Leon has always been the quieter, broodier one of the duo. He's as devastatingly handsome and as popular with the female population but he doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve like Luca. Leon takes a little time to warm to people, to let them in. It was hard work getting there, but I soon realized that once he dropped his walls a little for me, it was hella worth it.
He's more serious, more contemplative, he's deeper. I always suspected that there was a reason they were so different. I know twins don't have to be the same and like the same things, but there was always something niggling at me that there was a very good reason that Leon closed himself down. From listening to their mom talk over the years, they were so identical in their mannerisms, likes, and dislikes when they were growing up, that it seems hard to believe they became so different.
"Psychology but not for an hour. I'm—"
"I'm taking her for coffee," Luca butts in. A flicker of anger passes through Leon's eyes but it's gone so fast that I begin to wonder if I imagined it.
"I could use another coffee before econ," Leon chips in.
"Great. Let's go," Luca forces out through clenched teeth.
He wanted me alone. Interesting.
The reason I never told him about my mega crush is the fact he friend-zoned me in our first few weeks of friendship by telling me how refreshing it was to have a girl wanting to be his friend and not using it as a ploy to get more.
We were only sophomores at the time but even then, Luca was up to all sorts and the girls around us were all more than willing to bend to his needs.
From that moment on, I couldn't tell him how I really felt. It was bad enough I even felt it when he thought our friendship was just that.
I smile at both of them, hoping to shatter the sudden tension between the twins.
"Be careful with these two," Colt announces from behind us as we make our way out of the lecture hall with all the others. "The stories I've heard."
"Colt," Luca warns, turning to face him and walking backward for a few steps.
"Don't worry," I shoot over my shoulder. "I know how to handle the Dunn twins." I wink at him as he howls with laughter.
"You two are in so much trouble," he muses as he turns left out of the room and we go right.
Leon takes my books from me once more and Luca threads his fingers through mine. I still for a beat. While the move isn't unusual, Luca has always been very affectionate. It only takes a second for his warmth to race up my arm and to settle the last bit of unease that's still knotting my stomach.
"Two Americanos and a skinny vanilla latte with an extra shot. Three cupcakes with the sprinkles on top."
I swoon at the fact Luca remembers my order. "How'd you—"
He turns to me, his wide smile and the sparkle in his eyes making my words trail off. The familiarity of his face, the feeling of comfort and safety he brings me causes a lump to form in my throat.
"I didn't forget anything about my best girl." He throws his arm around my shoulder and pulls me close.
Burying my nose in his hard chest, I breathe him in. His woodsy scent mixes with his laundry detergent and it settles me in a way I didn't know I needed.
Leon's stare burns into my back as I snuggle with his brother and I force myself to pull away so he doesn't feel like the third wheel.
"Dunn," the server calls, and Leon rushes ahead to grab our order while Luca leads me to a booth at the back of the coffee shop.
As we walk past each table, I become more and more aware of the attention on the twins. I know their reps, they've had their football god status since before I moved to Rosewood and met them in high school, but I had forgotten just how hero-worshiped they were, and this right now is off the charts.
Girls openly stare, their eyes shamelessly dropping down the guys' bodies as they mentally strip them naked. Guys jealousy shines through their expressions, especially those who are here with their girlfriends who are now paying them zero attention. Then there are the girls whose attention is firmly on me. I can almost read their thoughts—hell, I heard enough of them back in high school.
What do they see in her?
She's not even that pretty.
They're too good for her.
The only difference here from high school is that no one knows I'm just trailer park trash seeing as I moved from the hellhole that is Harrow Creek before meeting the boys.
Tipping my chin up, I straighten my spine and plaster on as much confidence as I can find.
They can all think what they like about me, they can come up with whatever bitchy comments they want. It's no skin off my back.
"Good to see you've lost your appeal," I mutter, dropping into the bench opposite both of them and wrapping my hands around my warm mug when Leon passes it over.
"We walk around practically unnoticed," Luca deadpans.
"You thought high school was bad," Leon mutters, he was always the one who hated the attention whereas Luca used it to his advantage to get whatever he wanted. "It was nothing."
"So I see. So, how's things? Catch me up on everything," I say, needing to dive into their celebrity status lifestyles rather than thinking about my train wreck of a life.
"Really?" Luca asks, raising a brow and causing my stomach to drop into my feet. "I think the bigger question is how come you’re here and why we had no idea about it?"
Releasing my mug, I wrap my arms around myself and drop my eyes to the table.
"T-things just didn't work out at Columbia," I mutter, really not wanting to talk about it.
"The last time we talked, you said it was everything you expected it to be and more. What happened?"
Kane fucking Legend happened.
I shake that thought from my head like I do every time he pops up.
He's had his time ruining my life. It's over.
"I just…" I sigh. "I lost my way a bit, ended up dropping out and finally had to fess up and come clean to Mom."
Leon laughs sadly. "I bet that went down well."
The Dunn twins are well aware of what it's like to live with a pushy parent. One of the things that bonded the three of us over the years.
"Like a lead balloon. Even worse because I dropped out months before I finally showed my face."
"Why hide?" Leon's brows draw together as Luca stares at me with concern darkening his eyes.
"I had some health issues. It's nothing."
"Shit, are you okay?"
Fucking hell, Letty. Stop making this worse for yourself.
"Yeah, yeah. Everything is good. Honestly. I'm here and I'm ready to start over and make the best of it."
They both smile at me, and I reach for my coffee once more, bringing the mug to my lips and taking a sip.
"Enough about me, tell me all about the lives of two of the hottest Kings of Maddison."
"Okay… how'd you do that?" Ella whispers after both Luca and Leon walk me to my psych class after our coffee break.
"Do what?" I ask, following her into the room and finding ourselves seats about halfway back.
"It's your first day and the Dunn twins just walked you to class. You got a diamond-encrusted vag or something?"
I snort a laugh as a few others pause on their way to their seats at her words.