Life Reader

by Shea, K. M.

  The twins nodded in sync. “We did.”

  Raven sighed and dropped her hand, staring at the brothers, who were outright faking repentance.

  They stared at her with puppy eyes, batting their obscenely long eyelashes while hunching over to make themselves a smaller target.

  Raven stared at them for several long, uncomfortable seconds, inspiring them to bat their eyes faster. Unable to keep it in any longer, Raven burst into laughter. “Okay, okay. I’m in.”

  “Thank you—what?” the twins started before swapping confused looks.

  “I’ll be your third twin, or triplet or whatever,” Raven said, waving her hand through the air. “I want to be your friend,” she rephrased.

  The twins stared at Raven. “Seriously?”

  “Yep.”

  There was awkward silence for several moments before the twins broke into identical grins and each reached out to snag Raven’s arms.

  “Excellent!”

  “I knew you would all along.”

  “Don’t worry, we’ll forgive you for being a girl.”

  “We should probably update our Facebook status to announce this.”

  “No one is friends with us. We rejected all the offers, remember? How about we make a tweet?”

  “We could, but no one is following us either.”

  “That’s a problem.”

  “Yeah, we’ll have to fix that.”

  The twins chattered back and forth while smashing Raven between them in a makeshift hug.

  “So you’re going to tell us everything?” Asher asked as he and Aron released her, taking a step away to give her air.

  Raven hesitated before nodding. “Yes, but I can’t today. I have to… speak to someone before I tell you guys. This isn’t my secret to tell.”

  “That’s fine,” Aron said.

  “We can talk tomorrow at school, but we really should trade information here, in Saint Cloud,” Asher said.

  “Yeah, it’s safer here,” Aron nodded.

  “I agree,” Raven said. “Especially if we speak up here in the fiction area.”

  Aron speculatively studied the room. “I bet we could dredge up some of the dormant library magic to guard our conversation.”

  “Probably. Let’s just hope our stinky library director doesn’t sense our meddling. I swear he is a bloodhound when it comes to magic,” Asher said.

  “Do not mention his name, it will draw his attention to us. So! What do we do until tomorrow then?”

  Raven angelically smiled. “You two can help me search.”

  “For what?” Asher asked.

  “I can’t tell.”

  “Ahh, but our TV show,” Asher said, abruptly backtracking.

  “Yeah. It’s, uhh, at a really good part,” Aron said.

  “Come on, first we need to get three ladders for us.”

  “…Do we have to?”

  “Am I your triplet?”

  “I have a feeling I’m not going to appreciate how similar you are to us all the time,” Asher grumbled.

  “Hey, you were the one that wanted her,” Aron snorted.

  “Yes but you were the one who said we should make her our triplet.”

  “Guys, the ladders.”

  “…”

  “…”

  “We hate you.”

  “I’m so hurt I can barely breathe. Come on, this way.”

  “An offer of friendship,” Raven’s father said, frowning deeply as he rubbed Beowulf’s stomach. The cat bore the action but did not look pleased by any stretch of the imagination. “From the Montamos boys, you said?”

  “Yes,” Raven said, passing over their thin file. “If I accept they will help me,” she said, clasping her arms behind her back as she stood in front of the couch her father was splayed on.

  “In your search?”

  “Yes.”

  Raven’s father was quiet as he paged through the file with one hand and tweaked the cat’s tail with the other.

  Beowulf flattened his ears and glared at Raven. She studiously avoided his eyes.

  “I remember this pair. They’ve got some emotional trauma that hasn’t been written in their file.”

  “Yeah, their mother is dead… how did you know that?”

  Her father shrugged. “In prep work for this mission I made an in-depth study on Saint Cloud employees. I watched recorded interviews, read any news articles or papers that mentioned them, I even followed a few of them for close observation,” he said, looking up at Raven.

  Raven tightened her lips but didn’t say anything.

  “You’re surprised,” her father said.

  Raven nodded.

