Tori's POV

It wasn't normal to be this nervous. I mean, I knew that school was going to be different now but my nerves were killing me...and it wasn't even Monday. It's only Sunday. Sunday and I already felt like throwing up. I was just lying in bed, looking up at the ceiling, contemplating what it is I'm going to do.

I sighed and rolled out of bed hopping on my good leg. The doctor said I was going to need physical therapy at least two to three days a week for a month, and then we'd tone it down to once a week. Depending on how I was doing. So I grabbed the pair of crutches leaning against the wall and hopped my way into Cole's room. I lightly knocked on his door. "Cole?"

"Come in." He said from the other side. I headed in finding Cole lying on his bed only in boxers and socks. He had his laptop on his stomach while he quickly typed something away. I wasn't sure if that was a comfortable position but he seemed used to it considering how fast he was typing. "Just writing an essay. What's up?" He folded the top half of this laptop and looked up at me.

I sighed sitting down on his bed and shrugging. "I don't even know. I'm just kind of scared I guess."

He frowned and put his laptop aside. "Of what?" He sat up crossing his legs Indian style looking at me with concern. "About school?"

I nodded.

He smiled softly. "You don't need to be scared of that Tori. I mean come on it's just school."

In a different circumstance I would have agreed with him. I never really cared what people thought of me at school. I knew that after high school I wouldn't see them again until that high school reunion thing that happens twenty years later. But right now I didn't know why I did care. I think it's because I know how afraid Blake, Cole, and Shawn had been about coming out with the whole 'Step Sister' thing. So I didn't want to let them down.

Of course I wasn't about to start acting like them. No way I'd go to parties or start dressing nicer just because more people would be looking at me. I was going to stay me. I just hope I don't disappoint them.

"But people are going to be looking at me differently." I kept my eyes on my hands that were wringing together. "I'm not used to it." I finally said.

"Used to...?"

"I'm going to sound stupid saying this." I muttered, "I'm not used to the attention."

Cole smirked and shook his head. "Not used to turning heads, huh?"

"Nope." I blew a strand of hair away from my eyes. "But your brothers and yourself. I mean...you guys are basically gods at the school."

Cole laughed and swung his arm around my shoulder. "Guess that makes you our Athena. You have Blake who's Zues the mighty god of basically everything, Shawn would probably be Hermes just because he'd be amused by flying shoes, and me...I don't know. Apollo?"

I nodded smiling slightly, "Blake would be Zues for sure. You would definitely be Apollo. Shawn would just be Shawn. He's too unique to be categorized as any of those gods."

"Well there you go, you're Athena."

My face scrunched up. "Which also means I'm daughter of Zues..."

"Ew..." Cole thought for a second. "I'd say Aphrodite but you're no Beyoncé."

I elbowed him in the gut and laughed. "But see that's the problem."

"That you're not Beyoncé?" He asked legitimately confused.

"No. Well yes but no. What I mean is...you three are the stars of the school.

We've never won so many championships ever. And you're still like super smart. And Shawn is hilarious. And Blake is actually really broken and sentimental if you get to know him. So it's not like you're all just a bunch of jocks." I sighed. "You three are used to everyone looking at you, right?"

"And you're not."

"Exactly. You probably didn't even know who I was before our parents met."

"That's not true." Cole said. "Everyone knows who everyone is in school. Our names are placed with something we've done, something we are, or how we look. Think about it. Like Anna Ritter."

"The dancer." I automatically said.

Cole nodded. "Zachery Nuber?"

"The guy who got high in the boys bathroom."

"Missy Vason?"

"The girl with a tattoo sleeve." I rubbed the back of my neck. "I hate high school."

"Because we always name people for something they've done, something that's happened to them, or something they are. Or even how they look. Take Em for example. Everyone just calls her 'Shawn Parris girlfriend.' Which isn't a lie but they don't know anything about her other than she's smart and she's dating Shawn."

"Which sucks for her because that's her title." I said finally understanding. High school is a place where names don't matter. Or they do but only with a reputation. Maybe with a mistake you've made or something that's happened in your life. It's sad because people don't realize they're doing it until they think about it. Everyone has a name whether its jock, nerd, weird girl, or player. It might be dancer, singer, or pianist. But judging people by their reputation or their hobby doesn't tell you who they are. Just because someone is pianist doesn't mean they're going to be the next Mozart. Just because someone is a jock doesn't mean they're dumb. Just because someone dyes their hair green doesn't mean they're a freak. High school has a way of taking a stereotypes and plastering them with a name.

"So what was I known for?" I asked somewhat afraid of the answer.

Cole didn't reply immediately. He blinked his eyes a few times before opening his mouth and looking away from my gaze. "The girl who lost her mom in elementary school." He said softly.

I looked back down at my hands unsure what to say. "Wow..." I said after a moment of silence between us. "That's a really long title."

Cole smiled softly. "If it makes you feel any better sometimes they'd just say your best friends with the patriotic nerd."

I snorted back a laugh cupping my hand over my mouth. "I freaking hate high school." I said trying to laugh.

