Mistaken (7 page)

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Trey?” Dillan gently tapped his shoulder, furrowing her eyebrows, the void gaze in his eyes concerned her.

“Sorry, I'm ready to go whenever you are.” He answered quietly, standing unexpectedly and turning away from his brother's grave.

“Oh, okay...we can go then.” She stood up, brushing herself off then following him to the exit. “It’s getting close to lunch, why don't we go get something to eat?” She suggested, turning to him with a smile. This was the first time he had seen her do that. An unforced,
real
smile. It was unexpected but very endearing. Though a dark fog still seemed to pull at him, this simple expression lifted his spirit, if only slightly.

“Um, sure, lead the way.” He agreed with a nod. As they crossed the street, Dillan stopped on the corner, contemplating where to go with a finger pressed against her chin, biting her lip and narrowing her eyes as she surveyed the downtown strip for ideas.

“How do you feel about takeout?” She questioned him. He wasn't feeling too hungry but nodded again, trying to be accommodating. They walked a few blocks further, then ordered some Pho from an Asian market that Dillan tended to frequent. She didn't like to cook much these days.

After grabbing a case of beer along with the food, she led Trey back to her apartment building. He followed, carrying the case of beer, feeling strangely like something had changed between him and Dillan. He was confused. The day before she almost had seemed afraid of him, or creeped out by him. Her kindness had only seemed out of obligation. Now, it felt more genuine.

“Why don't you have a seat on the couch, I'll set up the food.” Dillan nodded toward the living room as they walked back into the apartment. He did as she asked, still feeling odd. He watched her rummage around in the kitchen for two large bowls. She dumped the ingredients of their take out boxes into them with the exception of the broth, before carrying them over to the coffee table. Dillan headed back to the kitchen once more to grab two beers and two sets of chopsticks for them before settling onto the cushion next to him. He watched her pour the steamy broth into the bowl, then swirl the contents around with the chopsticks; within seconds the meat cooked in the heat of the broth.  She nodded for him to do the same with his.

“Why are you being nicer to me now?” He asked bluntly, as he watched the noodles and beef swirl around in his bowl. Dillan paused mid-slurp to look over at him, with her eyebrows raised, obviously caught in surprise.

“What do you mean?” She felt somewhat mortified by his question, knowing full well that she had been pretty closed-off with him since he first arrived.

“You just seemed a lot more uneasy about me being here yesterday. I mean, I don't blame you,” He seemed to be apologizing, “It can't be easy to find out about someone that you didn't know existed and have them look exactly like the

person you lost.” Dillan took a bite of a beef ball, chewing as she contemplated what he said.

“I'm sorry for acting like that. I guess just seeing you at the grave made me realize that despite how difficult your arrival may have been for me at first, this isn't any easier on you,” She looked up at him, offering a sympathetic smile, “We both lost the only family we knew.”

“You don't have any other family?” Trey was intrigued by her admission.

“I was an only child, and my parents died when I was five. I was raised by my grandmother, but she passed away soon after I left for college. She and I weren't particularly close, though.”

“Jamie never told me that about you. I'm sorry.”

Dillan shrugged, “I didn't remember much of my parents. It's hard to miss someone you can't remember.”  She grabbed one of the beers off the coffee table and took a swig, savoring it for a moment before swallowing.

“Our father died when we were about thirteen. It really affected Jamie.” Trey spoke, also taking a swig of beer, "He got in a car accident coming home from work one night. My mother gave Jamie Dad's watch. It had been broken in the accident, but Jamie always wore it, even though it didn't work. He refused to let my mother take it to get fixed first." A look of recognition came over Dillan's face as she listened to Trey’s story.

“I think I know what watch you’re talking about. I'm pretty sure it's in with some of his stuff. I never saw him wearing it, but when I offered to have it fixed he had quickly refused. ” She never asked him anything further about it, just figured it meant something to him.

