Chapter 2 Stars in the Shadows

The McCall sisters were as different as two people could be, but they got along perfectly. Mia had short, black hair and loved wearing bright colors, while Ava had long, blonde hair and preferred to dress in dark hues. Mia was bubbly and innocent, while Ava was colder and more intimidating. Ava had struggled in school, and even at university, while Mia had been a beloved alumna. When people found out that Ava was attending the same school, they expected another sweet and polite McCall sister, but Ava was nothing like that.

Instead, they were met with a girl who wore leather jackets, and biker boots, had a few tattoos, never smiled, had eyes that looked like they wanted to murder, and was rarely seen speaking more than 3 words to her peers. People refused to believe that they were related. Ava never complained about her school life or ever acted like anything was wrong so

Mia went about a year before she saw it with her own eyes. She had gone to pick Ava up from university once. Mia got a scholarship so they had extra money to let her live in residence but Ava declined the offer. She'd rather commute. When Mia spotted her younger sister's ash blonde hair striding out of class she was about to wave, to get her attention, when something amazing happened.

When Ava began to walk, the students parted to make way for her to pass through. Mia was surprised by Ava's reaction or rather lack of one. Despite the gossip and whispers, Ava remained composed and walked through the path with her head held high, ignoring the stares and rumors. Mia overheard the rumors being spread about Ava, including accusations of sleeping with a teacher and being expelled for punching a boy who needed plastic surgery. Other rumors suggested that Ava was a member of a gang and that she was taken in by Mia and looked after like a sister. Although Ava gave off an air of toughness, Mia knew that she was a kind and caring person who would do anything for her friends.

She had a tough exterior, but underneath she was kind and compassionate, often going out of her way to help others. If you made it past her initial barrier, you were in for a loyal and caring friend. When Mia confronted Ava about the gossip, Ava shrugged it off as if it was no big deal. But Mia could see the hurt in her eyes, the pain of being ostracized and judged by her peers. Despite the passing of time, the rumors continued to swirl around her, and Mia suspected that's why Ava seemed to have a frozen heart when in reality, she was just hurt by the constant gossip and judgment from her peers.

Mia furrowed her brows and draped her arm around her sister, "You sure you want me to go? I can still call and cancel if you're not okay with this."

Ava gave Mia a comforting pat on the back before rising from her seat. "You leave in an hour, and I'm going with you to the airport. That's final."

Without another word, Ava exited Mia's room and retreated to her own. She let out a soft sigh and perched herself on the bed. Ava couldn't imagine what it would be like without Mia by her side. Since she was born, it had always been the two of them against the world. They didn't have their parents, so they only had each other.

Even when everyone else turned on Ava, she knew Mia would always have her back. Mia's absence during the day for work didn't matter, because she would always be back by the time Ava returned from school.

The hours they spent together in front of the TV, indulging in their favorite snacks, were the only moments Ava found school bearable. Now, without Mia, Ava would be on her own, and the thought terrified her.

As Ava gazed up at the grey sky, a sharp crack of lightning jolted through her body. She relished the rain, watching as it coated the streets and the street lamps glimmered like candles. Ava felt the anger in the sky and the pelt of rain against the glass.

The way the weather could evoke emotions similar to a human's amazed Ava. It made her feel warm and snug as if she ought to snuggle up under a blanket and drift off to sleep to the melody of the rain and thunder. "It's pouring cats and dogs out here. Be cautious on your way back. Looks like it's not going to let up anytime soon," Mia cautioned as she drove Ava's old pickup truck to the airport. Ava merely hummed in response, watching the streetlights grow brighter as they arrived. "Well, here we are," Mia exhaled, pulling into the departure lot.

Ava wordlessly exited the car to retrieve the luggage. Mia shook her head at Ava's cold demeanor. She knew her sister wasn't being rude on purpose, but it was her way of shielding herself from unnecessary emotional encounters. "I hope she learns to open up while I'm away," Mia thought, joining Ava to help her carry the remaining bags. An attendant approached them with a trolley to assist with the bags. Once everything was secure, Mia turned to Ava, who was gazing off into the distance with a clenched jaw.

