Her Evil Twin

by Mimi McCoy

  To Anna’s relief, they’d moved on from frog anatomy and now they were studying cells. That day, they were supposed to classify different cell drawings on a worksheet. But Benny wasn’t being much help.

  “This looks like a pepperoni pizza cell,” he joked, pointing to one of the drawings. “And this is clearly a deep-dish sausage and onion cell.”

  Anna rolled her eyes. “Are you hungry by any chance?”

  “Starving,” said Benny. “I’d give anything for a slice right now.”

  “Well, try not to drool on the worksheet,” Anna joked. “Lunch is in twenty minutes.”

  Benny made a face. “Who wants gross cafeteria pizza? I’m jonesing for Moxie.”

  Anna gave him a blank look.

  “You don’t know Moxie?” Benny looked shocked. “It’s only, like, the best pizza on the planet. You do eat pizza, right?”

  “Obviously,” said Anna.

  “You haven’t lived unless you’ve had Moxie pizza,” Benny told her. “I’m going there after school today. You should come.”

  Anna’s smile froze. Did Benny just ask me out? she wondered.

  Benny seemed just as surprised because he started to stammer. “Y-you don’t have to. I mean, it’s no big deal. I’m just going with a few of my friends and —”

  “It sounds fun,” Anna interrupted. “I’d like to come.”

  “Really? That’s cool. Okay, so I’ll see you there after school. Wow. Okay. Cool,” Benny babbled. He seemed almost relieved when Mr. Cooper yelled at them to stop talking.

  When the bell rang, Benny quickly scooped up his books. “Meet you there at three fifteen!” he told Anna, and rushed out of the room.

  Anna slowly collected her things and floated out the door, humming to herself. She had a date with Benny!

  Well, not a date, she reminded herself. We’re just hanging out with a bunch of kids. But I think maybe he likes me. Wait till I tell Emma!

  But when she did see Emma, moments later, Anna lost the nerve. Emma was leaning against Anna’s locker, with her arms folded across her chest. “Where have you been?” she asked accusingly. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

  “I was in class.” Anna was surprised at her friend’s strange behavior. She seemed so cold and bossy lately.

  “Whatever,” Emma huffed. “Come on. I’m hungry. Let’s go to lunch.”

  Anna glanced out the window, which was spattered with rain. “I guess the roof is out today. We’ll have to eat in the cafeteria.”

  Emma gave her a look of disdain. “You mean, the barfeteria? No thanks. I’ve got a better idea. Let’s go to the diner on Fifth Street.”

  “I can’t,” Anna said. “I don’t have enough money.” She had only a few dollars in her pocket, and she wanted to save them for Moxie. “Anyway, I brought my lunch today.”

  “Don’t worry about the money. I’ve got us covered.”

  Anna opened her mouth to object, then changed her mind. She didn’t think she’d win an argument with Emma.

  Outside, the rain was slashing down. They pulled up their hoods and sprinted the few blocks to the diner. Even so, they were soaked when they came through the door.

  A waitress walking past with a pot of coffee glanced at them and pursed her lips. She pointed to a booth in the corner near the door.

  “Perfect,” Emma said. She slid across the yellow vinyl seat, streaking it with rainwater.

  After a moment, the waitress came over and dropped a single menu on their table. She had on thick blue eye shadow, and her curly hair was piled like a haystack on her head. “Something to drink?” she asked them tiredly.

  Emma ordered coffee, and after a moment’s hesitation Anna did, too. She never drank coffee, but it sounded sophisticated. Not to mention warm. She was shivering in her wet clothes.

  The waitress sloshed coffee into two cups that were already on the table. Emma ordered a turkey sandwich for them to share. The waitress wrote their order down on a little pad, stuck her pen behind her ear, and shuffled off to the kitchen.

  “Nice service,” Emma said with a snort.

  Anna didn’t say anything. She’d just taken a sip of the hot, bitter coffee and scalded her tongue. She fanned her burning mouth with one hand and pushed the cup away with the other.

  Emma leaned back in the booth, kicking her dirty sneakers up on the seat next to Anna. “Isn’t this great? Way better than eating in that lame cafeteria.”

