard her voice before she looked up to see me. "You?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes, bending down to pick up some of the paper. "Hi to you, too, Aiden. It's lovely to see you again." I grinned widely, picking up another sheet of paper before I looked down at it.

There were some wicked drawings on the one paper and I looked through the next few pages, whistling softly. "You draw all these?" I asked, handing them back to her.

She shrugged, adjusting her bag onto her shoulder. "I sketch when I find the time. I was just planning on going out to the front to draw some sketches of the school. It's got this medieval design that I find slightly interesting."

"Yeah, and the torturing they do in here is pretty medieval also." I grinned, leaning against the wall. I noticed she had changed into jeans and a gray sweater, letting her hair out of its ponytail to flow freely down her back and around her face. She was almost too beautiful for her own good, I swear.

She shook her head, laughing. "You know, I never did learn your name. What is it, if you don't mind me asking?"

"It's Reid Garwin," I smirked, holding out my hand for her to shake.

She smiled before nodding once. "Ah, so you're the Reid Garwin I've heard about all day. I kind of figured after 4th period, as the stories progressed. I heard you're one of the…Sons of Ipswich or something like that. Is that a boy band or something?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "No, it's, uh…an old family tradition. My family was one of the first to settle here during the 1600s. I think it's boring personally but Caleb thinks it's an honor or something like that." I shrugged my shoulders once, looking back into her blue depths.

A loud crash of thunder caused her to jump and groan softly. "Great. Now I have nothing to do. If it's storming, I refuse to sit outside and sketch this place." She nibbled on her bottom lip before looking back up at me. "I guess I'll see you around?"

I nodded, smiling. "Sure thing,"

Aiden smiled softly before going up the stairs towards the dorms.

I shook my head, grinning before heading toward the front doors of the building. The rain was already dumping down so I had to job to my Benz sitting in the parking lot beside Ty's Hummer and Caleb's Mustang. I got the Benz for my 18th birthday, after I Ascended.

I got in my baby, listening to her purr to life before I peeled out of the parking lot, heading towards Nicky's in town.

I know I had called her weird before but I was truly fascinated by Aiden. By her beautiful blue eyes, by the way she spoke.

…Damn. What was wrong with me? Something was seriously wrong with me for even thinking something that stupid.

But I was honestly interesting in knowing more about her. I bit my lip softly, wondering if I should've invited her to Nicky's but I figured it might've been too soon to do something like that. I wasn't interested in getting her bed or anything; I was interested in her, period.

Nicky's lot was starting to load up fast by the time I had gotten there. I saw Abbott's Camaro parked against the far wall and I groaned internally, not in the mood for his crap tonight.

Loud rock music blared as I opened the door, making me feel at ease. Nicky's was my own little haven, weird enough. Here, I could think, goof off, blow off some steam, or just have fun. Nicky was fond of me and my brothers so he allowed us at pretty much anytime. He'd even give us beer without any flack every now and then.

I made my way over to the bar, grinning as Nicky saw me. "Hey, my man." I grinned, punching his knuckles once.

"Ah, Reid. Good to see you again, boy. Where are the others?" He asked, setting down a beer for a man sitting at the bar.

"They'll be here in a bit," I smiled, sitting down on one of the bar stools. "Mind if I have a burger and a Coke?"

"Sure thing, Reid." Nicky smiled, going over to get my order.

I turned around in the stool looking around Nicky's. I saw some other students from Spenser, Abbott and his boys included. They had already claimed one of the several pool tables and I shook my head, turning back towards the bar to see Nicky placing my food in front of me.

"Thanks, man." I grinned, handing the money for my food.

I ate quietly, looking around the bar to see if anyone else I knew had arrived yet. Pogue was just coming through the door, heading in my direction once he saw me.

"Hey, man." He knuckled-punched me once and I nodded at him as he took the empty seat beside me. "Anyone else here yet?"

I shook my head, looking around the bar again. "Same people that are always here,"

Pogue shrugged, sighing. "Hey, there's Baby Boy."

Ty made his way over to the bar, sighing softly. "Caleb called me to tell you guys he'd be late; something came up with his mom. He found her passed out in the living room,"

"Oh, damn." I murmured, turning around to face him completely. "Is Evie okay?" I asked, still keeping up the nickname for Caleb's mom I always had used, ever since we were toddlers.