Before Cole could say anything else, Blake swiftly came into the room quickly locking Cole's door behind him panting slightly. He barely looked at us as he started saying a long string of curse words while grabbing a poster board Cole had in his room. Blake placed the poster against Cole's window like he was trying to barricade the moonlight. Then he grabbed a shirt from Cole's closet and stuffed it under the small gap of the door.

He turned around finally facing us. His back was placed against the door, arms spread out like he was waiting for something on the other side to come crashing in. With the poster board now at the window, it was hard to see his face but it was the first time I ever saw Blake scared. And I mean scared out of his wits.

Cole turned on the lamp beside his bed giving us light. "Dude what's wrong?"

"Shh!" Blake hushed putting his finger to his lips. He turned his head slightly so his ear was pressed against the door. The room went quiet and we heard footsteps in the hall before they disappeared down the stairs. Blake took a deep breath. He seemed to relax slightly but still kept his shoulders tense. "We're dead."

"Is there a murderer in the house?" I asked.

"Worse." Blake turned to look at Cole. "It's March 31st."

It took Cole a moment to register what Blake meant but then a face of recognition took over and Cole freaked out. I had no idea what was going on but Cole and Blake started rummaging through Cole's closet, pulling pant legs in and out of each other making sure nothing was in them. Or shaking shirts like they were at the beach trying to get sand off of them. They grabbed a stick that was used to hang flags over your garage or front door and pushed them through Cole's shoes as if they were expecting a bomb to go off. They looked like an airport crew searching for drugs or weapons. They were really thorough.

"What are you guys doing?" I asked.

"Quiet!" Cole hissed softly. "If he knows we inspected them worse things will happen!"

"You two have officially lost it." I muttered lying back on Cole's bed watching my brother continue going through his closet.

When they finished with the closet they moved on to Cole's sock drawer, then his underwear drawer. It was funny watching them

deeply

inspect the underwear. Then it was Cole's desk where his homework and school books were all situated. "Did you check your room yet?" Cole asked Blake when they were done.

He shook his head. "I walked by his room and he was laughing like a madman. I'm pretty sure smoke was coming from underneath his door." Blake pushed his fingers through his hair. "We're going to die." He finally added.

"No." Cole put his hands on Blake's shoulders. "We're not. Because there's school. So we're safe..."

"It starts at midnight Cole." Blake said. "We should all bunk together."

"That gives him a clearer target."

"But we could also defend ourselves."

"What on earth are you guys talking about?" I nearly yelled.

They finally seemed to acknowledge that I was in the room with them. Blake walked toward me putting his hands on my shoulders and looking me dead in the eye. "Shawn." He said quietly. "We're talking about Shawn."

"Ooookay." I grabbed his wrists putting his hands down. "He lost it a long time ago. I don't know why you're so worried right now."

Cole shook his head. "No Tori, you don't understand-"

Blake cut him off. "You know why he's sealed off from us the last two days, right?"

Actually I didn't know. I thought he was trying out a new experiment or something. Shawn hadn't talked to us recently. He'd stay in his room for hours and only come out when something arrived for him in the mail or when he wanted food. Other than that he'd stay in his room. I wondered how'd he'd been using a bathroom because he doesn't have on in his room. But then when I passed by yesterday while he was eating breakfast, I saw a water bottle filled with something that obliviously wasn't water.

"Science experiment?" I asked unsure of myself.

Blake and Cole shook their heads. "Tomorrow is April first." Cole said taking a seat on his bed while running his hands on his face.

"It's Shawn's favorite holiday." Blake added. "April friggin' Fools."

I wanted to laugh. I mean I felt like grabbing my stomach and rolling on the ground because it seemed so absurd for both of these guys to be freaking out about such a small thing. April Fool's was always just a joke. Something stupid like replacing mint gum with fruit gum and offering it to someone. It was always a stupid holiday for me that only seemed to matter when you're in elementary. Then in high school people pretend that they're moving and then when they can't hold their laughter back anymore they shout out April Fool's. But right now looking at Blake and Cole, I realized it's been torment for them.

"It started when Grandpa gave him the stupid whoopie cushion." Cole muttered.

"Then he got that lame hand thing that zaps you when you shake hands." Blake added.

"After that it went downhill." Cole grumbled. "Whipped cream on the stairs."

"Microwaved soap making it look like bread."

"My homework in Jell-O."

Blake shuddered, "Itching powder in places itching powder shouldn't be."

"Last year was awful." Cole said. "I almost died actually."

I tried holding back laughter and they could tell. Blake finally recovered to his evil self and gave me his famous hard stare. "What are you laughing at Tobi? It's not funny."

"Yeah it is." I said biting my lip trying to keep a smile off my face. I failed miserably. The two of them looked like they were staring off into space as they recalled their past experiences. It was amusing because they looked sincerely scared and I wasn't sure how Shawn was ever able to pull that all off. I knew he was brilliant in his own way but this was too much.

"She won't be laughing in a few hours." Cole said.

