Chapter 4 : The Wrong Twin
993 Words
Paul's POV
Most people watched Charles Harrison.
I watched the people watching Charles Harrison.It was far more entertaining.
"PAUL!"
The crowd erupted as I sank the final free throw.The buzzer sounded.Game over.
Kingswell Titans win again.The arena exploded.
Students jumped from their seats.Cheerleaders screamed The mascot nearly fell down the stairs normal Friday night.
I grinned and high-fived one of my teammates.
Then another ,Then another.The energy was infectious.The Titans were on fire this season.
Undefeated.
The championship was getting closer.And everyone knew it.Especially the scouts sitting courtside.I looked toward the front rows.Three different NBA scouts.Two sports agents.Several sponsors.
And about a thousand students who acted like Charles was some kind of basketball god.
Speaking of the devil...
"Captain!"
A reporter practically launched herself toward Charles the second he stepped off the court.
Another reporter followed.
Then another.
Poor guy looked exhausted.Not that anyone cared.When you were Charles Harrison, privacy didn't exist.I watched him answer questions.
Smile for cameras.Shake hands.Pretend he enjoyed every second of it.Then something strange happened.His attention drifted.Just for a second toward the stands I followed his gaze.
And immediately spotted the reason The twins.
Interesting.
One looked like she wanted to frame Charles' photograph and hang it above her bed.
The other looked like she'd rather be studying.
I laughed.
Charles glanced back toward the reporters.
But I'd already noticed.And once I noticed something...
I didn't forget it.The locker room was chaos.
Music blasted from someone's speaker.Water bottles flew through the air.
A rookie got tackled into a pile of towels.
Coach pretended to be angry.Nobody believed him.We were winning Life was good
"Listen up!"
Coach clapped his hands.The room slowly settled."Excellent game."
A chorus of cheers followed. Coach rolled his eyes.Then smiled.
"There will be a celebration tonight."
That got everyone's attention.Several players immediately started shouting Someone began dancing.Coach regretted everything.
"The sponsors are hosting a VIP event downtown."
Now the room completely exploded.I looked toward Charles Unlike everyone else...
He looked bored.Suspiciously bored.I walked over."What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing."
"Liar."
He grabbed a bottle of water.
"I'm fine."
I narrowed my eyes.He was absolutely not fine.
But before I could push further...
Three teammates dragged me away.Apparently they needed help deciding which suits to wear.
Idiots.
Meanwhile...
Across town.
Julia Morgan was having a completely different crisis.
"No."
Juliet didn't even look up.Julia groaned dramatically. "Come on."
"No."
"Please."
"No."
"Just for one hour."
"No."
Sophia laughed.Juliet glared at both of them.
The three girls sat inside a coffee shop less than ten minutes from campus.Unfortunately for Juliet...
She was badly outnumbered.
"Everybody from the cheer squad is going," Julia argued.
"Then have fun."
"You should come."
"I shouldn't."
"You literally watched the game."
"I survived the game."
Sophia almost choked on her coffee.Julia looked personally offended.
"What's wrong with basketball?"
"Nothing."
"Then why do you sound like that?"Juliet sighed.
Because explaining herself was exhausting.
Especially to Julia.Eventually, Julia played her final card.The most dangerous card.
The guilt card.
"You never spend time with me anymore."
Juliet froze.
Sophia immediately looked away.The liar.Julia continued.
"I see how it is."
"Julia."
"No."
"Julia."
"I'm only your twin when it's convenient."
Juliet closed her eyes.She hated when Julia did this.Mostly because it worked.
Five minutes later...
She was heading home to change.Julia smiled victoriously.Mission accomplished.
Two hours later...
The VIP party was packed.Music filled the building.Lights flashed overhead.Sponsors mingled with athletes.
Students crowded every corner.
And expensive suits were everywhere.I hated expensive suits.Mine felt like a prison.
I adjusted my tie.
Immediately regretted attending.Then I spotted Charles.Standing near the bar.
Alone.
Again.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
I walked over.
"Still pretending you're enjoying this?"
"No."
"Good."
He handed me a drink.I took it.Then followed his gaze.My eyebrows rose.
The twins had arrived.
Well.
That explained everything.
Julia entered first.
Confident.
Smiling.
Social.
She immediately blended into the crowd.
People noticed her talked to her welcomed her.
The usual.
Then Juliet entered.
And somehow...
Everything changed.
She wasn't trying to get attention.That was the problem people noticed her anyway simple black dress minimal makeup.
Hair down.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing flashy.
Yet she somehow stood out more than half the room I glanced toward Charles his expression hadn't changed.
But I knew him.
Twenty years of friendship taught you things He was looking not obviously Not stupidly.
But he was definitely looking and that was new.
Very new Julia immediately rushed toward several friends Sophia followed.
Juliet?
Juliet disappeared toward the quietest corner of the room.
Of course she did.
I laughed Charles looked at me.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Paul."
I raised my hands.
"Nothing."
Lies. Obviously.
An hour later...
The party grew louder, People danced and laughed.
People flirted Normal party behavior meanwhile
Juliet sat alone on a balcony overlooking the city.
Fresh air ,Silence peace Just looking at the sky counting the stars.
Exactly where someone like her would hide.
I stepped outside mostly because the music was giving me a headache.
Partly because curiosity was killing me She looked up when she heard footsteps.
Then relaxed when she saw it wasn't someone she knew.
"Escaping too?" I asked.
A small smile appeared."Something like that."
Her voice was softer than I expected.
Interesting, Very interesting.
We talked for a few minutes Nothing important.
University.
Classes.
The city, Normal things.No basketball.
No Charles.
No drama.
For the first time all evening...
Someone treated me like a regular person I understood why that felt refreshing.Then the balcony door opened again.And everything changed.
Charles stepped outside.
His eyes landed on Juliet.
Then on me.
Silence.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three.
Something strange flickered across his face.
Something I'd never seen before.
And suddenly...
For the first time that night...
I wasn't smiling anymore because I finally understood the problem.
Julia Morgan had spent years chasing Charles Harrison but Charles wasn't looking at Julia.
He was looking at Juliet.
And judging from the expression on my best friend's face...
He had just realized it too.
- Writer
