Chapter 2: Rash Decisions

© Abbie Orsar

Dedicated to      for the amazing coveYYou rock a million.

"What do you need? A ride to the auditions? Just ask."

Sending a big grin her way, I am trying to make her feel comfortable. It feels weird having her uncomfortable around me. Too different. I need regular Bella back. She is continuously squirming in her seat like a little child. She has something to say but she looks like she's not going to say it. Since when was she fidgety? I guess since now, I wonder if someone from the future stole my twin and replaced her with an uncertain robot.

"I don't want Derrick to be mad at me for picking the audition over him so I have a plan."

Bella was becoming more cryptic than Dad in the morning and that was a real accomplishment. She breathes like she is preparing herself for a test she hasn't studied for.

"Ineedyoutopretendtobeme."

"Whoa, chill not so fast. Take your time."

"I need you to pretend you are me and go on the date with Derrick."

--

"No Bella!"

The rest of the ride I'd been surprised and mad at Bella. I throw my bag violently at my blue cotton sheets. I am furious, seeping with anger.  I may be over acting but all of Bella's stupid dilemmas, this one tops the list.

"Athena please..."

Bella is weakly pleading outside my room door. I locked it so she wouldn't be able to come in. I am glad that Mom and Dad haven't shown up yet. What would they say?

"No." I grit through my teeth, knowing she will hear me.

"Give me a valid reason. I mean valid." I request to her.

"Well, he's hot." She says.

"Thanks Belle, now I can add another point to my "Why I shouldn't do this?" list. Keep going." I say, sarcasm dripping from my voice.

"What's wrong with him being hot?"

She asks me, like she doesn't already why.

"Everything! He's yours and I don't exactly like sharing guys with my sis. Did you even think that Derrick will be cheating on you unknowingly if I do this?"

"Is it because, you're scared of letting your first kiss go to Derrick?"

"That's not it." Replying certain, I need to make sure Bella doesn't find my reasons so she can pick at it and make me give in.

That's a logical part of my reason for the standard no and also the part that this is wrong. Am I the only sensible one among us?

"I'm okay with you kissing him as long as you guys don't the deed. You know we still haven't gone to third base yet."

Now, I know Bella is on crack. What sane girlfriend would allow her boyfriend to be unfaithful, even if it's her sister?

"You're insane and I don't need to know you haven't seen Derrick naked."

"Trust me, it's his fault I haven't seen him without clothes."

That explains that, Derrick's a good kid and Bella is currently being a manipulative teen.

"Bella, get off whatever drug, your crazy friends have convinced you to take."

"I'm not high, I'm not as dumb as to  join the crackers club."

 She's above weed but not above deceiving her present boy toy. She's not a virgin like me undoubtedly but somehow Derrick has gotten her comfortable in her jeans, which is surprising. The girl that has forced me into a conversation is wilder than Lindsay Lohan which may explain her rash decisions.

 I am being mean and it's not that serious of a situation but I remain mad. I will not go outside this door unless I have to eat or remove waste from my body. My twin is being a lunatic. How could I possibly be her? She has a poise that is hard to capture, her smile is inviting and the hair. I refuse to cut my hair or dye it. I keep it straight and that was how it was going to remain. Straight, long and brown.

"Athena, this audition could change my life and I don't want to break Derrick's heart. He's a nice guy."

"The answer remains a no." I stand my ground; I can't be persuaded to her side. Besides I am tired of always being far from reluctant to help her.

"Two months of our relationship, please?" Her pleads seem rehearsed. Then again, she is Bella, the actress. I know that she is acting. It tears me apart knowing that someone as nice as Derrick was bound to Bella and her harsh decisions.

"Why don't you just reschedule?" I elevate my head from my bed as I rest.

"Because, this day is special, he kept talking about how he'd planned it and I have to give him his gift, on that day. We can't change it."

