NINA'S POV
Today is going to be awesome! It's the start of the prank war. I'm so excited! I know you're surprised that I prank, but honestly, it's something my mom and dad did to each other, and to me. It's something that's both fun and special. Eddie and I actually became a couple after a prank war. It went on for 3 weeks before he asked me out. I asked him why, and he listed off 100 reasons why. Literally, 100. I smirked and got out of bed. I'm so happy I'm getting back to the real me. I feel bad that I fooled my housemates, but in my defense, I also fooled myself.
I heard someone at the door. I leaned toward the door to hear them knock. Short, long, pause. Short, long, short, short, pause. Short, long, short, short, pause. Longer pause. Short, long, short, pause. Short, pause. Short, long, long, short, short, pause. Long, short, long, long, pause. Short, short, long, long, short, short, pause. Then nothing.
I knock back; short, short, short, pause. Short, pause. Long, pause. Then nothing.
I smile and slip outside the door, my smile widening when I see Eddie. You may wonder what all the short and long and pauses were about. When we got really bored one summer, we learned Morse code. Now it's sort of our secret language. He asked me; 'All ready?" I replied with 'Set.'
We hug and head down the stairs to Jerome and Alfie's room. A small smile crosses my face when I see a sleeping Jerome. He looks so innocent it's hard to picture him cocky or anything of the sort.
We walked silently over to Alfie's bed and started setting up the prank. A notebook written in a foreign language here, a scalpel by his bedside. And my finishing touch, a little foundation on his stomach to imply a scar. Meanwhile, Eddie was taking out all of his clothes from the wardrobe and dresser and replacing them all with silver joggers and a silver t-shirt. Can you guess the goal? Make Alfie think he's been operated on aliens. As soon as I got a nod from Eddie, we snuck back out and headed into the kitchen, where we finally broke down laughing.
"I can't believe they are both such heavy sleepers! I would've woken up as soon as I heard the door open!" Eddie commented, finally catching his breath. I followed suit.
All of a sudden, Trudy came in to start on breakfast.
"What are you two dearies doing up at this hour? School doesn't start for another few hours."
"We decided to help you make breakfast!" I exclaimed, putting on the charm.
"We did?" Eddie whispered in my ear.
I stomped on his foot, and he winced. "Yes, we did." I emphasise the we and he nods almost immediately.
"Right you are Nina, as almost always."
"Twice, twice so far I was wrong. They weren't even so big."
"Right." He rolled his eyes at me.
I rolled my eyes at him.
He stuck his tongue out at me. I reciprocated the action.
Trudy laughs, not that I blame her. "You two… how have you ever settled an argument."
"Lots of different ways." We say at the same time.
"Hey, stop that!"
"Me? No, you stop!"
Trudy laughed again, and we joined her. We sometimes talk simultaneously. It started when we were kids. It was almost like we had the same mind. Just one look in each other's eyes and we know what's going on. You could say we were mind readers, we just couldn't read everyone else's mind.
We gave each other indulgent smiles as we helped Trudy cook. This morning we made sausages, scrambled eggs, French toast, and blueberry & chocolate chip pancakes.
"What? No Oreo pancakes Nina? I'm disappointed." Eddie said mockingly.
"What are Oreo pancakes?" Trudy asked as we set the rest of the table.
"Nina didn't tell you?" Eddie asked, hand to his chest, overdramatically of course.
"No, she didn't. Nina? What are Oreo pancakes?" She turned to me, and I glared at Eddie.
"Just a recipe I created when I was in middle school." I shrugged nonchalantly.
"You created your own recipe? In middle school?"
"Yep."
"Nina's an amazing cook."
"Really?" Trudy looked surprised.
"I guess so." I shrug. "Do you think I can make a batch of Oreo pancakes for Eddie and I?" I use my unavoidable puppy dog eyes.
"Normally, you'd have to make some for everyone, but since even I don't know how to make it, or if they'll like it, I suppose just this once."
"Thanks Trudy!" I get the ingredients out.
An Oreo pancake is a chocolate chip chocolate pancake, with a cream glaze in the middle, and another pancake on top of that. Normally Eddie and I both eat around 3 OP's as we call them.
"AHHH!" We hear a girly scream coming from Jerome and Alfie's room. Trudy runs to check on the noise, while Eds and I share a secret smile.
Before breakfast, Alfie was telling us all about his 'alien surgery' and while everyone else was surprised and almost scared at the 'proof' Eddie and I just grinned.
"What're those smiles for?" Alfie asked suddenly, looking towards us.
"What smiles?" Eddie and I said at the same time.
"Those twin grins that Jerome and Alfie usually… oh." Patricia said, realization overcoming her face.
"What? Oh what?" Jerome asked, interest coloring his features.
"The twin grins you guys usually wear after you pull a stupid prank."
"Oh…" The entire table says.
"You did this to me?" Alfie asks, outraged.
"Calm down Alfie." I commanded, but used a calm voice.
"What about the scar?"
"It's just makeup, just wipe it off." He did and everyone started laughing.
Trudy came out with the food, and put the plate with the OP's in front of Eddie and I.
"Thanks Trudy." We say in synch.
"What are those?" Alfie asks suspiciously.
"You don't know?" I asked. It was my turn to be overdramatic.
"No."
"Then you don't deserve too." I acted.
"Nina, you ready?" I see Eddie holding his hand out for mine.
"Yep. You guys can finish that last Oreo pancake if you want." I shrug, take Eddie's hand, and we walk out to our secret place.
Well, we were going to our secret place, but Eddie takes us to school.
"Why are we here?" I asked curiously.
"To get you your birthday present." He smiled softly at me, and I grinned back. I love presents.
"What is it?"
"Not what, who?"
"Huh?"
"Did you forget about us already?" I turn around to see the most unexpected faces.
"Oh my god!"