Ellie begrudgingly trudged her way back to her booth, rolling her eyes at the fading charm of the fair. Clad in the oh-so-edgy borrowed attire of her oh-so-unique twin sister, she couldn't help but feel a real surge of excitement. Or maybe, just maybe, it was the world-changing combat boots.  Her steps were confident, but every encounter felt like a risky venture into the unknown.

Just as she reached the booth, an unfamiliar voice reached my ears. "You find what you were looking for at the snack booth Em?"

She turned to face him, offering a smile that she hoped was as natural as Emma's would be. "Oh, it was just a prank text, no biggie."

Liam arched an eyebrow, a trace of skepticism evident in his expression. "A prank text? From who?"

Ellie gave a nonchalant shrug, making a valiant effort to emulate Emma's carefree demeanor. "No clue, really. Just someone trying to get a rise out of me, I guess."

Liam's features softened, a chuckle escaping him. "Well, don't let it get under your skin. Nina's swamped at the booth, there's a whole crowd there. Seems like they spotted Olivia's designs and thought she was doing temp tattoos as well."

Ellie nodded, embracing the conversational detour. "Got it. Could you refresh my memory on where exactly the booth is?"

Liam shot her a puzzled look. "You can't be serious. It's right there." He pointed unambiguously toward the unmistakable Beast Ink booth.

She wrinkled her forehead, adopting a feigned perplexity. "Oh, right. Sorry, I've been having these bouts recently." Ellie paused, thinking on her feet. "They're diagnosing it as Directional Dysphoria. It messes with your sense of direction and memory, making you forget things easily."

Liam's expression shifted to one of sympathy. "That sounds tough. Is there a way to manage it?"

Ellie offered a casual shrug, feigning nonchalance. "Doctors are working on it, I guess. Anyway, thanks for guiding me."

Liam chuckled warmly. "No problem. Just take it easy, alright?"

"Thanks," she replied, mustering a grateful smile before turning to make her way toward the booth. As she walked away, she could almost sense his puzzled gaze following her.

Out of his immediate view, Ellie let out a relieved exhale. Navigating these interactions was growing more intricate, and she realized the need for heightened caution, especially around those who knew her sister well. 

***

Ellie returned to the booth with an air of arrogance, her borrowed persona allowing her to take on a new identity. She didn't waste a moment before directing her rudeness towards Nina, eyeing her worn-out sneakers with disdain. "Cheap shoes much?" she sneered.

Nina looked taken aback, her defense coming quickly. "I haven't gone shoe shopping in a while," she retorted, her tone defensive.

Ellie's attention then shifted to Olivia, and she let out a scoff. "Nice ponytail. Are we still in elementary school?"

Olivia's expression faltered, hurt crossing her features. "Well, I like it," she replied quietly, her confidence shaken.

Without missing a beat, Ellie turned to Emily, who was sporting her glasses. "Seriously? Those glasses make you look like an idiot."

The line of clients waiting for their turn grew visibly uneasy at Ellie's abrasive behavior. Murmurs of concern began to ripple through the crowd.

Ellie's disruption escalated as she tipped over a bottle of ink, ruining one of Olivia's designs. She pointed at it mockingly. "Stupid design. Who even wants this crap?"

Carlos, who had been observing from the background, let out a mirthless laugh. "Looks like I was right about Emma all along." He moved forward to restrain Ellie, warning her to leave or face the consequences.

Infuriated, Ellie lashed out, kicking Carlos in the groin with a swift motion. "Don't touch me!" she yelled, her frustration fueling her actions. "This whole Beast Ink booth is just a front for Delaney's campaign anyway."

The clients, now uncomfortable and disheartened, quickly abandoned the booth. Ellie's outburst left them baffled and disappointed.

As Ellie stormed off, flipping off the Beast Ink crew, she declared her departure with a final taunt. "My father was right. This place is a waste of time."

Nina stared in shock, her disbelief evident. "What the hell, Emma?"

Isabella rushed over, her expression a mix of concern and confusion. "Emma, what's gotten into you?"

