THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 42 - CAR RIDE

GABRIEL



We got into the car and I drove to the coffee shop. She was already waiting with a bunch of luggage.

   -You told me it was going to be just a few days…

   -I know, but I assume you didn't have camping ten and other stuff…

I was confused, are we going camping?

   -I knew it. Help me get this into the car.

She said as she passed me a huge bag. I started helping her and saw the twins leaving the car.

   -You do look alike! I mean I already saw you two but you are…

   -Yes, we know we are twins.

Daniel said while also carrying some bags. David didn’t say a word and Crystal just looked at me. When everything was inside the twins went to the back of the car and let me and Crystal at the front.

   -So?

I said while I looked at her.

   -So what?

   -I don’t know where I should go, you said you wanted to go to the beach, but I don’t know where it is…

   -I will tell you don't worry, just drive to the west exit of the city.

I did as she told me, she kept looking at the back of the car, and just spoke when she had to give me directions.

   -”Your boss is strange.”

Daniel mindlink me.

   -”I mean I knew she was strange but now she is just at another level, she just keeps eying us.”

I had also noticed that, but I wasn’t sure why, and she was being awfully quiet…

   -”Daniel, David! Fall asleep!”

   -”But I’m not tired?”

   -”I don’t care, David just please pretend to be asleep.”

   -”Why?”

We had been just a couple of hours driving and David was already getting on my nerves.

   -”You think she wants to say something?”

Daniel’s voice was calm.

   -”Yes I do.”

   -Okay, David and I will pretend to sleep but you have less than an hour, then we will wake up.”

   -”Thanks.”

I looked back and saw the two getting into a comfortable position and closing their eyes. Crystal also saw them and she kept looking back, when minutes passed and they were still and with their eyes closed Crystal got near to me.

   -You didn’t tell me about bringing more people.

Was she mad because I added more people to the trip? 

   -Sorry it was a rush decision and…

   -It’s okay, but I only brought two tents so you three would need to share.

   -That’s okay, it's no problem.

She kept looking back making sure they were still sleeping.

   -I don’t think they like me.

   -Why would you say that?

   -This morning I was kind of rude to them, I didn’t even say hi or good morning…

   -Well they also didn’t…

   -No but I’m the grown-up, they are just 18… I should be the mature one.

   -They will not take it to heart.

   -I can always bribe them with sweets.

   -That’s another way…

As she said that she took out a bag full of cookies.

   -I made this yesterday.

   -All of that just for us?

   -Well I know you aren't a fan so they were just for me.

   -You know you are going to get sick if you eat that amount of sugar alone right?

   -That's not true!

   -Yes it is! My sister is a doctor, we can call her if you want…

   -You wouldn’t dare…

   -Believe me, I would.

Then she looked at the front and rolled down the window.

   -We are close! I can almost smell the sea!

I continued driving, while Crystal told me her experiences on the beach. Some stories were fun, others were comic and in others, she stuttered and looked at the window as if she was looking for something. She was laughing about her own story of being stranded on the ocean on an inflatable flamingo.

   -Are we there yet?

Daniels' voice made me look back and Crystals stopped laughing.

   -We are almost there…

   -Well I smell cookies…

   -Here I made this, do you want some?

   -Yes!

Daniel took the bag from Crystal's hands and started eating.

   -Share with David.

   -David is still sleeping.

I looked at the bag and he was right, David had his mouth open and drooled.

-He didn’t sleep much today, he tried to leave the room without me noticing, but of course, I noticed. 

-So you didn’t even know your brother was leaving until tomorrow morning?

-Yes.

-And just like that, you decided to join him?

-Yes.

-You are as impulsive as Gabriel… When I mentioned the trip he did the same, he added himself without thinking.

“We are not like them.” Zeus was annoyed by the comparison. “Let her think that we are supposed to be related so it’s an advantage for us.”

   -Daniel right?

   -Yes… How did you know I was Daniel?

   -Well David has the bandage on his face so it wasn’t that hard.

I could see Daniel wasn’t happy at the recollection of David’s injury, but Crystal didn’t seem to notice, but I was sure of it when he took a cap and put it on. “Gur is mad,” Zeus said I was trying to think what I could say to change the topic but my mind was blank.

   -So Daniel, You and David resemble more your Mom or your Dad?

   - That’s a hard question…

   -Really? 

Crystal said as she looked at me.

   -And Gabriel?

   -He is definitely his Dad.

   -His Dad?

I notice Crystal looking at me.

   -”We are siblings, remember?”

   -”Sorry I completely forgot for one second…”

   -”You can’t forget for even a split of a second… No time for mistakes! and keep your ears down or you better don’t take that cap off.”

“Gabriel you better say something fast she is starting to look suspicious!” Zeus was already panicking on my head.

   -He is mad with Dad, that’s why he still talks as if he wasn’t his...

I was still trying to assimilate what was happening so David’s voice almost made me jump.

   -... and the scent of cookies makes me dizzy. Do you have chips or something salty? 

   -I have some pretzels…

   -That will do…

   -But they have chocolate…

I saw David take the bag from Crystal and open it.

   -It’s okay I will only eat the part that doesn't have the chocolate.

   -So you are biting my pretzels and leaving them half-eaten?

   -Yes.

I could see Crystal disprove David’s behavior.

   -Don’t worry boss I will eat the part with chocolate that he is leaving.

She looked at me and scolded me with her sight, but she didn’t say anything and just returned to tell me directions… Then I saw the sea… It was beautiful, the water sparkled with the sun rays and it was just water until the horizon.

   -We are close now, the next exit you will turn right and we will drive through a small road and then we need to leave the car and walk to the spot where we will set up the camp.

I just kept admiring the clear sand, the tall palm trees, the salty scent. As soon as I stepped out of the car I felt the heat hit my face and the humidity fluffed up my hair, just as the twins' hair. Crystal grabbed her hair in a ponytail, but still, I could see the effects of the humidity. The twins took some luggage and I took the rest, leaving Crystal with just two bags and what looked like a huge umbrella.

   -We are close, just five more minutes walking that way and we pass those hills, and then there we will settle down.  

It was easier said than done, as I tried to get that heel up and my feet slid down, the sand was not helping me. I saw the twins having the same problem.

   -I give up! Let's settle here…

Daniel started to throw the things in the sand and David just stopped trying.

   -Come on boys!

I looked up and Crustal was already up.

   -How did she get up there?

Daniel looked amazed.

   -Try to put your feet looking at the side, and if necessary leave some stuff down so the weight won’t pull you down.

I could see Daniel looking at Crystal and then he took two bags and started walking sideways. David followed him and I also left some boxes and started walking up just as she told them. It actually worked… I was amazed….

   -You three look surprised, didn’t you do sports in high school?

   -What does that have to do with that…

Daniel said while he slid down the hill to pick more stuff.

   -When my brothers played at high school they had a trip to train at the beach, the sand it’s heavier when you run they come here and train…

   -We always train on solid ground or snow.

   -Snow? Like real snow? That would be great! The heat isn’t my climate of choice.

   -Then why are we on the beach?

David said while he opened some boxes.

   -I love the breeze and the feeling of the wet sand and…

   -That’s the worst feeling!

Daniel said with a horrified face. I moved my feet and the sand felt more solid than going up the hill.