Estimated Reading Time: 21 Minutes

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The Clone

Ding!

Nate strolled into the kitchen, oven mitts already in hand. As he opened the oven door, a wave of warmth spilled out, carrying the sweet, comforting scent of cinnamon, brown sugar, and raisins. He carefully slid the tray of cookies onto the stovetop, their edges crisp and golden while the centers gleamed with a soft, chewy finish.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

"Do I smell cookies?" Tracy called out, her footsteps echoing on the stairs as she bolted down. She burst into the kitchen, her wide eyes immediately locking onto the tray.

Nate grinned and gestured to the fresh batch. "Oatmeal raisin. Want one?"

Tracy: "Eww."

Nate: "What?"

Tracy: "Oatmeal raisins? Gross."

Nate: "Whaaat! They're delicious, and healthier than most."

Tracy: "I was hoping for chocolate chips."

Nate: "Chocolate chips are too plain and easy. I wanted to bake something more challenging."

Tracy: "Riiight. Okay."

Nate: "C'mon, try it. You might like my version."

Tracy: "Fiiine."

Tracy snatched a cookie from the tray and took a hesitant bite. As she chewed, her eyes lit up, a mix of surprise and delight crossing her face. "Wow, this is... actually really good!" she admitted, her tone laced with genuine astonishment.

The cookie was soft and perfectly chewy, with just the right balance of sweetness and spice. There was something about the flavor—warm and nostalgic yet somehow different—that set it apart. She paused, savoring the unique taste that danced on her tongue, unable to put it into words. It was unlike anything she'd tried before.

"How did you do that?" she asked, already reaching for another.

Nate: "Do what?"

Tracy: "Make it different."

Nate: "What?"

Tracy: "I dunno, it's just so… different. It's amazing! This is the best oatmeal raisin I've ever had!"

Nate: "Glad you like it."

Tracy: "You're like really good at baking. Ness on the other hand… he's terrible at it."

Nate: "Shut up. No way."

Tracy: "My mom's good at baking and he tried to top her, but for some reason he could never do it right. He was all about following directions, but there was no love. It always came out plain, and very manufactured-like."

Nate: "Yikes."

Tracy: "But he's a great cook. How does that make sense?"

Nate: "Cooking and baking are two different things."

Tracy: "No it's not. You're working with food either way."

Nate: "Ya think? I find it difficult to cook. They feel different."

Tracy: "How? You two are weird."

Nate: "Hahaha!"

Tracy: "Anyway, I'mma grab more of these and head out."

Nate: "Mkay, good luck at school. Oh, and if Ben tries anything, lemme know. I'll kick his ass."

Tracy: "I can take care of myself. I'm tough."

Nate: "Wait, you have psychic powers too?"

Tracy: "No…"

Nate: "Oh. Wait, wha?"

Tracy: "Ness was the only one that got it. So lame."

Nate: "And me~"

Tracy: "Well duh, you're basically him."

Nate: "Y-yeaaah…"

Tracy: "Well, anyway, see ya later."

With that, Tracy grabbed a handful of cookies, stuffing them into her backpack with a cheeky grin. "Thanks, Nate! These will make the perfect bus ride snack," she called over her shoulder before darting out the door to catch her ride.

Nate stood in the now-quiet kitchen, the echo of her words lingering in the air. The comparison to Ness stung more than he cared to admit. He'd heard it countless times before—how he was "just like" his original—but the weight of it never lessened.

His chest tightened as he wrestled with the urge to speak up, to finally say something about how much it bothered him. But he swallowed the thought. They had only just started rebuilding their relationship, and he didn't want to ruin the fragile sense of ease between them. Instead, he sighed and turned back to the tray of cookies grabbing one and taking a bite of its delicious sweet flavor.

A few minutes passed, and Nate's phone buzzed on the counter. He picked it up, and Boris's hearty voice rumbled through the speaker. "Nate, where are you? Everything okay?"

Nate froze, his stomach sinking as realization hit him like a truck. "Oh no! I'm so sorry, Boris. I read my schedule wrong—I'm super late! I'll be there as soon as I can," he stammered, panic creeping into his voice.

"Don't worry, my boy," Boris replied with a deep, reassuring laugh. "Life happens. Just get here safe, yeah?"

