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I had had enough detours. Right then, I just wanted to go home. It was already way past my curfew, and I would have to run to make it home in time for dinner. Thankfully, mom usually totally forgets about dinner while she's in her little craft cavern, so we eat pretty late. But still, I would have to run.
And I did! With success, I might add! Although even before I walked in the door I could practically see my mother pacing, a newly made pot in her hands, ready to throw at my head for being so late. Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration. Especially since when I walked in there was no projectile container in sight. Or a mom holding it. Which was surprising, it really was. The mom part, not the jar.
"Hello?" I asked tentatively, knocking on the doorframe as I walked in. "Mom?"
"Victoria!" shouted my mother, running into the room.
I was shocked. She had used my full name. She only does that in two situations. 1) She's furious. 2) She is insanely happy. And she didn't look furious. So I'm going with answer number two.
"Yes?" I asked uncertainly. "You're happy because...?"
That's when Oliver poked his little head out of the door that led to the kitchen. "Hi, again."
"He came home!" shouted my mother again. And ran back over to Oliver to shower him in hugs.
I looked from Oliver to my mother and back and forth over and over for the entire time my mom was strangling my new buff brother.
I knew this would happen, subconsciously at least. He had just come home after years. He wouldn't stop at just seeing me. He had to see his mother, the woman who gave him life. And after that was done, he would be staying at his house. I mean, technically, it was his house. Was. Two years ago. He left, so now this was my territory. But I couldn't tell mom that. It would break her newly repaired heart.
Josh had said something about how he wasn't going to leave until I forgave him. I could do that. I could tell him I forgave him and then he could go back to saving the world and I could live with myself. After all, he did come back for me. That had to count for something, right?
So, the moment mom let go of Oliver and he had caught the breath to replace all of it that had just gotten squeezed out of him, I looked him straight in the eye. "Oliver," I started, and he got this really hopeful look in his blue eyes. "I—I..." I choked out. Those hopeful eyes kept looking at me. I took a deep breath and started over again. "Oliver, I...I for..." I looked away from him at my feet.
He sighed heavily, and secretly, I could tell he knew it wouldn't be that easy. He walked up to me, his arm to my shoulder, facing opposite directions. "You never could lie to me."
I looked at him, and for the first time I really wished that I could forgive him. That we could be brother/sister again. But I couldn't. Not only was I unable to lie to Oliver, I couldn't lie to myself. I sighed, took a deep breath, and looked at him. "Goodnight, Oliver." And then I sprinted upstairs and locked myself in my room without any dinner.
I was really hungry the next morning.
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When I walked downstairs in the morning, my stomach was in complete control. It was Saturday morning, and I was hungry. I'm a growing girl, what's wrong with that?
A lot, because the universe seemed intent on keeping me from eating my breakfast and starving me to death. There wasn't any cereal in the pantry. We didn't have any bagels or doughnuts. All of the fruit was rotten (can you say smelly?). And we were all out of instant pancake mix. It was a sad day in the William's household.
"Mom?" I called. Then I saw the post-it note on the microwave.
Hi, dear. Or dear's, now that Oliver's back. So, whoever reads this first (my guess is Tori, because Oliver's never been an early bird) I went to the gym this morning. After that I'm going to the grocery store to get more fruit. No homemade breakfast, sorry. Just pop a pop tart in the microwave oven.
Lot's of love,
Mom =)
I looked in the pantry again. The pop-tarts box was now the home to a happy spider. But no actual pop-tarts were currently in residence. Which made me sad.
Just then the doorbell rang. I thought it was Josh at first, coming over to check on my brother (and hopefully me, because he was madly in love with me). I looked my self over. Oh boy. I was in my pajama pants and a tank top. I put my nest of hair in a ponytail and answered the door. The pajamas were a lost cause.
"Who is it?" I asked, and a yawn forced itself up my throat, so it sounded more like, "'Ooo ith thit?"
"It's me!" said an overly excited, and way too awake for the morning, little girl. And, even weirder, I totally recognized it.
I threw open the door. "Kylie?"
"Tori!" she shouted, and ran into me like she was trying to knock me down onto her level.
"Kylie, I don't think she'll appreciate being tackled," said someone with a teasing tone, but it was firm nonetheless. Kylie immediately let go and rejoined the two other girls in the doorway. I knew them too.
One was tall, thin, and gorgeous, even though most of what I saw was make-up. She was tanned just enough, with raven black hair and light blue eyes. She was in my grade. Her name was Avril Taylor, one of the Locker Girls. Actually, she was the Locker Girl.
The other one I had never seen before, but I kind of had. She was the same age as Avril, but I had never seen her before. They looked alike too. But she looked more like Kylie. She had short black curly hair, pale skin, and lovely dark navy blue eyes. She had the same thin build as Avril, but she seemed to glow from the inside out. Avril had a twin. Who knew?
"Hi," said the mystery girl. "My name's Avery. My sister and I go to school with you."
Avery Taylor. Interesting. I was busy glaring at Avril, Avril was too busy filing her nails to notice, and Kylie was struggling to keep from tackling me again.
Avery took a deep breath. She seemed a little uncomfortable. "My sister and I," she started again, shooting a meaningful glance at Avril. "Came to thank you for helping our younger sister last night."
Kylie grinned.
"You're welcome," I said smiling at her. Then I looked myself over again. "Sorry, I'm not at my best."
"That's perfectly okay," Avery assured me.
"Whose at the door?"
That's when Oliver made his grand entrance. He had bed head, of course, and he wore shorts and a orange t-shirt that read "Camp Half-Blood". He looked like a typical California boy. He also looked really confused when he saw the girls at the front door.
When Avril heard a male voice, her attention jumped from her nails to Oliver. "And you are?" she said with smile.
Oliver looked at me out of the corner of his eye. Is she one of those mean girls? I could practically hear him asking.
I raised an eyebrow at him. What do you think?
"I'm..." he started. I think we both had a feeling that we would get quite a reaction if we told anyone that Oliver, the infamous deserting brother, came back home.
"This is my cousin..." I covered for him. I needed a name. I looked at Avril and Avery. Twin. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. Olsen. "Olsen!" I said patting him on the back. He looked at me like I was crazy.
"That's an awesome name," said Avril. She oozed flirt, but in a playful, charming way. Maybe that's the way she got all her friends. I hoped the charade wouldn't work on my brother.
"Thanks," said Oliver airily.
Avril started pouting, just the tiniest bit. Score one for the William's sibling.
Avery looked at her sister. It wasn't a mad look, more like she was disappointed. "We also came here to invite you to a neighborhood picnic."
I looked at their clothes. Kylie wore a pink dress with little ruffles on the hem. Avril wore a pair of short's (emphasis on short, mind you) and a nice white top. Avery wore a comfortable looking white skirt and a teal tank top. All three of them looked nice.
"Semi-casual," said Avril, like it mattered. To her, I'm sure it did. She looked over my ensemble. "Maybe I should help." She looked hopefully at Oliver.
I looked over her ensemble. "I don't think so."
Avery laughed a little. "Maybe I should help," she offered. Then she looked at Kylie. "What do you say? Do you want to help Tori pick out an outfit?"
"Oh, yes yes!" she said, clapping in delight.
She looked back at me and her navy blue eyes smiled.
"Fine, fine. But my room only," I said, flashing a subtle warning. If her and Avril were related, she must have a little demon inside her too. I just hadn't seen it yet.