Mistaken (3 page)

Her body felt warm, all sensations and emotions pleasantly dulled.  She grabbed another beer off of the coffee table, flipped the tab, and took a large swig.  The stereo played some nondescript music in the background as she tilted her head back, breathing in deeply. She lay inert, enjoying the lack of emotion and lack of care that the mix of alcohol and prescription drugs provided her.

Dillan knew this was only a temporary state of existence. The emotions would come rushing back when she woke up in the morning, but she couldn't afford to think of that right now. She already felt a lingering tinge of guilt for blowing off her friend.  Kay had stopped by the apartment earlier, begging to be let inside, but all Dillan had done was yell for her to go away. Eventually, Dillan just turned up the music to drown out her friend’s pleas. After a few minutes, the sounds at her door subsided. She would have to remind herself to apologize to Kay later.

Lounging on her couch, drinking herself into oblivion, she knew there was no way to completely block out the thoughts of Jamie. Several pictures of the happy couple they once were stared back at her from around the apartment, but she felt oddly separated from them. Those people were now strangers to her. Their happy expressions betrayed her; she couldn’t remember the last time she had smiled like that. Not in the past year anyway.  Dillan reached her hand out, picking up a small pewter frame.  It contained a picture from a few years back, a snapshot taken while they were out sledding. It was a candid shot of an impromptu kiss between them, conjuring up memories of snow and laughter.  She ran her fingers over the image thoughtfully, only to slam the frame face down while she gulped hard on another swig of beer.

Leaning back against the cool leather of the sofa, she breathed in and closed her eyes, willing herself to fall back into the abyss. Her muscles relaxed as her thoughts drifted away from Kay, Jamie, or anything else. Her breathing slowed as the lazy tempo of the music lulled her to sleep.

A sharp knock at the door jolted her back into reality. Her eyes shot open, alarmed from the unexpected sound. She glanced above the entertainment center to the clock that blinked back 4 AM.

Is it Kay again? Why would she come back so late?
Another knock broke through the otherwise calm atmosphere of her apartment. Kay or not, Dillan figured she should at least see who was calling on her at this hour. She chugged the last bit of beer, then tossed yet another empty can to the trash heap on the floor before pulling herself up to her feet.

The full extent of her binge drinking kicked in all at once as her legs threatened to give way with a tremble.  Holding onto the couch for support, Dillan managed to lurch forward just as her visitor rapped on the door yet again. Another step and her knee slammed into one of the side tables, sending the lamp tumbling off with a crash. She cringed at the sound and continued toward the door, eventually standing on her toes to peer through the peephole.

The hallway outside her apartment was dimly lit, and the visitor was clearly standing out of view. Against her better judgment, she answered, unlocking the deadbolt and pulling the door open the few inches that the chain lock allowed.

“Kay?” Dillan peered out into the dark hallway, her vision slightly blurred as she attempted to make out a lean male figure that stood with his back to the door.  As the man heard her voice, he turned around. A sense of dread settled in her stomach as she made out the masculine jaw line covered in day old stubble that disappeared beneath the hood of a worn jacket.

Great, just what I need, some stupid thug attempting to rob me
, Dillan thought, her heartbeat quickening. “Look, I think you need to go...” Her voice slurred, her hand gripping the door.

“Dillan?” He stepped forward, pushing his hood back and reaching his hand out in protest before she could slam the door. A chill ran through Dillan’s veins as an icy blue gaze met her own, the very same one that had thrown her evening into chaos. She froze, breath unable to pass her lips at the sight of him.  He stared back at her, furrowing his eyebrows, a look of confusion spreading across his face. She attempted to speak, unable to make a sound as her eyes studied the face she hadn’t seen in the last year. Her stomach churned and cramped as sweat beaded along her hairline.  Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the door frame for support, her legs weakening beneath her.

“J-Jamie?” was all Dillan could stammer out before her legs turned to gelatin, her body tumbling forward as nausea overtook her.  The after-effects of the evening wrought their full assault on her as she retched and gasped. He cringed as he watched her with deep concern in his eyes.