  “Gram’s decision to send me to Bakertown was not last minute or unexpected. I was preparing for my role for months. What was unexpected was the fact that all of you—our family—came with, and that you were made to serve a role in the operation as well. I know the Montamos boys, Raven. I have seen their past and read it in their eyes,” her father said, growing very serious.

  “Yes sir,” Raven said, not daring to shift.

  Her father looked down at the file again and returned to petting the cat, fluffing his fur in the wrong direction.

  Raven stared at Beowulf and wondered why he accepted the abuse when he was prone to scratching Raven or her siblings if they pet him too quickly.

  “Okay.”

  Raven jerked to attention. “I’m sorry, what?”

  “Accept their offer of friendship. If you like them…?”

  Raven hesitated. “I do,” she admitted. “They’re a lot of fun, and they will be excellent guides for the library tunnel system. But mostly they make feel a lot more welcome.”

  Raven’s father nodded. “Excellent, they will provided companionship and help you with your search. It is a win, win situation. Although you do know you cannot date until you are 42-years-old and married, right?” her father asked, suspiciously eyeing her.

  Raven’s eyes strayed to the cat again, who was getting his ears pulled on. “What?” she said.

  “Nothing. I have one question: Why did you wait so long to tell me?”

  Raven’s shoulders fell. “You knew they asked?”

  He tapped the twins’ picture on the first paper of the file. “These two are planners. They would have given you the choice several days ago and forced you to think on it. Why did you wait?”

  Raven scuffed her foot on the carpeting. “I didn’t know if the offer was genuine or not,” she said.

  “What changed your mind?”

  “Just talking with them more, getting to know them. They’re not evil, or even cunning they’re just… sly. They’re observers,” Raven said.

  Raven’s father nodded. “I agree. They’re very cautious kids. It’s big that they have accepted you. Step carefully with them Raven, as I mentioned: they’ve got emotional trauma, and it’s worse than you think. Also, next time tell me sooner,” he smiled, finally pulling his hand away from Beowulf’s head before he stood. “But you did well,” he continued, fishing through his pants pockets. “You just might uncover something yet,” he said over Beowulf’s loud, yodeling meow.

  “Thank you,” Raven said.

  “No, thank you for the update. Keep me posted. Yes, yes I know Beowulf give me one sec—oh. Here they are!” he said, fishing a package of cat treats out of a pocket. He gave Raven a guilty look as he opened the bag. “You won’t tell your mother?”

  Raven stared as he shook out a handful of cat treats into his palm. “…You give the cat treats?”

  “Your mom has him on this horrible diet all the time. The poor guy doesn’t get enough to eat,” her father said, offering the treats to Beowulf, who hungrily devoured them with a purr loud enough to vibrate the cushion he occupied.

  “So you’re the reason why he keeps getting fat. You know she wouldn’t have to put him on a diet if you didn’t supplement his food with treats. The vet said Beowulf is obese,” Raven said, folding her arms in front of her chest.

>   “He doesn’t have many joys in his life. You can’t honestly want to strip him off this one he has left?” Raven’s father said, shaking out a few more treats.

  “He’s a cat. His very existence means nothing but joy.”

  “You wouldn’t understand.”

  “I think I’m glad that I don’t.”

  “Uh-huh. Now, regarding what you can tell these brats…”

  Chapter 11

  When the twins agreed to “talk” the following Tuesday morning, Raven thought they meant they would see each other in class. Nope. She was wrong.

  At 7:32 a.m. Raven walked down a hallway of Bakertown Public High School and turned a corner. The sight that greeted her was so alarming she was forced to stop in her tracks.

  Asher and Aron were leaning against a locker. Her locker. (Raven didn’t know how they even knew it was her locker.) They were talking in lowered voices, ignoring the giggling of girls stationed down the hallway. The brothers did, however, straighten up when they noticed Raven.

  “Ray! How are you?” Aron called.

  “Ride in with the brother? What’s his face, Adam?” Asher nonchalantly asked as Raven walked up to the duo.

  “Uh, yeah,” Raven nodded, her copper curls bouncing with the movement.

  “Wasn’t too bad I hope?” Asher asked.