The call ended, and Nate bolted to his room, fumbling to throw on his work uniform. How could I forget about work? He groaned inwardly, kicking himself as he grabbed his bag and dashed out the door.

When he arrived, slightly out of breath, Boris greeted him with a warm smile. "Glad you made it," the older man said, his tone kind and understanding.

"I'm so sorry, Boris," Nate said, apologizing over and over as guilt gnawed at him. He half-expected a scolding, but Boris waved it off with a chuckle.

"Don't sweat it. You're here now, and that's what matters."

The words eased the tension in Nate's chest. He couldn't help but think of his old boss, Kimberly, whose sharp remarks and endless criticism had made every mistake feel monumental. I'm so glad I left that pizza job, he thought, his shoulders finally relaxing as he got to work.

The rest of the shift dragged on at a snail's pace. The shop was quiet, with only a handful of customers trickling in throughout the day. Nate busied himself with small tasks—wiping down counters, restocking shelves—but there wasn't much to do. It was the kind of neutral, uneventful day that felt longer than it really was.

Finally, the clock struck the end of his shift. Nate let out a small sigh of relief, clocked out, and stepped outside. The cool air felt refreshing after the stillness of the shop.

As he made his way down the street, he pulled out his phone, and pulled up Trey's contact, his fingers flying across the screen.

[- Trey

DM

Nate: heyy so did u wanna do dis tonite

Trey: yuh. im wit my gf rn

Nate: cool. so where did u wanna do dis

Trey: well do dis at the front of my house

Nate: k did u want me to come over or r u gonna pick me up

Trey: ill pick u up. where r u

Nate: im walkin home rn

Trey: coo ill be there in 30

…

Nate stepped through the door and into the familiar warmth of home. His mom turned to greet him, her usual bright smile softening her features. But when her eyes met his, her expression faltered.

"Are you okay, sweetie?" she asked gently, concern lacing her voice.

"Y-yeah. I'm fine," Nate replied quickly, his tone unconvincing. He tried to muster a reassuring smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

She opened her mouth to press him, but after a brief pause, she bit her tongue. He already looked weighed down, and the last thing she wanted was to make it worse. Instead, she turned to the counter and placed a plate of food on the table. "Dinner's ready," she said softly, moving to the sink to begin the dishes.

"Thanks," Nate murmured, sliding into the chair. He picked at his food at first, but soon the comforting flavors drew him in, and he began eating in silence. His mom glanced back occasionally, her heart aching with unspoken questions, but she let them sit—for now.

Ding!

"Oh! My friend Trey's here," Nate said, pushing his chair back and standing up. "I'll finish the rest later. Thanks for dinner."

His mom smiled warmly and waved him off. "Have fun, sweetie~"

Nate grabbed his jacket and stepped out the door. Trey's car sat parked in front of the house, its headlights casting a soft glow through the early evening haze. Nate walked toward the passenger side, but stopped short when he saw Savanna already sitting there, her head turned toward the window.

He hesitated for a moment, but then made his way around to the back seat, sliding in quietly. The moment he buckled up, an uncomfortable silence fell over the car, thick and heavy. It was the kind of silence that gnawed at him, making the minutes feel like hours.

Nate tried to push the growing anxiety from his mind, but it wouldn't budge. This is it, he thought, his chest tightening. Tonight is the night that will dictate who Trey is gonna side with. The weight of that thought made his palms sweat. He couldn't shake the feeling that everything between them was about to change.

Trey finally pulled into the driveway, the car's tires crunching against the gravel. The three of them sat in the silence for a moment, the tension thick in the air. Nate's mind raced, his thoughts tangled in knots as he tried to anticipate what would come next.

Then, Trey broke the stillness. "Alright," he said, his voice casual but firm. "So, I'm hearin' two different stories from y'all."

Nate's heart skipped a beat. He wasn't sure whether to feel relieved that Trey had finally spoken or more nervous than ever. He shifted in his seat, eyes flicking between Savanna and Trey, waiting for what would come next.

Trey: "I wanna hear Nate's story first."

Nate: "At the party, when you went to grab the pizza, I went to the bathroom. As I finished up and opened the door, I saw Savanna and she pushed me in. That's when she started flirting and even forcefully kiss-

Savanna: "Nah, that's not what happened. I call bullshit. See, what really happened was, I was waitin' to use the bathroom, and when he opened it, he saw me and pulled me in."

