Meritt's Pov:
(A few days later)
After living with the 'Twins' we learned that they weren't acting about all their weirdness. They were constantly doing this that surprised the rest of us. They had really weird rituals that they did, but at least they were nice enough to invite us to do them with us. Henley and I usually went along to see what they did but Daniel always grumbled about them not being serious about being here.
All of a sudden I heard a high pitch scream. "Jack! Wake up! It's Monday!" Jack who was asleep on the couch next to me flew up, grabbed his leather jacket, and called back. "Are you ready Liv? We need to go soon."
"Yes I'm ready. Daniel, Henley, Merritt would you guys like to come with us?"
"I'm game." I was curious as to why they were both so excited about where we were going. Henley walked into the living room and was dragging Daniel behind her. "We are coming too. Whether Daniel likes it or not."
Olivia and Jack linked arms, something they did all the time but no one including me, the mentalist, could figure out. We crawled into the cab and were on our way. When we got out it was an orphanage, but Henley, Daniel and I were confused. Neither of them had spent time in one.
They skipped to the door. Jack turned back to us. "Listen really closely okay?" They knocked this series of knocks before speaking. "Knock Knock It's Party O'Clock."
Inside we could hear the screams of little kids and the shuffling of feet. Many different versions of "Jack" and "Olivia" were called out. I turned to Henley who had tears pooling in her eyes. Daniel still looked ticked that we forced him away from the blueprints.
The door finally opened and a teenage boy about 14 smiled. "Guys! Thank God. The kids have been going crazy waiting on their friends. Come on in." We followed them in but were fortunate to be about three feet back when a horde of children attacked them with hugs. "Jackie!" "Liv!" "Olivia" "Jack" Was repeated many times before the 'Twins' could get them to sit down in front of them.
Olivia started. "Okay guys, we would like to introduce you to some of our friends." Jack pointed at each of us. "This is Merritt, Henley, and Daniel. Can you say hi?" This caused another round of unidentifiable squeals and questions.
Then the owner of the orphanage came over. "Okay, if there is something you want Jack or Liv to help with or show you go get it set up. You know the rules. They can only stay for a little while or they will get in trouble. Go." All the kids ran off to get different things down and out of their rooms.
Jack and Olivia turned to the owner. "How are you Camilla?"
"Oh so well. Just lovely to see you two again. Although I'm very disappointed in you two. You have yet to formally introduce to your friends."
They jumped right into it. "Camilla this is Daniel, Henley, and Merritt. Guys, this is Camilla."
I laughed. "I still haven't gotten over you two doing and saying everything together. It still funny every time."
At that point they were called away by the kids so Camilla took us to her office which had a window that showed the play area. "Have a seat. Make yourself comfortable and ask all the questions that have been popping around in your head since you arrived. Wait, before that I have one question. Why don't you like my Olivia and Jack?" She said, that last part directed at Daniel.
"I don't believe I stuttered. Why don't you like them?" She said again without flinching. I couldn't help but laugh. "You are just like them. You are hilarious too."
"I don't not like them." He said back confused.
"Yeah, Right." She said. "Do you guys have any questions for me?"
Henley starts. "How long have you known them?"
"Henley, right?" She nods. "About seven years. They were working the streets and they came across this seven year old who was alone. They couldn't take care of him so they asked me to. They said they would be back every Monday to make sure no harm came to him. They kept their promise but now everyone here loves them."
Henley interrupts, "Was he the 14 year old who smiled really big when he opened the door?"
Camilla nodded. "Every week he's surprised that they come back. He didn't think that they would the first week much less the next seven years. I think it shows him exactly how little something helps. They come every week, help with homework because Jack is like a math whiz and Olivia is a science nerd, show the little ones a few card tricks, and then they spend a little alone time with Jeremy, the 14 year old. Sometimes the kids can trick Liv and Jack into dancing for them, I don't know why but they seem to enjoy it."
Daniel decides to answer her former question. "I didn't like Jack because I thought he was a loser kid with daddy issues who couldn't handle the big leagues. I thought that he was a cocky teenage boy who picked up girls on the weekends and used magic as a way to do it. I didn't like Olivia because I thought she was in love with Jack, which I still think she is, so she followed him around, prepared to sacrifice what she needed to do for him. I thought she couldn't possibly be worth anything to help any of us, but I was wrong, about both of them. Truth be told, I didn't listen to anything they told us or tried to prove to us. I never went with them on their weekly outings like the others did because I thought they were stupid gimmicks. I didn't want to come to this one. Henley forced me. And then I got here. And I saw what they did for these kids. How much they depended on them to come every week. I haven't seen Jack and Olivia. I've seen the made up perceptions I wanted to see. I'm sorry." He finished his rant and looked Camilla straight in the eye.
