by Jenni James
“Cool.” He nodded his head. “I always wanted a twin.”
Here it comes. Everyone wanted to be a twin so they could switch and pretend to be each other. Harrison didn’t fail.
“Just so he and I could switch classes and no one would know.”
“Yeah.”
“So, do you guys do that?” he asked.
“No.”
The room went quiet—well, at least we did. Mara was still talking to Mom.
I glanced around, not quite ready to make eye contact again. It took a minute before I realized I was probably being very rude. “Do you need something? Water? Or are you hungry?”
He grinned, and I nearly swooned. Okay, he wasn’t my type, but I could see why Maralyn was into him. “Nah, I’m okay. I’m just worried about your sister. Hope you guys don’t mind if I hang for a little while until I know she’s fine?”
He was definitely like a knight. Or one of those characters you read about in books. “Sure.”
Maralyn hung up the phone. “Mom says she’s on her way now.” She rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe all the attention one little sprained ankle gets me.”
“How does it feel?” he asked.
She lay back on the couch and propped her foot on the armrest. “Better. Hurts, but better.” Then she smiled at him dazzlingly. “Thank you so much. I really can’t repay you for this.”
“It was my pleasure.” His eyes never left hers.
For the first time since they arrived, I felt like a third wheel. I coughed softly. “So, how did you guys meet?”
“He was so sweet. As we were walking out of school, I dropped my essay notes right in front of him. They flew everywhere, and he stopped to help me get them back.”
“Of course, that’s when she fell. I picked her up, and we got to know each other as I carried her all the way here.” They both laughed. Why did I have a suspicious feeling about the papers falling right in front of him? I could never understand the lengths Maralyn would go to just to get some guy’s attention. It was embarrassing.
But it worked. She always knew just how to snag the exact guy she wanted. Now, let’s hope Harrison turns out to be someone worthy of her.
By the time my mom pulled up, they’d been discussing their favorite movies for at least ten minutes. Surprisingly, Harrison didn’t just know all of the musicals that were Maralyn’s favorite, but he could quote them, too.
“Oh, my gosh!” Mom said as she burst into the door. “Thank you so much for saving my daughter, Harrison! You’re wonderful.” She ran over to Maralyn and knelt down on the large red rug in front of her. “Now, tell me everything. How’s it feeling? Are you okay? Have you tried walking on it? Should we go see a doctor?”
Katelyn closed the front door and walked over to me. “What happened? Did she really trip in the street?”
“Yep. And Harrison saved her.” I pointed to him.
He waved over at us from the overstuffed chair next to Maralyn.
It took only a second or two before Katelyn scampered over to him and began to ask all sorts of questions, enough to keep them both occupied while Mom decided if Mara’s injury was serious or not.
I’d stood up when Mom came in the room and had been standing next to the wall, quite uncomfortably, not sure how to help or what to do. Mom turned to me. “Ellie, get our guest something to drink and bring some juice for Mara, just in case she goes into shock.”
Shock? If she was going to go into shock, it would’ve happened by now, wouldn’t it? She sprained her ankle over thirty minutes ago. Probably more like forty. I tried to think back on the first responder course Mom had made me and Mara take last summer. Maybe I’d forgotten something. I shrugged and then headed into the kitchen.
All must’ve been well because when I came back with glasses of orange juice for Harrison and Maralyn, the whole group was laughing.
Mom waved me in. “Come and listen. Harrison is sharing all the silly things about living in this small town.”
“Do you know anything about New Mexico?” he asked me.
I shook my head. “Not really.”
He grinned and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. His smiled included us all. “Okay. So you know how at Mexican restaurants, the green sauce is the mild one? Well, not here. If you order the green, remember that you can never go back. It’ll feel like your mouth is on fire, but you won’t be able to stop eating it. It’s that good.”
I looked at him like he was crazy. “There’s no way I’d keep eating something that was too spicy.”
His confidence only grew. “Ah, you say that now, but you’ve never tasted New Mexican green chile. You have no idea how amazing that stuff is. None.”
