Alle's eyes voiced their distress as my words grew meaning. "What do you
mean, I HAVE to enter the beauty contest?"
My identical eyes flickered over hers. I would try lying to her but she was a freaking genius compared to me. Besides, she knew all my tricks. We've known each other for too long. "Admit it, you've always been the family fav. We both know it. I've always been compared to you. You always aimed high yet you'd reach that goal. I've been in your shadow since I was born."
Her body grew limp. "Well, not anymore. Enjoy your new found power, sis."
"See, this is what I mean! This is the one chance I get to be crowned the city's best girl and you won't enter it for me! Do this for me, I beg of you."
"I used to think like that. I used to think that beauty was all that mattered."
My suppressed emotions for Alle's new emotions exploded. "What is with you? We're all feeling like crap since mom's death but you don't have to act like this. You're seventeen, not fifty six. This is your youth. Why can't you enjoy it?"
Alle bit her bottom lip. "I really want to get over her death. But I can't. I really can't. We're supposed to be twins! Why don't YOU feel the same way as I do? Didn't you love mom at all?"
"If the whole world thought like you, it would be the end of civilization as we know it. It's okay to grieve but not like you."
Her hands gripped my shoulders. "Beauty doesn't matter. A freaking pageant doesn't either."
I tried to calm down for both of us. "Do this just to make up for all the times you've made me look bad. I just want to outshine you... just once. Do you know how many times I've cried because I was always compared to you?"
Her whole face showed pity for me. Why should she feel sorry for me? The family loved me better now. Me! She should feel pity for herself. Didn't she miss the spotlight at all? The wondrous feeling of knowing that you were so wonderful?
"This means a lot to you."
"Ya, it does. The title of Miss. Summer Fields is one thing that won't go away." I was thinking how, anytime now, Alle would start thinking about her hygiene and become Miss. Perfect again. At least I would have the tiara reminding me of the glorious moment of being crowned. Being the best was like riding a bicycle. Once you learned how to do it, you never forgot how.
She tucked my hair behind my ears like she was older than me by six seconds, not the other way around. "I'll do it but I'm gonna make you learn a precious lesson that took me sixteen years to learn."
I smiled, thinking I had won.
*~*
The big sign announced the building's intentions. This was it. I was gonna be Miss. Summer Fields, our city's beauty queen, if it killed me. I had forced Alle to spruce up her hair and wear her old clothes. In short, she looked like mom hadn't died yet. Her rueful glance showed how much this whole thing disgusted her though. I knew it was wrong of me to feel happy but I was glad for her steady course of attitude. This way, she would get into the pageant yet she was one less major competitor.
I took her hand and guided her to the down the sidewalk. She quickly pulled her hand away from me. Fine with me. I let out a short wave to our dad who was chatting up with the woman who's car battery had died. He had pulled over to the side to help her. Luckily for Alle and me, the building was within walking distance.
"Remember what I said about the audition?," I questioned as I looked both ways before jaywalking.
Her beautiful blue eyes glared at me from beneath the bangs while she followed me. "You mean how I should become a preppy, shallow girl?"
I smiled brightly, ignoring her sarcasm. We were twins. We might as well act like it. "We both know you're not like that. Just follow my lead and we'll get in."
"In other words, be perfect until I get picked to be one of the contestants. After that, I should become one with the shadows?," Alle rolled her eyes.
Laughing at her, I pulled open the main doors. "Something like that." I gestured inside the reception room while smiling at her. Nothing was going to ruin this moment for me. "After you m'lady."
The reception room was literally crawling with chicks. The many plastic chairs that were casually littered along the emotionless white walls were all full. A lot of young girls were standing. Some had their parents supporting them. Some went for the independent woman image.
Alle gave me a weird look before sobering up again. "Do you ever wonder what life would be like if mom was still alive?"
My gut clenched up and I walked behind her towards the woman looking kindly at us. I answered with a non-committing, "Sometimes." Of course I knew what life would be if mom would be alive again. My role model would be alive and my entire life would still be revolving around Alle. Leave it to Alle to ruin this perfect afternoon. She was right like usual. Nothing was worth the death of mom. Nothing.
