We sat in silence. I was holding my cup of tea in my hand; Ruvel was sipping his cup calmly and Jeff chewed methodically on a cookie, but his twitching leg gave away his increasing impatience. We were in the kitchen, sitting at the island, the silence growing more and more stifling. My eyes flicked between the both of them, and I began to grow nervous.
"So…" Ruvel broke the silence, calmly setting his cup down. Jeff stopped eating his cookie and looked at him, staring daggers. He was still mad, it seems.
"Where to begin?" He said thoughtfully. I frowned softly.
"From the beginning, Ruvel" I said softly. I wanted clarity, and I wanted it now. I hate the feeling of confusion, and if these two knew each other on some intimate level, I want to know about it. He stared at me thoughtfully for a moment, then took a sip from his cup.
"I guess it started near the end of middle school…"
I slammed my locker door with more aggression then I intended, turning to Arlen. He's been my best friend ever since my dad and I moved here three years ago. He can be so damn annoying, but he means well and likes to hang with me, despite my hideous temper.
He was leaning on his locker, a smartass and devious smile on his lips. I smirked, already working out in my mind what kind of scheme he was planning, but I didn't say anything.
"So, Ruvy, can you guess what brilliant plan yours truly has come up with now to make some extra scratch?" he said. I rolled my eyes.
"Do I even care, Len?" I said monotonously as he slung his arm around my shoulder.
"Of course you do! We need to make some kind of income now, before we get our band together and become famous!" I rolled my eyes again and let out a loaded sigh.
"Fine… what is your grand idea?" I had a feeling that I was going to regret this.
He smiled at me "Babysitting Service."
Instant. Fucking. Regret. "No."
"Ahh! But why not? You babysit my sister all the time! For free no less! We could make a lot of money if we can work together and babysit the neighborhood brats for like… ten bucks an hour?" he smirked and I just shook my head.
"…Len, you don't have a good track record in the neighborhood, your prank on Mrs. McGilly and her poor cat last year solidified your status as a deviant. No one will hire you." I pointed out. He sighed.
"Facts, but I don't think- oh hey Janey!" he said to a pretty girl with long black hair, large brown eyes and a pale, gentle smile. She held her text books in her arms and smiled at us as she shut her locker.
"Hi Arlen, Ruvel," she said softly, looking down shyly. "How are you guys today?"
I shrugged, but Arlen answered her chipperly, "I'm great! What's new with you?"
She walked beside us, accompanying us to the cafeteria. "Ah, well there are two new kids that came into my class. Twins. They seem pretty cool."
"Are they cute?" Arlen asked. I rolled my eyes.
"Well I think so, but they're guys so…" she said with a giggle and Arlen's face flushed.
"Crap, well never mind then."
"Why would you assume they were girls, Len?" I chuckled and he slugged my arm, refusing to answer.
As we reached the cafeteria, we said our goodbyes to Jane as we went off with her friends. I then turned and made my way to the outer eating area.
"Ruvel, where are you going? It's cold out there!" I turned to him.
"I'm going to have a smoke, I'll see you later." I turned away.
"Don't get caught!" I heard my best friend call after me as I raised my hand and waved him off. I reached into my trench coat's inner pocket and pulled out a slightly crushed pack of clove cigarettes and matches as I stepped out the doors into the brisk late winter air. I made my way to the other side of the wall, where the trash bins were. No one would catch me there.
A few minutes later I was inhaling the sweet scent of my cigarette in peace, closing my eyes and enjoying the blissful quiet of the mid-afternoon air. I was so relaxed that I almost didn't notice the voices that sounded from around the corner. They were mocking and one very familiar voice sounded distressed. I peeked around the corner and saw the school's bullies, Randy, Keith and Troy surround and intimidate a small figure dressed in a ruffled dress and a white fuzzy jacket with matching hat and mittens. She was holding onto patterned lunch bag tightly to her small form.
"No! I'm not giving it to you boneheads!" the little girls voice rang out, causing me to step out from my corner. Randy, the largest of the three forcefully grabbed the bag from her hands and shoved her to the ground. The three of them laughed at her mockingly. I felt my blood boil as I stubbed my cigarette. But before I could even make another move, a couple of unfamiliar voices rang out.
"Hey!" Two identical boys, both tall and slender, with shoulder length brown hair and pale peach skin, walked out and rushed over to the bullies. Curious, I leaned against the wall and watched them.
"What are you assholes doing?" one of them said as the other pushed past them and knelt down next to the now crying girl. Randy and his group turned to him.
"Well, if it ain't the new kids again. I see you little shits still have some serious balls to face me again. I haven't thanked you for the new wounds." He said maliciously. It was then that I noticed Randy had a broken nose and a black eye, Keith wore a sling and Troy was bruised and had a slight limp. I smirked. 'So these new guys had balls, huh?'
"Yeah, want me to fucking renew them?" the one standing said. I couldn't see his face but something about how he stood sounded off alarms in my head. This kid… was dangerous. A ticking time bomb ready to implode. I pushed off the wall and made my way to them slowly.
"Jeff!" the one kneeling shouted out and instantly, the one called Jeff seemed to relax, although he was still guarded. The other brother threw a brown paper bag at Randy's feet.
"Here! Take mine, and give her back her lunch. We don't want any more trouble." He said, his green eyes flicking between his brother and Randy. It was deathly silent for a moment, then Jeff sighed and threw his lunch bag at Randy.
"Take mine too. You look like a fag with that girl's bag anyway." He said though gritted teeth, his fist slowly beginning to unclench. Randy laughed and dropped the patterned bag.
