New Twins in Town Pt. 01 Ch. 02

"Here's the good part," Amber laughed. "She does it so often that no one takes her seriously."

"Hey!" Judy scoffed.

"It's true," Cleo added. "Definitely not the first time Judy has blurted out something sexual."

Judy shrugged and nodded, accepting her reputation with a strange sense of pride, "And it won't be the last."

"So, explain to us how you haven't had a boyfriend," Cleo requested.

"Um..." This wasn't the kind of attention Zoe preferred.

"She's too tall," Lindsay seemed to appear out of nowhere. "And too attractive. Boys are intimidated."

"I... maybe? I don't know," Zoe's mind began replaying every conversation with a boy she'd had in the last several years.

"You do," Lindsay seemed to have wisdom beyond her years, "But you're not interested in boys."

Cleo, Amber, and Judy all turned to Zoe, who stared back like a deer caught in headlights.

"She's searching for a man."

Good to know I can rely on Lindsay for some unnecessary suspense. Zoe's cheeks burned from how much she was blushing. Maybe get the whole thought out at once next time.

"Oh! I can see that," Cleo agreed. "You would be with like... someone in college or with a career."

"She could be someone's mistress," Judy's suggestion was met with scowls from the others.

"Okay, so you're waiting for Mr. Right," Cleo stated.

"I didn't say that."

"Yeah, but you didn't deny it," Judy chuckled.

Is she right? I mean... isn't that why I want someone to have to chase me? I can't just hook up with some guy. He should really show he's-

"What about Miles?" Cleo continued.

"Eww no! He's my brother."

"Kinky!" Judy laughed.

"You know that's not what I meant," Cleo scoffed. "Is, or was, he seeing anyone?"

"Miles..." She was unable to finish answering.

This is probably the longest Miles and I have gone without really talking to each other. How much could have happened since we had a chance to actually talk? Then again, I've had strange thoughts all morning.

"Please, tell me Miles isn't waiting for Mr. Right, too," Judy joked.

"Miles is single," Zoe finally blurted, then turned to see the widest grin on Cleo's face, "You look like The Joker."

"It hurts and I can't stop," Cleo whimpered.

8:30 PM, bonfire at Belews Lake

"Funny running into you here," Miles chuckled as his sister sat in the exact spot she had the night before. Joe had accompanied him from the diningroom once their friends headed to the leadership meeting.

"I knew you'd find me here," Zoe smirked, then turned toward her new friends. "Girls, this is my brother Miles. Miles, that's Amber, Judy, and at the end is Lindsay."

He smiled and nodded at the trio. Could any of them be the girl from the lake?

Judy whispered to Lindsay. Both girls stood and Lindsay took the spot Judy had just been sitting in.

Zoe looked at Judy, "Did I say something to-"

Judy turned her back to the group and smacked her butt, "You pointed out Lindsay was on the end, but I'd like this end to be the only one he's thinking about."

Okay, maybe not her. Or at least, I hope not.

"Uhhh... Anyways," Zoe continued while giving Joe a friendly wave, "it wasn't a bad spot to spend the evening."

"Yeah, until it started to rain," Cleo huffed.

"Right. Did that ruin your..." Zoe grimaced at her brother before choosing how she wanted to end the sentence. "Sleep?"

"Huh? No, I sorta found it relaxing."

"Speaking of relaxing..." Cleo paused as the guitar playing from the night before cut through the stillness of the evening.

"Oh, I love this song," Judy said as she bobbed her head along to the faint melody.

"Yeah..." Miles responded with an unmistakable trace of irresolution.

"Not a fan?" Amber asked.

"No, I am," Miles turned away. "But..."

Zoe shook her head.

I know Zo. He recalled their discussions of how off-putting it was when he got critical of music. These are new people in our lives. I shouldn't risk jeopardizing the potential for friendship by being so verbose.

"But what?" Amber asked.

Zoe cleared her throat.

"What?" Miles said. "She asked."

An eye-roll from Zoe was missed by the rest of the group. Miles chose to ignore it.

"It's how they're playing it," Miles explained. "When George played it on the record, it wasn't just the melody. Whoever is playing right now isn't incorporating the E, A, and D strings to counter the main tune in the riff."

Zoe exhaled loudly, "Did you say E, A, D or D, E, A, D? Cause that's what's happened to this conversation."

"Hey," Miles objected. "I'm not that bad."

"Sure thing, Captain Buzzkill," Zoe gave her brother a flippant salute.

"I'm not."

"Miles, I've heard you rant about how Mark Knopfler isn't a good guitarist."

