Beauty in the Ashes

PROLOGUE

Caelan

Life is like a flame.

It burns bright for a while, then it flickers and fades, until finally one small breath extinguishes it and we're left with the ashes.

The house was quiet, but I still waited ten more minutes to leave, making sure I heard the sounds of my dad snoring.

I’d been grounded for a month the last time I got caught sneaking out.

I wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.

I crept over to my bedroom window, sliding it up as quietly as I could. It squeaked and I halted my movements, holding my breath to make sure no one in the house stirred.

I all but jumped out of my skin when the door to the bathroom that connected my room to my sister’s opened.

“Cael, what are you doing?” She asked, standing there in pajama shorts and a tank top. Her eyes were wide, reminding me of a doll.

“Isn’t it obvious?” I whispered, nodding at my half open window.

“Mom and dad are going to kill you if you get caught,” she hissed, padding into my room like she owned the place. Nosy little sisters were good for nothing. I missed the days when I could bribe her to keep quiet with candy.

“I can’t miss this party, Cayla,” I groaned. “I’m the quarterback. I have to be there,” I reasoned.

“I want to go,” she squared her shoulders defiantly.

“No,” I hissed through my teeth. No fucking way was I bringing my sixteen-year-old sister to a senior party. It wasn’t because of her age that I wanted her to stay behind, but the way I saw my friends looking at her. Cayla was too sweet and innocent to get wrapped up in one of those fuckers. I’d kill them if they touched my sister.

“Fine, then I’m going to wake up mom,” she turned on her heel to stalk out of my room.

I reached out and grabbed her arm, my fingers digging into her skin. “No,” I said sternly. “Don’t be a little tattle tale bitch.”

Her eyes widened at my harsh words. Yeah, Cayla and I bickered like most siblings, but we also got along better than most too. She wasn’t used to me being so rude.

“Let go of me,” she yanked her arm from my grasp. “You can be such a dick, Caelan.” She headed back towards the bathroom and stopped in the doorway. “I won’t say anything to mom and dad about this, but you owe me.”

“Deal,” I smiled.

She started to leave, but something in me made me say her name. “Cayla?”

“Yeah?” She stopped, her blonde hair swishing around her shoulders.

I swallowed thickly. “I love you, you know that, right?”

She rolled her clear blue eyes at me. Cayla and I looked a lot alike—so much alike that many people believed we were twins.

“I see what you’re doing here, you still owe me dickwad.”