Twin Or Lose

Episode 3: Founder’s Day

Jace Holland slid into the booth opposite his twin sister Dana, who had a big bowl of chocolate ice cream in front of her, and he cracked a grin seeing the rainbow sprinkles decorating the dessert, something she’d demanded on all her ice cream since she could talk.

“You got a problem?” Dana raised an eyebrow, and both twins burst out laughing.

“You didn’t waste any time.” Jace said, checking his watch. “Class just let out.”

“Hey, you offer to buy me ice cream, I hurry.” Dana giggled.

“Did I offer to buy?” Jace raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Well, you invited me here. It seemed implied.” Dana said with a smile.

“Did it?” Jace asked skeptically.

“I told them you’d be paying for mine already soo…” Dana shrugged.

“And they let you do that?” Jace asked in surprise.

“I’m a regular.” Dana confided in him, and Jace shook his head as he rose up out of the booth. He walked over to the counter and got himself a bowl of peanut butter ice cream, then paid for both his own and his sister’s ice cream, then he walked back and slid back into the booth.

“So, you excited for Founder’s Day?” Dana asked cheerfully. “No school for a whole week… it’s pretty great.”

“Yup. And we can just hang out at home and relax.” Jace nodded. Dana was smiling brightly, but Jace did have some news that he thought might make Dana a little grumpy about the holidays. He didn’t think it’d be too bad though, thankfully.

“Oh. Um, so… you know the big Founder’s Day dinner that Mom does?” Dana mentioned, twirling a strand of blonde hair around her finger thoughtlessly.

“Yeah…” Jace nodded, frowning slightly in confusion.

“Well, I might have invited someone to come over for that meal.” Dana said, blushing.

“Oh?” Jace grinned. “Looks like it’s somebody pretty special, based on how red you are.”

“Shut up.” Dana mumbled, making Jace laugh.

“Come on, who is it?” Jace pressed. Dana tilted her head back and forth a minute before responding.

“Drew.” Dana admitted.

“My teammate Drew?” Jace asked, astonished.

“Yeah.” Dana blushed.

“Huh.” Jace smiled. “I didn’t know you and Drew were a thing.”

“Wait, you’re not angry? I mean, we’re not a thing! But it doesn’t make you angry if we were?” Dana asked.

“You with Drew? Oh, absolutely not. There’s not many guys that I would trust with my baby sister, but Drew’s one of them.” Jace smiled.

“Only by like seven minutes.” Dana mumbled, but her cheeks were rosy and her lips kept twitching up into a smile.

“I still gotta give him the stern talking to, of course.” Jace mentioned, and Dana groaned. Dana had dated a boy in middle school once, and Jace had taken the boy aside and given him a very strong talking to, and, well, the boy was a boy by the name of David Johnson, and, well… Dana came back a few minutes later furious saying he’d scared David off. Jace had apologized, but he’d been pretty proud of himself for that one.

“It’s mandatory.” Jace insisted, and Dana groaned louder.

“What about you?” she leaped in, trying to change the subject. “You inviting anybody over for dinner? Uh, Heather, maybe?”

“Heather?” Jace asked in surprise. “No, I’m not inviting Heather.”

“But you are inviting somebody?” Dana pressed. Jace chuckled.

“Well, yes. Not just for dinner though. I may have told her she could stay the whole break if she wanted.” Jace chuckled. “Mom said it was a great idea.”

“The whole break?!” Dana exclaimed. “Wow. Where’s her family at?”

“Uh, they’re out of the country.” Jace said, not expanding on that at all. He didn’t figure Hazel would like him sharing any of her business.

“Well, now I’m curious. Who’s the girl?” Dana asked eagerly.

“Uh, it’s Hazel.” Jace nodded.

Dana blinked, staring at him. “Hazel…?”

“Hazel… Hightower? Do you know another Hazel?” Jace asked in confusion.

“Hazel. Hightower.” Dana repeated, enunciating very slowly and clearly.

“Hazel Hightower.” Jace nodded, saying her name normally.

“Why?!” Dana exploded, and Jace’s eyes widened in shock. “Why the hell would you invite that heartless bitch to spend the holidays with us? Jace, she’s gonna ruin the whole break!”

“What? No, she’s not. And she’s not a heartless bitch either.” Jace defended Hazel.

Dana’s mouth opened to argue when the bell on the door dinged, and the twins looked over to see three of their friends coming this way. Amy and Chloe were walking towards the table side by side, while Scotty made a quick diversion to the counter to buy some ice cream.

Chloe and Amy slid in on Jace’s side, filling up the bench. Chloe was in the middle, and her thigh pressed up against his as he slid in to make room for the buxom ginger newcomers.

“Hi, Jace, hi Dana!” Amy said cheerfully.

“Hey.” Dana said grumpily, still glaring daggers at Jace.

“Oh, are you arguing?” Chloe noticed the glare.

“Yeah, we are.” Dana crossed her arms furiously.

“Well, I don’t know why we are.” Jace sighed.

“You invited Hazel Hightower to spend holiday break with us!” Dana raged, and out of the corner of his eye over at the ice cream counter, Jace saw Scotty make the most melodramatic turn and face of shock ever seen outside of a bad soap opera.