  Anna glanced around the room. There were a few people in business suits sitting at the counter, staring into space as they chewed their sandwiches. In the booth across from Anna, a lonely-looking old man was spooning cottage cheese into his mouth.

  The diner didn’t seem so great to Anna. At least at school, there were other kids.

  “You know, maybe we should cool it for a while. Cutting school, I mean. We’re going to get caught one of these days,” she said.

  Emma waved a hand as if that was of no concern. “So today, I was thinking we’d —”

  Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the waitress, who plunked their food down, slapped a check on the table, and headed off to wait on some other customers.

  “I can’t hang out today,” Anna said when she was gone. “I’m meeting Benny Riveras.”

  Emma was dumping packets of sugar into her coffee, but she glanced up sharply. “Benny? What for?”

  Anna explained how Benny had invited her to Moxie for pizza. “You can come, too,” she said quickly. “He said a bunch of kids are going.”

  “I can come, too? Gee, thanks for the invitation,” Emma sneered sarcastically.

  “I thought you’d be happy for me,” Anna said, feeling hurt.

  Emma made a face. “Happy that you’re hanging out with that twerp?”

  “Benny’s not a twerp. He’s nice. And funny. And I think he likes me.” What was wrong with Emma? Why was she being so mean?

  Emma shrugged. “Fine. Go hang out with him if you want. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Anna asked. But Emma wouldn’t explain.

  Anna nibbled at her sandwich, but she didn’t feel hungry. This lunch had turned out horribly. She just wanted it to be over.

  But once she was done eating, Emma dawdled. She kept glancing over at the waitress. Anna had the feeling she was waiting for something.

  When the waitress disappeared into the kitchen, Emma suddenly stood. “Let’s go!” she hissed.

  “You haven’t paid the bill yet,” Anna pointed out.

  “Haven’t you ever heard of dining and ditching?”

  “But you said you were going to pay!” Anna couldn’t believe what Emma was pulling.

  “I said I had it taken care of,” Emma said. “I didn’t say I’d pay. I don’t even have any money. Now come on, we have to go now.” Without waiting for Anna, she dashed out the door.

  Anna jumped up from the table so quickly she made the coffee cups rattle. A couple in the next booth looked up from their food. Halfway to the door, though, Anna stopped, frozen with indecision. She saw the kitchen door swing open and the waitress come out carrying a tray of food.

  At the last second, Anna darted back to the table, pulled a few crumpled dollar bills from her pocket, and dropped them on top of the check. It wasn’t enough to cover the bill. But it was all she had.

  “Won’t she come after us?” Anna gasped when she’d caught up with Emma.

  “No way! Did you see that hairdo? She’d never risk getting it wet.” Emma laughed nastily. “She was a horrible waitress. Did you notice how she only brought us one menu? We really got her back.”

  Anna didn’t laugh along with her. All she could think about was how tired the waitress had looked. For the first time ever, hanging out with Emma didn’t seem like that much fun.

  Chapter Eight

  That day, after her last class, Anna went by Emma’s locker, hoping she might be able to convince her to come to Moxie after all. Emma wasn’t there, so Anna
lingered for a few minutes in case she showed up.

  Just a few lockers down from Emma’s, the Jackals were clustered around Jessamyn’s locker, gossiping. When Jessamyn noticed Anna watching them, she narrowed her eyes, as if to say, What are you looking at? The other Jackals turned and looked at Anna.

  With their eyes on her, Anna gave up on waiting for Emma and scurried away.

  By the time she got to Moxie, the place was packed. Anna made her way past the tables of kids scarfing bread sticks and pizza slices. The air was full of the jangle of pinball machines and the smell of burnt pizza crust.

  She found Benny in the back by the air hockey table. “Hey!” he exclaimed happily when she walked up. “I was worried you weren’t coming. Anna, do you know Pete and Eamonn?”

  His two friends glanced up and nodded, then went back to their air hockey game.

  “They’ve been hogging the table,” Benny said. “But I’m up next.” He pointed to a little stack of quarters on the side of the table. “Want to get a slice while we’re waiting?”

