by Laura Winter
“Well, I hope they told you to find one with a low cut curve. You have to show off your hair,” she replied, winking back at my mom and Angie.
“How are you friends with my daughter?” my mom asked, laughing. It was the first time I had heard that in a while.
Angie helped me while my mom walked around with Luci. Any alone time with her usually ended up in some sort of argument or annoyance between us, so it was probably best for us to stay separated. Honestly, I was trying to be on my best behavior, but when we were dress shopping and worrying about hair and makeup, I was struggling to even fake a smile.
“How about this one?” Angie laughed, pulling out a fluffy pink dress. Glitter rained down on the floor where she held it up.
My eyes widened in horror. “I’m sorry, if you ever see me in that, I’m being forced against my will and you should get help immediately because I’m in danger.” I pulled out a gray, silky dress. “Can I try this one?”
I held it up to my chest but realized the skirt was too short for my legs. I groaned and hung it back up.
Angie frowned. “The only ones you’ve suggested are black and gray. Can you find anything with color?” Angie pulled out a dark green dress that I didn’t totally hate. Before I could grab it, she hung it back up and pushed me forward.
“What’s wrong with that one?” I pouted. The quicker I found a dress, the faster I was done.
“It won’t match. Your hair is purple. Unless you plan on changing that any time soon…” Angie eyed me carefully and, to my annoyance, hopefully.
I rolled my eyes. “Not a chance.”
“Clara, look!” Luci ran over in a teal blue dress and spun around. “I’m getting it.”
“See?” Angie said, gesturing to Luci. “Why can’t you find something like that? Go try this one on.”
She pulled a royal blue dress off the rack and shoved it in my arms. I reluctantly spun toward the dressing room to change. Right outside the door, the sleeve of a dress caught my eye. I snagged it before anyone could see.
I changed into the blue dress and stared at the mirror. It actually was pretty, and a choice I probably would have made, but it was going to be a little inconvenient. It didn’t have sleeves, which meant I’d have to wear my key necklace to hide my scar. Unfortunately, there was no real place to hide something so clunky.
I held my arm out in front of the mirror. The lightning strike scar etched along my forearm looked brighter next to the blue dress. For a moment, I imagined what it would be like to not have to worry about it anymore. I’d be able to wear all sorts of things without dragging that key along with me. Shit, I was going to have the same issues when looking for a wedding dress. Well, it’s not like that was going to happen any time soon, and I was going to be stuck with a giant blue scar for the rest of my life.
“Let us see!” My mom called from the other side of the door. I wiped my eyes, not realizing I had started to cry, and threw my necklace back on before I walked out.
“I can’t wear this one…” I said, gathering part of the skirt in my left arm. Angie’s smile faded quickly as my mom avoided looking at my face. They seemed to get the hint about why I was hesitant.
“Oh!” Luci cheered, hopping around me. “That color is so pretty on you.”
“Sorry, honey,” Angie said, lowering her head. “I didn’t think about that.”
I could barely pay attention to Angie as my mom’s thoughts ran rampant through my mind. This was not going how she imagined, and she felt guilty for forcing me to do this now. I was going to have to cheer her up somehow.
“It’s okay, I’ll try another one,” I said, forcing a smile to hide my pain. I wanted to cry all over again. I put up my walls so I wouldn’t have to listen to their thoughts as I changed.
At least with this next dress I wouldn’t have to wear my necklace. It had long sleeves to hide my scar, and it would satisfy Luci with the neckline. Better yet, no one would be able to complain that the color interfered with my hair.
I walked out and spun around to show off the dress I found. My mom and Angie both grinned in relief as Luci squealed her excitement.
* * *
Luci and I walked around the mall as Angie and my mom shopped for other things.
“I’m not a big shopper so if you want to go in any stores, go for it,” I said. I didn’t really enjoy being here, but it was more tolerable with Luci around.
She shrugged. “I figured you weren’t. I’m not really either, but I don’t mind walking around.” She took a breath before getting serious. “Hey, I wanted to thank you again for inviting me and being willing to hang out with me. This last week has been really fun getting to know you guys.”
“Of course,” I laughed, bumping her with my hip. “I think Glitch is finally happy he isn’t the third wheel anymore. Now you two can be the ones making everyone uncomfortable.”
“No,” she grinned. “You still take the cake on that one. But now you and Nate are engaged. That’s so wonderful. Is it weird not saying anything to your parents?”
“Nah, not really. Nate and I aren’t always on the same page as them. I know they look out for us, but I don’t think they fully understand what he and I share.”