Maralyn laughed. “Oh, I doubt you’ll ever be able to convince Ellyn to try it. She doesn’t do spicy at all.”
He clutched his heart and fell back on the couch. “I can’t handle this! Make it stop. You live in New Mexico, and you can’t take the heat! Ahh!” He immediately popped back up again and reached over, clasping Maralyn’s hand. “Tell me this horror stops with your sister. Tell me this same unspicy gene has not crossed over to you, too.”
Good grief. With drama like this, who needed TV? I shook my head.
Mara giggled and swatted him. “You’re safe. I love spicy food.”
He waggled his brows. “Perfect.” Then he leaned toward her. “So, tell me what else you like.”
Katelyn sat down on the couch next to me. “She loves boyfriends! A lot of boyfriends!”
Mom and Mara gasped, but I admit it, I totally laughed. I couldn’t help it. “It’s true.”
“Katelyn and Ellyn, you can both leave the room if you’re going to act this way!” Mom was completely horrified.
But Harrison was all ears. “Really? You like a lot of boyfriends? All at the same time, or what?”
I smirked. “She’s had more than one.”
Mom gave me a “get out” look.
I snatched Katelyn’s hand and stood up.
Maralyn was blushing. “Not at the same time.” She brushed her hair back from her face and positioned herself more comfortably on the couch. “But yes,” she admitted. “I’ve had a few boyfriends.”
“I’ll bet you have.” Harrison’s answering grin almost looked like a leer from where I stood.
Katelyn pulled on my hand. “Why do I have to go too? I want to stay here and meet Mara’s new boyfriend.”
Mom cleared her throat and fake laughed. “Go, both of you.” Her words had an edge of unmistakable steel in them. “Why don’t you start dinner? Now.”
“What should I make?” I asked as I pulled Katelyn toward the doorway.
“Anything. I don’t care. Just get something started so we don’t starve.” And neither of you embarrass us again. She didn’t have to say the last part—her look spoke volumes.
I couldn’t help it—my smile grew. I should’ve felt ashamed for laughing, but I just couldn’t. Katelyn was too funny for words, and it was so true!
As we headed into the kitchen, I could hear Mom inviting Harrison to stay for dinner. I opened the nearest cupboard to get inspiration and sighed. Hopefully, I could manage to get through this night without completely losing it. I mean, I’m sure Harrison was great and all, but something about him didn’t sit quite right with me. Maybe he was a little too perfect. I never had trusted perfect people. They seemed to be the first to let you down when things got messy.
I opened another cupboard and found some spaghetti noodles. Exactly the type of meal I was hoping to make—something quick, painless, and easy. In the adjoining shelf, I found a large can of marinara sauce. Voila! Now I just needed to find the ingredients to make garlic bread, and dinner would be done before I knew it.
“Grab the big pot under the stove and fill it with water from the sink,” I said to Katelyn. “I’m gonna start on mixing together some yummy garlic sauce to go over the bread.”
“Mmm…” She was already licking her lips. “Can I help with dess
ert? I think we should have brownies to celebrate Maralyn’s new boyfriend.”
“He’s not her boyfriend yet.”
“Yet.” Katelyn pulled out the pot and began to fill it with water. “But I bet you he is by tonight.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think Maralyn is that rash. No girl should be. She usually waits a couple of weeks. You should definitely get to know someone before you commit to them.”
“What does ‘rash’ mean?” She carried the pot to the stovetop, and I added some salt to it before turning on the burner.
“It means that you’re doing something quickly without thinking about it first.” I found some sourdough bread in the fridge and pulled out the butter. Then I got the parsley and garlic powder from the spice cabinet.
“I like to think about what I’m doing,” Katelyn said in her best older voice. She opened a cupboard and pulled out a nine-by-nine baking pan.
“Hey, could you get me a cookie sheet while you’re in there?” I put a cube of butter into a coffee mug and set it in the microwave as she handed over the cookie sheet. “Now, what did you say about thinking?” I asked, completely forgetting what we were talking about for a second. There were just enough slices of bread to cover the metal tray.
