"Tony?"
My twin was already dressed and was putting on his Dodgers cap.
"Tessie, Dad's taking me to work with him. Wanna come?"
I shook my head. "I could make sure Mom doesn't find Rollo and the others."
Tony smiled. "Okay. Mom made bacon and pancakes."
My eyes widened and he burst out laughing.
"Morning, Tessa."
"Morning, Mom." I sat down at the table, piling my plate with eggs, bacon, and pancakes.
"Not going with Dad and Tony?"
"They need some father-son bonding time. Besides, I really don't want to see Dad talk about golf. Golf is boring."
Mom laughed. "Okay, sweetheart. Are you going to draw in your room? I have some stuff do do down here."
"Okay, Mom."
"Maybe you could invite Rudolph over?"
I raised an eyebrow at her. "Mom, why are you so eager to meet him?"
"He's your first friend here in Scotland! Your best friend by the looks of it."
Involuntarily, I felt my cheeks heat up. Mom's eyebrows shot up.
""Or something more?"
"Mom!"
"Do you have a crush on Rudolph?" She asked, sitting down across from me.
"Mom..."
"Tessa..."
"Yes! Okay, I have a crush on him, Mom! He's just so cute, loyal, sweet, and has no idea what I'm saying half the time, but he makes an effort to listen and understand. He makes Teresa Lorelei sound so beautiful. He makes me feel like... like I could fly." The irony is not lost on me.
"Oh, Tessa, does he know?" Mom looked concerned.
"I think he likes me back." He never denied nor confirmed he has romantic feelings for me. He just said he likes me.
"Tessa." Mom looked solemn. "Dad and I have to meet him before you two do anything."
I rolled my eyes. "Yes, Mom."
After half an hour, I grew bored of reading so I went down to the cellar where I found Anna and Rollo wrapping foil on themselves.
"Uh... what's up, guys?" I asked awkwardly from behind them.
Anna looked confused. "The... sky?"
Rollo smiled. "No, sister. She means what are we doing, right, Teresa?"
He was an overeager puppy ready to please.
"Mm. Why exactly are you wrapping foil around yourselves?"
"Tony's endangered, Tessa," Anna said worriedly.
"What? How?" Were supposed to have a twin link or something.
"I gave him a gift from the old country. He only needs to whistle and I'll be there."
"I?" I smirked. "Oh, Anna, are you going to be my sister-in-law?"
If Anna weren't a vampire, she would have flushed a dark red.
"I'm coming with you."
"Teresa-"
"Rollo, what if Dad and Mom see you? If Tony's in danger, it's probably because he ran away. Dad's bound to notice he's gone and he'll get pissed. He's going to think one of you is Tony and the other is the famous Rudolph."
"Famous?" Rollo asked with a confused face.
"You're basically our first friend. Mom and Dad are just glad Tony and I aren't raving about vampires." I smirked again.
"Left, right. Left, right. Left, right," I could hear Rollo whispering to Anna underneath a silver-colored helmet and a big red blanket.
I was watching them from behind the bushes right in front of where our official driveway.
"Tony!" Dad called, getting out of his car, with anger laced in his voice. "Where did you go? I was worried sick!" He stared at Rollo and Anna who looked like a weird monster thing. Dad looked to the side. Anna was shorter than Tony, but Rollo is taller. Dad rapped his knuckles on the helmet. "And I suppose this is Rudolph under here?" Rollo nodded. "Well, this isn't your fault, Rudolph. But," Dad pointed at Anna," when you get home, Tony Thompson, we're going to have a serious talk. Keep playing your game, whatever it is."
I ran out of my hiding place. "Hey, Rollo, Tony! Catch me if you can! Oh, hi, Daddy!" I waved and jogged away.
Rollo resumed his muttering of 'left, right, left, right.'
Anna whispered, "He's over there. West. First building on the left."
"The McAshton place," I said. "Come on!"