"Excuse me. But we're here for the auditions," I peered at the secretary. You could tell the hair color was from a bottle. The roots were peeping up again. I didn't understand why people had to dye their hair. Most people looked better with their natural hair color anyway.
"Oh yes, first fill out these forms," she gave us two clipboards with papers, "and then give them back to me. It's a first come first serve basis."
"Thank you," Alle piped up before skimming through the form and taking a pen from a cup full of them. I followed her actions.
The reception lady fluttered her eyelashes and grinned. "Well isn't this adorable. You're the first set of twins I've seen in a while. They're quite rare, aren't they? I haven't seen a set of identical twins in a long time."
What could you say to that? The blonde had basically said everything there was to know. Did she want me to get into the scientifics of it or something? We stared at her politely. I stuck with the one word answers. "Yep."
She stayed grinning. The fake blonde reminded me of one of those friends of dad... and mom who were fighting the urge to pat us on the head. Alle and I had that sort of effect on people sometimes. We looked like first rate angels with our clear blue eyes, our rosebud lips, and shiny dirty blonde hair. Add that to the fact that we were twins to boot and it was an unbeatable combination. I quickly filled in the necessary information and impatiently waited for Alle while I scanned through the possible candidates for Miss. Summer Fields.
There were a variety of people. You name it and they were there. Not all of them were attractive but they had their striking qualities. Hey, it was the twenty first century. There were things beside beauty nowadays. You had be kind, smart, blah blah blah.
Alle leaned towards me and whispered, "Can I put down 'I was forced to by my evil sister and father' where the form asks why I'm applying for this?"
"Don't you dare."
Shrugging her slim shoulders, she proceeded to answer the numerous, useless questions the stupid forms asked for. I snickered and secretly thought to myself, 'I sure hope the saying that slow and steady wins the race is true... to a certain extent anyway.'
A stunning dark-skinned girl strutted out of the hallway. She shot me a dazzling, confident grin that only people used to turning heads had before walking pass us and out the doors. Shortly afterwards, a brunette stalked to the entrance with a kind if not weary expression. Reading from a clipboard, she called out, "Samantha Kinsle." I almost pitied her as I recalled the endless number of females that had come to audition for this. Apparently, the news had spread far and wide and the number of girls willing to accept the Miss. Summer Fields position was endless.
Okay, never mind, I take that back. I feel more sorry for Alle and me. At least she got to interview the ladies. All my sister and I got to do was stand there and wait, and wait...
Two hours had passed and I felt like I was stoned or something as I stared at the interesting floor with its interesting patterns. At that moment, I would consider myself lucky if I got a stupid chair to sit in. "Do you know what, Ella?"
Startled, I glanced up at my sister's bored expression. "What?"
"Now I'm determined to get in not just because of you but because they had the nerve to make me wait this long. The nerve of them! Did you know that by the time you're fifty, you've spent five years of your life waiting in lines?"
I wanted to collapse onto the floor cause I was so tired but the place was so packed that I didn't even have a piece of wall to lean into. I yawned. "Really?"
"Ya."
All I could think about was the piece of white wall peeping temptingly out of the abundant bodies of people. I wondered if you had to stand in line to be able to lean into it. I sighed. When you reach this point of your life, it's a REALLY bad sign.
"Ella Hulley?"
I looked back at my sis, stifling another yawn. Was this like a survivor challenge or something? The person who could wait here the longest would win Miss. Summer Fields?
Alle shrugged and pointed behind me. This boredom stuff must be REALLY REALLY getting to me if I couldn't even recognize that it wasn't my sister's voice. I slowly turned around to see the brunette clutching that familiar clipboard. I knew there was a God when I saw that. I grinned hugely. YES! FINALLY! MY TURN!
Breathing a huge sigh of relief, I tried to gather myself together. Anxiety had quickly replaced the boredom. My hands turned clammy and I could feel my heart beating strongly. In truth, it was Alle who had experiences like charming tired judges. I just got by because she was my sister. Well, it was my turn and I better not ruin it.
