“Right OK guys we need to go and do some shopping today. Jake you’re going to school. Aiden could you stay home today and keep Evelyn company please. I’m sure you guys have a lot to talk about.” She kissed both Aiden and Jake on the head.
It was quite funny how she had to tiptoe, and they had to bend down. Then she came over to me.
“I know you hate it, but if Aiden can handle a small kiss on the head I’m sure you can too.” She didn’t have to tiptoe with me. She kissed me then shoved both Pete and Jake out the door.
We were alone now, and I could feel the tension rising. I wasn’t ready for this. I could feel him staring at me again. I turned to face him, he was gorgeous, and I knew that was wrong to think but looking at him properly now I saw his eyes looked just like moms, which made me miss her even more.
“You have dad eyes you know.” He told me.
“I do?”
“Yeah his weren’t quite as bright as yours, but Yeah nearly identical.” He said shifting uncomfortably.
I was too anxious to think of anything to say. Luckily, he had it covered.
“Would you like to see a picture? I mean I know they said to wait till the DNA comes back, but I have no doubt you are my sister.” He laughed, but I winced.
I was his twin. Full siblings. I could tell by his eyes he had mom in him. I tried to calm my nerves.
“I’m sorry. I still feel quite tired. I’m going to go back to bed.” I said quickly.
He knew I was lying, but he smiled at me as I walked up the stairs. His smile caused butterflies in my stomach. I held my waist as I headed for my room. Then I remembered I hadn’t looked at my cell phone since Saturday. I searched through my suitcase that Jake very kindly brought up for me. I found my phone and charger and plugged it in, by my bed. I laid back down waiting for it to power up, and a barrage of texts and missed calls came through. They were mostly from Caitlin the last one saying.
‘text me back! I’m starting to worry they’ve locked u up somewhere’
I needed to talk to her. I called her, and she picked up straight away. I could hear our English teacher shouting at her to put her phone down and return to her seat, which she obviously ignored. I could hear her telling the teacher it was me calling, and I guess he let her leave.
“Oh my god Evelyn are you trying to kill me? Why haven’t you called me?” She shrieked.
“I’m sorry Caitlin, it’s been crazy here. Can you do me a favour?”
“Of course, anything.”
“Ok hang on a sec.” I whispered as I crept out into the hallway.
Aiden was still downstairs. I looked across the hallway and saw a picture of him on the wall. I quickly tiptoed over and snapped a pic on my phone and sent it to her on my way back to my room.
“Caitlin, I sent you a picture do you recognise him?” I eagerly waited for her response.
“Yeah, he’s the guy who was staring at you in the hotel. How did you get that picture?” She asked.
“How do u think? He’s my brother.” I waited for a response, but none came. “Caitlin?” I shouted.
“Oh, erm no way. Not the way he was looking at you. It can’t be.” She said.
“Well he is. His name is Aiden Terratellus, and we have the same mom and dad. Maybe somewhere deep down he knew I was his sister. He said I have dad eyes. Maybe that’s why he was staring at me.” I think I was trying to convince myself more than her.
We talked for hours, I think she must have just left and gone home.
“Evee I totally forgot to tell you. Matthew is moving to Louisiana.” She said with disdain. They always had a love hate relationship.
“What is he stalking me or something?” I joked.
“Actually, it had been in the works for a while. That’s why he came on the trip to see what it was like. His dad works for that security company… Gabriel’s I think it’s called. Anyway, they’ve opened a new company there and his dad will be running it, so at least you’ll know someone even if it is him.” She dripped of jealousy.
“Well if I could pick anyone it would definitely be you, always you Caitlin. OK I need to go. I was supposed to be twin bonding, but I couldn’t face him. I’ll talk to you soon.”
I put the phone down and looked up to see Aiden staring at me from the door way. Then he looked down at my phone with his picture on the front… oh fuck...