She just blinked. "I still don't like you. You seem like a douche. Turn around you three and you'll see what I was talking about."
We turned around and looked through the window. Jack and Olivia were slow dancing in the middle of the play area with a bunch of teenagers and children sitting around them. They were laughing and talking, while doing intricate moves that seemed like it took months to perfect.
Camilla started talking about. "See what I mean? Even the teenagers try to trick them into dancing with each other. I don't know why everyone is so fascinated by it." She walks back out into the play area after the song ends. All the kids hug Jack and Olivia goodbye except for one little boy who holds on to Liv like a life line and a little girl that does the same to Jack. They walk towards us and the door where we are waiting with Jeremy.
"Guys, this is Cameron and Asher. They refuse to leave our sides until the very last second. One secret we will let you in on is that Cameron here has a giant crush on Mr. Wilder, and Asher gets super jealous." Olivia states. Jack laughs as he tickles Cameron. She says, "I do not!" at the same time as Asher.
That causes me to laugh and whisper to the other two. "Remind you of anyone you know?" Henley giggles and Daniel smirks.
Jack gets serious. "Guys it 1:30. You know we have to leave now before he shows up or we'll get in trouble right?" They both just nod and hold their arms out to Jeremy who takes them without trouble.
Right before we walk out Jack whispers into Jeremy's ear, "Call me if the bastard tries anything, Okay?"
We get back to the apartment and start packing for our trip to Paris. We have to go rob a bank which has surprisingly never been on my bucket list, and good thing Tressler has a private jet and doesn't ask questions, because that could get awkward.
About 15 minutes before we leave, I'm standing in the living room with Jack and Daniel while the girls finish getting ready. Olivia screams, I don't blink and neither does Daniel because she screams all the time but Jack but by the time I look up Jack is already in the next room holding her.
Daniel is bewildered. "How the hell did he know something was wrong with her?" Henley just walks into the room with looking worried. "He can tell the difference in her screams. Big deal." Daniel and I share a look. Big deal, yeah right.
"Olivia, please calm down. We'll find it I promise you. We wouldn't dare. You need to breathe Liv or you're gonna go into a panic attack. You can't do that. It's been so long. Just take a deep breath and hold mine. Okay?"
He pulls his arms away long enough to take off the tied purple bracelet that they always wear. He hands it to her, and she holds on to it like it could disappear at any moment. He leads her over to the couch and sits her in his lap before tucking her head under his chin and holding her. After about 5 minutes she cries herself to sleep. He unclenches her hand, takes the bracelet and slides it around her wrist before laying her on the couch and getting up.
The whole interaction, Daniel, Henley, and I have been staring at them waiting to see how he handled it. He seemed to be handling it well. He paced for about 2 minutes before punching a wall. Or not. "Damn it. Damn it. Damn it." He walked off, cuss words streaming after him.
Three minutes later we hear a giant thud. We walk into Olivia and Jack's room to see it destroyed. Jack is laying in the middle of the floor panting. Henley's worried. "You okay Jack?"
He nods. "They were the last thing she had from her grandmother before she died of cancer. She made them for Liv when she was seven. Olivia lost hers." Held up his arm. "It's all good though. I found it." He was grinning like an idiot. "We can leave whenever you guys are ready. I'll go get Olivia."
Daniel cusses. "Those damn kids are going to give me a heart attack. He destroyed their entire room over bracelet. It's stupid."
"It's not stupid Danny, its romantic." Of course Henley thinks they're in love. I have to be the one to burst her bubble. "But they aren't together. Remember?"
She scoffs. "Whatever. Come on. I want to be there when he gives it to her." We walk back into the living room. Jack is smiling softly and shaking Olivia.
"Liv wake up. We gotta go to Paris." She slowly rises and wipes her eyes. "Yeah Paris. Do you want your bracelet back?" He nods. He is being a douche right now.
"Yeah, kinda. My arm feels lonely without it, and besides I figured you might want yours back." He pulls hers out and hands it to her. She screams and launches herself into his arms.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" She pulled herself back. "Where did you find it?"
He laughs. "In that pig-sty we call a room." He stands up and she goes with him. "Come on Rugrat! We have a plane to catch." She slides his bracelet back onto his wrist and then does the same with hers. He starts to walk away, but she stops him. "Het Hem!"
He rolls his eyes. "My apologies your majesty." He turns around and allows her to jump onto his back the same way they walked in the day we met them.