Nate: "Are you kidding me?"

Savanna: "He was all over me, babe. He kept lookin' at me, when we was talkin'. I thought I'd give him the benefit of the doubt, but he over here bein' a fuckin' perv."

Nate: "What!"

Trey: "Hold on! Hold on! Everybody calm down."

Both Nate and Savanna went silent.

Trey: "Babe, let him finish."

Savanna: "He's fuckin' spoutin' lies!"

Nate: "No, I'm not! That's what happened!"

Savanna: "You don't got any proof, honey~"

Nate: "Neither do you!"

Trey: "Guys! Shut the fuck up! Let me get this straight, so accordin' to Nate, Savanna you were the one that pushed him into the bathroom. Started flirtin' with him, and forcefully kissed him. Nate is that right?"

Nate: "Yes."

Trey: "And Savanna, you said that Nate was the one that pulled you in and he did what?"

Savanna: "He forcefully kissed me."

Trey: "So with both stories, you two kissed each other, right?"

Savanna: "He kissed me!"

Nate: "No, she was the one that did it!"

Trey: "Guys, please. I'm just tryin' to understand. A kiss happened. You two can agree to that, right?"

Nate: "Yeah."

Savanna: "Sure."

Trey let out a frustrated sigh, the sound deep and heavy, filling the air with tension. "One of y'all betrayed me," he said, his voice sharp and firm, like a slap in the face. "And we gettin' to the bottom of this."

The words hit hard. Nate and Savanna both flinched involuntarily, the weight of his accusation echoing between them. Trey's voice had that sharp edge to it, like an alarm ringing in their ears, demanding attention and accountability.

Nate's throat tightened. He wasn't sure where this would go, but one thing was clear—things were about to get heated.

Trey: "Does Ben know anything about this?"

Nate: "I was in the bathroom, but maybe when she started walking toward there, he might've seen."

Savanna: "No, he has no clue. He was too busy talking to everyone else."

Trey: "So Ben isn't a witness?"

Nate: "He could be. I don't know."

Savanna: "He's not."

Trey: "Did you two leave the bathroom together?"

Nate: "No. I left first."

Trey: "Why?"

Nate: "Because then the others would get suspicious and tell you about it. At the time, I was so shocked and nervous. I didn't want drama happening at your party. Also, Savanna told me if I told you, she would twist the story. She said you would believe her rather than-

Savanna: "Nah, now he's spoutin' lies."

Trey: "Babe-

Savanna: "Why're you listenin' to this lil shit? Babe, look at me."

Savanna's hands shot out, grabbing Trey's face gently but firmly, making him turn to face her. She locked eyes with him, her gaze wide and sincere, almost pleading. "I would never betray you," she said, her voice soft but unwavering. "You're my everythin'."

Her words hung in the air, the sincerity in her tone so clear that it was hard to ignore. She leaned in slightly, her eyes searching his. "Remember that time we went on that ferris wheel?" she continued, her voice almost nostalgic. "I told you, I was your ride or die. I would never do anything to hurt you, Trey. And I meant that."

Her confession seemed to linger, a quiet promise wrapped in the weight of shared memories. Trey's face softened, his usual tough demeanor cracking.

Nate: "Are you kidding me?"

Savanna's gaze shifted sharply toward Nate, her expression darkening.

Nate: "Bro, can't you see what she's doin' to ya? She's tryin' to control the situation with memories. She's using that as a tool."

Trey: "..."

Nate: "Isn't it funny that she changed the topic to your guys' past? She's tryin' to win you over with this cheap tactic."

Savanna: "Shut the fuck up, bitch."

Nate gave her a dry smile, his lips curling just slightly. "I know what you're doin'," he said, his voice laced with skepticism. "That's not nice to gaslight your own boyfriend. How about you tell him the fuckin' truth?"

Savanna: "I did tell him the truth. You pulled me in and kissed me."

Nate: "Mkay, if that's the case, why didn't you tell your boyfriend immediately once everyone left?"

Savanna: "I was scared. He really likes you, and I was afraid he was gonna take your side."

Nate: "Um… I'm sorry, but he's closer to you?"

Trey: "Guys!"