“Are you okay?” He asked. She couldn’t answer as her body involuntarily rid itself of the night’s indulgences. Everything seemed to be spinning out of control as her grip on the door-frame weakened. She glanced back up at him, a distressed expression marring her otherwise delicate features before her eyes rolled back in her head and her body slumped to the floor.

***

Cursing under his breath, Trey scrambled to undo the chain lock, so that he could reach his brother’s girlfriend as she lay unconscious in a pool of her own vomit. He glanced around the apartment calling out his brother’s name, and getting no answer in reply.

Maybe he’s out.

Trey already felt uncomfortable about showing up at the apartment without warning, but he had run out of options. The phone number that he had gotten out of the phone book downtown had been busy for hours now. Hesitantly, he slid his arms under Dillan and carefully lifted her off of the floor, carrying her into the living room. He glanced down at the beer cans littering the floor, kicking them aside before easing her onto the couch. Her breathing was soft and steady and she seemed to be sleeping after what appeared to be a rough night of drinking. Grabbing the blanket off of the back of the sofa, he gently laid it over her. He walked into the kitchen and grabbed a dishtowel, dampening it under the faucet then returning to Dillan, gently wiping off her face.

With a sigh he stood back up, cleaned the floor, then threw the towel into the covered trashcan. Unsure of when his brother planned to return, he pulled out a chair, sitting at the kitchen table. He hoped Jamie would get back soon. It had been ten years since he had last seen his brother, and those years had been torture. He turned his attention back towards Dillan, who was sleeping soundly on the couch. Jamie hadn't done her justice when he had described her in his letters.

Even after a long night of drinking, she was still beautiful. Her auburn hair framed her oval face as her chest gently rose and fell with each breath. She had creamy pale skin, slightly flushed cheeks, and full pouty lips. He was glad to see his brother had found someone to make him happy. After everything he put his brother through, Jamie deserved to find someone like her.

His eyes surveyed several picture frames that adorned their living room; every single one showed his brother with a beaming smile and Dillan looking equally content. It was certainly something Trey knew nothing about. If anything he had gotten used to being alone. It was just easier that way.

Dillan shifted and turned onto her side as she slept, drawing Trey's attention. He hoped that Jamie would return before she woke up. She had already mistaken him for his brother once, and that felt weird enough. Trey sat, waiting for his brother to get home, but as the hours crept by, there was still no sign of Jamie’s arrival. He only felt slightly concerned at this. It had been so long since the last time he had heard from him, maybe he had come at a bad time. Maybe Jamie was out of town for some reason.

Trey rationalized the situation with himself as he sat alone, barely awake from the long trip he had just endured.  His eyelids threatened to close, creeping down over his eyes as he started to nod off. He shook himself, attempting to stay awake. He was anxious to see his brother. It had been such a long time. He needed to see him.  But by the time the sun peered through the blinds in the living room, Trey could barely keep his eyes open as his breathing slowed.  He fought in vain as exhaustion took over. His whole body ached for rest, but something didn’t feel right.

It was now 8AM. He had been sitting at the table for four hours. He debated leaving and coming back later in the day, but he didn’t want to risk waking Dillan. He glanced back over at her body stretched out on the couch. She was dreaming; every now and then moving around, twisting herself up in the blanket he had laid over her.  He envied her.  A yawn escaped his lips as another wave of exhaustion hit him. He could no longer fight it.  His eyelids slowly closed and his head gently eased down to the kitchen table, using his hands as a makeshift cushion.

CHAPTER THREE

Dillan awoke feeling disjointed as the contents of her head pounded within her skull. She hadn’t remembered falling asleep on the couch. As she sat up, her mind still in a fog, she mentally retraced the previous nights’ events.  She remembered taking her medicine, drinking until she felt nothing, telling her friend to leave. Maybe she had just passed out on the couch and didn’t remember it.  She kept her eyes squeezed shut as she rubbed her temples, her head throbbing from the abuse she had put herself through the night before. The scabbed over scrapes on her hand were still tender from falling of her bike last night.  Her eyes shot open as she remembered the crash… and remembered someone else had come to her door.

