As Peyton stepped out onto the front porch, she noticed something off about the sky. The normal bright blue and happy sky was now a swampy yellow color. Her heart began to sink; she absolutely hated storms. And on the first day of freshman year? She was devastated.

"Don't worry, Peyt." Peyton's eyes shot over, and suddenly she was looking into a mirror. Her twin sister, Alex, always insisted on dressing similar. What if we need to switch places for the day? She would say. Today the girls long, dark hair was in its naturally messy and curly state. While Alex was wearing a pair of light blue overall shorts and a shite tee shirt, Peyton was in an overall dress and a light grey tee shirt. Both wore their favorite white sneakers, though it was seldom that they didn't.

"Do we have to be the exact same person every single year?" Peyton asked, raising a brow at her sister.

"Don't blame me, mom's the one who does all the shopping."

"Right, like you don't insist on looking the same," Peyton rolled her eyes. In this distance a car horn blew. Alex let out a sigh.

"Spence is in a mood," she muttered, referring to their elder sister.

"Wonderful," Peyton let out a huff before heading to the car.

"I'm not going to be late for school every single day this year while you two bicker about who's wearing what," Spencer snapped as soon as Peyton opened the door.

"It's the first day," Alex whined.

"And we're not even late," Peyton chimed in.

"I'm forewarning you. This is not going to be a repeat of last year, okay? You two need to just get your shit together now."

"Alright, fine," Alex sighed, cracking her window from the passenger seat. Peyton didn't bother to respond. Spencer had already started the radio, and there was no point in arguing with her.

Peyton often thought Spencer was the older, prettier version of her sister and herself. Her dark hair was not kinky curly, but loosely wavy. Her eyes weren't hazel, but brown. Her face didn't have a splash of freckles across her nose, either. Just perfect, unblemished skin.

When they arrived at school, the sky was no longer swampy yellow, but it had turned almost green. Peyton held her breath as she climbed out of the car, determined not to have a panic attack. She reached into her backpack, her fingers clumsily searching for her inhaler. After a few moments with no such luck, she was on the verge of hyperventilating.

"Peyton," Spencer eyed her carefully, "everything okay?"

"I forgot my inhaler," Peyton replied, her teeth brushing over her bottom lip. "I forgot my inhaler, and it looks like it's going to storm. What if it thunders?"

Alex took her sisters hand in hers, "If you feel like you're going to have an episode, just go to the nurse. They should have some on hand, right Spencer?"

"Right," Spencer agreed, stepping into the school. "Look, if it starts to storm I'll come find you, okay Peyt?"

Peyton nodded her head, following her sister into the school. Almost like clock work, the bell rang.

"Alright, good luck guys," Spencer smiled softly. She then turned toward her locker and was out of sight.

Peyton turned to face her sister, eyeing her carefully. "We've never not had the same schedule before," she murmured, almost pitifully.

"I know I'm always trying to dress like you, but you are so more codependent than I am," Alex grinned at her sister. "It'll be fine. I'll meet you for lunch, okay?"

"Deal," Peyton agreed. She turned toward the gym. "I'll see you then."

"Love you, later," Alex grinned.

"Love you, later."

"Listen, just talk to her," Lucas huffed. "You've been pining about it for way too long, and frankly we're tired of hearing about it."

"But look at her. She isn't going to speak to me."

"Actually, that's Peyton. The nicer twin," Max nodded her head encouragingly. "Now if you were crushing on Alex? It would be a different story."

"I am not crushing," Mike glared. "I am simply interested in being her friend."

"Right," Lucas snickered. "Friends."

"Well, if that's the case," Max raised a brow before turning toward the bleachers. "Hey, Peyton!"

"What the hell!" Mike whispered.

Peyton brought her eyes up and over to them, a confused look on her face. She hesitated, but closed the book she was reading and headed toward the party.

"What's up?" She asked, casually.

"We were thinking about starting a game, are you interested? Two on two. Mike needs a partner."

"Thank you, but I really really suck at basketball," she admitted, her cheeks starting to turn rosy.

"We just didn't want him to feel like a third wheel," Max explained. "We don't have to play basketball. Any game will due."

Peyton shifted her weight awkwardly. "I'm trying not to over do it today. I forgot my inhaler at home."

"Well, perfect. Mike will keep you company," Max batted an eye.

"Okay, sure," Peyton nodded, her eyes brushing over Mike. She motioned toward the bleachers, and Mike didn't hesitate to follow her.

"Alright, I've preassigned your lab partners, class." Mr. Clarke flashed the class a smile. "Dustin, you and Erica," he began, but Alex tuned him out. He went through several names before finally, "And Miss Alexis Morgan with Will Byers."

Alex's eyes shot up and over to Will Byers, AKA zombie boy. He was already collecting his things and heading over to her lab table, a shy smile on his face; it was obviously fake.

"I'm not very good at science," Alex mumbled upon his arrival.

"That's okay," Will shrugged, his smile attempting to fade. "I am."

"Right," she nodded, "You and your friends are like, wicked smart or something."

"We like to learn," he admitted shyly.

Alex nodded her head, unsure of how to respond when Mr. Clarke cleared his throat. "Today we will be taking the time to learn a little about our new partners. There's a worksheet on your desk. Talk amongst yourselves. Learn."

Alex brought her eyes over to Will, who was looking down at the worksheet.

"Your name is Alexis," Will mumbled. "But you prefer Alex, right?"

She nodded her head, "And your name is William, but you prefer Will."

"Right," he glanced up for a moment, giving her a small smile. "Where are you from? You transferred here a few years ago, right?"

"I'm from Nashville, Tennessee," Alex replied. "And you're from here?"

Will nodded. "I'm assuming you're fifteen?" Alex asked. He nodded again. "So am I. What are you most afraid of?" Alex looked up at him, instantly regretting the question. He looked like a deer caught in headlights. "I'm sorry, it's just in the questions. I know you had a rough year last year."

Will shook his head, "No, it's okay. I'm afraid of spiders."

Alex let out a giggle, "Bullshit, but I'll write it down.

"What are you afraid of?" he raised a brow at her.

"The dark," Alex replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "Clowns, worms, heights. Pick one."

"You don't seem like the type of person who's afraid of anything."

"And you seem like the type of person who's afraid of everything," she frowned. "People can surprise you."

Sitting on the bleachers, Peyton looked over at Mike awkwardly. "So, you're in AP History next period?"

"Mmhmm," he nodded his head casually.

"Me, too," she replied. There was an awkward silence for a few moments before she let out a giggle.

"What?" he asked, looking up at her.

"Nothing, this is just so awkward," she replied, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm so bad at small talk."

"Apparently I am, too. Don't feel bad," he flashed her a smile. Before she could respond there was a horrible crack of thunder followed by a crashing sound. Suddenly the power was out, and Peyton's entire body froze.

"Woah, what's going on?" Mike stood up. "Something is wrong." Peyton attempted to speak, but her words got tangled in her throat. She felt as if she was choking on her tongue. "Are you okay?" he sat back down, this time right beside her. His hand was on her shoulder. Another crack of thunder. Her breathing heavied until there was no breathing at all. She tried to stand, but tumbled down the bleachers instead. Coughing, gagging, fighting for air, but there was none.