Ty shrugged, looking down. "He doesn't know. He's following the squad to the hospital now,"

"Should we go with him?" Pogue asked, looking worried.

Ty shook his head. "No, he said to stay here and he'd call us if he got any news. I really hope she's okay. Cale said her drinking's increased since William died."

There was a little moment of silence between the three of us, thinking back to Caleb's 18th birthday. When William, his father, had Willed Caleb his Powers so Cale could continue to finish off Chase. We knew both Evelyn and Caleb were hurt by his death, no matter how much Caleb tried to hide it.

"Alright, I guess." I sighed, looking around the bar one more time before my eyes stopped on the door, a slow grin building on my face.

Aiden Jaspers stood with two other girls in the doorway of Nicky's. I recognized one of the other two girls: Lily Donovan, whom I heard was Aiden's roommate. The other girl, however, was the spitting image of Aiden. Whoa, Aiden was a twin? Hot damn.

Aiden spotted me and smiled softly, saying goodbye to Lily before tugging on her sister's hand, pulling her over towards me. "Hey, Reid." She smiled warmly at me.

I grinned down at her. "Hi, Aiden. Guys, this is Aiden Jaspers. Aiden, this is Pogue Parry and Tyler Simms."

"Ah, two more Sons of Ipswich." She smiled, nodding at them. "It's lovely to meet you two," She turned to the girl beside her. "Guys, this is my sister, Lynette. Lyn, this is Reid Garwin, whom I sit next to in American Lit."

Lynette held out her hand to the three of us, shaking each of our hands. "It's lovely to meet you boys. I'm glad we can finally meet some other people besides our roommates here."

"Who's your roommate?" Tyler asked.

"Kira Snider or something like that. She's so unpleasant." Lynette rolled her blue eyes, which matched her sisters' to a tee.

Pogue chuckled. "We know. She's the bitch of Spenser."

"Oh, joy." Lynette smiled up at Pogue sweetly, causing his grin to deepen a little. Ah, this was gonna be interesting.

"Would you ladies like to join us? We were just about to go get our usual table," I smiled, holding my arm out in the direction of the table the boys and I always sat at.

They both nodded, smiling, as they followed us to the table. I held out a chair for Aiden and took the one beside her, smiling. "So, what brings you ladies here to Nicky's?" I asked.

"Lily said it was the greatest hang-out place in Ipswich. She invited us along," Lynette smiled warmly, looking at her sister before back at us.

Everyone else ordered food while I ordered myself another Coke, looking around the bar from time to time. I was talking with Ty and Aiden when Ty's phone went off.

"Oh, it's Cale." Ty told us before he picked up, answering the phone. "Yeah?" Pause. "Hey, dude. How is she?" Pause. "Will she be okay?" Pause. "That's good, that's really good." Pause. "That's fine, man. You need some sleep. See you later, man." Ty sighed, slipping his phone back into his pocket.

"How is she?" I asked, my eyebrows squashed together on my forehead.

Ty ran a hand through his hair. "Evie's fine. She just went a little too far on the whiskey and she passed out cold. She'll be fine, according to the doctor."

Pogue and I let out a little sigh of relief, knowing we'd practically lose our leader if anything happened to Caleb's mom.

"I'm sorry if I'm intruding but what happened?" Aiden asked softly, looking up at me, her big blue orbs full of worry.

"Caleb, the fourth Son, just had to go to the hospital because his mother kinda went a little too far on the alcohol. Caleb's dad died last fall and her drinking's doubled since then," Pogue said sadly, looking down at his Coke.

"Oh, that's horrible." Aiden murmured, putting a hand over her mouth.

"Is his mother alright?" Lynette asked, looking across the table at Ty.

Ty nodded, running his hand through his hair again. "Yeah, she's fine but they're going to keep her overnight, just to make sure."

The twins nodded, looking at each other. "We know how he feels," Aiden said softly. "Both of our parents were alcoholics, but our mother passed away. Our father, well…he abused Lyn and myself."

Lynette nodded, sighing. "We came here for that reason, to get away from our father before one of us got hurt. He's now in prison for hitting Aiden."

I don't know why but I felt a deep growl building in my chest. Someone had tried to hurt Aiden? That wasn't going to happen, not while I was around. But then I realized that I had just met the girl today…

Why I was acting so damn protective of her?

