Falling For Number Nineteen

Chapter 2 : The Twin Who Didn't Care

Juliet's POV

"You're impossible." I didn't look up from my book.

Julia groaned dramatically from the other side of my bedroom. "Did you even hear what I said?"

"No." "Juliet!" I turned a page. "That answers your question."

My sister threw a pillow at me.

Unfortunately, her aim was excellent.

The pillow smacked me directly in the face.

I lowered my book and glared at her.Julia looked entirely unapologetic."You're rude."

"And you're disturbing my peace." She gasped.

"I am trying to have a serious conversation."

I looked around the room."With who?"

"With you!" I sighed.

Being Julia Morgan's twin sister was exhausting.

Not because she was a bad person.Far from it.

She was funny, Loyal.

Kind when she wanted to be But she was also dramatic.

Very dramatic.Meanwhile, I preferred silence.

Books, Coffee.

And a life free of unnecessary complications.

Unfortunately, my sister seemed determined to provide enough complications for both of us.

"Do you know what day it is?" she asked.

"Tuesday." She rolled her eyes.

"No."

I returned my attention to my textbook."It is Tuesday."

"Not that." I flipped another page, Julia groaned again.

I smiled.Annoying her was one of my favorite hobbies.

"Today," she declared, "the Kingswell Titans won another game." I blinked then continued reading.A few seconds passed."That's it?"

I looked up. "What exactly am I supposed to say?"

"I don't know." She pointed at me accusingly.

"Normal people would be excited." I stared at her then at my textbook.

Then back at her."Why?"

Julia looked personally offended

"Because Charles Harrison played."There it was.The real reason for this conversation.

Charles Harrison.The great love of Julia Morgan's life.At least according to Julia.

Personally, I had never understood the obsession. Sure.

Everyone knew who he was.The basketball captain.The superstar.

The future professional athlete.

The guy whose face appeared on billboards.

But beyond that?I couldn't care less.

Which drove Julia absolutely crazy.She sat beside me on the bed.

"Did you know he scored thirty-four points today?"

"No."

"Did you know he made the game-winning shot?"

"No."

"Did you know he—"

"No."

Julia narrowed her eyes.

"You're doing this on purpose."

"Probably."

She fell backward onto the mattress."I can't believe we're related."

I smiled.

"Yet somehow we survived twenty years together."

"Barely."

That made me laugh.For a moment, silence settled between us.A rare occurrence.

Then Julia suddenly sat up."Oh!"

I immediately became suspicious.

That tone never led to anything good.

"What?"

Her smile widened.

I knew that smile.

It was the smile she wore right before creating problems.

"You should come to the next game with me."

Absolutely not.

"No."

Her smile didn't falter."You didn't even think about it." "Because the answer is no.hel

"Why?"

I stared at her."Because I have exams."

"You always have exams."

"Exactly."

She folded her arms.

"You need a social life."

"I have a social life."

Julia laughed so hard she nearly fell off the bed.The audacity

"My friends exist."

"Your friends are textbooks."

"They have never disappointed me." She pointed dramatically."That is not normal."

I returned to reading.Conversation over

Or so I hoped.Unfortunately, Julia wasn't finished.

"Please."

"No."

"Please."

"No."

"Please."

"No."

"Please."

I looked up.She was using puppy eyes.

The dangerous weapon she'd perfected since childhood I hated those eyes, Because they worked.Sometimes tho.

Very rarely.

But sometimes.One game," she said.

"

"No."

"Half a game."

"No."

"One quarter."

"No."

"Five minutes." I sighed She smiled.

The smile of someone sensing victory."I hate that look."

"You love this look."

"I don't."

"You do."

I threw the pillow back at her.This time, I missed.She laughed.

A few hours later, I finally escaped to the university library.

My favorite place on campus.Peaceful.

Quiet.

Perfect.

I settled into my usual corner and opened my notes.

Within minutes, the outside world disappeared.

Medicine did that to me.

Once I started studying, everything else faded away.

Hours passed.The library slowly emptied.

Students left one after another,Until only a handful remained.

I was reviewing anatomy notes when someone suddenly sat across from me.

I looked up.

My best friend, Sophia.

"Still studying?"

I raised an eyebrow."We're in a library."

"Fair point."She glanced at my notes.

Then shook her head."I don't know how you do it."

"Do what?"

"Study for fun."

I smiled.

"It is fun."

Sophia looked horrified.

"You're terrifying."

I took that as a compliment.She leaned forward.

"So." Uh-oh

That tone was familiar."What?"

"I heard your sister is planning to attend the Titans game this weekend."

I groaned.Not this again.

"Apparently."Sophia laughed.

"Let me guess."

"She wants me to go."

"And?"

"No."

Sophia looked thoughtful.

Then she smiled.A very suspicious smile.

I immediately disliked it.

"What?"

"You should go."I stared at her.

Traitor.

"Not you too."

"Come on."

"I have studying to do."

"You study every day."

"Exactly."She laughed.

"One game won't kill you." I wasn't so sure.

Before I could respond, my phone vibrated.

A message from Julia appeared.I opened it.

Then regretted it instantly.

JULIA: I ALREADY BOUGHT YOUR TICKET

My eye twitched.

Another message arrived.

JULIA: YOU'RE WELCOME

Then another.

JULIA: WE'RE GOING TO THE GAME

Then another.

JULIA: DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT SAYING NO

I closed my eyes.

Sophia was laughing.

The traitor, my phone vibrated again.One final message.

JULIA: YOU MIGHT EVEN SEE CHARLES HARRISON IN PERSON

I typed a response.

ME: I DON'T CARE ABOUT CHARLES HARRISON.

Her reply came immediately.

JULIA: THAT'S WHAT MAKES YOU WEIRD.

I stared at the screen.

Then sighed.

Because deep down...

I already knew I was going to that game.

And somehow...

That feeling worried me more than it should have.