Chapter Three
At Harvard Annie and the other students were leaving the classroom.
Cindy was walking directly behind Annie as they were walking out the door. Cindy asked, "So Hallie, when is your next class?"
Annie looked at Cindy and said, "It's not for another two hours."
"The whole gang has plans to go to coffee house to study this hour," said Cindy.
"I will see you later then."
"Hal, I'm telling you this so you can come with us."
"Thanks, but I think I will study in my room."
"Hal, I wouldn't be a friend if I let you study in your room."
"Cindy, I appreciate what you are trying to do, but I would feel better in my room."
"Hallie, I realized you are still depressed over Scott's death, but I'm not going to let you hide in your room."
"Cindy, I'm fine, really."
"And you can prove it by going to the coffee shop with me. The rest of the gang should be there already."
"You are not going to take no for an answer, are you?"
"I'm afraid not."
"Then lead the way."
"Hallie, I was able to get the parking spot I had last year, so you can go ahead to the car while I go to the restroom."
"Actually, I need to go to the restroom myself, so we can go to the car together."
"Okay."
Minutes later, during the drive to the coffee shop, Cindy would talk about things from the previous year. Annie just smiled and nodded. Cindy finally asked, "Hallie, is there anything bothering you?"
"Not at all," said Annie.
"You're very quiet. If you talk at all, it's to respond to something I said or asked."
"I'm sorry. I guess I'm still trying to settle back in at Harvard."
"I know what will get you to loosen up." Cindy put in a CD and turned up the volume.
Annie said loudly, so she could be heard over the music, "Nice."
Minutes later Annie walked into coffee and tea shop while carrying her book bag. Cindy walked in just behind Annie. Annie stopped and slowing looked over the shop. When Annie looked towards the back table she saw Craig waving towards her. Sitting with Craig were Todd, Julian, Becky and Susan; Hallie's tight group from last year.
"I guess we are at the back table," said Annie.
Cindy looked at Annie in a curious manner and said, "Of course we are. That is where we always sit."
"I just thought we might change this year."
"Why would we give up the best study spot in here?" Cindy walked towards the group. Annie followed Cindy to the table.
As Annie walked up to the table Craig asked, "Hallie, how are you doing?"
Annie took a seat with her back towards the door and said "I'm doing well." She then noticed an advertisement on the table for earl grey tea. "How is everyone here?"
Cindy sat down next to Craig.
Carrie, the waitress, walked towards the table.
Becky answered, "How we are doing is worried about you. I mean, not more than three months ago you were a basket case."
Annie grinned. She then said, "I'm fine, I promise."
"Okay," said Becky.
Carrie walked up to the table and said, "Cindy; Hallie, can I get your usual?" Annie read the nametag on Carrie's shirt.
"Bring us our usual," said Cindy.
"Carrie, I will have earl grey tea with lavender," said Annie.
Everyone at the table looked at Annie in a curious manner.
Carrie said in amused manner, "Okay."
As the waitress walked away Annie looked at her watch.
Julian saw Annie looking at her watch and asked, "Hal, do you have a place you got to be?"
Annie looked up at Julian and asked, "What? Oh-no. I just want to call my sister,—" Cindy looked at Annie in a curious manner. "—but she is in class right now." Annie then opened her book. "Well I don't mean to be sociably rude, but I would like to start my assignment."
Craig said, "I believe the hands of time had gone back one year."
"What do you mean?" asked Annie.
"You going about your business and studying rather than socializing was what you were doing last year for the first two weeks," said Craig. "It took you finding out about a poker game to loosen you up."
"I'm just trying to settle back in that's all. I will eventually get back in being my old self."
"Perhaps a poker game will do it for you," said Todd.
"It won't be on campus, will it?" asked Annie.
"Are you kidding?" asked Todd. "All eight of us got in trouble the last time we played on campus."
"Todd, you mean the seven of us," said Cindy.
Todd looked at Annie. He then said, "Of course I did."
"So where are you planning to have it?" asked Annie.
"You certainly repressed a few memories," said Cindy.
"We are having it at our usual place," said Todd.
"When are you planning to have it?" asked Annie.
"Around eight o'clock tonight," said Julian.
"I will consider it," said Annie.
"That's not the Hallie we know," said Susan.
"I just don't know what my workload is going to be right now," said Annie. "I don't want to start off behind in my classes."
"Hallie, what dorm room are you at this year?" asked Becky.
Annie told everyone what dorm she was in.
As Carrie was returning Cindy said, "Hallie, I will come by around seven-thirty and see if you will want to go."