  Aron dug out his cell phone. “I thought he was a fairly good driver according to our notes. Nothing like Jeremiah.”

  “What are you two doing here?” Raven asked, dropping her backpack on the ground. She stepped forward to spin the dial to open her locker, but Aron jiggled the door and it swung open. “And how did you get the combination to my locker?” she accused, placing her hands on her hips.

  “Guidance office. They have a record of all the lockers and their combinations,” Asher grinned, his white teeth flashing in a fiendish smile.

  “And we’re here because you’re now a part of our duo. I mean trio. Remember? You agreed to it last night,” Aron said, faking hurt before his face transformed into a smirk. “So now we just need a blood sample, your thumb print, and a hair follicle for the DNA test.”

  Raven sighed as she swapped books and folders from her backpack and locker. “You two never do things by halves, do you?”

  “Nope,” Asher said, cushioning his head on his arm as he leaned against the locker directly next to Raven’s.

  “Not ever,” Aron agreed, holding Raven’s locker door for her.

  “So, where to?” Raven asked, standing up before shouldering her pink backpack.

  “Your first class,” Asher said, digging in his backpack.

  “English, right?” Aron asked as his brother unearthed two identical bottles of flavored water.

  “Yes,” Raven said, blinking when Asher offered her one of the bottles. She took it and hesitated before uncapping it like Aron. Asher dug in his bag again and fished out a third bottle for himself.

  “Cool, we’re right down the hall. And then we have Government together,” Aron said, sipping his water.

  “Which you’ll be sitting with us for,” Asher informed her.

  Raven took a sip of the fruity, chilled water. “Mmm grape. And no. I sit with Shannon then.”

  “Shannon? Who is Shannon?” Asher scoffed.

  “Shannon is not Asher or Aron, so you will not sit with her,” Aron said, wrinkling his nose.

  “You guys take the exclusive aspect of this friendship seriously, don’t you?” Raven asked as they started down the hallway.

  “Absolutely,” they said, nodding.

  “I see. We’re going to have to fix that,” Raven decided.

  Asher frowned but Aron dramatically held a hand to his heart. “Never! You’ll see! You’ll understand!”

  “You’d like Shannon. She’s fun. But anyway, did you guys have any plans for this afternoon?” Raven asked, vaguely aware of the stares. There weren’t a lot of students in the hallway, but those that were stared at Raven and the Montamos boys with disbelief.

  “Nope,” Aron said.

  “Today we’re totally free. Although usually Aron and I play video games on Tuesdays.”

  “And Wednesdays,” Aron chimed.

  “Thursdays too,” Asher agreed.

  “Actually… that’s all we do.”

  “Except for today of course. I thought we were going to, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, talk,” Asher said, spitting the word out like it was a slice of spoiled fruit. “That’s another problem with you being a girl,” Asher complained. “Now we have to talk.”

  “Oh please, it’s not like we’re going to have a sob fest or anything. All we need to do is fess up and outline a plan,” Raven said, turning to face a girl who was staring at Raven with an open mouth.

  “A plan,” Aron scoffed.

  “Who needs a plan?” Asher complained.

  “Would you rather watch a chick flick?” Raven generously offered.

  The twins snapped their mouths shut with audible clicks.

  “This is my room. I’ll see you guys next hour,” Raven said, smiling over her shoulder at the pair before entering the empty classroom.

  She removed her backpack from her back and set it on the desk before jumping when there were two thuds behind her. Raven spun around, narrowly avoiding falling on Asher, who seated himself in the desk in front of Raven’s. Aron plopped himself down in a chair kitty corner from Raven and next to his twin.

  “We’ve got time before class starts,” Aron said as Asher sipped his flavored water.

  “I suppose,” Raven shrugged, smoothing her skirt before sliding into her desk.

  “So this year’s winter junior league battle squad tournament. What team do you think is gonna win it?” Aron asked Asher.

  “Shadow Knights for sure. You can’t be doubting our honorably evil mentor,” Asher scoffed.

  “I don’t, but he always has awful teammates.”