My exhausted body which was suffocating in stale air too long chose that moment to faint.
My identical eyes flickered over hers. I would try lying to her but she was a freaking genius compared to me. Besides, she knew all my tricks. We've known each other for too long. "Admit it, you've always been the family fav. We both know it. I've always been compared to you. You always aimed high yet you'd reach that goal. I've been in your shadow since I was born."
Her body grew limp. "Well, not anymore. Enjoy your new found power, sis."
"See, this is what I mean! This is the one chance I get to be crowned the city's best girl and you won't enter it for me! Do this for me, I beg of you."
"I used to think like that. I used to think that beauty was all that mattered."
My suppressed emotions for Alle's new emotions exploded. "What is with you? We're all feeling like crap since mom's death but you don't have to act like this. You're seventeen, not fifty six. This is your youth. Why can't you enjoy it?"
Alle bit her bottom lip. "I really want to get over her death. But I can't. I really can't. We're supposed to be twins! Why don't YOU feel the same way as I do? Didn't you love mom at all?"
"If the whole world thought like you, it would be the end of civilization as we know it. It's okay to grieve but not like you."
Her hands gripped my shoulders. "Beauty doesn't matter. A freaking pageant doesn't either."
I tried to calm down for both of us. "Do this just to make up for all the times you've made me look bad. I just want to outshine you... just once. Do you know how many times I've cried because I was always compared to you?"
Her whole face showed pity for me. Why should she feel sorry for me? The family loved me better now. Me! She should feel pity for herself. Didn't she miss the spotlight at all? The wondrous feeling of knowing that you were so wonderful?
"This means a lot to you."
"Ya, it does. The title of Miss. Summer Fields is one thing that won't go away." I was thinking how, anytime now, Alle would start thinking about her hygiene and become Miss. Perfect again. At least I would have the tiara reminding me of the glorious moment of being crowned. Being the best was like riding a bicycle. Once you learned how to do it, you never forgot how.
She tucked my hair behind my ears like she was older than me by six seconds, not the other way around. "I'll do it but I'm gonna make you learn a precious lesson that took me sixteen years to learn."
I smiled, thinking I had won.
*~*
The big sign announced the building's intentions. This was it. I was gonna be Miss. Summer Fields, our city's beauty queen, if it killed me. I had forced Alle to spruce up her hair and wear her old clothes. In short, she looked like mom hadn't died yet. Her rueful glance showed how much this whole thing disgusted her though. I knew it was wrong of me to feel happy but I was glad for her steady course of attitude. This way, she would get into the pageant yet she was one less major competitor.
I took her hand and guided her to the down the sidewalk. She quickly pulled her hand away from me. Fine with me. I let out a short wave to our dad who was chatting up with the woman who's car battery had died. He had pulled over to the side to help her. Luckily for Alle and me, the building was within walking distance.
"Remember what I said about the audition?," I questioned as I looked both ways before jaywalking.
Her beautiful blue eyes glared at me from beneath the bangs while she followed me. "You mean how I should become a preppy, shallow girl?"
I smiled brightly, ignoring her sarcasm. We were twins. We might as well act like it. "We both know you're not like that. Just follow my lead and we'll get in."
"In other words, be perfect until I get picked to be one of the contestants. After that, I should become one with the shadows?," Alle rolled her eyes.
Laughing at her, I pulled open the main doors. "Something like that." I gestured inside the reception room while smiling at her. Nothing was going to ruin this moment for me. "After you m'lady."
The reception room was literally crawling with chicks. The many plastic chairs that were casually littered along the emotionless white walls were all full. A lot of young girls were standing. Some had their parents supporting them. Some went for the independent woman image.
Alle gave me a weird look before sobering up again. "Do you ever wonder what life would be like if mom was still alive?"
My gut clenched up and I walked behind her towards the woman looking kindly at us. I answered with a non-committing, "Sometimes." Of course I knew what life would be if mom would be alive again. My role model would be alive and my entire life would still be revolving around Alle. Leave it to Alle to ruin this perfect afternoon. She was right like usual. Nothing was worth the death of mom. Nothing.
