Lineage

Chapter 1

Charleston, South Carolina - Present Day

Theo

The crisp evening air blowing through my damp hair feels refreshing as I walk from the locker room to the entrance of the football stadium. Practice was hot and rough this evening. I notice my sister Tatum and my best friend, Colton obviously flirting with one another. I am not sure what I think about that just yet. I'll have to talk to Teagan and see what she knows. The twins tell each other everything. My best friend and my sister. Is this going to get weird?

"It's about time!" Tatum teases. "Colt is starving!".

Teagan laughs as she starts walking towards the parking lot. "Colt is always starving you can't blame Theo!"

"True!", Tatum giggles.

"Hey, I'm a growing boy!" snaps Colton. "Practice takes a lot out of me."

I punch him on the shoulder as I walk by, "Well come on let's get you fed big guy". I smirk as he rubs his shoulder while trailing me to my Land Rover.

"Mel's ok?", I ask as I open the driver's door.

"Fine by me", Colton agrees.

"Sure," the twins said in unison.

I eye my younger sisters in the rearview as I back out of the parking space. "What did you two do after dance team practice?"

"We flirted as the team left the weight room after practice!" Teagan exclaimed. "I'm pretty sure Dane Rutledge has the hots for Tatum!" I saw Tatum give Teagan a sideways look after hearing Colton's sharp inhale when she had mentioned Rutledge and Tatum. I am pretty sure Tay was telling her to shut up. My best friend and my sister. This is going to get weird!

The twins are 16 years old. Juniors on the dance team at Wilkes Hall. Unfortunately, they are gorgeous and all the guys in school know it. Luckily, most are too scared to mess with them for fear of Colton and I beating their ass. We are seniors at Wilkes Hall. I'm the football team's star quarterback. Colton is the wide receiver. The two of us have been perfecting plays since we were 4. We are a machine, we've led the team to state two years in a row now. Headed for three this year.

Teegan, Tatum, and I are Bancrofts, Charleston aristocracy. Our family is in shipping, and our ties go as far back as the colonists. Our childhood was spent on one adventure after another. We learned to read and write with mom on the family yacht in the middle of the Caribbean. Dad taught us algebra and chemistry in the south of France. William Theodore Bancroft II and his wife Vivian, our parents, are treasure hunters. A real-life Indiana Jones and Laura Croft if you will. They are great! The girls and I are super close to both of them. Colt and his dad have been on most of those adventures. Steve, Colton's dad is my dad's right hand. His best friend, his brother. Colt and I are best friends, just like our dads.

Once we got older our parents decided we should attend high school at Wilkes Hall, in Charleston. Of course, our grandparents are overjoyed to have their 3 grandchildren living with them in the family home. Having us there on the regular means mom and dad spend a great deal of time there as well. My grandmother loves it. Having the family together is what she lives for, but dad and mom still treasure hunt. Currently, they are off on another adventure. As a matter of fact, it is about time for our evening facetime session with them.

I ease the Land Rover into a parking space at Mel's Pizza and turn off the ignition. Teagan and I lead the way. Tatum and Colton are walking side by side behind us and I notice Colt lightly bump arms with Tatum just before they step through the door. I overhear him as we walk to our table.

"So, you and Rutledge?"

"Um, why?" Tatum presses. "Does that bother you for some reason?"

"Maybe" utters Colton. Their conversation and my eavesdropping are cut short as we arrive at the table.

"I guess you'll have to text me later and explain that maybe" Tatum whispers before she slides into the booth. Teegan slides into the booth beside me, and I am pretty sure she did it so that Tay and Colt would be sitting next to each other. I cringe inwardly as I notice him glance guiltily at me across the table. I'm still not sure what to think about this. Colton and I need to have a serious talk. Soon. My best friend and my sister! Weird!

Teagan nudges me, "So, it's about time for mom and dad to facetime us", she says. "Let me out so I can use the restroom real quick."

"Me too!" Tatum declares.

We get up so the girls can scoot out of the booth and head to the restroom. I stare at Colton now that we are alone.

I blurt out, "Dude, what is up with you and Tatum?"

About the same time Colton says, "Hey, we need to talk".

"Fine, let's talk", I insist.

"Not here, not now", Colt utters. We eye each other until the waitress interrupts the stare down to bring our menus. I open my mouth to tell her we don't need menus we are ready to order, but my phone rings. I dig it out of my pocket as Colton places our order. I see it's mom by the name on the display. I answer but get nothing. I glance over to see the girls coming out of the restroom. Both are on their phones as well. That's odd.

"Hello", I repeat.

"Hello, mom?" Tatum says over and over as she and Teagan arrive back at the table. Teagan puts her phone back in her pocket before she slides back into the booth.

"That was weird!" she exclaims, "Did mom call you too?" she asks, looking at me. I nod as we all look at each other.

"Did she actually say anything to either of you?" I ask the girls

"Nothing!" says Tatum.

"Yeah, not a thing!" Teagan declares. "Let's try them back." She dials mom's number, but it just goes straight to voicemail.

"Wait, how did she call all three of your phones at once?" Colton wonders.

"Ever heard of a conference call moron?" teases Tatum.

"Yeah, smartypants, but is that how you normally talk to your parents??" Colton snorts.

"No, it's not, and why didn't she say anything?" I wonder.

"Or answer when we called back?" Teagan adds

"I'm sure she will call back soon, " I murmur. "Their service is probably just spotty" I try to convince the girls everything is fine. although, I'm not so sure myself.