In fact, I wasn’t sure we fully understood it either, just that our connection felt stronger and better with the Blue Soul. Still, it was hard to overhear stray thoughts. It was hard to know that Angie still didn’t really like me. I knew Finnley was a nightmare, and I know Angie was really trying since I was her best friend’s daughter, but the past I didn’t remember was still my past. That’s mostly what Angie saw in me. At least Tom hadn’t known Finnley so I think he genuinely liked me. My mom… well that was an entirely different complication.
“Your moms seem to get along,” Luci said, pulling me out of a trance as she stopped at the window of a store. “What about your dads?”
“Angie and my mom are best friends, so that’s really convenient. They knew each other before we moved here,” I said. “Tom is also great, but Ri— my dad isn’t around anymore.”
There wasn’t a panic growing in my chest, but it was strange to repeat the phrase I often had to use to calm myself down. He’s not around. He can’t hurt me. He can’t kill me when he’s really dead this time.
“Oh, I’m sorry. My mom died when I was little so my dad, sister, and I are pretty close. I think it’s awesome that your families get along. It’s nice to see that sort of functional bigger family.”
“Well, you and Glitch keep being adorable because you’re already part of our little family. You know that’s how we do it around here,” I said, pulling her along. “Tell me about the ferris wheel. You two didn’t do much talking.”
Luci turned a bright red. “I still have no idea how you can be so casual about these topics.” She tucked some hair behind her ear. “Yesterday was really nice. I almost feel a little intimidated because you are all such good friends, and especially because you and Nate are so cute. I guess I’m just out of the loop on some of that.”
I stopped walking. “Luci, you have no reason to feel that way. Each relationship is different, and all that matters is that it works for you and you’re happy. Just because the three of us know each other doesn’t mean you won’t get to that level too. You’ve only been around a week, and if we ever make you feel left out, please tell us because we don’t mean to.”
I turned to see I had stopped us in front of a jewelry store. At this point, I wasn’t even sure if I had done it accidentally. I glanced in the case on sale and my heart almost stopped. Holy shit, these things were expensive. I’d definitely be happy with a cheap plastic thing. I’d have to make sure Nate didn’t go crazy getting something for me.
“That’s really good advice for someone who’s eighteen,” Luci said, sliding her arm through mine. “To have that kind of outlook… I guess you didn’t have a great relationship before Nate?”
“I didn’t, but that doesn’t matter now. Nate is the greatest thing to ever happen to
me,” I sighed.
I pulled Luci along so she wouldn’t see my sad face reflecting in the jewelry case. I didn’t need to think about my past right now.
10
Nate
“Are you two going to play video games all weekend?” My dad asked as he walked out of the office shaking his head. We had been here for a while and hadn’t moved much.
“The girls are dress shopping and we live in Forest Hills. There isn’t much else to do,” Glitch replied without taking his eyes off the screen.
“Very funny,” my dad said, sitting down to watch us. “How was the fair last night?”
“Clara dunked some guy who was being an ass,” I shrugged.
“And I made out with Luci for most of it,” Glitch said before he slammed the couch in frustration as his character died.
“Neither of those things surprise me,” my dad chuckled. “Ah, you two… you remind me a lot about us when we were younger. You know, Angie and Ellie were inseparable.”
I eyed him carefully. “Are you saying either Glitch or I are going to become Richard?”
“No, I’m just saying we all used to be good friends until we had kids. I do wonder if we could have seen some of that coming if we had stayed as close as we once were. We all got busy raising our own families…” his voice trailed off.
“So, don’t have kids,” Glitch teased, leaning back into the couch.
“That’s not what I meant and you know it,” my dad replied, unamused. “Things change in your lives. For us, we each had a child to care for and stopped putting in the effort with each other. That’s where we screwed up. At least Angie and Ellie get to make up for lost time.” he stood up and returned to the office, closing the door behind him.
There was a moment of silence before Glitch reached over and messed with my controller, sending my character off a cliff.
“It’s weird to think your dad and Richard were friends,” he said, digging into the bowl of popcorn.
“Yeah, but we also have to remember that unlike us, they all knew Richard before he was a psycho,” I shrugged, setting my controller down.
Glitch shrugged. “Well, I promise to still be your friend when you and C get married and have kids.”
“Yeah, I don’t know about that,” I replied, frowning.
“What?” Glitch asked, surprised. “I mean, I know you aren’t gonna have kids now. You’re eighteen and we still gotta figure out college. But you’d both be great parents. I mean, shit, you know exactly how not to raise a kid thanks to your experiences being raised. What does C have to say about it all?”
Now I realized why our parents wanted us to talk about these things before marriage.
“I guess we haven’t really talked. I just assumed she wouldn’t want them.”
Glitch thought for a second. “I mean, I guess I’d probably assume the same, so as long as that’s not a non-negotiable for either of you. It’s still probably a good thing to talk about. Not that it’s going to change anything between you right now, but you have a big future ahead when you get married. I can’t even imagine what’s going to happen if we all move to different places for college,” he groaned.