Jamie!  It couldn’t have been, I must have been too wasted to remember clearly
, she tried to convince herself as she untangled her legs from her blanket and pushed herself off the couch.  Her feet knocked into the empty cans on the floor, causing a clatter as she got her footing. One of the kitchen chairs scraped against the wooden floor, causing Dillan to freeze in her tracks She sharply turned her head toward the kitchen table.

Once again those blue eyes were staring back at hers. Seeing her standing there like a deer in the headlights, he too seemed unable to move, just awakened from the noises she had made and looking equally as confused as she was.

This can’t be real, can it?

Dillan’s eyes were wide as she looked at him.  He looked slightly thinner, a little more unkempt, but there was no mistaking that face, or those eyes.

“Jamie?” Her voice cracked with a desperate hope evident in her tone.  He looked down avoiding her gaze, visibly bothered by the way she had asked.

“I’m not Jamie…I’m his brother, Trey.” He spoke softly. Not Jamie’s voice. Trey’s was slightly lower and raspier. “Will he be back soon?”

Dillan’s gaze turned cold as she stared at him.

“Jamie never said anything about having a brother.” She stepped back, clenching her fists at her sides, her arms and legs tensing.

“I am sure you can see the resemblance…” His voice was heavy with sarcasm.

She glared at him. He quickly retracted. “Listen, I’m sorry. I’m exhausted. I only came in because you had passed out in your doorway and I’d assumed he would be back at some point last night. I can come back later.” He looked down at the maple stained table.  Her face softened suddenly.

“Actually…he won’t be coming back.” Dillan turned her eyes toward the foyer of the apartment, a melancholy look on her face. She didn’t understand. A brother? A twin at that. How was this possible? How was it possible she never knew about him? How was it possible Jamie kept something like this from her?

“What do you mean by that, did he move out? I’d assumed he was still here because of all the pictures.”

“No he didn’t move out.” She expelled a deep sigh. She couldn’t bear to look at him as the words left her lips.

Did he really not know?

“Your brother died, Trey. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, but he won’t ever be coming back.”  Her chest ached as she spoke, but for once she was able to hold the tears at bay.

***

The color visibly drained from Trey’s face as he digested her words.

How could this be possible?

He thought everything was fine now. It had been years since then and the last time he heard from his brother was only a little more than a year ago, before he had left Portland. His stomach twisted and all the exhaustion he had been feeling caused a lightheaded feeling to nearly overwhelm him. He glanced back up at Dillan, her eyes sad, sympathetic to his pain.

“How...how did it happen?” He forced the words out. The aching in his chest told him he already knew, but he needed to hear it. Dillan hesitated, the prior evening and the fact that she was staring at carbon copy of her dead fiancé had already pushed her sanity to its limits; her hangover only made it worse. She didn’t move from the spot she stood in, instead leaning against the wall adjacent to the entryway.

“He was shot, right here actually.” her eyes fell to the rug on the floor, patting it with her bare foot. “I went into the bedroom that night, where he had this waiting for me.”She paused, holding out her hand for a second, the diamond glinting as she held it up. Dillan took in a deep breath in hopes of keeping her composure, “I heard something break, so I walked back down the hall to see what was going on. That’s when it happened.”

Her eyes studied Trey for a reaction, but he just sat there, blankly staring down at the tabletop. His eyes gleamed, tears threatening those sky blue eyes as his jaw clenched and unclenched. His mind silently battled itself over the devastating news.

Could it have been them? Why show up nearly ten years later? It couldn’t have been them… it had to be some stupid punk. No…it had to have been them.

After about five minutes, he realized he was just sitting there as Dillan watched him, confused by his lack of reaction. Generally confused regarding Trey’s existence.  He supposed Jamie had good reasons for not telling Dillan that he had a twin, maybe to protect her. Or maybe he didn’t want her to think someone like Trey could be related to him. He wondered what she thought of this startling revelation herself.