Savanna: "Babe! Can't you see? He has a crush on you. He's jealous of our love."

Nate: "What!"

Savanna: "I see the way you look at my boo."

Nate: *Scoffs* "You seriously believe I'm after Trey?"

Savanna: "Most of his friends don't bother Trey as much as you do. You guys are always textin' and callin'. No other has been so obsessed with my boyfriend before."

Nate: "We're close. So what? It doesn't mean I have a crush on him."

Savanna: "You literally talk to him in like three in the mornin'."

Nate: "So what? He's up."

Savanna: "That's fuckin' weird."

Trey: "Can I speak?"

Savanna: "Yes, honey. Go ahead."

Trey: "Nate… I'm not sayin' you gots a crush on me or anythin', but…"

Nate: "Dude, no, c'mon."

Trey: "I mean you did say you was a nympho. You did fuck your boss, and you did say you had a boyfriend in the past."

Savanna: "See! I fuckin' knew it! Wait—he fucked his boss?"

Trey: "Dude, I dunno… You seem like the type of guy that'll go after my woman."

Nate: "Trey—I-I would never betray you like that. You're my best friend. D-do you really think I would go after your girl in your party? If I were to do that, I'd like—I dunno hit her up somewhere else."

Trey: "I mean if it was just a kiss…"

Nate: "I'd at least ask or forcefully make her give me her number. I don't even have it."

Trey: "You could've deleted it."

Nate: "Check our phones."

Savanna: "Nah, he don't gotta do that."

Nate: "Why not? Are you hidin' somethin'? Because he can check mine. Here."

Nate pulled out his phone, his fingers steady as he unlocked it. Without hesitation, he tossed it onto Trey's lap. "Go on," he said, his voice firm. "Check it. Check everything."

The gesture was bold, his confidence unwavering. The air in the car grew heavier as Trey stared down at the device, his expression unreadable. Nate leaned back, arms crossed, silently daring Savanna to match his transparency.

Savanna: "He came prepared. Obviously he deleted evidence."

Nate: "Why would you need to come prepared?"

Savanna: "Wha?"

Nate: "I said, why would you need to come prepared? Do you have stuff to delete?"

Savanna: "N-no."

Nate: "Then hand him your phone."

Savanna: "No. It's private."

Nate: "But he's your boyfriend that you've been dating for over a year, right? You should trust him."

Savanna: "I do but—it's the principle. I don't go on his phone."

Trey: "I don't go on yours either. So, what's up? You scared?"

Savanna: "We don't need to go be checkin' each other's phones."

Trey: "Don't you wanna know who I've been textin'?"

Savanna: "I trust you, boo."

Trey: "Mkay. But I as of right now, I don't trust you."

Savanna: "Why?"

Nate: "You're acting suspicious."

Savanna: "Who asked for your opinion?"

Trey: "Nah, c'mon, let's do this."

Trey unlocked his phone and handed it over to Savanna. She hesitated, her hand hovering for a moment before she reluctantly took it. Her expression shifted, horror flashing across her face as if the very act was an accusation.

"Here," Trey said, his tone dripping with mock sweetness. "We can check each other's phones right now."

The challenge hung in the air, heavy and sharp, as Trey leaned back with a smirk, watching Savanna squirm under the weight of his words.

Nate: "This way it's fair."

Savanna: "No, I don't feel comfortable."

Trey: "Why not? You have my phone right now. What seems to be the problem?"

Savanna: "I don't need a reason. It's my phone."

Nate: "Then you're guilty."

Savanna: "I haven't done anything wrong. Babe, isn't it suspicious that he's this overly confident? He set me up."

Trey: "Why aren't you?"

Savanna: "What?"

Trey: "Overly confident?"

Savanna: "He prepared for this. He deleted shit and probably put shit on mine."

Trey: "How would he do that?"

Savanna: "Look at him. He's asian. They're like pro hackers or some shit."

Nate: ["Asian?"]

Trey: "What the fuck are you goin' on about. Gimme that shit!"

Trey snatched her phone from her hand, moving with a speed that caught her off guard. "Hey!" she yelled, lunging to grab it back, but he dodged her hand with ease.

Without a word, Trey flicked on the car's child lock and stepped out, slamming the door shut behind him. Standing outside, he began scrolling through her phone, his expression hard and focused.