"No! That wasn't me!" He alerted everyone. "That was Steely Dan. And they didn't say he's not a good guitarist. Okay, so, they wanted him to play a solo a certain way and-"

"See what I mean," Zoe smiled at her new friends. "He can't help-"

"Shush," Cleo said and waved off Zoe's snarky remark. "This is interesting. Miles, what do you mean?"

Cleo was so invested in Miles's explanation she not only missed the incredulous look Zoe shot at her, but also the obscene gesture Judy made involving her hands and pushing her tongue against the side of her mouth.

Anyone but her.

"Well, Walter wrote out what he wanted Mark to play but-"

"No, not about Still Eden, about Here Comes the Sun."

"Right, sorry. It's Steely Dan, by the way... but... Nevermind." he smiled, flattered by her interest. "It's hard to explain without showing. Basically, whenever George strums down, he throws in an open D chord as sort of a counter to the melody. On the G chord, even though the melody is in the second and first string, the bass notes in the E and A are used to fill out the rest of the chord. The arpeggiated melody pretty much lives on the upstroke while the downstrokes maintain this droney bass part."

Zoe looked at the other girls as Miles continued to share his views on the use of syncopation in the song and how necessary it was to capture the spirit of the tune.

"That being said..." Miles felt certain that Zoe would make him regret not keeping his mouth shut. "I can look past it and still appreciate it as a relaxing way to end the day."

"Know what hasn't been relaxing?" Grumbled Judy, "Freakin' Tamara having us do nonstop sprints all day."

"Nah, she was just doing what Kristina was ordering her to," Amber insisted.

"Oh my God, Kristina is out of control," Judy griped.

No one seemed to notice Miles wince at her phrasing.

"Oh my God, right? And you know it's gonna just get worse," Amber repeating the expression didn't improve it.

Miles wanted to retch from the Valley Girl talk.

"Right? Like, when we get our drums."

It just gets worse and worse with these three.

Zoe shot her brother a weary look that soon turned to disapproval.

What? I didn't say anything. Am I trying too hard to look indifferent?

"What's wrong with getting our drums?" Cleo sounded offended at the notion.

"Psh, of course, you won't mind," Judy scoffed. "You'd do anything as long as it gave you an excuse to play."

"If you don't like it, why are you in band?" Zoe asked.

"I know things are different here than where you're from, but we don't have the opportunities like y'all did in Washington," Judy explained, "I'm sure where you're from, there are millions of opportunities and excuses to leave. If you'd even have a reason to. But here we don't have those same opportunities."

"She's kinda right," Joe added. "Walker's Cove used to be a big-time tobacco plantation area. These days, the biggest thing our town has to offer is either a sports scholarship or a music one. Well, that or going the military route."

"No one stays in Walker's Cove because they want to," Judy continued. "It's because we can't escape."

"We haven't been in town that long. We're still learning what life is like on this side of the country," Zoe looked over at her brother, then back at Judy. "Is it really that bad living here?"

"It... It's getting better," Cleo stated diplomatically. "We're small enough, there was a point where one family ran everything. Sorta ruled everything."

"More like ruined everything," Judy felt little need for Cleo's pragmatism. "They owned the police. Had the mayor in their pocket. Bought their kid's grades."

"Yes, yes," Amber rolled her eyes. "We've all heard things. They blocked out the sun. Poisoned the lake. Flooded the earth. Made dogs and cats live peacefully together. Or other claims that sound like they're from the Bible. And like the Bible, it's all in the past. We don't know what it was really like. I mean we know bits and pieces but its all widely contested."

"The point is, that was a long time ago," Cleo rushed to say. "There was a big shakeup with the police. My dad was one of the ones brought in when it was exposed."

"I know y'all are familiar with corrupt governments and all that, growing up in Washington and all," Judy added, "You're used to the president and congress, but we're just small-town folks from a small town. We need to do whatever we can to get to someplace better."

Miles reflected on what was said for a second, "Wait... you don't-"

"Think we're from Washington, D.C., right?" Zoe finished her brother's thought.

"I thought... Cleo said Portland then you corrected her saying you were from Washington," Judy shrugged.

"Not that Washington," Zoe said with a hint of annoyance coming through her voice. "Washington State. Y'know, the Pacific Northwest. Birthplace of grunge."

"They're not the same?" Embarrassment shone on Judy's face.

"Didn't you take American History last year?" Amber asked. "Or geography like... ever?"

"That's the class I had to make up at the start of summer. Still only got away with a D," Judy seemed less embarrassed about the failed class than having mistaken where Miles and Zoe were from. "That's why I need to take band. It's not like I can rely on my grades to get me outta here."