"Prepare yourself Tobi." Blake peaked out of the poster board looking outside. "You're going to be in for a long night."

******************************

It was two in the morning when I felt something cold and smooth brush against my foot. At first I was too tired to really comprehend what it was or if it was really there. Part of me still believed I was in a dream. But then I felt the thing move more. It was gliding on both my legs and on my mattress. When I realized it was actually there and it had bones because I could feel them moving as it did my eyes shot open and I screamed.

I don't think I've ever screamed that loud in my life. I pulled the blankets off of me and saw a snake lying across my legs. I had never been afraid of snakes. I even held one at a zoo once. But never in a million years did I expect to wake up because one was in my bed. I think I woke up the entire neighborhood with my scream. They probably thought I was being murdered or something.

Dad was the first to burst through my door and he had a big can of wasp spray. He always told me it's more effective than pepper spray except the victim would most likely have to go to the hospital. I was just glad he didn't bring his gun. I don't know what I would do if snake guts were sprayed all over me and my bed. I wouldn't be able to sleep in this here ever again.

Everyone filed into my room while I sat there not sure what to do with the snake. It wasn't ugly. I mean it just looked like a regular python. At this point my breathing was hard and I had a strong urge to kick the python off my bed. Shawn bursted out of my bathroom door with a big grin on his face as dad grabbed the python. Blake and Cole looked like two idiots with metal pots on their heads and holding either a broom or bat. Lilly looked horrified and Sue seemed confused with all the ruckus.

"April Fool's!" Shawn yelled before grabbing the python out of dad's hands and running out of the room like nothing had happened.

"It had begun." Cole said in a serious voice. He sounded looked and sounded like Gandalf the way his eyes were wide with realization and the way he talked in a slow and frightened voice.

I stood up on my good leg trying to get the cold silky feeling of the snake's skin off my own skin. I pulled the sheets off my bed and kept shuddering at the idea of sleeping. "I need to shower." I muttered when I had pulled everything off my bed.

"I'm so sorry Tori." Lilly said. "I told him to take it easy on everyone this year."

"Where the hell do you even get a snake?" Blake asked lowering the broom to his side.

"The question you should be asking is where the hell do you keep it for this amount of time?" Cole asked. "I mean you need a special light and everything for them. He can't just have it roaming around. It's cold blooded.

"Go take a shower Tori." Dad said before getting down on his knees to be leveled with Suzie. "You're going to sleep with us tonight ok?" He asked Sue who was still drowsy and unaware of what was going on.

"Sure thing dad." She muttered. Lilly grabbed her hand leading her downstairs where Sue would sleep for the night. Dad followed after telling us to get some sleep because it was a school night.

I stared at my two brothers. "Can I bunk with you guys tonight?"

"Sure." Cole said. "But I wouldn't take a shower. Last year Shawn rigged the shower and Kool-Aid started coming out instead of water. I smelled like fruit punch for a week and my hair had tints of red. Not to mention I was sticky."

The three of us headed for his room being extra cautious in the hallway and when passing Shawn's bedroom. When I walked into Cole's room it looked like a fortified nest. There were pillows working as barricades around his bed. On the floor where I imagined Blake was sleeping was a bundle of blankets and pillow. Only he had a paintball gun next to him ready to shoot if something were to disturb his sleep. It was so weird because it felt like I was in a cartoon.

Cole's bed had a sheet over it working like a cover so it was hanging from the wall to the end of the pillow wall that was also made out of a table and chairs. Everything looked specially made just to save the bed and a small area around it leaving the rest of the room open for attack. "Welcome to the safe bunk." Cole said closing the door behind him. He quickly checked the window making sure it hadn't opened or nothing had gotten in.

"You guys are so legit about this." I muttered. There wasn't a door to walk into the safe bunk so I had to carefully climb over the wall of pillows and under the sheet ceiling to get inside. I took a spot next to Blake who was on the ground next to his paintball gun while Cole got his bed. Cole's laptop was next to him along with a few belongings he didn't want Shawn to damage. "I feel like I'm in a World War One reenactment or something."

"Except," Blake grabbed his paintball gun and put his pot hat to the side. He handed me a pair of shades before putting his own pair on. I wasn't sure why we were wearing glasses indoors though. "This is much more personal than killing an archduke."

Cole snorted. "I'm surprised you knew World War One was started because of an archduke."

"What are the glasses for?" I asked. Before they could answer I put them on feeling left out considering both Blake and Cole were wearing a pair.

"My paintball gun went missing." Cole answered. "We can only guess who has it. So we're wearing glasses in case we get hit in the face."

I gulped. "This is some serious crap going on here."

"Yeah well last year Shawn got on the roof and opened my window letting go of ten crickets. I didn't sleep for a month." Cole said.

Blake gripped his paintball gun. "He got in through my window and put water balloons filled with milk in my closet. So the next day when I opened my closet they came crashing down. My room smelled like rotten milk for months."

"We're not taking this lightly this year." Cole added.

Blake smirked giving