Twin Equinox

Previously:

"Hey, Izzy," I said, feigning cheer.

Her eyes widened, as did the male's, though for different reasons, I'm sure. "S-Sonny?!"

Chapter Three - Surprise, Surprise

I threw my arms around her in a hug, which caused the guy's arm to fall from her shoulders, just as I planned. "Isabella, how I've missed you! Yes, I'm back!"

She pulled away from me slightly. "Addison? Really?" Her look of surprise and slight happiness was soon darkened. "What are you doing back here?"

I frowned. "Izzy…" I didn't know what to say. "I'm…back… There were a lot of…complications. I would've been back sooner, years sooner, but I couldn't, no matter how hard I tried. I'm sorry."

"I said I'd be mad at you forever…" she mumbled sadly.

"I know." I looked back at the guy, who was looking between us, and turned back to Izzy. "But I should be the one mad at you! You didn't tell me you moved in with Dad two years ago, and you didn't invite me to your wedding!"

She grimaced. "I'm still mad at you, though…"

I shook my head. I pulled away from her and walked to the Chevy. "Mind if I take your car? I don't have one."

"Uh…" I didn't wait for her to respond. I jumped into the truck and started it. It roared to life but I wasn't fazed. I pulled out quickly, giving Izzy a look full of sorrow.

I wasn't sure where I was headed. I'd told Dad that I'd be exploring Forks, then seeing Billy. I guess it'd be a good time to see Billy now.

Out of the rearview mirror, I saw that same silver Volvo. I pushed the truck a little more, making it above sixty. In the mirror, I could see Izzy's panicked look. I smiled to myself, knowing that she disliked most new things and that she loved this heap of metal.

Once I was nearing the La Push border, I heard the screech of the Volvo behind me as it stopped. I passed the border and headed to Billy's. Hopefully, he'd be there. I was calm, now, and I wanted to take advantage of that and go see Billy.

I pulled into the driveway, parking the truck and jumping out. As soon as I got to the door, it swung open. Billy was there, in his wheelchair. But his face held no warmth; it was stoic. He wasn't looking at me, but at my shoes. "Bella," he muttered as a greeting.

I rolled my eyes. "Bella? Please," I scoffed. His expression faltered for a minute, becoming confused. "Remember Izzy's twin sister? Addison Vanessa Swan?"

Billy looked up and immediately smiled. "Addie! Yes, I remember. I'm sorry. It's been nearly a decade since you've stepped foot in Washington, let alone La Push."

I smiled and reached over to give him a hug. "So you gonna let me in or make me stand in your doorway?" I joked.

He just chuckled and wheeled himself inside, letting me in. I went to go sit at the kitchen table and he joined me. Soon enough, I was sipping on hot chocolate, listening to Billy speak of the old days when the girls, Izzy, and I were running around in diapers. I began looking around curiously. Not much has changed in this house.

"So, where's Sarah?" I asked.

Billy suddenly winced, hurt by the question. "She…passed away a few years ago."

"I'm so sorry…" I mumbled awkwardly. "She was always a great person. You were lucky to have had her."

"Yes."

I decided a change in subject was needed. "Where are Rachel and Rebecca?"

"Rebecca lives in Hawaii now, with her Samoan husband," Billy said, back to being stoic. "Rachel's off at college."

"Oh," I said. This wasn't going well. "Well, how about Jacob? Where's the little munchkin at?"

Billy seemed to smile a little at the nickname. "He's not so little anymore, you know."

"Actually, I wouldn't. I haven't even heard about Izzy's moving here, let alone about Jacob, Rachel, or Rebecca." I didn't feel the need to include Sarah in that list, too. "But, tell me, where is the brat?"

Billy smiled, knowing that I meant 'brat' in the most endearing way possible… But his cheerful demeanor faded. "He's…away. On a…vacation, you could say."

"Vacation?" I raised an eyebrow. "Please tell me it's not the whole 'finding their inner man' crap that, supposedly, every man goes through," I snorted.

Billy smiled warmly again. "Something like that."

