Pentimento: a dystopian Beauty and the Beast by Cameron Jace Page B

thought?
    "I need to talk to you," he said. He didn't even bother whispering. This was a boy who was used to getting what he wanted. He didn't have the courtesy to whisper or act a little polite, so Iris's neighbors wouldn't hear him.
    "You need to talk me?" Iris pointed at her chest.
    "Yes, you. What's so strange about that? Come on, come down now," he said, as if he was just telling her about the weather.
    "No, I am not coming down," Iris said. "You can't just knock on my window and tell me to come down."
    "Oh." he mopped his forehead. "I'm sorry. I guess I have crossed the line. Look, there is something important I need to tell you. I think I discovered something."
    "Is that who I think it is?" Zoe craned her neck from under Iris's arm. "Hi Colton," she waved at him. "It's Zoe, from class."
    "Zoe," he pretended to know her. "But of course. How are you?"
    "He asked me how I am doing," Zoe giggled at Iris.
    "I heard," Iris pulled her back.
    "I'm sorry if it's a bad time," Colton said.
    "Wait," Iris said. "We're coming down."
    "Thank you," Colton said. "I’m sorry again. It's just, I've never really known a girl as just a friend, if you know what I mean..."
    "Colton," Iris warned him. "Stop talking. You're blowing it. I am coming down. Let's see what this is about, Zoe."
    "Are you seriously going down without taking a snapshot of him standing down by your window?" Zoe had already pulled out her phone. "You realize this isn't going to happen again, right? This is practically history in the making."
    "Shut up Zoe." Iris pulled her out of the room.
    Colton stood waiting next to his sports car when they arrived, the exact time Cody came chugging up on his motorcycle.
    "Cody!" Zoe waved.
    Cody came up wearing a tuxedo that looked a size or two bigger than it should. Iris thought Zoe should later teach him to wear a size that fit, if this ever worked out between them. Not that Zoe was the best of dressers, but certainly better than Cody. Also, she wondered how Zoe was going to ride on the motorcycle with her new dress.
    "Bro," Cody nodded at his brother.
    Colton nodded back silently, a little confused.
    "So this is going to be a double date?" Cody clapped his hands together with enthusiasm. "So cool. Two brothers, and two... you're not related, right?"
    "This isn't a double date, Cody." Iris was firm about it, hoping her reddened cheeks wouldn't show in the dark of the street.
    "Yeah, really. It isn't," Colton confirmed, looking a bit fazed.
    "Alright," Cody tried to think of what this was then. "So what is it? Is Iris coming with us, so she makes sure I am not a serial killer?" he turned to Zoe. "Because I’m not. Really. Ask Colton."
    Colton looked as if he wished he could disappear. This was just an awkward situation. "Yes, really. He isn't a serial killer. A serial hacker maybe, but not a killer." Colton said, rather mockingly.
    Iris almost laughed out loud at how different the two brothers were. One was calm as hell, and the other was lucky he could still stand straight.
    "Colton just came to talk to Iris about something," Zoe explained to Cody. "It's pure coincidence."
    "Ah," Cody raised a genius finger. "It must be about the..."
    "Cody," Iris snapped. "You should go now. You two are late for Vera's birthday party."
    "You're going to Vera's birthday party?" Colton looked too eager to know. So unlike him, Iris thought.
    "Yeah," Cody said. "Aren't you coming? You're the party animal."
    "I was," Colton said. "But I'll pass. Is she going to be eighteen tonight at twelve?"
    "No," Cody pouted. "She's going to be eighteen two years from now, when Uranus clashes into Mars. Of course, she'll be eighteen tonight. You're funny bro." He pretended he was opening an invisible door for Zoe, then ushered her to ride behind him. Iris watched Zoe play princess, pretending there was actually a door.
    "Shouldn't you get a cab?" Iris wondered. "Zoe's dress is going to get messed up on that thing."
    "It's not a motorcycle," Cody said, starting