Please, for the love of all that is good. Don't let her be the girl from the lake.

Motion out of the corner of his eye caused Miles to turn towards Joe. He hadn't realized how dark it had gotten, and his eyes had adjusted to the flames of the bonfire. He wasn't fully aware of Pixie's presence until she sat down between himself and Joe.

"Hi, friend," she exclaimed as she hugged and kissed Joe's cheek.

I guess it's safe to assume she's not the girl from last night, Miles couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed.

"Hi, friend," Pixie repeated, this time hugging Miles and kissing his cheek, and nullifying his previous thought.

Zoe cocked her head at her brother.

It's not how it looks! Unless she's the girl from the lake then... I don't know what it is at all.

"Hi, strangers. Woahhh!" Pixie waved at the group of girls and got her wires crossed as she took notice of Zoe. Cleo cracked up at the reaction.

"Do you know this girl?" Zoe directed her inquiry at her brother.

"I... think so... we met earlier today," Miles was still reeling from the strange greeting. Topher, Chris, and Mel arrived and sat next to Joe.

"Miles. Miles. Miles," Pixie whispered as she playfully poked his arm.

He turned to face her and attempted to respond with the same energy, "Yes, Pixie?"

"Is that your girlfriend? And could you please introduce me?" He could see the eagerness in her eyes as she made her request.

"I'm his sister," Zoe said through gritted teeth.

Pixie gasped, "The Corpse Chauffeur. I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you in such a modest outfit."

Zoe shot Miles a confused look, but a smile and shake of his head was enough to stop her from voicing her question.

The girls sitting on the other side of Zoe continued to look for explanation on the faces of the twins.

Something's not right, somebody's missing... Miles looked the group over again, Where is-

"Scoot, scoot," Seph announced as she plopped down between the twins again. It appeared to be her favorite spot.

"Was wondering what happened to you when you didn't show up with the others," he smiled at her familiar face.

"Didn't know I needed your permission to go to the bathroom. Can I text you in the future? Or do I need to ask in person?"

"I-uh..."

"Maybe he just missed you," Zoe added.

You're supposed to be on my side! Miles glared at his sister.

Seph shot Zoe a wink. "Well, you know him better than the rest of us so..."

Uh oh.

Seph turned to Miles and leaned in, "Is she right, Miles? Didja miss me? Didja? Huh? Didja? Didja? Didja?"

"Well, I- Uh... Y'see... the thing is... you weren't here and... uh..."

"Look how red his cheeks are getting, Seph. Did you even need to ask?" Zoe laughed.

J'accuse!

"And she's funny?" Pixie gasped, then resumed jabbing Miles's arm lightly, "Miles. Mi-"

"Zoe this is Pixie, Pixie this is my SISTER Zoe."

Pixie extended a hand out to Zoe, who reluctantly took it.

Shit. Zoe's about as taken with Pixie as I am with the girls she and Cleo brought tonight.

"Pleased to meet you," Pixie added an extra bounce to her voice.

"We're gonna take off," Amber announced.

Miles glanced over and realized that, as their group expanded, the drummers had been bumped from the log they'd been sitting on.

"We can make room," he tried offering.

"Nah, that's okay," Amber spoke for the others. "We'd talked about going to the lake. Judy bet Lindz that one of the guys would lose their swim trunks."

"I bet Lindz that I could steal someone's swim trunks," Judy corrected.

"A noble reason to leave," he waved as they stood to leave. Cleo and Zoe bid them farewell despite knowing they'd soon see them in the same cabin.

They were a few yards away before they started chatting again.

"Oh my God, Cleo's right. He is so hot," Judy exclaimed long before they were out of earshot. Cleo's cheeks turned crimson red.

"Quiet, they'll hear you," Amber scolded.

"They can't hear me. I can't hear them," Judy responded dismissively. "Doesn't he remind you of one of those Abercrombie models?"

"Oh my God, they can totally hear you. Now, shut up."

"Maybe an underwear model. Oh, yummy!"

"They stuff," Lindsay added.

"I'd let him stuff me."

The group remaining by the bonfire didn't speak until the exiting girls could no longer be heard.

"I probably should have mentioned, I don't think Judy likes me," Pixie frowned.

"I can't imagine why that might be," Zoe said. Miles hoped the others missed her coldness toward the girl.

"It's cause I always call her Richard, or Ricky, or-"

"I'm pretty sure it was when you called her President Nixon," Mel offered.

"Wait," Zoe held up a hand. "What's with the nicknames?"

