Josie pushed the door to her dad’s office open, catching Jo by surprise. She lowered the photo album in her arms.

“You’re not supposed to be in here.”

“Can I get some advice?” Josie asked instead of answering. “About dealing with twins?”

Jo smiled. “Of course.”

“... and she just never considers anybody’s feelings but her own!” Josie was finishing, barely holding still as Jo tied off her braid. “Like today, she didn’t even care that I would be late to my party! She just said I could 'catch up' after I helped her do her hair and left me behind to get ready by myself!” She sighed heavily and sank back in her chair. “This is so nice. I never get to just say how I really feel. Dad always tells me I should try to see things from her perspective or communicate my thoughts to her.”

Jo tried to smile patiently, handing Josie her brush back. “I think your dad is just trying to keep the peace.”

“Yeah, I know.” Josie took the brush back and smiled at it. “But sometimes I don’t want peace, you know? Sometimes I want to scream or break something or … or … I don’t know.”

Jo held her breath for a moment before speaking quietly, “Hurt someone?”

“I mean, yeah.” Josie laughed. “But it’s against the rules so …” She turned to look at Jo. “Does that mean you felt the same growing up with Uncle Kai?”

Jo let out a rush of air and stepped around Josie to sit on the couch.

Josie nodded some more. “You understand me, don’t you? In ways that Dad and Lizzie and Penelope can’t.” Josie knew it. She could feel it in Jo’s silence. “They didn’t grow up with a psycho twin like us.”

Jo pursed her lips thoughtfully. “That depends … How do you feel about dark magic?”

Josie’s face split into another elated grin. “You can’t tell Dad because he’ll freak out, but I’ve dabbled in some black magic with Penelope. It was … a rush. Exhilarating.” Josie thought of the time she lit a girl on fire after a party. “Like I could do whatever I wanted and nobody could stop me or - or nothing else mattered.” 

Jo nodded, the words sounding horrifically familiar.

“Is that what it was like for you too? Like a rollercoaster high?” Josie asked, face still glowing with pride, even when it dropped a bit as she remembered more. “I had to stop, though. I thought I might get in trouble with Dad if he found out. He doesn’t take too lightly to stuff like that.”

“It’s a good thing you stopped,” Jo said. She clasped her hands in her lap in front of her. “Black magic gets inside your heart and it poisons your mind.”

Josie’s smile fell. “Is this one of those cautionary tales? Like ‘Don’t drink before twenty-one. I did and look at me, I crashed the family car.’?” She laughed nervously. 

“No, it’s much, much worse.”

“I think I better get to my party now.” Josie stood up abruptly. “Thanks for the hair.”

She headed towards the door, stopping just before she set her hand on the handle. She turned back to Jo.

“You know, I wish you’d actually understood me.” She dropped her eyes to the floor and rubbed at her dry nose. 

“Josie …”

“No, it’s fine.” She shook her head. “You were just manipulating me. I think you and Lizzie have more in common than you and I do.”