While she and Lynette told a story of their childhood in Ireland, how they got chased into a pond by a demon goat, I watched Aiden out of the corner of my eye. Whenever Lynette would start talking, Aiden would smile warmly at her sister, laugh in all the right places and add her own bit in when necessary. It was amazing to see the twins move together like that, like they were the same mind working in two different people.

From the stories the girls I had told us, I had learned that Lynette (who preferred to be called Lyn) was 8 minutes older than Aiden. They were born in Belfast, Ireland on May 22 and grew up in Northern Ireland until they were 5. Then they're father's job had transferred them to Wales until they were 13. During their time in Wales, their mother's alcoholism took her life and their father's drinking began to increase. He had started to hit the girls whenever he pleased, blaming their mother's death on them. Lyn said she even found him trying to rape Aiden once, but she had gotten there just in time to stop him and call the cops. I almost lost my temper, wanting to find her father and bash his freaking skull in but Aiden laid a calm hand on my arm, smiling softly. After their father was sent to prison for assault and attempted rape, they moved back to Ireland with their grandmother. Their grandmother had plans for the girls to attend school here in America before they would graduate so they could see the world before their adult life began.

"But Nana died this past June," Lyn mumbled softly, looking down at her hands.

Aiden grew quiet beside me, looking at her feet, nibbling on her bottom lip silently.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." Pogue said softly for the three of us.

Lyn shrugged, looking at her little sister. "It was a long time coming. She was 87 years old, after all. She'd lived a long life."

"In her will, she left everything to us. You see, our grandparents owned a wine vineyard in their youth and had kept all the fortune for Lyn and myself. We were shocked when we read that within her will. It was almost $800,000 that was left towards us. So we used some of it to pay for our grandmother's funeral and her wishes for us to attend school here in America." Aiden gave a sad smile, biting her lip again. It was a cute nervous habit and I nonchalantly placed my arm around the back of her chair. She gave me a little bigger of a smile, leaning back against my arm a little.

"So tell us about yourselves," Lyn said, looking at Pogue as she sipped her Coke.

"Yes, I'd love to hear more about the infamous Sons of Ipswich." Aiden grinned now, looking at the three of us.

Pogue shook his head, chuckling. "We're not the ones to ask for that. Caleb's the one who's got the entire history of our families memorized."

Ty and I looked at each other before we grinned a little. We knew Pogue was talking about the Power and how our families were four of the five that had survived the Salem Witch Trials. Of course, Chase belonged to the fifth but he was long gone now.

"Well, tell us what you know. I'm fascinated by history." Aiden leaned forward, resting her chin in her hands.

Ty shrugged, sighing. "Well, according to history, there were five families that settled in Ipswich in the 1600s. Our families were four of them,"

"Ah, so that's why they call you the 'Sons of Ipswich,'" Lyn smiled. "It makes sense now,"

Pogue smiled. "That's why the four of us are like brothers. Our families have stuck together for nearly 400 years. Why not keep that going?"

"What about the fifth?" Aiden asked suddenly, looking up at me.

"Huh?" I asked before cursing myself in my head. Smooth, real smooth, Garwin.

Aiden leaned forward in her seat again looking at Pogue and Tyler. "Well, you both said five families. What happened to the fifth?"

There was a little silence between us, since known of us how to word our answer. I finally sighed, looking at her. "Legend has it that the fifth was killed off during the Salem Witch Trials."

Aiden and Lyn both raised their eyebrows, looking at me. "That's…quite a bit of history for this town," Lyn said quietly.

"Yes, I've read about the Salem Witch Hunt but I never read anything about Ipswich being involved." Aiden added.

Ty bit his lip. "It was mostly kept secret, since Ipswich was so small. They didn't want to make the Witch Hunt seem as big as it really was. They didn't want the Puritans to look bad," He scoffed, shaking his head.

"Hmm, well I find if fascinating. It's definitely more interesting than our upbringing." Aiden smiled.

I grinned, looking down at her again, my arm still resting on the back of her chair. She had let me keep it there, not once shying away from me. That's a good sign, I thought to myself.

Lyn slipped her phone out of her pocket, checking the time before she gasped softly. "Oh, no. Aiden, it's 11."

Aiden groaned softly, reaching down to pick her bag off the floor. "I'm sorry but we really must find a cab and get back to Spenser."

"Hey, I could give you a ride home." I said, shrugging nonchalantly.