"Thanks, you pussies. But I better not see you," he said pointedly at Jeff, "Again, or else I'll really fuck you up." He shoved past his and walked away, laughing with his cronies. I paused, watching them wearily. Jeff seemed to visibly relax as he picked up the bag and knelt next to his brother.
"Here, kid." He said to her, as her crying began to calm down. She took the bag timidly and smiled up at the boys.
"Thank you. That guy is a big bonehead! Don't let him get to you!" she said, causing both boys to laugh. The sat with her, trying to be friendly.
"I'm Liu, and this is my brother Jeff. What's your name?" Liu said with a smile. I tilted my head as I watched them. It seems that Liu is the more passive brother.
"My name is Liuie. Why do you guys look the same? Are you guys… clones?" she whispered the last part, her hazel eyes wide with wonder. Jeff laughed.
"Kind of. We're twins. We're brothers that just look alike."
"Ohh…" she said. She then dug into her bag and pulled out two muffins wrapped in cellophane. She handed one to each brother. "Here, since that big dummy took your lunch, you can have the muffins that my mama and I made this morning. They're really yummy!" she smiled and then stood up. She kissed each brother on the cheek and giggled, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I gotta go find my big brother now. Thank you for saving me! See you later Liu, Jeff!" she then ran off indoors.
I smiled, then sauntered over to the brothers. "Congrats, boys, not only did you manage to piss off the biggest arses in the school, but befriend the sweetest girl in the school. What an accomplishment." I said, placing a new cigarette in my mouth. The brothers looked up at me and I smiled. "Nice to meet you. I'm Ruvel."
)0(0)0(0)0(0)0(
I sat, feeling solemn. I was in Len's house, Liu on my lap, sleeping. I was baby-sitting her tonight. I was watching the news, thinking about the events of the past few months. I had befriended the Woods brothers, and it was an enjoyable time. They were intriguing and kind of fun. Liu liked them as well. She called them the clone brothers and always chatted with them whenever she saw them in school. But the past few weeks had become strained. Randy, now fully healed from his wounds and with a revived vigor, began to torment the brothers more than anyone else in the school. And just a few weeks ago, at a birthday party… I shuddered. I couldn't even think it. Liu Woods had been locked up due to an unbeknownst investigation of the altercation that the Woods Brothers and Randy and his gang had gotten into previously, where two kids got stabbed. Jeff was alone and went to a birthday party that was held a neighborhood away. One of Liu's little friends was having a party and had gone there, with Jane babysitting, since Len and I had detention that weekend for another on of Len's pranks gone wrong. Had I been there, Randy and his group wouldn't have ever set foot at that party. Had I been there, I could have prevented the violence that had caused Liu to fall and get injured, causing memory loss. Had I been there, I could have saved Jeff.
I looked at cute little Liu. She was so small, even at eleven years of age, she looked to be six. And me, at fifteen, looking almost twenty. I brushed her hair out of her face. I smiled as I looked at this angel. She will grow to be so beautiful…. I shook my head. I adored her, but she's my best friend's sister. I couldn't…
A sound of breaking glass caught my attention. Shifting Liu to one arm, I pulled out my favorite silver dagger from my boot and held her protectively. I strained my ears to hear even the smallest sound. From behind me I heard heavy breathing and boots stomping on broken glass. I stood up and turned, holding my knife aloft at the intruder, only to freeze at the horror I beheld.
I first noticed he was covered in blood, the smell alone made my stomach turn. Then his skin, bleach white and pock marked with healing burns. Then, oh god, his face! a freshly carved smiled in his cheeks, still dribbling with blood, and his eyes, blackened from the very burns he suffered. They were wide, making him look as if he has no eyelids at all. His hair was lanky and black as well. I stepped back, holding Liu protectively. His breath was ragged, as if he'd been running for miles.
I stood tense, neither of us making a move. Then he spoke, and what he said made my blood run cold.
"Ruvel… hahaaha… Ruuuuvy… I… I did something wonderful… help…me…." he dropped to his knees, tears sliding down his face. I pitied him and was disgusted. I lowered my knife and nodded, my only thought was to protect the girl I loved…
"…and after I was able to put you to bed, I took Jeff to my home to hide him as he healed. I had found out what he had done, and what had happened. He left a few days later, completely disappearing, or so I thought. For the last several years, whenever he was severely injured, or sought asylum from pursuing authorities, he came to me. I couldn't tell him no, in order to protect you and our friends. Since I am the only one who can fuck him up if he ever dared to lay a hand on you or Len." Ruvel's amber eyes hardened at he stared Jeff down, gripping his now empty tea cup. Jeff laughed mockingly.
"As if you could, Ruvy. But don't worry, I have no intention to hurt her." I could feel their eyes on me, but I couldn't move. It was all coming back to me, like pieces of a long-forgotten puzzle. That's right. I did know Jeff and Liu before. It was the first time I ever met a pair of identical twins… and I remember the party. But barely.
"I… I knew you." I looked up at Jeff, tears welling in my eyes. His gaze softened and he nodded.
"It seems so. Ruvel said you had gotten hurt at that party, which caused some memory loss. So I'm not surprised you didn't remember me. To be honest, I don't remember much from before that night. I guess after I snapped, a lot of my memory was suppressed. I do remember you, Liu. But… I didn't know it was you when we met that day at the cemetery. I figured I had killed you long ago, and forgot about you. But I can remember even then, as kids, I loved you."