"Ava McCall, look at me," Mia commanded in an authoritative tone. Ava slowly lifted her eyes, revealing a frightened, vulnerable expression that melted Mia's heart. It was as if they had been transported back ten years to when Ava had gotten lost in the woods during a game of hide and seek, weeping uncontrollably. "My baby sister," Mia thought, hugging Ava, who hesitantly embraced her back.

"I'll miss you, baby sis, but you'll be fine on your own. You're a tough cookie," Mia said, pulling away to examine Ava's face.

You have a good head on your shoulders, but you're also a bit hard-headed," Mia remarked to her younger sister, who snorted in response. "Seriously, though, give people a chance after I'm gone.

Not everyone's a jerk," Mia advised, knocking her fist on Ava's head to emphasize her point. "I want you to have at least one new friend when I come back in a year, okay?"

"Easy for you to say," Ava retorted. "You'd be surprised at how many je*rks there are out there."

Mia chuckled. "No arguments there. Alright, I gotta run. Don't spend all your time online, drive safely, don't eat just Noodles, and try to get some decent sleep."

Ava raised an eyebrow. "What about no boys over?"

Mia grinned mischievously. "A boy might do you some good, sis." Ava coughed and blushed, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Don't you have a flight to catch or something?"

Mia clapped her hands, almost forgetting that she was about to embark on a new adventure. Ava followed her older sister to the entrance of the terminal, marveling at how different they were despite being related by blood.

As they stood at the cutoff point, Mia looked at Ava with a sad smile. "This is it," she said, lifting her carry-on bag onto her shoulder.

Ava rolled her eyes. "I'll never see you again," she said, trying to hide her emotions.

Mia shook her head. "Shut up kiddo I'm trying to have a moment with you here," she teased, pulling Ava into a tight hug.

"Alright, have a blast and take tons of pics! Don't worry about me, sis," Ava said with a hint of reluctance in her voice.

Mia's tone turned serious, "I'll video chat and call you, and I'll send you money so you can focus on school without worrying about a job."

Ava felt guilty for not being truthful about already having a job, but decided to break the news later."Remember what I said about making friends and kissing boys."

"You said nothing about kissing boys."

"Oh, I didn't? Okay, well make sure you do it a lot."

Ava's eyes widened in shock, "What?!" she exclaimed.

The announcement of Mia's flight interrupted their conversation. "Flight 532 for Toronto departing in 15 minutes."

After sharing a tight hug, Mia left for her plane, leaving Ava with a few tears in her eyes. She wiped them away and headed home, feeling the emptiness without her sister.

As she walked into the now quiet house, Ava realized that Mia was the source of most of the energy in their home. Without her, the house reflected Ava's personality - cold and empty.

Ava sighed and decided to forgo dinner, but as the rain cleared up and night fell, she found herself in the kitchen. She didn't have much of an appetite,

Ava felt like she needed a break from reality, and what better way to do that than with a good book?

She slipped into something more comfortable and opened her curtains, letting the moonlight flood her room. After scanning her bookshelf, she found her trusty old favorite The Little Wolf's Book of Badness. It wasn't a literary masterpiece, but it always struck a chord with her.

She read the back snippet before diving in, and before she knew it, she had finished the book in record time. As she lay there staring at the sky, she couldn't help but feel the drowsiness creeping in. But before she drifted off to sleep, she remembered that tomorrow was Monday and she had to go back to school.

The thought of facing the burning gazes and far-fetched rumors from people who just wanted to exclude her at every chance they got made her stomach churn. She sat up to get a better view out her window, hoping that the stars could provide some solace.

What the...

Was it just her or were the stars appearing quicker than usual in the sky?

Usually, she wouldn't even notice when the stars came out because they were so gradual. If anything they would already be out by this time of night.

And because she lived in a wooden cabin away from the main city, she always got a clear view of the stars on clear nights like tonight.

