The Other Sawyer

Selena’s POV

It was about time this day would come. The day where I would finally be able to move out of Arizona and see the twins other than on thanksgiving. Being from a small town in Arizona made it hard to befriend anyone, especially when you’re the ‘awkward little sister of the Sawyer twins’. I guess one could say that living in the shadow of two of the most loved individuals in Tyan High was often difficult. Not that I’m complaining, though. Their status enabled my getting through school – no one dared to say anything unless they wanted to compass the wrath of Evers Sawyer.

But here I am, accomplished high-school and on the way to UCLA to start my first year of college. The thought of being free from the overbearing parental figures in my life and the expectations of my father, Arian Sawyer, soothed my mind and in a way, allowed me to focus on what was truly important.

“Excited, honey?” Isla – my overly annoying stepmother asked, turning from the passenger seat to stare at me with her perfect veneers.

“Mhmm… Really just want to see the twins.” I admitted, looking out the window. Isla was seemingly satisfied with the answer, she turned away and placed a hand on my father’s denim jeans. I looked up at the man in the driver’s seat who seemed to have aged just by driving his children to LA. His ash blonde hair seemed to have faded in with the greys that are coming through. Those are from my mother. I silently giggled to myself.

Its hard to see those two as once high-school sweethearts. She was far too ambitious for him. She was intelligent and he was not. She was stuck in her work, and he was stuck at football practice. But it seemed to have worked… Until it didn’t.

For the remainder of the ride, I closed my eyes and as we got closer, I could feel the sun’s radiation absorbing my pallid features. Almost as if each step I got closer to UCLA, the closer I was to the school absorbing me – welcoming me – and finally, my life would have officially started.

“We’re here!” Isla shouted joyfully; she clapped her hands together as she looked outside the school. The large frontier could hardly be seen through the mountains of students – first years and seniors, walking through the campus. Fraternity banners hung along the trees and students in colored tops handing out booklets stood around, smiling at everyone who walked by, despite people ignoring them.

As I scrummaged out of the car, I watched as dad and Isla unpacked their ford with my stuff. I watched as girls with backpacks walked through and distinguished that they were juniors. Sadie always said that juniors wear backpacks, whilst everyone else brought a book if they’re lucky. Before I managed to turn and help dad, I felt a tug at my arm and as I turned, a body jumped onto mine.

I would be able to distinguish that scent wherever I went.

“Sadie!” My dad exclaimed. I wrapped my arms around my older sister and watched as Evers trailed behind. His damply tangled, otherwise coal hair, framed his eyes, his feline green eyes contrasted his dark hair and his smile. I pulled away from Sadie and ran to Evers, he laughed as he watched me run to him, he embraced me into a hug.

“How was the drive?” He asked as I moved away from him, I could finally see how tall he had gotten.

“It was good… I passed out halfway through, though.” I smiled and watched as my sister crossed her arms as she eyed Isla out. Despite the fact that Sadie’s jet-black hair parallel Isla’s own, Sadie always found a reason to pick on the woman – even about her hair colour.

“Sounds like you…” Evers stated, passing by me and walking to my father. “Pass the bags, dad.”

As Evers and my dad unloaded the car, I stood next to Sadie. I watched as she eyed our replacement mother.

“So… are the dorms any nice?” I questioned; her green eyes snapped to mine and smirked.

“You think I stay in the dorms?” She whispered, “I moved out the moment I found a fraternity to stay at. But I let mum pay for the dorm so we can share it this year. You’ll have the dorm to yourself… Unless you want me to stay?”

Oh. Right. I shouldn’t be the least surprised. Sadie in dorms? Sadie doing what she’s supposed to? I knew it was too good to be true.

“Oh, no, it’s okay. Wait, you mean sorority, right?” I smiled and watched as my sister laughed. She looked over at Evers and nodded toward him.

“Nah, his.” I hadn’t noticed the boy who had stopped to help Evers unload my things, when I turned to him, I finally realised who he was.

He is far taller, and he was now a medium build rather than his lean fit. He embraced his dark curls and it was stationed at the top of his head wrapped by a hair-tie – his undercut suited him well, far better than the long hairdo he had two years ago.

He caught my eyes and my jaw clenched. His eyes raked over my body – not as subtly as he attempted, I assumed.

“Hey, double S,” He perched his eyebrow up at me. I rolled my eyes at the nickname he had insisted on calling me since I was in seventh grade.

“Isaiah.” I nodded toward him in greeting. He turned away and threw a bag over his shoulder. “You’re dating him?” I exclaimed silently to my sister, her eyes widened, and her mouth formed an ‘o’ shape.

“No, no way! There’s a spare room in the frat house and I take it up. The boys don’t want anyone else joining the fraternity… So, they use my staying as an excuse.”

“You’re joking, right?” I crossed my arms in a motherly fashion.

“Please don’t turn into Solicitor Aria when you’re here.” She groaned, “I came here to get away from her.”

I uncrossed my arms and relaxed the tension in my jaw. She’s right. It’s college – there’s no need to be the ‘prudent doppelganger of Solicitor Aria’ as Sadie used to call out when she was angry at me.

Being the younger sister of Sawyer twins always made me feel as though I had to grow up quicker than others. I had to deal with my mom’s angry yells when Sadie would come home drunk when she was a senior in high-school, or when mom got called to school when Evers threw the seventh grader onto the soccer field when the soccer team was training. I had to sit through mom’s cries and yells when she was sitting at home waiting for them to return home, but they never saw that. I had to do my homework at school so when I came home, I could help around the house because mom was working, and the twins were at a game. So, to me, being Solicitor Aria Siel wasn’t so bad.

But being a solicitor in college was.

“Alright, we’re going to head off, honey.” Isla exclaimed, placing her hands on either side of my face and kissing my forehead. I winced at the grip she had on me. She smelt like roses and a candle dad has in his house. I smiled as she pulled away and noticed the tears welling in her eyes.

“I’ll miss you guys,” I smiled at my dad and step-mom and watched as they returned it. Isla backed away and my dad walked toward me, his green eyes we all inherited glistened under the sun like they always do. He looked around at the UCLA campus and back at me.

“You sure you want to stay here? We can call brown back and-

“I want to be here, dad.” I promised once more after the sixty times I ensured him when I first got my acceptance letters.

“Okay.” He looked over at Sadie and Evers, “Take care of her, guys. She’s the only good one left.” He smirked at the pair who laughed at him. Sadie rolled her eyes as she always does. “And you,” Dad pointed at Isaiah, “Stay focused on the game.”

“Always, Sir,” Isaiah replied with his arrogant smile, he looked over at me once more before watching my father get in his car with Isla and leave.

“Who knew a junior would need so many bags,” Evers said, looking at the bags he and Isaiah held.

“Right, back to the dorms,” Sadie said as she whipped around and took hold of Isaiah’s free hand. My eyes widened.

I thought they weren’t together. I mean, that’s what she said, at least.