The morning air buzzed with its usual chaos at Silverdale High. Students in uniforms swarmed the courtyard, earbuds in, coffee cups in hand, phones glued to their palms. Gossip floated like smoke through the air—who broke up with who, what teacher lost it this time, and the eternal mystery: would cafeteria pizza ever stop being weirdly wet?
Sarah Gordon adjusted her blazer and slid her tablet into her locker. Her AirPods were in, but not playing anything—just a perfect way to avoid conversations.
Down the hall, Delilah Gordon was walking with purpose, stylus in one hand and a half-eaten protein bar in the other. Her sketchpad app showed a moody fashion design for her upcoming art project. Her mind was a million miles away—until her phone buzzed in her pocket.
Miles:Surprise. Out front. Come get your favorite brother before I cause a riot.
Delilah froze mid-step.
Then:
"SARAH!!"
The twins met in the courtyard seconds later, their synchronized panic so on-brand it turned heads.
"He's HERE?" Sarah hissed, pushing through the crowd with her sister.
Delilah shoved her way through too. "Yes. In full disguise mode, probably."
As they reached the main entrance, the disguise became questionable—because Miles Gordon, their international football star brother, was standing right there in all his athletic glory. Hoodie up, sunglasses on, but there was no hiding the six-foot-something frame or the unmistakable swagger.
And he was already surrounded.
"Is that—?"
"No way. That's MILES GORDON."
"Oh my god, I'm dying."
Phones were out. Videos were already hitting social media.
"Brother of the year, honestly," Delilah muttered.
"Miles!" Sarah snapped. "This is a school, not a press conference!"
He grinned. "What? I can't come check on my sisters?"
"Not without shutting down half the school," Delilah muttered, glancing at the security guard awkwardly waving in the background.
Miles leaned down and handed Sarah a small lunchbox.
"You forgot your lunch. Again."
Sarah blinked. "Seriously?"
He turned to Delilah. "And you left your sketch tablet charging at home."
She gasped. "My entire project is on that!"
He held it up like a trophy.
"I saved your academic life. I accept thank-you smoothies."
As they walked away, with Miles between them like a tall, overprotective wall, the crowd slowly buzzed behind them.
"So why are you really here?" Sarah asked.
Miles's smile faded just a bit.
"Wanted to talk. About Angelina."
Delilah's jaw tightened.
"She's not just here for you, is she?"
"I don't think so," he said. "She asked about Dad."
The girls stopped walking. Sarah's voice dropped.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing," he replied. "But I think she knows there's something deeper. She's looking past the headlines now. Into us."
Delilah glanced around.
"Should we be worried?"
Miles gave them both a long look.
"No. We just need to stay smart. She's not the enemy. But she's not just a writer anymore."
A beat of silence.
Then Sarah smirked.
"Well... if she's gonna dig into our lives, she better be ready for the mess."
Delilah tossed her hair.
"And the drama."
Miles laughed.
"Just be yourselves. That's more than enough for anyone to handle."
As he walked away, the school slowly settled, but the ripples he left behind didn't.
And somewhere nearby, half-hidden behind a pillar, Angelina James slipped her recorder back into her coat.
She had just gotten more than she bargained for.
And the real story?....Was only just beginning.