"PIx's got nicknames for everyone," Joe informed. "I've been christened 'Hatty',"

"Okay, we're gonna have to circle back to that," Zoe rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Why call Judy any of those things?"

"Oh, I figured someone would have warned you," Pixie giggled. "It's because she only ever talks about two things. One, dicks. The other, those old Tootsie Roll commercials."

"Excuse me?"

"You know, those poorly animated ones where the boy goes up to all the animals and asks them..." Pixie gasped and looked at Cleo who tentatively nodded.

"What?" Miles asked.

"I need to correct my earlier statement, Judy only ever talks about one thing."

How many licks does it take to... never gonna think of those the same way again.

"That cartoon boy was suspiciously naked in those commercials, wasn't he?" Seph added.

"So, yeah, pretty sure I scared them off," Pixie stared at the ground.

Zoe has to see the benefit of having Pixie around. Miles made eye contact with his sister, gestured toward the empty space on the log, and then gestured towards Pixie, "We gotta keep her now."

Zoe scowled at her brother's comment.

"Be nice!" Cleo tried to scold, but even she couldn't help but laugh at the implication at her friends' expense.

Pixie wrapped both arms around Miles and hugged him tight, "Thanks friend, but you don't own me."

Those on the other side of Pixie got a good laugh out of her comment.

Zoe's scowl turned into a chuckle as she took in everyone else's reaction. She looked at Pixie and playfully stated, "You are a very unusual girl."

The laughter stopped instantly, all eyes of their group fixed on Zoe.

Pixie looked Zoe straight in the eye and calmly stated, "Why would I be anything else?"

A full second passed before everyone broke out in laughter again.

"So, Nicknames," Zoe said once she'd gotten her giggles under control. "Hatty?"

"Joe always wears hats," Pixie offered. "Seph is the boss because... Seph is the boss. Mel is like my sister so that's how I address her."

"Got it," Zoe said with another shake of her head.

What about the Christophers? And what about...

Miles realized they'd failed to ensure that people were introduced to one another. He gestured towards Cleo, "So, if you haven't met yet, this-"

"That's the queen," Pixie quietly cut off Miles's sentence.

A look of bewilderment took over the twins' faces.

"We've been going to school together for years, you guys," Cleo explained, "I'm in choir with Pixie and Mel and-"

"I didn't know you were in choir, too!" Zoe exclaimed, ecstatic that she would be in more classes with the friends she was making.

"Okay, now I'm losing track of your hobbies," Chris griped. "Miles told us about Rubik's Cubes, cars-"

"Makeup, hair, looking hot," Cleo added.

"Stop," Zoe smiled and nudged her short friend.

"Yes?" Topher grinned.

"Can't deal with you right now," Zoe warned.

"Being tall," Pixie contributed.

"Hobbies Pix," Joe chuckled.

"Now we know about singing," Mel said.

"Oh, Astronomy!" Chris remembered.

"I didn't know about that one," Cleo announced excitedly. "I'm a Leo."

Everyone stopped with their suggestions and stared at Cleo.

"Sweetie," Zoe said tenderly. "Astronomy, not astrology."

"Oops," Cleo shrugged, seemingly unfettered by her mixup.

"Classic Leo blunder," Pixie laughed.

"Pix, your birthday is coming up," Mel whispered.

"Uh-huh," the small girl nodded.

"I think Mel is trying to point out that you're also a Leo," Chris offered.

"Oh..." Pixie shrugged. "Like I said, classic Leo."

"So, astronomy," Cleo stated. "Like stars and planets?"

"That's part of it," Zoe confirmed. "But y'know... the sun and moon are super interesting. And you know that on Mon-"


"The eclipse!" Cleo shouted. "Oh my God! You must be so excited for that."

"Yeah, Miles told us you haven't stopped talking about it for years," Topher's statement caused Zoe to blush.

"Yeah, but unlike Miles," Chris said. "We haven't heard it all before. You're good to tell us all about what we're in for."

No way out of the conversation now. Miles shook his head. He looked at how excited his friends were getting to share in his sister's passion. Sans one. Something's up with Seph. She's not even listening anymore. She's just staring at the fire.

"You okay?" He whispered, though, in such close proximity, it was difficult not to be overheard by the others.

She turned to face him as tears started streaming down her face.

Instinctively, Miles went to hug her. Everything she'd been holding inside came pouring out. Within seconds, his shoulder was soaked.

Oh no, what happened? How did none of us realize she was this upset?

She pulled away, bottom lip quivering and her breathing staggered. No words formed when she opened her mouth. Frustrated, she scrunched up her face and shook her head.