“Don't take it personal, Jamie was always pretty secretive, at least when it came to talking about emotional things like that.”  Trey attempted unsuccessfully to pick up some noodles with his chopsticks. Dillan laughed a little then went to grab him a fork. Not everybody was the chopsticks type.

“These days, I'm getting the feeling he was secretive about a lot.” She said as she returned to the cushion next to him, handing him the utensil. She frowned at that thought.
Had he not trusted me enough to tell me even things like that?

“I'm sorry...I didn't mean to make you feel bad. I'm sure he had his reasons. Things weren't always easy for him. From what I heard from him, he was very happy here with you...maybe he just wanted to focus on that.”

Maybe he is right
. She supposed it was a more positive way to think about it, but after being with Jamie for so long, it was a bit unsettling to find out just how much he never talked to her about. A sigh passed her lips as she held the beer bottle to them, taking a few more sips.

“Really...he loved you a lot.” Trey's tone was sincere. She didn't really doubt Jamie's love, she just wished she had gotten to hear these things from Jamie himself.

“It's so funny, you can be with someone for so long, but there will still be things about them that you never knew.” Her tone was thoughtful as she took a drink, finishing off her current bottle.

“I’m done with mine too, want another?” Trey asked as he stood up, grabbing the empty bottles. Dillan nodded as he continued to speak. “I think that if he had been able to get those things out, he would have told you. Jamie had it rough, and I didn't make things much better on him.”

“Is that why he never talked about you?” Dillan asked squarely. Trey handed her another bottle and shrugged.

“I wouldn't be bragging about a brother like me either.” He sighed. It was half true anyways. Before they'd been separated, Trey was always too busy getting into trouble instead of being the brother he should have been. Dillan stared at him with interest as she sipped.

“I just pushed him away. Got into stupid stuff. I was completely oblivious to the things he was going through. He was always there to bail me out...but when he was in trouble, or when he needed someone, I was nowhere to be found. Funny how true that is now,” Trey's thoughts drifted to the scene at the cemetery. Dillan leaned over and put her arm around his shoulder. Maybe it was that she finally had someone that she could relate to, someone that shared the pain of losing Jamie, but she sincerely felt a growing bond between her and Trey.

“It happened so suddenly...nobody would have been able to help him. Believe me, I tried.” Dillan stared down at the brown bottle in her hand, swirling the liquid around. Trey gently patted her hand, and both sat in silence. Both of their minds wandered to Jamie as they sat there. It was a peaceful silence, almost therapeutic. Neither spoke for several minutes, their hands still touching. Connected through their loss. Dillan glanced over at Trey as his eyes drifted somewhere else entirely. It was still a bit weird to look at him. To see Jamie sitting there...but not.

The more time she spent around Trey, the more the differences between the twins became clearer. But there were those blue eyes she had fallen in love with, and the thoughtful expression they shared. Part of her wished she could just pretend.  She wondered how it felt for Trey. To look in the mirror and see that same face, now just a ghost. A memory.

“So, did you want to see some of our photo albums? I haven't looked at them in a while.” Dillan broke the silence. She couldn't bear to watch him pout, the torture on his face only seeming to grow with each passing second.

“Oh...sure.” He spoke softly, still slightly in a haze from his thoughts. Memories of his brother had been playing in his head. All those times his brother had asked what he was doing, why he was always leaving. Trey telling him to fuck off and mind his own business, only to storm out in his usual fashion. As Dillan walked out of the room to fetch her photo album, Trey tried to shake the memories away.
Just another reason why I need to find out who did this,
he thought. It would never make up for the past, but he needed to do it.

Dillan reappeared from the hallway with a large square photo album, making room on the coffee table before placing it down in front of them. Dillan's fingers curled around the edge as she opened the cover, gently wiping off the thin layer of dust that had accumulated on its green, satin fabric.  A small smile formed on Trey's lips as he saw a picture of his brother, taken close to the time after they had been separated. His face was still very young.