“You did WHAT?!” Scotty exploded across the ice cream parlor. The employee behind the counter made a shushing sound and Scotty waved them off, still shouting.

“You invited WHO?!” Scotty exploded again, and the employee said something in a very threatening way which made Scotty huff, grab his ice cream and come over to Jace.

“I can’t believe you.” Scotty hissed.

“Me either.” Dana grouched.

“I don’t get it! Hazel’s- well, not nice, but she’s fun.” Jace said, genuinely confused at Dana and Scotty’s reaction. Sure, he hadn’t thought they’d jump for joy, but this felt like an overreaction.

Scotty slid into the booth, shaking his head.

“Can’t believe you. You’re gonna put up the spawn of Lucifer in your fucking guest room.” Scotty shook his head.

“Wait.” Dana blinked. “Our guest room isn’t even open at the moment. Mom’s gotten it redone into a modeling studio.”

There was a brief pause as everybody figured out where Hazel was going to be sleeping.

“You’re FUCKING Hazel Hightower?!” Scotty exclaimed, the loudest yell yet.

“Out!” shouted the ice cream employee, pointing towards the door.

“I’ll be quiet now, I swear.” Scotty called over his shoulder. The employee hit the counter with his fist, but didn’t press the matter, just turned around and muttered angrily.

“You’re fucking Hazel Hightower?!” Scotty hissed.

“Well… yeah.” Jace admitted. “But I do like her, too.”

“YOU-” Scotty began, but he froze and adjusted his volume. “You like her? Her? That’s like saying ‘gosh, guys, I’m feeling rather attracted to the Devil right now.’”

“If Jace says Hazel is somebody he likes, shouldn’t we give her a chance?” Amy spoke up, and Dana and Scotty both turned and exclaimed no in unison.

“Hey, don’t yell at her.” Chloe stuck up for her best friend. Amy gave Chloe a quick smile, but then turned back to the other two.

“Jace likes us, and we’re all friends. Who’s to say Hazel doesn’t just need a friend?” Amy suggested.

“She’s not some lonely shy girl who nobody talks to. She actively walks around making people miserable.” Dana shook her head. “Hazel doesn’t just ‘need a friend.’”

“She needs an exorcism.” Scotty muttered, making Dana snort. The pair high-fived before they’d even realized it, and then blinked at each other in confusion before looking back at Jace.

“Seriously, Jace, you gotta tell her no.” Dana urged.

“I already invited her, and Mom said it was fine.” Jace shrugged. “I’m not gonna rescind the offer. It’s too late now for her to make any other arrangements. Break starts tomorrow after class.”

“Why can’t her hellspawn parents take her?” Scotty groaned.

“They’re not even in the country.” Jace shook his head.

“See?” Amy interjected. “She’s lonely!”

“Amy, Hazel really isn’t some lonely sad girl.” Jace said, knowing Hazel would hate anybody calling her that. “She just didn’t have anywhere to go for the break, so I invited her.”

“And ruined my break in the process.” Dana muttered.

“Oh, come on, Dana. You’ll probably not even know she’s there.” Jace tried.

“Other than the cold spots and flickering lights.” Scotty pointed out.

“Dude.” Jace turned to Scotty.

“What?” he asked defensively. “I’m just stating facts, buddy. You can’t invite monsters inside your house. They can’t come in if you don’t invite them.”

“That’s vampires.” Chloe pointed out. Amy gave Chloe a proud double thumbs up, making Chloe laugh.

“She may as well be a vampire. Evil, bloodthirsty and **** to kill.” Scotty shivered.

“No sucking jokes? Damn, she really must have you scared.” Jace chuckled.

“I don’t want her to suck anything of mine.” Scotty said, looking ill at the thought.

“I don’t think my idiot brother has the same logical mentality.” Dana muttered.

“Hey!” Jace protested.

“Admit it, Jace, you’re thinking with the wrong head here.” Dana shook her head. “Downstairs Jace thinks Hazel is the best, and he’s a lot louder than Upstairs Jace.”

“Upstairs and Downstairs Jace both like Hazel. I mean, I- why are we talking about this?” Jace threw up his hands. “Amy and Chloe don’t mind!”

“Well, I’m not thrilled either.” Chloe held up her hands defensively. “I’m not completely anti-Hazel though. I’m kind of on the fence.”

“See? Chloe’s willing to give her a chance.” Jace pointed.

Dana folded her arms. “Fine. One day, then I can kick her out if she’s being bitchy.”

“Yeah, that’s gonna be a no.” Jace shook his head. “You’re not kicking her out.”

“What if she really wants to?” Scotty inquired, leaning forwards.

“Yeah, what if I really want to?” Dana nodded eagerly.

“Unless she maims somebody or tries to poison you, you’re not kicking her out.” Jace shook his head.

“Oh, so she will be out after the first night, then.” Scotty joked.

“Well, I’m excited to make friends with her.” Amy clapped her hands together. Jace nodded, thinking privately that it might not be as easy as Amy imagined or hoped.