Aiden
I could hear Evelyn talking to someone on the phone. I want to go up to her, but she wanted her space. I was jealous about who she might be speaking to. I wanted her to talk to me. I paced around the whole house. I was on edge. I couldn’t just sit down. I waited a bit longer, and I could hear her walking across the upstairs hallway. Where was she going? I headed for the stairs when I heard her walking back towards the bedroom. I went back to living room and put the TV on. I sat there for a few hours, but I wanted to see her. I got up and went to the stairs. I walked up them as quietly as I could and turned right onto the landing. Her door was open, but she was still talking with someone. As I got closer I heard her voice.
“What is he stalking me or something?”
I stopped. It worried me. Who was stalking her, and why was she laughing afterwards. As I tried to shake it off I heard her again.
“Well if I could pick anyone it would definitely be you. Always you Caitlin. OK I need to go. I was supposed to be twin bonding, but I couldn’t face it. I’ll talk to you soon.”
By the time she finished I was already in her door way. I didn’t mean to come this far. Maybe I can creep away. That was when I saw my picture on the front of her phone. Then she looked at me and knew I’d seen it.
“You know if you wanted a picture of me you could have just asked.” I said to her with a massive grin on my face. I was trying to make it sound playful, but it came across a little flirty. I could see the blush of embarrassment forming in her cheeks.
“Sorry I know it’s weird, but my friend wanted to see your picture being twins and all.” She said deleting it. I have to say I left a little disappointed.
“Who’s your friend?” I asked, but what I really wanted to know was who was ‘stalking’ her.
“Her names Caitlin. She’s my best friend, well my only real friend. I don’t really make friends easily, but she’s always been there for me” She said with a sad smile. She reached into a box and pulled out some photos. “Would you like to see?” She gestured for me to sit next to her on the bed.
I moved forward a bit and stopped, was this ok? Should I be nervous to sit next to my sister? The heart ache I felt when I sat down beside her told me this wasn’t normal.
She looked at me and smiled then looked through some of the photos. She didn’t notice that I was still looking at her face then moving down her neck to her shoulders exactly where I kissed her in my dream. I wanted to do it for real being this close to her. I craved her. I could feel myself becoming excited, so I turned away. That’s when I saw my rabbit on her bed. She must have slept with it. I picked him up and stroked his fur.
“Is he yours?” She asked looking at the rabbit.
“Yeah from when I was little. I thought you might like it.” I was feeling a little embarrassed.
“Thank you it helped a lot.” She said. I could see how awkward she felt. After a moment she said. “This is our mom.” She gave me a picture of a beautiful woman with dark hair and dark eyes. She was everything I imagined my mom would look like. “Aiden you have her eyes too.”
I looked straight at her grinning like an idiot. “I do? I’ve always wanted to know who she was.” I held onto the picture for a longer than I probably should of.
“You can keep that if you want. I have loads.”
I rubbed my thumb over the picture. I’d have to get one of dad for her. Might take a while to dig out though. Then she showed me another photo and I felt the blood drain from my face.
“This is my friend Caitlin, well my best friend.”
As soon as I saw her face I knew who she was. She looked s
traight at me at the hotel restaurant when Evelyn whispered to her. I even tried to follow her to find Evelyn, and now I realised why she sent her the picture of me. I tried to say as calmly as possible.
“Oh, I recognise her. I’d swear I saw her in town the other day. Does she live around here?” That last bit might have come out as more of a squeak, I’m such an idiot.
“No, she lives in Los Angeles where I live, well lived. We were actually over here this weekend for a school trip. Did you see me?” She looked to the floor when she asked me that.
“I don’t know maybe, I wasn’t really looking. It was Jake that pointed her out to me. He wanted to ask her out. He thought she was stunning.” As I said this I could see a little hurt in her eyes. “Evelyn you ok?” She looked up at me with confusion. She was very close now. I tried to act normal, but she caught me looking at her lips. I wanted to move closer.
“Bro! Sis!” Jake burst in. I jumped to the other side of the bed. I think I was probably too close to her.
