Mirror Image

NoV: Okay, now we're getting down to business. BTW, that last chapter is dedicated to Jeremy from my creative writing class, who would be receiving royalties if I were actually making any money off of this story…..but, since that is not the case, on to chapter two!

(BMW)

Corey knocked on the door to the apartment that Mr. Turner graciously shared with Shawn. Mr. Turner came to the door, letting Corey in. Shawn was lying on the couch, covered up to his neck with a blanket, a throw-up pail close by for emergencies.

"Hey, Shawn, how ya feelin'?" Corey asked, setting Shawn's homework on the coffee table.

Shawn immediately covered his bulging mouth and leaned over the side of the couch.

"Not too good, I guess," Corey said, scooting back from his ill friend. "So, I brought your homework…..not that you're going to do any of it."

Shawn sat up on the couch. "Thanks."

"So, where do you think you got food poisoning from?" Corey wondered.

"No clue," Shawn replied, holding his head, "but I've never been this sick in my entire life…..ohhhhh….." He moaned and held his stomach, curling his legs up to his chest.

"Man, you sound terrible," Corey commented. "How long do you think you'll be out of commission?"

"The doctor said a week at the least, and three weeks at the most," Shawn answered, pulling his blanket up to his shoulder.

"Sorry to hear that…..well, I'll be bringing your homework here everyday…..and I'll visit on the weekends too," Corey informed him. "But…..right now, I've got to go spend some time with my girlfriend….."

"I understand," Shawn said, turning over on his side. "Go ahead."

"Okay, thanks. See you later," Corey said. He adjusted his backpack on his shoulders and left the apartment.

(BMW)

Meanwhile, Alan and Amy had the pleasure of eating dinner with Eric and Erica, who were both wearing their hair up in short ponytails. Erica gladly and quickly answered all questions that were thrown at her.

"So, Erica, do you have any brothers or sisters?" Alan asked her, doing a very good job of mashing his salad into nothingness.

Erica swallowed a carrot slice and nodded, saying, "Yes, I have a brother and a sister; Courtney and little Martin. I'm the oldest."

Amy shot Alan a look that said, "That's odd," then asked, "So, are you still in high school?"

Erica shook her head, "No. I graduated last year."

Alan breathed a sigh of relief. At least there were some differences. "Oh, okay. So, you and Eric aren't the same age?"

"Actually, we are," Erica said, giggling. "I in fact skipped kindergarten and went straight to first grade. They tell me I was advanced." She rolled her eyes and smiled at Eric.

"Yep, she's the smart one," Eric added, petting her on the head.

Alan and Amy looked at each other fearfully.

Finding his voice, Alan inquired, "Do you still live at home with your parents?"

"No," Erica responded. "Me and my roommate live in an apartment over near the community college."

"Oh, you go to college?" Amy asked.

"No, I have my modeling career to think of," Erica told her. "In between modeling jobs, I work as a cashier."

"Have you done many modeling jobs?" Alan wondered.

"Well, not so far, but my new agent says that it looks promising," she said. "I've only had one job, and that was last year. My first creepo agent claimed that he had gotten me a great modeling job, and I had to stand around the mall all day dressed like a giant crab!"

Somehow deciding not to think about all of the insanely numerous coincidences, Alan said, "Where are you a cashier?"

"At my dad's grocery store," Erica answered.

(BMW)

Corey entered the living room an hour later. Amy and Alan sat in silence on the couch, still worrying over the "twins" and their similarities.

"How's it going, Cor?" Alan asked.

"Horrible!" Corey replied, laying his backpack on the chair. "First, Shawn gets food poisoning and won't be back to school for weeks, and now Topanga's got it too! She might be out for a month!"

"That's strange….that they both have food poisoning…." Amy shook her head. "I refuse to think about anymore coincidences!!"

"Well, don't worry," Corey assured her, "because one way or another, I'm going to get to the bottom of this food poisoning thing before it can claim even more victims!!"

(BMW)

NoV: YAY! Chapter two! Next chapter, Corey searched for clues, and Erica has a problem! 0.o