"Excuse me. But we're here for the auditions," I peered at the secretary. You could tell the hair color was from a bottle. The roots were peeping up again. I didn't understand why people had to dye their hair. Most people looked better with their natural hair color anyway.
"Oh yes, first fill out these forms," she gave us two clipboards with papers, "and then give them back to me. It's a first come first serve basis."
"Thank you," Alle piped up before skimming through the form and taking a pen from a cup full of them. I followed her actions.
The reception lady fluttered her eyelashes and grinned. "Well isn't this adorable. You're the first set of twins I've seen in a while. They're quite rare, aren't they? I haven't seen a set of identical twins in a long time."
What could you say to that? The blonde had basically said everything there was to know. Did she want me to get into the scientifics of it or something? We stared at her politely. I stuck with the one word answers. "Yep."
She stayed grinning. The fake blonde reminded me of one of those friends of dad... and mom who were fighting the urge to pat us on the head. Alle and I had that sort of effect on people sometimes. We looked like first rate angels with our clear blue eyes, our rosebud lips, and shiny dirty blonde hair. Add that to the fact that we were twins to boot and it was an unbeatable combination. I quickly filled in the necessary information and impatiently waited for Alle while I scanned through the possible candidates for Miss. Summer Fields.
There were a variety of people. You name it and they were there. Not all of them were attractive but they had their striking qualities. Hey, it was the twenty first century. There were things beside beauty nowadays. You had be kind, smart, blah blah blah.
Alle leaned towards me and whispered, "Can I put down 'I was forced to by my evil sister and father' where the form asks why I'm applying for this?"
"Don't you dare."
Shrugging her slim shoulders, she proceeded to answer the numerous, useless questions the stupid forms asked for. I snickered and secretly thought to myself, 'I sure hope the saying that slow and steady wins the race is true... to a certain extent anyway.'
A stunning dark-skinned girl strutted out of the hallway. She shot me a dazzling, confident grin that only people used to turning heads had before walking pass us and out the doors. Shortly afterwards, a brunette stalked to the entrance with a kind if not weary expression. Reading from a clipboard, she called out, "Samantha Kinsle." I almost pitied her as I recalled the endless number of females that had come to audition for this. Apparently, the news had spread far and wide and the number of girls willing to accept the Miss. Summer Fields position was endless.
Okay, never mind, I take that back. I feel more sorry for Alle and me. At least she got to interview the ladies. All my sister and I got to do was stand there and wait, and wait...
Two hours had passed and I felt like I was stoned or something as I stared at the interesting floor with its interesting patterns. At that moment, I would consider myself lucky if I got a stupid chair to sit in. "Do you know what, Ella?"
Startled, I glanced up at my sister's bored expression. "What?"
"Now I'm determined to get in not just because of you but because they had the nerve to make me wait this long. The nerve of them! Did you know that by the time you're fifty, you've spent five years of your life waiting in lines?"
I wanted to collapse onto the floor cause I was so tired but the place was so packed that I didn't even have a piece of wall to lean into. I yawned. "Really?"
"Ya."
All I could think about was the piece of white wall peeping temptingly out of the abundant bodies of people. I wondered if you had to stand in line to be able to lean into it. I sighed. When you reach this point of your life, it's a REALLY bad sign.
"Ella Hulley?"
I looked back at my sis, stifling another yawn. Was this like a survivor challenge or something? The person who could wait here the longest would win Miss. Summer Fields?
Alle shrugged and pointed behind me. This boredom stuff must be REALLY REALLY getting to me if I couldn't even recognize that it wasn't my sister's voice. I slowly turned around to see the brunette clutching that familiar clipboard. I knew there was a God when I saw that. I grinned hugely. YES! FINALLY! MY TURN!
Breathing a huge sigh of relief, I tried to gather myself together. Anxiety had quickly replaced the boredom. My hands turned clammy and I could feel my heart beating strongly. In truth, it was Alle who had experiences like charming tired judges. I just got by because she was my sister. Well, it was my turn and I better not ruin it.
My exhausted body which was suffocating in stale air too long chose that moment to faint.