  “That’s okay … I’m not really hungry,” Anna fibbed. She was ravenous, but she’d left what money she had at the diner.

  “But you have to have a slice! It’s Moxie!” Benny exclaimed. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you covered.”

  Anna watched as Benny strode over to the counter. He chatted for a minute with a guy at the register and waved to someone in the kitchen. They both peered over the counter at Anna, who blushed.

  Benny returned a few minutes later carrying a tray with pizza slices and two Cokes. He set it down on a wooden table plastered with bumper stickers.

  “Dig in,” Benny said as he picked up his slice.

  Anna hesitated. “Were you … going to pay for it?” She didn’t want to end up in another dine-and-ditch situation.

  Benny waved a hand. “My aunt and uncle own this place. So I pretty much get to eat for free. My uncle’s the guy in the back throwing the pizza dough. Go on.” He nudged Anna. “It’s best when it’s really hot.”

  Anna relaxed and picked up her slice. Strings of molten cheese oozed off the sides. When she took a bite, the cheese burned the roof of her mouth, but she didn’t care because the sauce was tangy and the crust was chewy. Benny was right. It was the best pizza she’d ever had.

  While they ate, they laughed at the bumper stickers on the table. Honk if you like Heron’s Pretzels. Visualize Whirled Peas. What if the Hokey Pokey really IS what it’s all about? Anna had the feeling that Benny had probably read them all a hundred times before, but he still laughed every time she pointed out a funny one.

  “That one’s mine,” Benny said, pointing to a sticker that read Go Hounds! 2010 Junior Hockey League Champions.

  “You play hockey?” Anna asked. “I didn’t know there was a team at school.”

  “There isn’t,” Benny told her. “I play in a club league. Two-time champs! Put ‘er there!” He held up his hand so Anna could slap a high five.

  “Practice starts next week for this season,” Benny told her. “Man, I can’t wait! Sometimes in the summer, when the ice rink shuts down, I ride my bike over anyway, just to imagine being out on the ice again.” Benny glanced at Anna with an embarrassed smile. “I guess that sounds kind of dumb, huh?”

  Anna smiled and shook her head. She’d been thinking how different Benny seemed. At school he was such a goofball. But when he was talking about hockey he sounded so sincere. There are so many things about a person you can’t tell just by looking at them, she thought.

  “Speaking of hockey,” Benny said, glancing toward the air hockey table, “I think we’re up.”

  “Uh-uh. No way,” said Anna. “I’m not ready to go up against a professional.”

  Benny took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Come on,” he said. “Sometimes you just gotta be brave.”

  They played three rounds of air hockey. Benny goofed around a lot, trying to make shots behind his back, and he cheered whenever Anna scored a goal. After that, they played pinball and Anna beat him. She played his friend Eamonn and beat him, too. Even though Benny said he didn’t like pinball, she could tell he was having a good time, because he kept calling “Rematch!” and putting more quarters in the machine.

  By the time Anna remembered to call home it was after five o’clock. Benny listened with a sympathetic look on his face while she apologized to her mom half a dozen times for not calling sooner.

  “I have to go home,” Anna said when she’d hung up. “She’s pretty mad. I promised her I’d get the bus right now.”

  “You’re too late for the school bus. And the city bus will take forever,” Benny said. “I’ll give you a ride.”

  “Your uncle can give me a lift?” Anna asked, relieved.

  “Who needs him? I’ve got my own wheels,” Benny replied.

  Anna gaped at him. “You have a car?”

  Benny laughed. “Yeah, that’s right. My Benz. Come on.”

  He said good-bye to his friends and led the way outside. In front of the building was a bike rack, with a beat-up mountain bike chained to it. “There she is. Benny’s Benz,” he said proudly.

  Anna laughed. “But how are we both going to ride?” she asked.

  Benny considered this. “You’ll have to sit on the seat, and I’ll stand on the pedals.”

  “Is this safe?” Anna asked, climbing onto the seat as Benny held it steady.

