quick as lightning

1. In which the twins are 18

"Pip!" My mother warned, a light tone and smile on her face. "You'll make yourself sick." She looked slightly tired, though tired wasn't really the right word. Her blonde hair was dulled and pulled away from her face with a clip, her go-to for lazy days. There was an air of discomfort around her, possibly having to do witht he fact her only children were now adults.

"Sorry." I sheepishly replied, Clary giving me a smug look before we ate our food. Jocelyn Fray reentered the room before taking a look at the younger twins hair.

"Did you dye a piece of your hair? Honey we all know what happened to your sisters beautiful blonde." My face heated up and I took the black chunk of hairs in my hand, twirling it around my finger.

"No, I just woke up and it was like this." I sighed and her face went stoney, turning she started working on the dishes. "Do you know something?" Piper asked, not getting an answer. Clary and Piper shared a confused look before returning their attention to their mother.

"Mom." Clary repeated, this time the woman turned.

"Oh it's nothing, probably Luke came in and did it for April fools." She laughed, not convincing Piper. "How about we get it fixed? Clary you and Simon can go get coffee and your sister and I will head to the hairdresser."

The twins locked eyes, Clary making a face saying 'do you have to?' To which piper replied with her own face saying 'I don't want to argue'

she rolled her eyes as Piper turned to their Mom. "Sure!"

After finishing breakfast and quickly changing clothes to a suitable outfit for a birthday, Piper pocketed her most important belongings. Phone, wallet, and key.

"By Cheese ball."

"Remember, home by 8 so we can get ready." Clary pointed, sitting at the table on the phone with Simon. "Love you." She called as her family exited in a flurry of shoe shoving and last minute necessity grabbing.

Mom listened to Piper blabber on about Clary and Simon's forbidden lovestory, occasionally butting in to correct some details that got carried away. When they had boarded the subway Piper closed her eyes and leaned back to enjoy blissful dissociation.

Sometimes, though she would never admit it, She'd pretend her life was a movie, Piper would play it in her head, like she was doing now.

My name is Piper, Piper Fray. I'm sevent—eighteen years old. I live in New York City and I want to be a Prima ballerina. Yes, my hair is naturally this red. No, I don't wear contacts. My mother is a painter, my sister is a painter. Clay fray is my twin sister. I am on the subway. This is my life. This is real.

"Piper......Piper." My Mom called shaking her from her head. Sometimes it was easy to get lost in there, recounting memories and telling herself exactly who she was. It was comforting, but also a trap she could fall into for hours.

the hairdresser started doing her thing giving Piper more time to think. It was what she did best, cataloguing things so she could go over them again and again.

The way mom had acted clearly meant that Luke hadn't dyed it. Clary didn't dye it unless she became a wonderful liar over night, which wasn't likely. So that left Simon, who she would question tonight on our way to the club.

However right now Piper was most worried about how her iPhone wasn't updating fast enough.

Simon and Clary were getting coffee currently, Piper was supposed to join them but she really didn't feel like it. It was her birthday afterall, she wanted to do the things she wanted to do. She enjoyed books and movies, not really much for parties but was all for it when the time came.