  “And that’s the truth.”

  “By the way, we still have to filch the key to the Kingdom Quest materials room from Daire so we can make a copy. Sly mentioned he would be stopping by soon to see it.”

  Raven half listened to the twins as they talked Kingdom Quest sports and thievery while she dug in her backpack. She was deeply immersed in leftover Japanese homework when her first classmate entered the room. It was a girl, one Raven recognized from Japanese.

  The blond actually dropped her armful of books and stood, gaping, in the doorway of the room. Raven looked up and smiled, but the twins didn’t even twitch during the thud and continued to talk. (Although they discreetly and seamlessly made the switch from Kingdom Quest sports to regular sports.)

  Raven thought the girl was overreacting, but by lunchtime the sophomore class knew that Rachel McCellen was hanging out with the Montamos twins.

  By the end of the day the whole school knew.

  “I really am sorry Shannon,” Raven said as she slipped on her jacket.

  “Don’t be. I honestly find the whole thing fascinating. I can’t ever think of a time the twins extended friendship to anyone. And it’s not like they were treating me any different from the way they treat other people. They snub everyone,” Shannon grinned.

  Raven sighed. “You are way too understanding. And I promise I’ll sit with you tomorrow in Government, even if they try to haul me away again,” Raven vowed.

  Shannon shrugged. “We sit together for English, so it’s not like it’s a big deal Besides, I am expecting an explanation for this new relationship,” Shannon said, vaguely waving in an attempt to express Raven’s status with the twins. “A written explanation. Typed. With one inch margins.”

  Raven stared at her perky friend and Shannon grinned.

  “Or you could just call me after you get off work tonight,” Shannon teased.

  “I will,” Raven promised.

  “Ray,” two voices chorused as one. Instantly Asher and Aron were on either side of her, effectively blocking Shannon.

  “Come on, it’s time for work,�
� Asher said, helping Raven slip on her backpack while Aron slammed the locker door.

  “Let’s go,” Aron said, grabbing Raven by the strap of her backpack before hauling her away.

  “Hey—stop that Aron—Bye Shannon!” Raven growled, twisting as she was dragged backwards.

  “See you tomorrow Ray-Ray,” said an amused Shannon.

  “Guys I’m going to fall!” Raven said, grabbing Asher by the arm as she skid.

  “We got you,” Asher said before twirling her around so she could walk on her own.

  “Thanks,” Raven muttered.

  “No problem. And I’m Asher,” Aron said.

  Raven snuck a glance at Asher to confirm the placement of his white scar before shaking her head. “Okay, I could see trying to test me before, but now it’s just ridiculous. No. You are Aron, Aron,” Raven said, fussing with the sleeves of her jacket while the twins stared at her so intensely wrinkles began to creep across their foreheads. “And I really shouldn’t be wearing a white jacket after Labor Day. At least it matches my skirt,” Raven reasoned, ignoring the looks the twins shot over her head.

  “I hope you bring more to our fellowship than fashion advice and annoying, clingy, ex friends,” Asher complained as they strolled down the hall.

  “Shannon is still my friend,” Raven insisted. “And I already bring more to our relationship.”

  “Really? What?” Aron asked, his voice wry as he shoved his hands in the deep pockets of his cargo pants.

  “Feminine charm and skirts,” Raven breezed.

  The twins snickered as the trio exited the school.

  “It’s cold,” Raven announced with a frown.

  “You think? It’s almost Halloween,” Aron snorted.

  “Yes, well, it’s cold and I’m wearing a skirt and sandals,” Raven complained.

  “Why do you wear skirts all the time?” Asher inquired. “You obviously don’t enjoy them.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with a skirt every now and then, but this is ridiculous,” Raven agreed. “And I have to wear them because they only gave me a few pairs of jeans and slacks.”

  “They?”

  “I’ll explain at Saint Cloud.”

  Once they were a significant distance away from school, the twins smashed Raven between them. “Okay, fess up. How did you know it was me?” Aron asked, gripping the back strap of Raven’s backpack to keep her from squirming.