So this story has a lot of Cedric's POV, just because it's really where the complexity and drama comes in. Sofia's easy to read. She loves Cedric, she's kind of oblivious when it comes to personal space, and she's pretty innocent. But, Cedric, with no memory of their past life together... Well let's just see. ;)


Present Day

"Cedric! Wake up, we'll be late for our first day." Sofia insisted, shaking her brother's shoulders. Feels so good. Let me stay like this. His brain buzzed, lulling him back to sleep. "Cedric!" His eyes shot open as Sofia's hips rocked forward against his lap again, and he stared up in shock at his sister.

"Why are you sitting on me?" He protested, surprising his twin. She glanced down but didn't seem to see any problem with the fact that she was straddling his waist. "Why are you in my room again, for that matter?"

"Oh. That's because we slept together." She beamed down at him happily, stating the answer as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Sofia, don't say things like 'slept together' so casually." He scolded, struggling to an upright position and shoving her off of him. You're too naive for your own good. He added mentally as she peered at him in confusion.

He could vaguely remember her sneaking into his bed late last night, spouting some nonsense about pre-first day jitters as she pressed her body against his, entangling their limbs until he could scarcely tell that they were two separate people. He should have sent her back to her own room, but found himself strangely disinclined to do so.

Having her close was sweet misery. Being near her, even though he couldn't explain why, made his chest feel like it might explode. It was the same ever since they were little and she would insist on constantly hugging and kissing him. Because of that, he always pushed her away, even though he knew it hurt her to be ignored.

"Cedric," She laid her head in his lap, gazing up at him, her curly hair fanning out like flames across his legs. When that failed to get his attention, she reached her slender hands out and cupped his face. Cedric's breath caught in his throat as he imagined her creeping slowly upward, closing the distance until their lips met. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to force the hallucination away. "We're gonna be late to our first day of middle school." She reminded him again, still maintaining the intimate contact.

"Then go away and let me get dressed." He commanded gruffly, lifting her head, then kicking off the covers and climbing out from underneath her.

He grabbed his sister and dragged her off of his mattress, then waited for her to be on steady footing so he could shove her out the door, slamming it hard behind her. The leg of his pyjama pants caught between the door and the frame, so when he tried to take a step away, he instead fell flat on his face. "It's all your fault!" He growled as he scrambled to open the door just wide enough to free himself.

When he reached the front stoop, he was taken off-guard by the sight of his sister, dressed in her cute new blouse and miniskirt, waiting next to her bike for him to catch up.

"I thought you left by now." He muttered, walking down the steps with every intention of brushing right past her. Sofia shook her head, flashing him a wide grin, the kind that made her brilliant jewel-toned eyes sparkle and her nose crinkle.

"I couldn't let you be late. If we ride double, I think we can still make it on time." She explained happily. Cedric eyed the bike warily. Ride behind her? That would mean, my hands... He glanced down at his hands awkwardly, picturing them wrapped tightly around her narrow waist. His heart thumped against his chest, and he shifted his gaze to her smiling face.

"I don't want to ride with you!" He shouted, spinning around to storm off in the direction of their school. Sofia rode after, keeping her speed at a minimum so she could stay beside him.

"But, you'll be late! You'll get in trouble on your first day." She called out, but he refused to look at her again. She couldn't see him with his cheeks flaming like this, he wouldn't allow it. He had to forget any thoughts of holding her tightly against his chest as they rode through the streets together, and to do that, he needed some space. He couldn't indulge such fantasies, it was indecent.

"It's wrong for a brother to think about his sister in that sort of way." James told him when he'd confided in his older cousin over the summer. The boys sat on a beach towel, watching their respective sisters play in the tide pool, the perfect chance for a heart to heart between the male cousins. "I never think of Amber as a girl."

Cedric had known even before James told him, even when they were very small. He couldn't remember a time he'd ever looked at Sofia with a brother's eyes.

"Just go away, Sofia!" He yelled. Sofia's expression filled with pain, then anger. I always end up hurting her.

"Fine." She spat quietly, pedaling away as fast as she could.

"Psst... Sofia." Sofia was staring at the empty seat next to her, the one she'd reserved for her twin brother, so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't even realize her cousin was trying to get her attention. Something poked her in the back of her neck, making the distracted girl jump right out of her skin. She peeked over her shoulder to see Amber still holding out the pencil she'd prodded Sofia with.

"Where's Cedric?" Amber whispered, checking Sofia over with concern. It wasn't that the girl never daydreamed, but she was usually pretty focused in school, so this was unusual.