I rolled my eyes and smiled. "He always was a weirdo," I teased. "Though I never would have expected him to turn out that way. Hopefully, he finds himself and what he's looking for."

"I hope he will. He's been gone a long time."

"Poor kid," I murmured. "What made him leave?" Billy didn't respond, instead choosing to look around the room. "Come on, Billy, I won't poke fun. Promise."

His gaze shifted back to me. Suddenly, I was reminded of when he answered the door, and how he assumed I was Bella right away, and so coldly.

"Does it have something to do with Izzy?" I asked.

He nodded. "She…broke his heart."

My eyes widened. Little Jacob had a crush on Izzy?! "Did…How close did they get? For him to be that heartbroken, to leave, he had to be seriously hurt…Did…did she lead him on?"

I didn't want to believe it—not my sister! Izzy was so kindhearted and sweet and didn't want to hurt anyone! She was only irked that I had to leave her and our sisterly bond behind so early…but she was hurt, too. How could she do anything so horrid to Jacob, our childhood friend? How could he fall for her, anyway, knowing she was two years older?

"They…spent time together while her boyfriend left her for a while, and she became depressed. He fell in love with her, after they became best friends. Then…her boyfriend came back and she…went back to him. She got engaged. She loved Jacob, too, but she…chose the other guy over Jacob."

This sounded just a bit more like Izzy than what I'd thought. But, really, it seems a bit selfish to hear it from the outside point of view. I need to get her view on it,I thought.

"Wow, Billy," I said, breathless. "That's… I just can't believe she'd do something like that… She's never been that type…"

Billy nodded solemnly. "But it wasn't her fault, not entirely. She was—and is—young. We young ones always make mistakes."

Billy and I chuckled softly at his attempt to make a joke. "We young ones? Don't you mean Izzy?"

"Aren't you her twin?" he teased. "You're the same age as her!"

I nodded, but the genuine smile on my face was replaced with one that struggled to be there. I wouldn't be her twin for much longer. "Right," I said. I glanced around the room again before standing and walking around. I inspected everything, trying to recall which items were from my childhood here and which were new.

I spied a blank envelope, that was torn open apparently, on hidden in a corner. I picked it up carefully, holding it by the edges. Before Billy could say anything, I pulled the letter—which was a bit torn—out and unfolded it.

I wish I hadn't.

My hands began trembling slightly as the letter fluttered to the ground. That's the second time today I drop something in shock.

I exhaled sharply and turned to face Billy abruptly. "I have to go," I told him tersely.

"Well, okay," Billy said. The atmosphere was awkward and uncomfortable now. "Feel free to stop by and visit anytime, Addie. You know, I might need some company, seeing as how Jacob's still on his vacation. I have no idea when he'll be back."

I nodded. "Of course, Billy. I'll come to visit. Maybe on Saturday." I offered a small smile before leaving.

The drive back the Forks was unpleasant. Usually I enjoyed the rain—relished in it, even—but I couldn't even enjoy the downpour now. On normal days, back when I was living in Forks as a younger child, I would've begged and begged Dad to let me outside—even just for precious seconds. Now, I just wanted the rain to go away. To disappear.

Actually, I'll change my mind on that. I didn't know what I wanted. Seconds after I leave La Push, it starts raining like mad, and the rain pounds down on the truck harshly. I would've—should've—loved it. I didn't. Though it did fit the gloom and doom feel I was going for.

The weirdest part was that it came and went in terms of strength; one moment it would be pounding fiercely and randomly, and the next it'd be coming down steadily.

As I got to the house, I couldn't see the Volvo in sight; for that, I was glad. I would be much better off talking to my sister without him around.

I shoved the truck door closed once I hopped out into the unforgiving rain and, for a moment, I felt happy—the rain always made me feel better; I even smiled when I felt the only too familiar pelting of rain on my skin, fresh and cold.