“Hi Jake, good day?” She asked him.
“All the better for seeing you my dear.” Jake said in an almost flirty way. Then he noticed my scowl. He held his hands up. “I know, I know. Sisters are off limits.” I felt her shifting uncomfortably next to me. “Who’s that?” Jake asked. He picked up the photo and his eyes widened. “Oh, my Jesus. Aiden that’s the chick you were after at lunch the other day. What a small world.” He kept looking at the picture, and I could feel Evelyn’s eyes glaring at me.
“I wasn’t after her. I just saw her because you pointed her out.” I felt myself trying to dig my way out of a hole, I wasn’t even in.
“Ha Aiden come on, you chased her through the hotel. I assumed you were asking for her number or something.” Jake was laughing now.
“You chased her?” She said looking a little angry. I put my hand on hers. As I did we both felt something, and she snatched her hand away.
“Who is she anyway?” Jake asked.
“She is my best friend.” She replied blankly.
“Oh, I’m sorry Evelyn I didn’t know. I thought he was showing you her picture. I didn’t mean to upset you. This isn’t what you need right now. I could take you into town if you like? Or we could play on the Xbox downstairs?” He said.
I wanted to punch him in the face. She was mine, not his.
“Come I’ve got dance revolution. Let’s go boogie.” I couldn’t believe when she got up and went with him.
“Are you coming bro or are you gone sit in her room all night?” Jake asked.
I got up and followed them downstairs and sat on the couch. Jake and Evelyn stood in front of the television as dance revolution was loading. They were talking about Caitlin a lot. I zoned out. It was hard to concentrate on anything when she was jumping around in front of me. I had to shift as few times, but I snapped out of it when I heard her say;
“No, seriously I’ve never had a boyfriend. They like to get close and I don’t.” Jake was looking at her bewildered.
“How is that possible? You’re beautiful.” He said to her.
She looked at me then and back at Jake. “Thank you, but I just haven’t found anyone yet that I’m attracted to. I’ve tried dating a few times. They were nice guys, but as soon as they tried to kiss me I felt sick.” She seemed uncomfortable as she said it; then again, I was her brother so that was probably normal for her to feel whilst talking about boyfriends.
I raised my can in the air “Here! Here! To feeling sick when people touch you” I joked, and she burst out laughing. I laughed with her and Jake just looked shocked.
“Wow you sure you guys just aren’t the same person? Coz this is just madness.” He said this while walking out of the room.
There she was, flushed from laughing. Her sweater had fallen lower down her shoulder. The pull was strong now. I wanted to bring her down onto me.
“I’m going to have a shower. I’ll see you a bit later.” I stuttered as I walked out the room and up the stairs.
I walked straight into the bathroom, turned a cold shower on and undressed. When I turned around I saw Evelyn’s sweater and jeans from yesterday on the floor. I picked them up to put them in the laundry. But when her underwear fell out from the jeans, I dropped her clothes and jumped into the cold shower before I got any more excited.
Chapter 7
Evelyn
Jake had walked out of the room. I think he was finding it hard to wrap his head around how similar Aiden and I were, considering we were brought up apart. When I looked at Aiden he was staring at me. I wanted to sit next to him, but he jumped up. “I’m going to have a shower. I’ll see you a bit later.” He said and walked out of the room quickly. I sat on the couch and turned the TV on switching channels until I found something.
“You like this stuff?” Jake asked as he came in and plonked himself down next to me. He was a little too close for my liking, and he noticed as he shuffled over to the other side of the couch. “Sorry I’m so used to sitting next to Aiden to annoy him. I forget you’re the same and I don’t want to be annoying you.” He was messing around, but I knew he probably did do that.
“When did you move in with Sarah and Pete?” I asked.
“Just after my third birthday. They fostered me for a while, and when it was clear I couldn’t go home they adopted me.”
“Do you remember your parents?” I didn’t want to intrude but I was curious, and he seemed happy to talk about it.