"He slept in." Sofia hissed quietly, trying not to let on that there was much, much more to it than that.

"That's perfect!" Amber squeaked, forgetting to keep her voice down.

The homeroom teacher, Mr Mervin, glared over in their direction, clearing his throat loudly. Sofia shifted to face the front of the room again, doing her best to look contrite, and he returned to the morning meeting. "You should hurry up and introduce yourself to some boys before he gets here." Amber continued, leaning forward across her desk so only Sofia could hear. Sofia swiveled her neck to see her cousin again, furrowing her brows at the blonde.

"What does that have to do with Cedric being late?" She spat out, not putting one and one together. Amber shook her head in disbelief.

"You really don't get it, do you?" She muttered. Sofia didn't have a chance to push for further explanation, because her brother chose that moment to strut through the door, not bothering to so much as feign remorse for his tardiness.

His eyes scanned the classroom for an empty seat, even though Sofia knew he could see the one beside her. Fortunately, there weren't any other options, so he trudged unenthusiastically in her direction. You could at least be a little bit happy. We're in the same class, and we get to sit next to each other. Sofia pouted as he dropped into the wooden seat. She tried to catch his eye, but he stubbornly refused to glance her way.

When the last class was dismissed for the day, Sofia hurried to her locker to gather her belongings, then worked her way back through the crowds until she was outside her homeroom again. She stood on her tiptoes to peek through the window, but Cedric was facing the front of the classroom so she couldn't wave to him.

It's only half an hour. She soothed herself, sliding to a seat on the floor outside. This way we can go home together. She dug through her backpack, retrieving her math workbook, pencil, and eraser, then went straight to work, humming as she did her best to solve the problems correctly.

"What are you doing?" Amber asked impatiently, and Sofia followed the sound to find her cousin looming over her, hands placed impatiently on her hips. "Come on, Sofia, a bunch of us are going to the bowling alley together." Without waiting for an answer, Amber bent down and tugged at Sofia's arm, trying to force the smaller girl to her feet.

"I'm waiting for Cedric." Sofia insisted, yanking free from the blonde's grasp. "We're gonna go home together." She said it like she knew for certain, even though she'd decided on her own without asking him. The way he was acting all day made her wonder if he wouldn't refuse. Amber rolled her eyes and swung her long, straight hair behind her.

"You guys are so weird. It must be some kind of twin thing." She grumbled. Sofia suppressed a chuckle. "I don't get it at all."

"You used to be a twin, too." Sofia mumbled under her breath, returning to her work. She'd long ago given up trying to convince people that she could recall that other life. Besides, the memories had faded since she was little, leaving only quick flashes and vague impressions. Still, she knew in her heart that it was the truth.

"Please, Sofia? You'll see each other at home, and it would really mean a lot to me if you came." Sofia sat weighing the options for a few moments, but finally cracked under Amber's continued pestering.

"Fine, but I can't stay too late." She agreed.

The bowling alley was crowded and noisy, but Sofia felt strangely lonely without Cedric there. She was left out as all around her classmates chatted and laughed together. Amber, who had promised Sofia would have a good time, had disappeared with an older boy named Axel a while ago, and didn't seem to be coming back any time soon. The only other person by themselves in the crowd was Hugo, Axel's best friend, though Sofia was sure they were supposed to be related in some way. Something about the way Hugo kept glancing in Sofia's direction made her uncomfortable, so when he approached her to talk, she sputtered out a hastily made up excuse about needing a soda and marched off in the direction of the ancient vending machines. He followed after her, and she willed him to give up and go away as she passed through the archway to the dark wood panelled room.

"Sofia... can I talk to you?" Sofia swallowed hard, not entirely sure why her nerves were so on edge now that they were alone together. "I-I..."

"I forgot my purse, I should run back and grab it." She lied, trying to scoot around him. When did he get so close? He reached out and grabbed her by the wrist, delaying her escape.

"Please, just hear me out." Sofia tried to pull herself free, but his grip was almost painfully tight. "Sofia, I... I like you. I've wanted to tell you for awhile, but you're never alone, so..." He tugged her backwards until she was pinned between him and the vending machines, and she watched in horror as his face inched closer to hers. No! Her heart pounded hard against her chest, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get her voice to cooperate. Finally, she squeezed her eyes shut, mentally begging him to stop.


Yeah, I'm evil for leaving it there, but like I said, I'm going to hell for the whole story, so...