She gave me a funny look and put a hand on her hip. “You always forget things, don’t you?”
“Yep.” I couldn’t deny it if I tried. “Sorry. I don’t mean to.”
She shrugged and then walked over to the small pantry closet near the counter. It took two whole seconds for her to pop back out with a box of brownie mix and a smile on her face. “I was saying how I plan to think about what I’m doing.” Her smile turned into a smug grin. “Like these brownies. It’s not hard to follow the pictures on the back of the box. I can get all the stuff, and then you can tell me how much to put in. See? I’m thinking about what I’m doing.”
“Ah … Yes, you’re not being rash at all.” I stifled a grin and then pulled the melted butter from the microwave. She really is an adorable little sister, I thought as I mixed in a few dashes of garlic powder and parsley into the mug of melted butter. Then stirring with a pastry brush, I began to slather the mixture onto the sourdough bread. A minute or so later, I was placing the tray into the oven and setting the timer for fifteen minutes.
The water still hadn’t started to boil, so I walked over and helped Katelyn with the brownies. She’d collected two eggs, a bottle of vegetable oil, and a cup of water. “Wow. You really can figure out these boxes! Good job.” I would’ve given her a hug, but then thought better of it. I really didn’t like hugs, so she might not like them either. For an awkward moment, we just stared at each other, and then I lightly patted her head.
She laughed. “You’re so funny sometimes.”
At least she thought I was funny. “Thanks.”
Everyone in the other room roared with hilarity at that exact second. My heart clenched. It wasn’t until Harrison began to talk loudly that I realized they were laughing about something he was telling them and not at me. Right. “Well, let’s get busy. We’ve still got some more to do.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN: Stop This Train
Mom had us all eat in the living room so Mara didn’t have to get up. After Harrison left, I finally remembered the music books and placed them on Mara’s lap. “A student teacher named Skyler brought these to me. He thought I was you at first. I guess you left them in the music room yesterday.”
“Oh.” She didn’t seem that impressed. “Dang it. I was hoping I could keep them there instead of hauling them to and from school every other day.”
Every other day? “Are you practicing for something?”
“No.” She sighed. “I just miss playing and didn’t want to make Mom feel bad.”
I looked toward the doorway. Mom and Katelyn were still in the kitchen doing the dishes. “Probably smart. She’d be upset if she knew how much you wanted your piano back.”
“It is what it is. Not like we can change anything.”
I sat down on the chair where Harrison had been. “Well, Skyler says you’re really good. Like, Juilliard good. He said he thought you were a prodigy.”
“Really?” She seemed surprised.
“I think he likes you.”
She looked away. “Ew. Don’t say that. He’s thirty or something.”
I laughed. “More like nineteen, but whatever. It’s clear you’re not into him, so it’s better not to give the poor guy anything to hope for.”
“Yeah, nerdy musicians aren’t really my type.” She shuddered.
I swear, sometimes my sister could be a snob and not even know it. “What does that mean?”
“Nothing.” She raised her brows. “He’s just not my type, okay?”
I looked at her without saying anything. Fine. She was a big girl—she could choose who she wanted to hang out with. But honestly, in my opinion, she needed someone just like Skyler. He was helpful, kind, caring, smart—and most importantly—normal, not one these total uber popular guys she usually fell head over heels for.
“Besides, why would I look at some student teacher when Harrison goes to the same school?” She grinned and plopped her head on the pillow. “Harrison is everything a guy should be. Heroic, funny, intelligent, sweet, and hotter than a New Mexican chile.”
I chuckled. “You don’t even know what one tastes like!”
“I’ll find out. He’s already promised to take me to three of his favorite Mexican restaurants and then let me decide which one we’ll always go to after that.”
“Always?” My eyebrows rose. “As in, forever?”
She bit her lip. “Does it matter? Sure, if he’s paying. I have no problem going to any and every restaurant where he’s willing to take me.”
