Breaking the Ice

You head down stairs. Elsie stays close but in the end you are able to manage it on your own. You hear the voices of Allison and your big sister in the kitchen. As you get closer you can tell it is just general small talk. As you get there you see them both look up relieved. It must have been one of those painfully awkward overly polite conversations **** between two strangers. Damn.

They were sitting at the kitchen table across from one another. As Allison turns she freezes in place. She looks at the pair of you as you enter. "Wha...."

Fiona stands up, she looked happy to be getting out of here. "Wait...um Fiona...won't you stay and...visit?"

"Uhhh...no." She replies, a bit confused by the request.

You motion toward the living room. "Can we talk a minute?" You ask Fiona. She nods and moves to follow you out.

You communicate with Elsie to keep Allison company while you talked with Fiona. She goes and takes a seat at the table by your ex-girlfriend. Allison was still in stunned silence as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing.

You head down the hallway. As you round the corner and break direct line of sight with El you gasp and your strength drains from your body, you can hear Elsie make a little sound of distress as well. You would have collapsed to the floor had Fiona not been right there. She has you in her arms and is looking at you with great concern.

"You're pushing yourself too hard. I'm taking you back to bed." She says matter of factly.

You look up at her with a **** smile. "Sorry, I'm okay." You totally weren't okay, this separation from your twin was pure hell. Even worse than before. And she was just around the corner! You weren't sure what you were going to do tomorrow when the two of you were going to have to leave for different schools.

You whisper to your sister. "Please stay and visit. I...I want you around today." This was a ploy to get Fiona and Allison talking, but you weren't lying. You really did want her around. "We never just...hang out and visit. We want to get to know you better Fiona." It takes you a moment to realize you had just referred to yourself as a 'we'. That dreadful anxiety is rising fast within you as Fiona gets you back to your feet.

You can see it is out of worry for you that she finally agrees. "Okay, I'll visit. Any more of this and I tell Allison to leave and I take you to bed." She informs you.

With a little smile and a wink you say. "Promise?" If Allison wasn't here you'd get Fiona to take you to bed right now! You were still as hot and steamy as a pressure cooker down below. She just gives you an amused smile.

You take the three steps back into the kitchen, as you see El all of your worry and tension drains away once more. You see her relax as well. Allison sits quietly, her eyes staring hard at you. Fiona helps you to your chair, Allison's eyes never leave you for a moment. Fiona takes her seat and you all sit around the table for a long quiet awkward moment.

Finally Allison says. "That's not Jesse." She looks at Elsie. The two of them had only met once very briefly before this. "He, sorry...she, never told me you had a twin Elsie."

Elsie smiles. "I didn't, until yesterday."

Allison looks at Fiona who just shrugs. "I told you it was weird." Is all she says.

Allie looks back at you with suspicion. "Our first quiz. American Lit. Question 2."

You blink then realize what she is asking. You think back. First quiz... "The first quiz...it was about The Grapes of Wrath, there was no second question. It was just one essay question." You add with a smile. "And I know you keep a copy of the scorecard where you won that regional tennis tournament in your scrapbook that you keep in the bottom drawer of your dresser. And I know you have a constant craving for Szechuan food because one of your best friend's dad owned a restaurant that you used to eat at for free back in your home town. And..." You stop, a little smile playing across your lips. "...should I continue?"

She is shaking her head. "This is impossible."

You nod. "Yeah, it kind of is, isn't it. It's also a secret. Can you keep a secret?" You go on to explain how this procedure was cutting edge and couldn't be talked about.

She finally says. "Of course I'll keep your secret Jesse. But...why make yourself look like Elsie?"

"Oh...that." You pause. "That wasn't really on purpose. Something of a happy side effect you might say."

With that first hurdle over the group of you can finally settle into a conversation. It is a bit stiff and awkward at first but before long you are chatting fairly easily. Fiona is a bit distant, but not detached from it either. You tell Allie what had happened with Stephen and that someone here would give her a lift home when she wanted it. As the conversation continues you start talking about Fiona more and more. How strong she is. How determined and take charge she is. It actually felt nice to brag up your big sister like this. You are doing your best to lay the groundwork. This praise makes your big sister more than a little uncomfortable. The longer this goes though the more impatient you are getting. It doesn't help you are getting hornier by the minute, you needed something to happen or Allison to leave. You decide you needed to jump start this thing somehow. An idea strikes.

You suddenly hear Elsie in your head. We can't trust her like that...not yet.

She knew where you were heading with this. After so many years of keeping the family secrets hidden away from outsiders she was afraid of what you were planning.

It's a risk but...I think we should do it. You respond to her. You share with Elsie Allison's fantasy she had told you in the bathroom stall. I just have a feeling it will work.

You feel your sister's uneasiness. Okay...it's a hell of a risk though if it backfires.

She wasn't wrong. You forge ahead anyways, you needed something to happen soon. You reach over and take a pack of playing cards that was nearby and plunk it down in the center of the table. "Anyone want to play Hearts?" You ask.

Fiona and Allison look at you. Allison seems game but Fiona scoffs. "Hearts? What are we, in an old age home here?"

You knew she'd have a reaction like that. With a naughty grin and a twinkle in your eye you say. "Well then...shall we make it more interesting?"