“Not really to be honest. It used to bug me before, but I have a great life here, so I can’t really complain. I guess they just couldn’t look after me anymore.” Jake looked a bit down now. I felt bad for bringing all of this up.
“I’m sorry.” I apologised to him.
“No, it’s fine, ask me whatever you want.” He said smiling at me.
“How many girls have you dated at your school?” I asked, wanting to lighten the mood. I could tell he was total player. He had a huge smile on his face now.
“Depends what you call dating I guess.” He answered.
“Okay I define a date as spending time with them that ends in a kiss or more.” I said.
“I actually have no idea, but I can tell you how many I’ve slept with if you want to know.” He said wiggling his eyebrows at me.
“Go on then.” I said whilst giggling.
“I think twelve girls.” He said proudly.
“Wow! From when you were 16? Isn’t that like one a month?”
“Ok it could be more then because I started at 15. Isn’t this a bit of a weird conversation to have?”
“Actually, these were the sorts of conversation I would have with Caitlin, she was always talking about boys.” I said. I really missed her.
“So, you’ve really never had a boyfriend?” He looked at me puzzled.
“Well I dated a couple of times, but whenever it got to the kiss I couldn’t go through with it. It felt wrong.” It was hard explaining this to people. They never understood, so I was surprised by Jakes answer.
“That’s ok, if it doesn’t feel right then that’s up to you. At least then when you meet the right one you can give him everything, or her?” He said cautiously.
“The closest I’ve ever been with someone is Caitlin, but I’m definitely not gay.” I could only say that now. I wasn’t sure before, I thought I was asexual until I met Aiden.
“So, you do like guys?” He asked.
“Honestly I'm clueless.”
“Do you like it here?” Jake asked me.
“Yeah I do but it’s a lot different. It was only me and mom at home. I wasn’t allowed boys in the house, so it’s funny living with two now. Do you remember when Aiden came to live with you?” I asked which made Jake smile again. I could see he really loved Aiden.
“I was really excited to be getting a brother. There had been a lot of foster children in and out, but they didn’t stay very long. Aiden was different though. I knew he was going to be with us a lot longer. Mom had set up Aiden’s room with lots o
f toys, clothes and comic books. When he first came he was very quiet, but he had really bad night terrors and didn’t like being close to people, so it was hard for a while. Then we all just settled down into family life and now we have you.” He grinned at me.
It was sad to hear how hard it was for Aiden when his dad disappeared. It must have been very confusing for him. I could almost picture him with a little cute face and big eyes.
“Thank you for telling me.” I said to him.
“Anytime sis.”
Then we heard Pete’s car pull into the drive. They started pulling out tons of bags. Jake went out to help them, but I stayed on the couch and Sarah walked in.
“Hi Evelyn, how are you?” She asked sincerely.
“I’m fine thank you.” I replied.
She went into the kitchen and started unpacking. She called for me to follow, but Jake had just gone in front of me with a bag. She shouted for him to bugger off its girls talk. Oh god what did she want?
“So, honey this is going to be a little awkward for both of us and probably harder for you in a house full of boys!” She put her hand in the bag and pulled out a pack of tampons. I think I just stared at her with my mouth open. “Now I got you these and I got you pads, I wasn’t sure which you would prefer.” She said balancing one in each hand.
“Whoa.” I heard Aiden’s voice behind me. Now I was mortified.
“Get out Aiden!” Sarah shouted.
I looked at him over my shoulder. He was wearing black shorts and a grey hooded top. He was just out of the shower. He was still soaked, and his clothes were stuck to him. I couldn’t look away. I looked him up and down then turned back. This couldn’t be happening. I hoped with all my heart and soul that the DNA test would prove we were not siblings. I was facing Sarah now and she was still staring at Aiden behind me. He hadn’t moved either. His eyes were on me still.
“Out!” Sarah shouted at him again and this time he left.
“Is everything ok? Did something happen today? I’ve never seen Aiden like that.” She asked.
Eden's Children Page 6