"That will be good," said Annie.
Carrie stepped up to the table and said, "Okay Hallie; Cindy, here are you two's usual."
Annie looked at Carrie in a curious manner. She then said as she took the tea, "Thanks."
After putting her drink on the table Annie picked up her textbook and started to read it. Cindy and the other just gave each other an uncertain look.
As the minutes ticked away Annie would read her book and drink her tea while the others talked. Annie would occasionally listen in to their conversation.
When the group turned curiously quiet Annie looked up and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Samantha Mitchell and her identical twin sister Amanda came in and are walking this way," said Todd.
Annie turned to look.
Samantha and Amanda have long blonde hair. Samantha's hair was pulled back in a pony tail with a purple ponytailer in her hair. Amanda's hair was loose.
Seconds later Samantha and Amanda walked up to the table. Amanda said, "I see the black-eight-group is back together." Annie looked at Amanda in a confused manner. "Or will it be the red seven this year?"
"Mandy, please don't," said Samantha. She then faced Annie. "Hallie, I never got the chance to tell you that I'm sorry for your loss."
Before Annie was able to say anything Cindy said, "Don't tell us you are going to be nice?"
"Cindy, I liked Scott too, so I can imagine how Hallie feels," said Samantha. "Well that is all I have to say. Bye."
As Samantha and Amanda started to walk away Annie said, "Samantha—" Samantha and Amanda stopped and faced her. "—Thanks."
Samantha slightly grinned. She and Amanda then walked away.
Cindy looked at Annie in a confused manner and said, "Hallie, I can't believe you thanked her."
"She seemed sincere," said Annie.
"Obviously you repressed the fact that Samantha done everything possible to drive a wedge between you and Scott," said Cindy.
"Well obviously she failed," said Annie.
"Just because Scott had a fear about dating a twin," said Todd.
"What do you mean?" asked Annie.
Everyone had a confused expression on his or her faces. Todd then asked, "You don't remember the discussion we all had during our first poker game?"
"The poker game that got us sent to the dean's office," Julian added.
"Perhaps you can refresh my memory," said Annie.
"Hallie, in high school Scott's best friend was duped by the Andrew triplets," said Cindy. "Scott wouldn't date a twin even if she was the prettiest girl in the world."
The expression on Annie's face had changed to as if she was told a horrible secret.
"I still swear that time went back a year," said Craig. Annie just gave him a curious look. "Hallie, you had the exact expression on your face when Scott told you the first time about him not dating a twin."
Annie looked at her watch again.
"Are we keeping you from something?" asked Todd.
"Oh no," said Annie. "I definitely need to talk to my sister, so I was looking to see when her class will end."
"Hal, I really would like to ask you something, but it might bring back bad memories," said Cindy.
"I will try to answer your question if I can," said Annie.
"First of all, I never knew you had a sister," said Cindy. "However two days before Scott died he was rambling on about you and a sister name Annie." Annie had a concern expression on her face. "The word 'twins' was used; however, Scott was totally wasted that night, so I couldn't really understand what he was rambling about. Is Annie your sister?"
"She is," said Annie. "She lives outside London and she goes to Oxford University."
"Hallie, would you know what Scott might have been rambling about?" asked Cindy.
"I wouldn't want to guess and guess wrong," said Annie.
"Fair enough," said Cindy.
"So Hallie, who is older you or Annie?" asked Todd.
"Actually, my dad married Annie's mom seven years ago," said Annie. "We are the same age."
"So you two are stepsisters," said Becky.
"Actually we are much more than that," said Annie. "We have been best friends when we met seven years ago."
"Hallie, all the times that we talked you never told me where you were from," said Cindy.
"Actually, Annie and I have two homes," said Annie. "Our parents have a beautiful house in Napa California and another beautiful house outside London England. It depends on my parents' business schedule on where they are at, at the time. For high school Annie and I attended a school in London."
"What kind of business is your father in?" asked Becky.
"He owns a vineyard," said Annie.
"What about Annie's mom?" asked Susan.
"She designs wedding gowns," said Annie. "She has two shops; one in London and one in Napa. She is thinking about opening a third shop."
"Where are you originally from?" asked Craig.
"I'm from Napa California and Annie is from London," said Annie. Annie then looked at her watch. "If you will all excuse me I'm going to make a phone call."
After Annie stood up and grabbed her purse she walked towards the exit.
"Is it me or does Hallie seemed a little different?" asked Becky.
"It's not just you," said Todd.
