A Bold Strategy

The phrase 'A rock and a hard place' usually refers to a difficult decision between two equally bad options, it comes from a dispute in the early twentieth century between miners and a mining company. When you think of something front-loading a bunch of difficulty the idiom is a 'trial by fire', originating from a method of testing for witches by burning them alive, which didn't make much sense because if they weren't a witch they'd die anyway. This is relevant because given I faced a difficult decision and I'm now struggling immensely because of it, I'm starting to think I was a gold-mining witch in a past life.

Why is French so fucking hard!?

Elise and I don't have classes for the rest of the day, but her mother wanted to take her shopping to make sure she had enough clothes, and I didn't want to interrupt their time together. I could have gone home, rubbed one out, and watched a documentary on seagulls, easy life, instead I've chosen to come to the school library and try and make sense of this insane language. The things I do for love.

Why is a desk masculine but a table feminine? They're the same fucking object!

"Having fun?" Rings a voice from beyond my book. I look up to see Henry and Gabriel hand in hand on the other side of the table. Henry takes a seat without invitation, which causes Gabriel to invite himself to sit down too. Damn it, the one time I try to study I get company and it's not even a subject I'm taking.

"Not really." I admit, looking back to my guide. "French is so frustrating, I knew I wouldn't pick it up in a day or anything, but I thought I'd at least have an idea of how much work there is, instead it's impenetrable."

Henry opens his book, but he looks bored already, I guess he's in no danger of getting distracted by work. "I didn't think you did French, why are you bothering?" He asks.

"Erm... Because Elise is French? And I want to be able to talk to her around her family?" I point out.

"Oh shit, really? I thought she was South African or something!" Henry responds with an astonished look. I know Henry's not the brainiest but... Why did he assume an entirely different continent instead of literally the next country over? He's almost impressive in his commitment to being wrong. "Gabe, don't you speak French?" He adds.

Oh yeah, he greeted Elise in French at the party! Why didn't I think of that? Wait, did I just get out-thought by Henry in the same breath of him getting confused between French and South African accents? This may be my lowest point.

"Oh, I've only been learning a few months, I'm not fluent or anything." Gabriel clarifies awkwardly, I'm not sure if he's nervous about how incapable he is or being humble an he's actually a master. I'll take what I can get.

"Still doing better than me! Any chance of some pointers?" I request, trying to sound as innocent as possible.

Gabriel looks conflicted for a moment, but soon comes to a decision. "Okay, but in return you have to tell me how the weekend with Elise went!" He bargains.

Is he kidding? I could brag about my romantic exploits for years without getting bored. This is a win-win for me.

*

I enter the kitchen to find Elise already there, looks like she's cooking something, she hasn't noticed me yet... Seems like prime opportunity to test my new talents. I sneak up behind her and gently place my hands on her hips.

"Hey there beautiful, are you new?" I recite in French. I hear Elise gasp as she drops her wooden spoon in the pan and turns to me. Her face is shocked, her wide eyes full of joy at my efforts.

"Did you learn that for me?" She coos, stroking my cheek. She looks so stunning right now, it was absolutely worth learning a bunch of basic phrases and then that one line... I'm gonna need to get some use out of that line for a while, I don't think adverbs are as sexy.

"Gabriel helped." I admit. "I wanted to be able to talk to your Mum myself... And I wanted to talk to you in your language too." I add. It occurred to me yesterday that Elise always spoke English around me, which makes sense, but I realised I wanted her to speak to me no matter what language. I want all of her, so I want to hear all of her words too.

I'm rewarded for my efforts with a passionate kiss, which apparently goes on too long since we're soon interrupted.

"Girls, not next to the oven." My mother's voice echoes as we pull apart. Huh, I think that's the first time she's caught us kissing. Sweet that her concern was the health code violation and not the public display of affection.

Rouge follows her into the room as Elise snaps back into social mode. "Danielle, that reminds me, Mama sent a gift for you!" She announces. "It's in the living room, come see! Rouge, can you stir the pot?" She requests as her and Mum exit the room.

"It's what I do best." My sister snorts, taking Elise's place at the stove before gesturing me to come closer. "We've got a problem, Kara told you Skye's costume was a black catsuit, right?"

I'd done a bit of recon with Kara this morning, I'm getting good at this subterfuge thing, I might surpass Rouge soon! Kara had even shown me the online store they'd ordered from. Also learned Kara's going as Little Red Riding Hood... It's not helpful information for the plan, but at this point I just enjoy snooping.

"Yeah, I took the liberty of ordering it for you." I confirm. "I also got a pink wig so you'll match, and shoes to hide the height difference, with the mask you'll be identical!" I brag. Look at me, big sister Scarlet taking care of business!

"You missed something." Rouge states flatly.

Oh come on! There's no way, I've been too detailed if anything, she might go native and start belting out rock anthems.

"What have I missed? Do I need to check her for tattoos or something?" I guess wildly.

"She doesn't have any tattoos, trust me, I've checked." She sighs. "It's her tits? Okay? They're fucking huge, and I'm comfortable with my body, but it's not going to convince anyone."

Oh.

Shit.

Well, that's not the end of the world. "Well, we can just stuff your bra, girls used to do that all the time in school, it'll be fine." I wave off her concerns.

"That might work on guys, but you think Trish isn't going to be able to tell? Trish that works in a store specialising in sex toys and underwear?" She retorts. Okay, maybe it won't be perfect, but it can't be as bad as she's thinking, the plan doesn't require her to get that close to Trish anyway so-

Wait.

Unless she's got her own plan.

"Oh my God, you were planning on sleeping with her as Skye weren't you?" I accuse her. Rouge's guilty face tells me all I need to know. "We have a plan, you can't go rogue, Rouge!"

"Okay, if that was a pun, it was terrible." She answers bluntly. "Second... Honestly, the plan is 50/50, I needed a back-up plan, so if I sleep with Trish, that breaks them up. I know you want to make it so Skye didn't get hurt but... I can't risk it." She explains.

Can't risk it? What happened to her not being sure how she feels? Something's going on, Rouge would never intentionally sleep with someone to end their relationship... And if she did want to do it that way she'd just tell Trish about her and Skye. She's lying to me.

"I don't buy it." I decide. "We said no more keeping things from each other. Tell me the truth."

Rouge's face looks surprised that I've seen through her story, before settling on an awkward sadness. "Sorry. The truth is... When you came back on Sunday, I saw you two and you looked like... Well, you looked like how I want Trish and I to look like." She reveals, he voice shaking more and more as she goes. "I realised... I don't just want sex from her, I want... I want hugs, and kisses, and I want her to look at me the way that makes my heart flutter."

"Rouge..." I try to find words to comfort her, but none come. I think I know what this conversation is. I think I know how hard it is, I don't want to interrupt.

"Scarlet, I want to be with her, I've been so fucking stupid." Rouge continues as tears begin to roll down her cheeks. "And I've never wanted something so badly in my life, and that scares me because it means I have to admit something about myself that I never wanted to think about."

It's okay, little sister, I already know, the next words are just for you.

"Scar, I think I'm bi."

Maybe it was the dad talk yesterday, maybe I've just always wanted to use these words. I pull my twin into a caring hug, letting her head rest on my shoulder, as I reply. "Hi bi, I'm Scarlet."

Rouge pulls back slightly and looks me in the eye, tears still hanging on her cheeks, and does something she very rarely does. She begins laughing uncontrollably, before hugging me again.

I don't know much French, I don't know how to stuff a bra properly, I don't know what the meal is that's been cooking the entire time I've been in here... But I know one thing to be absolutely true.

Hugs make everything better.