I squished my nose. “I don’t want to think about that.”
“Well, you should. You and C are engaged now. Are you gonna tell your parents?”
I shrugged. “Maybe after prom? I still have to figure out a way to get her a ring, and one she won’t be annoyed with. Do you know how hard it is to find something she deserves that isn’t crazy expensive?”
He laughed. “That girl would be happy if you got her a plastic toy ring out of those quarter machines in the mall. Stop worrying about it.”
“Alright, enough about me and C,” I said, jabbing him in the shoulder. “How about you and Luci?”
“Well, I didn’t ask her to marry me, or if she wants to have kids. But I had fun last night. It’s nice to have another person to hang out with. Being the third wheel was starting to get old.” He laughed and picked up his controller. “This time last year, did you ever think the two social outcasts would ever get dates to senior prom?”
“The thought never crossed my mind.”
* * *
This time, I was the one sneaking into Clara’s room. I had been thinking too much about what our parents had said about marriage, and then again about Glitch’s comments. I wasn’t doubting my decisions, I really wanted to marry her, but I couldn’t help worrying that Clara would have some life-altering opinion that we wouldn’t agree on. We almost never fought, and if we did, we always found a way to sort it out in the end. Part of it was because we really did get along and had a great foundation. The other part was the Blue Soul connection making it really difficult to stay mad.
I expected her to be asleep when I hopped out of my shadow, but she was laying upside down on the bed, playing with the stars she had made on the ceiling. When she heard me come in, she made them appear in my head too.
I slid next to her and kissed her cheek. “It’s one in the morning. Why are you awake?”
“I could ask you the same question,” she said, dropping her left hand to slide her fingers in mine.
“Did you find a dress today?” I asked. I lifted her arm to trace her visible scar, feeling the buzz of energy under my touch.
“Yeah,” she sighed. “But you’ll have to wait to see it. And I also got you a tie to match.”
“My mom seemed pretty excited when she got home. Do I at least get to know what color it is?”
Clara stopped playing with the stars, letting them fade back into the ceiling. “Nah, I’ll let it be a surprise.” She rolled over and pressed her lips into my neck. “So why are you awake right now?”
“I wanted to see you,” I sighed, rolling onto my side to look at her. “And I’ve been thinking about what our parents said about getting married.”
She propped herself up on her elbow and frowned. “You want to take back your proposal?”
“What? No,” I reassured her. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. But it does make me wonder… what does that look like to you?”
Clara grinned. “You mean like when we’re old and I yell at kids to get off our lawn?”
I rolled my eyes and smiled. “No, I mean like what our near future might look like. College? Wedding? Kids?”
She shifted uncomfortably as she thought. “Nate, please don’t take this the wrong way…” She bit at her lip, trying to avoid looking at me. “I don’t really want kids. I mean, I might change my mind one day, but…”
Clara trailed off as I felt her start to shake.
“Hey,” I said, placing my hand on her cheek, shifting her face so she would look at me. Her eyes were watering. “It’s okay. We’re in high school. We still have a lot ahead of us before even thinking about having kids. I just wanted to ask. I’m not upset about it at all. Why would I take it the wrong way?”
“My dad. Aidan,” she replied, shifting her jaw as she fought her emotions. “I’ve had a bad experience, and I was worried you’d think that was why. You aren’t them, and I think you’d be a great dad someday, but I’m worried I’m never going to be ready to be a mother.”
I shifted closer to her on the bed. “Well, you’re my fiancée now, so trust me when I say I think you’d be a great mom. But we don’t have to worry about that for a while.” I pressed my forehead against hers and looked into her bright blue eyes. “Now, tell me the truth. Are you still awake because you had a nightmare?”
She sighed and closed her eyes. “I never got to sleep in the first place. I can’t sleep well when you’re not here.”
“I’m here now,” I said, kissing her cheek. “Maybe we need to tell our parents about this. They might be more willing to let us stay together if they knew why we snuck around to sleep together every other night.”
“Can we wait until after prom?” Clara asked, her face softening.
“I think it’s your decision, but can I ask why?”
She sniffe
d. “Because today my mom looked happy for the first time in a long time. I don’t want to take that away from her, not like this. Not with what’s happening. I can’t see her hurt again.”
We shifted up to the pillows and slid under the covers as I wrapped her in my arms.
“C, we’re going to get through this, I promise. There’s no more Complex, no one is coming after us, and we don’t have to stop our evil twins from stealing powers. We just need to figure out how to be normal.”
Clara found my hand and slid her fingers through mine. “Nate, we are anything but normal.”