"Oh, I couldn't ask that of you, Reid." Aiden smiled, laying a hand on my arm.

Ty shrugged. "It's really no problem. I could take Lyn home, since I've seen you on my floor with your demon roommate."

Lyn laughed softly, smiling warmly at Baby Boy. "Why, thank you, Tyler. Goodnight, you guys." They waved goodnight to us as they headed out.

"You heading out, man?" I asked Pogue as I shrugged into my jacket.

He shrugged. "I guess so. I gotta pick up some dog food for Demon." Demon was Pogue's Husky, who was practically his baby beside his Ducati.

He walked outside with Aiden and I, going to his bike that was parked next to my Benz. "See you guys later," he said as he slipped his helmet on. He kicked the Ducati to life before zooming out of the parking lot.

I held open the passenger door for Aiden before getting in on my side, starting my car. It purred to life and I shifted it into gear, pulling it out of the parking lot.

"Gosh, your car is amazing!" Aiden cooed softly, running her hands over the dashboard slowly.

I grinned, glancing at her. "I'm glad you approve. I got it for my 18th birthday this past February."

"Ah, well it's very pretty. V8 engine, if I'm correct?" She looked at me then, smiling.

I gaped at her, my mouth flapping open like an idiot. She knew cars. Thank you, Lord! Jesus, could she be any more hotter?

"U-uh yeah," I looked back out the windshield, zooming past the trees. "You know cars?"

She nodded, shrugging a little. "My best friend back in Ireland, her family owned a mechanic shop in town. Lyn and I grew up their when we weren't running around on the vineyard."

I licked my lips, biting down on my bottom lip softly. God, she was too hot for her own good. "I've grown up with them, too. My dad worked on a lot of old cars when I was younger, taking them apart and building them into new, un-crappy ones. When I don't drive the Benz, I'm usually driving the Firebird we rebuilt."

"Wow," Aiden smiled approvingly. "I worked mostly with the engines, rebuilding transmissions inside and out. I'm a little rusty but I can get a car running again,"

By this time, we'd pulled back into Spenser and I shut the Benz off. We walked back inside, just as the rain started to pour again heavily.

"I hope Pogue made it home alright," Aiden murmured as we walked up the stairs, towards our dorms, which both happened to be on the same floor.

"Eh, I'm sure he's fine. He drives like an idiot on that thing so he probably beat us to his apartment," I said as we passed my dorm. I planned on walking Aiden to hers like a true gentlemen would. At least I hoped I was acting like a gentlemen.

We stopped in front of 318, Aiden leaning against the wall beside the door. "I had a great time tonight, Reid. Thank you for letting Lyn and I hang with you boys,"

I grinned, shrugging. "You're welcome to anytime, Aiden. I'm sure Caleb will love to meet you girls,"

She smiled again, biting her lip. "Well…goodnight,"

"'Night." I moved away from the door as she unlocked it, going inside and shutting it behind her.

I smiled. God, I was such an idiot for thinking so much of her so fast. I walked back to my dorm, seeing Baby Boy lounged out on his bed.

"Hey, did Aiden get home alright?" He asked, putting down the book he was reading.

I nodded, shrugging out of my jacket and throwing it over my desk chair before I plopped down on my bed. "Yeah, she's good. Did Lyn?"

"Yeah," Ty rolled onto his back, looking over at me. "I really like her, you know? Like she seems pretty cool."

I smirked, placing my hands behind my head. "Baby Boy's in love,"

He chucked his pillow at me, laughing. "Asshole. And like none of us noticed how you were practically staring at Aiden the whole night,"

I shrugged, looking up at the ceiling. "It's nothing, man. I just met her today. And she seems like an awesome girl. I'll give it time before I decide if I like her or not."

"Reid Garwin? Actually taking it slow with a girl?" He let out a little laugh. "You'll crack sooner or later, dude."

I threw his pillow back at him, rolling my eyes. "Goodnight, Baby Boy." I shut off the lamp, rolling onto my side.

I thought about Aiden, those beautiful blue orbs and her sweet smile.

Man, I was such a priss.

A/N: Hello again, for those of you who read my stories :) I, again, apologize for not updating anymore but I haven't gotten the time. Now that I'm on winter break, I have some free time. I have to get my wisdom teeth removed during this time so I might write some or I may not. We'll see how it plays out.

Much love ^^

-Danielle