But that night they were appearing rapidly right in front of her eyes, as if they came from nowhere.

It was almost as if someone was pulling them out from beneath the sky.

***********

Head up, shoulders back. Ava took a deep breath before stepping into her university building. Almost on cue, people looked at her.

She was almost infamous.

Everyone had heard rumors about her but no one knew her. So all they could do was stare.

It never made sense why people would act that childish even after they left grade school. She had never done anything to anyone. When she first started school she tried to be nice, she was polite and quiet. She never rubbed anyone the wrong way. But then the rumors started to float. People thought she slept around. People thought she had plastic surgery. People thought she got pregnant.

She had no idea where these rumors started from or why they were about her. But she knew there was nothing she could do by the time she heard of them. Denying them would only make her look more 'guilty'.And she wasn't going to claim she did something she didn't just to make them happy. So she just kept her lips shut and learned to block it out. It was like drinking alcohol, soon, you'd become so numb that nothing feels like it hurts.

But then you'd wake up the next morning with a hangover that left you feeling shi*ttier.

Things have admittedly gotten better.

Not by a lot.

But she noticed that people didn't stare at her as blatantly as they first did. But that didn't mean that unsolicited gazes wouldn't land on her when she walked the halls.

"Ava!"

She cringed at the voice when she heard footsteps speeding towards her.

Michelle Parker.

Were they friends? No.

Were they enemies? No.

They were...well, they were nothing. They didn't have a clear relationship, their interaction was uncertain.

Despite Michelle's attempts to start a conversation, Ava remained unresponsive, heading to her classroom without engaging in small talk. It was evident that they were still figuring out how to interact."Ava!" The shorter girl caught up with Ava, trying to get her attention.

Ignoring Michelle as usual, Ava continued walking, focused on her destination.

"I called out to you. Didn't you hear me?" Michelle complained in a high-pitched voice, wearing clothes that barely covered her adequately for the weather. Their 'friendship' only fueled rumors about Ava's character. People assumed they were close due to misconceptions. Michelle wasn't what many considered wholesome.

"No," Ava mumbled quietly, maintaining her focus. She had learned to block out distractions to survive the university's gossip and false stories. Michelle, rolling her eyes, asked, "Are you going to Dan's Halloween party tonight?"

That always irked Ava.

More accurately, the person irked her-Daniel Smith, known as Dan. He was insufferable, flaunting his wealth and constantly making unwanted advances. He propagated rumors and tried to coerce Ava into situations she despised. He misjudged her as some sort of promiscuous person, unaware she hadn't even had a boyfriend or a first kiss.

Every conversation with him ended with her walking away without a word. Some girls admired guys like Daniel, enamored by his rich, playboy persona and supposed conquests."I'd rather not," she replied firmly.

Michelle sneered, knowing how Ava's response sounded-aloof and dismissive. Yet, Ava couldn't help it.

But Ava wasn't willing to tolerate Daniel's behavior. He wasn't the man he pretended to be.

"I honestly don't understand why he's fixated on you," Michelle remarked. "But you should be grateful. Without his attention, no one would notice you. People here perceive you as either a recluse, promiscuous, or just detached. Maybe if you engaged more, they'd treat you better. Considering your reputation, you shouldn't act entitled. Or maybe those rumors are true."

Ava had grown accustomed to being labeled unfairly. Sometimes, the label seemed to stick regardless of her actions. It was frustrating.

Stopping abruptly, Ava faced Michelle. "I didn't ask for your company. Frankly, I'd prefer you leave me alone entirely. I'd rather be alone than have you associated with me. I don't care about you, Dan, or the rumors. Let's drop the 'friendship' pretense and part ways without pretending to like each other."

With that, Ava walked away, ignoring Michelle's stunned expression and a cigarette dangling from her lips.

Overhearing Michelle's muttered insult, "Bitch," stung Ava. She felt a pang of hurt. Maybe she was unlikable, maybe the labels were true. Despite her efforts, she couldn't seem to escape the misconceptions people held about her.