I was quickly sobered once I reached the door minutes later, even with my incredibly slowed pace. Even when I stepped inside the warmer house, my mood didn't lighten. It was just as cold and distant and dark as the rain outside. I ignored Dad's questioning looks as I trudged up the stairs to the bathroom, grabbing a towel and drying myself wherever I could. Luckily, my suitcase was still outside the bathroom door from where Dad had placed it. I sought out my nightwear—which consisted of shorts and a baby tee—and proceeded to shower in burning water. But I didn't mind. I preferred that sometimes. Like some might say, I'm hot and cold at the same time.

I sighed as I towel-dried my hair before ruffling through it with my fingers. I shook my head slightly, shaking some of the water off. I picked up my wet clothes and put them in the washing machine downstairs. When I came back up, I lugged my suitcase to Izzy's room quietly.

I could hear talking inside. Izzy was speaking to someone, but whoever was there was speaking in too quiet a tone for me to hear. Even Izzy was speaking quietly, so I could only hear a few words.

"But she……no……Europe……I'm sure……Edward…" I heard Izzy's calm voice say.

I didn't bother knocking. I just barged into the room, not opening or slamming the door open because Izzy and I both hated that. The door just swung open, not making any noise.

I came at a good time. I raised an eyebrow as I saw Izzy sitting on her bed, and her fiancée—Edward, I supposed—sitting on the edge. I'd caught them; they were both wide-eyed. They watched as I closed the door, a small smirk on my face.

Izzy began first. "Sonny, it's not—"

"Not what?" I interrupted. I didn't like that he was in her—our, I reminded myself—room at all, but I was satisfied that I'd been able to catch them. "I'm not gonna pry, sis, but tell Eddo over here that he needs to leave. This is 'Girls Only' territory, meaning our first sister sleepover in nearly a decade."

I tried to keep it light, knowing that there were worse things to discuss later on. Izzy stared at me, surprise written on her face. Edward had even more in his eyes, though he controlled his expression quite well.

"Well?" I asked, gesturing towards Edward. "You came through the window, Romeo, you can get out that way, too."

Edward grimaced, narrowing his eyes at me, but leapt from the bed and out the window, making a big deal of making it look like it was a lot of hard work.

"And tell him to stop faking the 'it's so hard to climb up and down to and from the window and ground floor' thing. He's had practice, and I'm pretty sure he could do it in his sleep," I told Izzy, who was still staring at me wide-eyed.

"We haven't—"

I didn't want to hear it. "No, you haven't slept with him yet," I interrupted. "But he still visits, no?"

She didn't reply. I sighed and sat on the bed next to her. "Izzy—"

"Don't call me that," she said quietly.

"Why not?" I asked, hurt. Out of all the things she's done since I've arrived, this was one of the worst.

Forget not inviting me to your wedding, or even telling me you had a boyfriend or that you moved to Forks. Forget it all, because when she starts hating the special, sister-bond, childhood nicknames we gave each other, it's all screwed up.

"I go by 'Bella'," she said simply. "'Izzy' is so childish."

"But what about our sister bond nicknames?"

She sighed. "Sonny…"

I had always called her 'Izzy'. She always called me 'Sonny'. It was this weird thing we did as little kids. Since everyone called me, 'Addie', the first part of my name, she called me 'Sonny', for the last part of my name. She said it was special. That's why I called her 'Izzy', only for the opposite reason. Everyone called her, 'Bella', for the last part of 'Isabella', and I called her, 'Izzy'.

I sighed, looking towards the cot that they'd brought in today, the one that was lying on the floor. Dad said they'd bring a bed tomorrow. "Let's just go to sleep, Bella."

Izzy frowned, but laid back down. She wanted to seem more grown up, and I could understand that. But our childhood nicknames were nothing to be ashamed of. They were our special bond.

One that had been broken slightly. Hopefully, we'd be able to fix it—soon.

By HunnyABee!! I just finished!! Updating twice in a day--that's awesome for me!! :D

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!! Also, I'm not sure if Frocked will write the next chapter or if I will... We're not on a pattern, but it's just that I don't know from whose point of view it will be.

Anyways, PLEASE review! :)