After stepping outside Annie scrolled through her phone book. She then pressed send. Carrie was outside and smoking a cigarette. She was in hearing distance, but out of view.
At Oxford Hallie was talking to her instructor when her phone rang.
Hallie reached for her phone and said, "I'm sorry Mr. Watson, I thought my phone was set on vibrate."
"We are done here anyway, so answer it," said Mr. Watson.
Hallie walked towards the exit with her book bag when she answered the phone. "You didn't give me much time to leave class."
"Hal, I need to talk to you," said Annie.
Carrie listened to Annie's side of the conversation.
"What is going on?" asked Hallie.
"I ran into Cindy in my first class. I am now standing outside the coffee and tea shop. Six of the members of the black-eight-group are inside the coffee shop."
"You must have run into Samantha too… or Amanda."
"Actually I ran into both of them, but how can you tell?"
"We don't call ourselves the black-eight. That is something the dean started and Samantha continued."
"Hal, I know who Cindy is and who Todd is, but who are the others?" asked Annie. As Hallie named off the others she gave a short description of each one. "Hal, they are also planning to play poker tonight. So I don't look like a twit, where is the normal spot?"
"Craig has an apartment off campus. We play there. I can email you the directions to his house along with a short description of the layout to his house."
"That would be helpful."
"Do you want to know anything else?"
"I do actually. What happen the final two days between you and Scott?" Hallie was quiet. "Hal, please tell me."
"You must know something or otherwise you wouldn't have mentioned it."
"I know Scott had something against dating a twin. I also believe you told him about me two days before he died. What I don't know is what happened after that."
"We were at a very romantic restaurant. Right after we ate Scott confessed as to how much he loves me. I loved him too, so I decided to take my chances and confessed my secret. I had a few pictures of us in my purse and I showed them to him. Without saying a word he threw money on the table to pay for the meal and left the restaurant. I was right behind him trying to tell him how sorry I was, but he wouldn't listen. All he would say to me was that he had to go somewhere to think. That was on Friday evening. By Saturday he was still gone. Sunday morning was when I found out from Cindy that he went to the uncontrolled airport where he kept his plane. The airport is an hour from campus. Cindy told me that flying helps him to think. Craig allowed me to use his car and I went to the airport. When I got there he was flying erratic in and around the airport. I was there for a short time when I saw the wings on the plane fold up under the stress he was putting the plane in. He would still be alive if I just broken up with him, or I should have told him about me being a twin from the beginning. He wouldn't have dated me, but at least he would be alive."
"Hallie, what happened wasn't your fault."
"Yes, it was. I knew how he felt about dating a twin, so I kept the fact that I was a twin from him."
"Hallie, if he wasn't reconsidering how he felt about dating a twin then he wouldn't have gone somewhere to think. He would have dumped you on the spot. Also flying erratically as you described it is a destructive way to think about any problem. You just happen to be the subject of his thoughts."
"You're right of course, but I still feel awful."
"I recommend that you go out and do something enjoyable. I mean, I'm not telling you to forget about Scott, but I don't think Scott would want you to stay home, and feeling guilty the way you are."
"Maybe I will. Annie, thanks. You always make me feel better."
"You're welcome. I will call you later."
"Okay, bye."
Annie hung up and got a copy of Colby's class schedule out. After looking at the schedule she dialed Colby's phone number. Colby was walking to his car when his phone rang.
Colby answered on the third ring. "Hello."
"Hi Colby, it's Annie."
"So how are things?"
"Things are more complicated with Hallie than what I thought."
"What do you mean?"
"I will explain in detail later, but Hallie slightly blames herself for Scott's death."
"So her depression is slightly more than mourning."
"Exactly."
"Annie, do you want me to keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn't do anything crazy?"
"I would be grateful if you did."
"Consider it done."
"Thank you. I will talk to you later."
"Okay, bye."
"Bye." As Annie was putting her phone away Carrie walked into view and cleared her throat. Annie slightly jumped. "Carrie? How long were you out here?"
"I heard everything… Annie," said Carrie.
"That is what I was scared of. Carrie, I can explain."
"An explanation isn't really necessary."
"Carrie, I do want to tell you that I switched places with Hallie to help her. Hallie has been deeply depressed since Scott's death."
"Annie, I understand."
"I know you don't know me, but can I ask you for a huge favor?"
"Annie, I know what you are going to ask me and I want to say that I like Hallie, so your secret is safe with me."
"Thank you. Well, I had better get back in there."
"I need to also, Hallie." Annie slightly grinned. "My break is over."