The next day at school lunch time:
"Not eating alone are you?" Julia asks Eli.
"Yeah, I guess I am." He replies.
"Mind if I join you then? We could talk, catch up."
"No, go ahead"
"So why aren't you eating with Clare? Or your other friend from English class? His name is Adam right?"
"Yeah his name is Adam and he is having lunch with his brother today. Drew dropped out of school and moved out so they don't see each other a lot anymore. And Clare is having lunch with her best friend Ali today. What about you? Have you made any friends here?" He asks questioningly.
"Yeah, but I don't know them very well and I saw you eating alone so I thought you might want some company. Besides it will give us a chance to catch up."
"I have a question then. When was the last time I saw you? And I mean you, not Delilah pretending to be you."
"About two months before the accident. It was the last day of school before Spring Break to be exact. Delilah came back for Spring Break and that's when she convinced me to switch places with her."
"Ok." He says and pauses for a little bit. Then speaks up again. "Another question. Why didn't you contact me after the accident? Why didn't you tell me you were still alive?"
"I wanted to Eli, I really did. I couldn't though. I was still in the hospital when it happened and after it did the doctors made me stay there longer. They knew this was a traumatic event for me and knew that I would be upset so they kept me there longer. While there I wasn't allowed to call anyone but my parents. And I was just released a couple weeks ago Eli. As soon as I got out we moved. Then I saw you at school. Even if I did have a way to contact you Eli, you wouldn't have believed me. You would have just thought it was someone playing a sick joke on you."
"Yeah, I guess your right."
"Look I know that your probably hurt Eli and I'm sorry, I really am. You're not the only one that was hurt though Eli. I mean I lost my twin sister and I thought I would never see you again, so technically I lost you too. Not to mention I have t go around pretending to be my sister now."
"I know. And I'm not upset now. Actually I'm kind of glad you're still alive and that we can be friends again."
"Yeah, me too. Anyway enough of that, let's talk about something else. Do you still talk to anyone from school still?"
He gives a little laugh with this. "No. I kind of cut everyone out after the accident. You?"
"Are you kidding me Eli? Everyone thinks I'm dead. Besides I can't tell anyone else the truth. My parents are already mad at me for telling you, you know, for ruining the whole picture perfect family thing."
"Right" He said. Just then the bell rings. "Well I better get to class, but I'll see you tomorrow in English, yeah?"
"Yeah" Julia said with a smile. They were friends again, which meant that the first step of her plan was complete.