“Just how many dates did you two set up tonight? Aren’t these things better planned one at a time?” Good grief, nothing like throwing caution to the wind.
“Why would we wait? He has about twenty different places he says he’s excited to show me. What’s wrong with planning them all?”
“Twenty! Are you kidding me?” How was that even possible? She had to be the only girl on the planet who could get a guy to commit to take her out to so many places within two or three hours after meeting her.
“He likes me, just like I said he would. What’s the big deal?”
“Don’t you think that’s a bit unsafe? I mean, we don’t even know the guy. He could be a serial killer or something.”
Maralyn didn’t even laugh. In fact, she looked down right mad. “Why would you even say something like that?” Her voice rose. “You don’t know the guy, and you’re already accusing him of being some—ugh!” She threw her hands in the air. “Before I’ve even gone on a date with him!”
“I’m only saying, let’s wait a minute to see what he’s like first.”
“I don’t have to wait. I already know what he’s like. Ten minutes next to him, and I knew he was amazing.”
“What’s going on in here, girls?” Mom came into the room with a wet towel in her hand.
“Ellyn’s just jealous because she’s never had a real boyfriend, and so she’s trying to interfere with Harrison.”
Mom looked surprised. “What?”
Nice. “Well, thanks, Maralyn.” I stood up. “I can’t take this. I’m leaving.” I walked to the doorway and then turned around. “And for the record, I’m not jealous. I’m worried about my sister. Trusting a guy we’ve only met once and planning several dates with him, as if they were already together, before she’s even been out with him, didn’t sound very safe. But maybe I’m wrong. Either way, it doesn’t matter. I hope you’re right, Maralyn. I hope he’s awesome.”
My heart became heavier with each step I took as I headed to the bedroom. As soon as the door was locked, I plopped down on my bed and reminded myself of several reasons why I shouldn’t get emotional right now. There was no reason to be hurt when technically, I was the one who crossed the boundaries first.
Why shouldn’t
I let her be happy and assume everything was perfect with Harrison? What did it matter, anyway? And she didn’t know that Zane already had a girlfriend. She had no idea how badly she was slicing me with her words.
Maybe Maralyn was right—maybe I was jealous. Maybe now, after finally understanding what it felt like to have my heart somersault in my chest because of a guy—maybe, just maybe, I was a little bummed I wouldn’t ever feel that again.
I stared at the wooden slats above me. Life was ridiculous. I was pretty sure it wasn’t meant to be this hard. I sighed and rolled over. Perhaps now was a good time to do my homework, or read, or practice being normal so more people liked me.
I wanted to cry. I really did, but I wouldn’t let myself. There were times when if I concentrated hard enough, I could actually stop the hysteria, or emotional block, or daydream from happening. It’d taken years and years of practice, but I’d been mastering it slowly.
I used to burst out in random giggles or start speaking out loud when I’d daydream—especially when I was younger. It’s what made the other kids laugh at me the most. There we’d all be, listening to the teacher, and I’d hear a word or two about something or another, and off I’d go on my own adventure. Before I knew it, my mind would wander to far-off places and I’d be living in that world, truly, completely living in it. I couldn’t hear anything but what was going on in that realm until someone touched me and I’d blink back to reality once more.
Usually, I’d be so jolted, it was almost terrifying to find myself someplace way different from where I’d just been. And not only so different, but calm, and normal, with lots of people staring at me. I hated it when that happened. It was frightening, but it was also annoying, like being woken up in the middle of an amazing dream. I wanted to go back, but I couldn’t.
It’s probably why I loved reading so much. If I went to magical far-off lands in a book, people were happy about it and encouraged it. So, as I read, it wouldn’t matter if I giggled out loud or told off a certain character—none of it mattered because I was reading, so I had an excuse.
Yes, I do feel this world is a little bit messed up. And who would really want to live here when they could be several thousand miles away in their own minds? I grinned at my joke and then wished Dad were here so I could share the thought with him. He would get it. He would understand.