 Finding myself stuck on whether to leave the room and eat or stuff my face into the pillow, I choose the latter. An easy decision. Keep a distance from Bella and she will forget she even asked this, I tell myself. The only problem I don't believe that she can forget something that seems to be this important to her. If she and Derrick were as close as they proved to be, why couldn't she just talk to him and alter the date of their arrangements. Knowing her, she wouldn't stop begging until she has her way. This time I planned on being strong.

  I am not going to say yes. I am not going to say yes. I am not going to say yes. On and on, I repeat to myself. She and I both know how prone I am to give in to whatever she asks.

"Twins are supposed to sacrifice like this for each other." She says her voice shaky.

I sigh, remove my face from the pillow and scream at her, "No they're not!"

"If you loved me, you would have said yes the moment I asked!"

 How dare she? Of all the possible things to say. I feel angered and aggravated. I am not supposed to lay myself as a rag for her to use whenever she so wishes. I'm not supposed to be ready to bend my back whichever she points her finger because we are twins!

"Don't bring that word, love into this. Would you do all my work for me if I asked you to?"

"I would!"

"Stop lying to yourself Bella!"

"What's with all the screaming?"

 I hear a masculine voice and I know it's the one and only Cayden. The most annoying older brother possible. The brother I love and the same brother that owes me fifty bucks.

 I open my door gently only to see Bella already in his arms, so I run and shove her away from him playfully. I squeeze him so hard. I think his veins are going to pop. I haven't seen him for three years except for his brief visits.

"Hey, you can let go now." He pretends as if he is choking and I lightly punch as I release him form my death grip hug.

I laugh at him momentarily forgetting my previous disagreement with Bella.

"Why are you here so early?"

He scratches the back of his head and says, "I dropped out of medical school. I figured out that I love the earth. I want to save it."

"You're dead. When mom and dad find out..." I look at him shaking my head disapprovingly.  He's dead meat waiting to be barbequed by its captors. The captors being our parents in this case.

Cayden has blonde hair like Bella and dad's brown eyes. He's dressed casual as always in knee length khakis, a surfboard t-shirt and slippers. The surf- board thing throws me off guard. Cayden has this thing about wearing shirts that define him. The only problem is he can't surf. He got wiped out every time we went surfing as his graduation present.

Regarding his dropping out, I knew he was going to drop out of medical school sooner or late; he'd just been trying to please our parents and look where that got him.  I start laughing hysterically unable to stop myself.

"You're an idiot Cayden Carter." I state the obvious.

"Whatever, if I'm right which I always am, Mom and Dad won't be home for another hour or so."

He's right, the big, hulky, smart and annoying man he is.

Sitting down on the long couch, I cozy up beside him. Bella sits on his opposite side glaring at me with sword glare. Maybe, I'm scared and intimidated but not enough to give in. I return my own all-knowing stare and keep the expression on.

Noticing the feud, Cayden says, "Why are you guys at it like two models fighting over the last Gucci bag?"

That was a weird comparison but nonetheless, "Tell him Belle." I say sharp and shoot a fierce look at her.

"Why, that's the only down right sentence, you've said since we got home." She replies and I gasp knowing that those should be my words and not hers, the little whiny brat.

"Go ahead and tell the story."

"Don't rush me, you insulting witch."

I grab at her hair but before my hand can reach her face or her head, Cayden catches my hand and she jerks back staring at me in disbelief. I'm fed up and about ready to stomp off. This day has been nothing but anger curdling deep inside me. If I were a cartoon, I'd be red from my feet to mid head. I'm close to explosion.

"Relax little Athens." He says, releasing my hand and rests it on my side.

Cayden uses my nickname and I relax and Bella breathes a sigh of relief. She's safe for now.

"Tell it out Elle."

He knows that the names he gave us when we were younger are one weird way to have Bella and I relax. I'm glad he came home early. If not for him, I would be beating down her no doubt about it. I have the upper hand if we were leveled by strength. Here mere presence is now causing surges of rage through me.

"Well," Bella starts out, "I have been called for an audition downtown with Edmund Werard on April 15."

"Edmund Werard, wow! But is that it?" Now confused of course, Cayden urges Bella for more. I didn't know that Edmund Werard was the guy orchestrating the auditions. He is a pretty big Broadway celebrity maker.