  “Probably not,” said Benny. “You should wear this.” He handed her his bike helmet. Anna put it on and fastened the strap under her chin.

  “That looks good on you,” Benny said approvingly, and Anna felt her face get warm.

  The sky was starting to turn pink as they set out for Anna’s house. Anna tried to balance on the seat as gracefully as possible, but it wasn’t easy. She had to hold her feet out to the sides to keep them from getting tangled in the spokes. There was nowhere for her to put her hands except on Benny’s waist. Out of shyness, she held him there as lightly as possible as he pedaled them through the streets.

  Despite how awkward it was, Anna thought it was the most romantic thing she’d ever done.

  “There’s my house,” Benny said, nodding at a two-story white house. Anna craned her neck with particular interest as they passed it.

  By the time they reached Anna’s street, the sun had begun to set. It had stopped raining hours before, and now the sky was aflame with red and orange clouds.

  “You’d better drop me off here,” Anna said when they reached the corner. Benny braked, and she climbed off the bike. “Thanks for the ride.”

  “No problem.” Benny stood there straddling the bike, looking as if he was waiting for something. They stared at each other for a moment. In a movie, this is where we’d kiss, Anna thought.

  “Well, see you in school,” she said finally. She turned and started for home.

  “Anna, wait!” said Benny.

  Anna stopped and looked back, her heart starting to pound.

  “I need my helmet,” Benny said.

  “Oh! Duh.” Anna walked back to him, laughing as she undid the chin strap. She could feel herself blushing, and she hoped Benny couldn’t guess what had just been going through her head.

  “See you tomorrow,” Benny said. Then he turned around on his bike and sped away.

  Anna stood watching until the flashing light on the back of his bike disappeared around the corner. She had a funny, floating feeling in her chest.

  Finally, she turned and walked slowly to her house. She knew she was going to get it from her mom. But it was worth it, Anna thought. It was definitely worth it.

  Chapter Nine

  “Anna …”

  Anna slowly opened her eyes. She could tell by the deep blackness of her room that it was very late at night. She glanced at the digital clock on her nightstand. The glowing green numbers read 1:46.

  I dreamed someone was calling my name, she thought sleepily.

  She was just about to snuggle under the covers, when she heard it
again, louder. Impatient.

  “Anna!”

  Anna jerked upright. Someone was calling her name. It sounded like it had come from outside.

  Holding her breath, she tiptoed over to the window and pushed back the curtain. In the cherry tree next to the house, she saw a dark figure crouched among the branches.

  Anna sucked in her breath. She was about to scream, when the figure moved and she caught a glimpse of one long braid. “Emma?” she whispered.

  “Anna! Come out and play.” Emma’s voice was light and crooning. Anna could see her silver eyes shining in the moonlight.

  Anna undid the lock and slid open the window. Cold air rushed in against her face. “What are you doing?” she whispered. “I can’t come out. It’s nighttime.”

  “Come play with me!” Emma stood up on her branch. “You haven’t played with me in such a long time —”

  “Careful! Emma, what are you doing? You’ll —” Anna gasped as Emma slipped from the tree.

  But she didn’t fall. She floated gently to the ground, as if she weighed no more than a feather.

  How could Emma float?

  “I must be dreaming,” Anna said to herself. What a clear dream it was! Everything seemed so real. Her arms prickled with goose bumps. Somewhere in the neighborhood she could hear a dog barking.

  “Anna!” Emma called again. She was standing on the lawn now. Above her the bright, round moon looked like a coin in the sky, a shiny silver dollar. Anna was overcome with the urge to reach out and grab it. But —

  “I can’t get down,” Anna said sadly. Oh, how she wanted to go out and play!

  “Climb down.” Emma pointed to the side of the house, where withering wisteria vines twined around a latticework trellis.

  Anna had done this so many times in the bathroom at school she could have done it in her sleep. Hoisting herself onto the window ledge, she swung a leg over. She had to stretch to reach the trellis, but she managed to hook a foot in without too much trouble. As she climbed down, trying not to tangle her feet in the dry vines, she marveled at how real the leaves felt against her face, even though she knew she was dreaming.