Nina's shock was evident as she watched the chaotic scene unfold. Carlos doubled over in pain, falling to the ground with a groan. Isabella looked stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief at the sudden turn of events.

Finn arrived at the scene, confusion etched on his face as he noticed Olivia and Emily, tears in their eyes, packing up their things. "What's going on?" he demanded, his tone demanding answers.

Carlos struggled to his feet, his voice bitter. "Emma revealed her true colors. This is what we get for trusting her."

Just as Finn was about to respond, Liam appeared at the booth, his expression puzzled. "Hey, what's happening here?"

Nina's voice trembled as she uttered her final sentence, her disbelief palpable. "I don't know who that was. But that's not Emma."

***

Stuck in the cramped closet, panic churned within me like a whirlwind. The walls closed in, and the air felt suffocating. Just as despair settled in, I heard a familiar voice calling my name from the other side of the door. "Emma? Are you alright in there?"

I couldn't help but muster a sarcastic reply, my voice laced with bitterness. "Oh, you know, just living the dream. Trapped in a fucking closet. What could possibly be wrong?"

Ryder's hands fumbled with the lock, and the door swung open, revealing his concerned face. I stumbled out, relief washing over me as the fresh air hit my face. But it wasn't just the closet that had been confining me; the chaos of the day had me on edge.

Ryder's arms enveloped me in a reassuring hug, grounding me in the present moment. "Hey, hey, it's alright. You're safe now."

He led me back to where the Beast Ink crew was, their expressions a mixture of annoyance and frustration. I couldn't understand why their attitude had shifted so suddenly. Carlos's glare, Finn's disappointed look, and Nina's stern demeanor sent confusion coursing through me. Her words cut through the tension. "You better have a damn good explanation for your behavior."

I felt compelled to justify myself, to make them understand. "I was locked in a closet," I blurted out, the words tumbling from my lips.

Carlos scoffed, quick to dismiss my words. "Yeah, right. Like we're supposed to believe that."

But Ryder interjected, his voice firm and resolute. "It's true. Her twin sister's been sabotaging her all day. She locked Emma in the closet. Trust me, I found her."

Carlos remained skeptical, shaking his head. "Sounds like a load of bull to me."

Finn's gaze bore into me, assessing the truth in my words. Liam, Nina, and Isabella seemed to share his sentiment, their expressions shifting from skepticism to understanding.

I couldn't bear the weight of their doubt any longer. "Where's Olivia and Emily?"

Nina's gaze softened as she explained the events that had unfolded. "Olivia's designs were ruined, and Emily and Olivia left, hurt by your sister."

A surge of anger coursed through me, mingling with a newfound determination. I stormed off, the urge to confront Ellie building within me. She needed to learn that her actions had consequences, not just for me but for those around her too.

***

I couldn't contain my anger any longer. With a fiery determination, I marched towards Ellie's booth, my heart pounding with a mix of fury and betrayal. This was the limit – she had gone too far. As I reached her, my fingers curled into a tight grip on her hair, yanking her over the counter and onto the ground. The onlookers' shocked gasps barely registered as I let my anger take control.  My pulse raced as I unleashed a punch, my anger boiling over into my fist. 

"You conniving little witch!"

My voice dripped with venom as I shouted, "You think you can mess with me and get away with it? You're dead wrong!"

Blood trickled from her lip, staining the ground beneath her, but her victorious smirk only fueled my rage further. How could she stand there, bleeding, and still act so smug? She spat out words that cut like daggers, "You really are vile under that shy little exterior you put on for everybody."  It was as if she was reveling in this chaos she had caused.

I couldn't hold back my anger any longer. My knuckles clenched as I struck her again, the impact echoing my frustration and hurt. Just as I was about to deliver another blow, Ryder's firm grip closed around my arm, pulling me back. "Emma, stop. It's not worth it."

"You will regret this, Ellie," I warned, my voice low and filled with a quiet intensity. "You won't get away with trying to ruin everything I've worked for."

I shot a final glare at Ellie before reluctantly allowing Ryder to guide me away from the scene. Ellie would regret crossing me, and I was determined to make sure of it. I whispered a threat under my breath, a promise that she would pay for what she had done.