"Not really, well this is a big audition role that can land me on Broadway but..."

"But, come on Elle we ain't got all day. I kinda have to get my cover up story ready for Mom and Dad."

"Well, the audition is on April 15th and I also have this big second year anniversary date with Derrick on the same date. I only wanted little Athens over there to replace me on the date. I's not like she could take my place on the big stage. I don't want to let Derrick down."

"Don't be rude to someone you need a favor from Elle. Why can't you reschedule with Darren or whatever his name is?" Cayden asks being logical and I'm so glad someone sees it my way.

"I can't because he told me the arrangements he made were certain. They're at this fancy place and he got all the details ready for this day. I lied to him that I picked the date over the audition. He believes I'm going to be there. I'm in serious need and she won't help me."

Bella looks more vulnerable than I've ever seen her and I feel this compelling need to wrap my hands around her and help her feel better. However, I don't because I have to try not to let our bond phase the situation.

"I see," He turns to me. "Little Athens, you can see how low Elle has sunk."

"Hey! I've not sunk low." Bella replies with fury in his eyes. I want to break out in laughter.

Is Cayden seriously siding with Ms. Lunatic?

"Hey Elle, relax I'm already fighting for you." And Cayden is on Bell's side. Good for nothing siblings.

"Really Cayden?" I ask hysterically.

"Yes. Your sister is calling out to you and she needs your help. It probably will be only this one time anyway. Just help her."

I shake my head furiously. NO! Now, the only sensible one remaining in my family, I'm exhausted and don't have enough energy to be mad but I can stomp away. How can he side with her? Her views are rash and incomprehensible. They make no sense. She's crazy and I've never seen someone so manipulative.

"Don't over react?" Cayden says to me, his voice calm and understanding. I only now wish he could understand my side.

"Athens, she needs you and I know Elle is crazy and has over the top ideas, she is giving you a free pass to get back at her and help at the same time.  You can help her by allowing two places at once and get back at her by being with her boyfriend. A two in one deal."

I hadn't thought of it that way. Maybe Cay wasn't as idiotic as I thought he was to listen to Bella.

"I get it. I help her and I can hurt because she knows I'm with her boyfriend. Can you deal with it Bella?" I say mischievously, more to myself than to Bella or Cayden.

"Yay! She agreed. Thanks Cay. Athena, I'll give you the location, time, you already know the date. Oh my gosh, I love you so much right now. I'll make you look exactly like me. I love, love, love makeovers."

She talks faster than I can stop her.

"I never said yes." I state straight faced and with a blank expression.

Bella seems as if she's going to break and maybe that pleases the evil side I never thought I had.

"You are so mean! I hate you!" She screams.

Bella runs off this time, she's doing what I should be doing.

"Little Athens, you were never this harsh. I guess people change. Just think about it. I'm gonna go shower, I hope my old room isn't messed up. Think about it. I already know your answer."

 He walks away towards his old room that hasn't changed a bit even after he left. He knows that as much as I do. I know as much as his does, I will give in to Bella in the morning. I'm not mean and don't like hurting Bella's feeling. Cayden just persuaded me even more. I smirk thinking of what I'm walking open eyed into. Maybe I'm being stupid with my nice attitude but I can't stand seeing my sister when I had the power to stop it.

 I sleep on the couch waiting for Mom and Dad to come home and tell me to go sleep in my room. I'll finish my homework after I wake up. Secretly I can't wait to find out what Mom and Dad say when they see Cayden back so early.

 I dream and somehow Derrick wonders into my thoughts. Not good.

Authors Note: (It feels cool calling myself an "author")

Umm... I think you guys should decide if this is a filler chapter or not. I think Cayden is hot. I wouldn't mind having a Cayden Carter in my life. Bella is whoa. Athena is doing the right thing? Tell me whatcha think. Down in the comments. I hope that the readers  recognize how hard it is to fit writing these chapters into my hectic life with school and taking care of siblings. So, just be patient with me.

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Comment  (Down there) \/

Love y'all, Abbie!