It was on a strip of pictures from a photo booth; Dillan was holding onto Jamie with a big grin. Her hair, much longer than its current state, fell freely over her shoulders. Both their eyes beamed in delight as they made silly faces. In the last of the set, their lips met in a kiss, though big grins were still evidently plastered on both their faces . Jamie was such a contrast from the state he was in when Trey had last seen him. Dillan smirked as she stared at the pictures. Trey noticed and studied the pictures more closely. It took him a moment, but then he realized something odd about the pictures.

“Is that cotton shoved up my brother's nose?”  He asked, his lips curling in delight as he laughed.

“Um, yes....That's the day we met. I may have hit him in the face. I tend to flail a bit in mosh pits.” A smile played on Dillan's lips.

“That's right...I think he mentioned that in one of his letters...” Trey smiled as Dillan flipped to the next page. Several photos were spread out. Some appeared to be taken near a college campus, a few others taken on a beach. It was so odd to see Jamie that young again...and so happy. It couldn't have been that long after everything had happened. Trey had always wondered why Jamie was able to write to him. He should have been furious. He should have disowned Trey. Yet he chose to stay in contact, and his letters were never depressing or sad. Now he knew why. It was because of Dillan.

Though he had read what Jamie had written about her, it hadn't sunk in until now how much this girl had played a part in his brother’s willingness to forgive him. As horrible as the circumstances that separated them had been, Jamie would never have met this girl if they had not occurred. He might have never gotten the chance to fall in love with Dillan.

“This is amazing. I wish I could show you pictures from our childhood. I unfortunately don't have any...but you would have liked them.” He said as he flipped to the next page, more cheerful memories of Dillan and Jamie staring back.

“Well, you know... you could just tell me about your childhood, and his. Sometimes stories are just as nice as pictures.” Her hazel eyes looked up at him, “It would be nice to hear about the Jamie I never got a chance to meet.”

“It’s a deal then.” He nodded, clinking his beer bottle against hers. The remainder of their evening was spent running over old photographs of Jamie that Trey had never seen, and recalling tales about Jamie that Dillan had never heard. It was a beautifully melancholy evening that stretched into the wee hours of the morning, fueled by beer and the occasional poignant moment as they both mourned and celebrated the beloved person they had lost.

CHAPTER NINE

The duct work running the length of the living room ceiling came into view as Trey opened his eyes. He was greeted by the early morning sunlight that shined through the windows. The harsh brightness caused a sharp pain like a needle being stabbed into his forehead. He then became aware of the soft weight laying on his chest, the mass of auburn hair that gently tickled his neck. A warm, spicy scent of ginger and vanilla emanated from Dillan as she slept, cuddling against him.

The room was relatively quiet except for her soft, slow breathing as she lay against him. Trey remained perfectly still, leaning his back against one of the soft plush cushions on the sofa. One of his arms was curled around Dillan, his hand resting right below her shoulder blades; the other was stiffly lying at his side. As pleasant as it was to wake up with someone as lovely as Dillan in his arms, he knew just how awkward this situation could be if she were to wake up.

He looked around the room, still cluttered with remnants from the previous night, their empty bowls still sitting on the coffee table along with several empty beer bottles.

Did we really drank that much?  Yeah,
the sharp pain above his eyes confirmed it.  He looked back down at Dillan, her features were smoothed and relaxed, and every few seconds her eyelids twitched slightly as she dreamed.  She turned her head, nuzzling against his chest, a few tendrils of hair falling over her face.  This was growing more uncomfortable by the minute.

Moving slowly and fluidly, afraid of waking Dillan, Trey slid out from under her slumbering figure, then gently lifted her head as he quietly placed both of his own feet on the floor.  Pulling her body against his chest, he slid one arm around Dillan’s back, as he carefully slid the other beneath her knees before lifting her off the couch.  He studied her, making sure she had not been awakened from the movement. She was still asleep, angelic features still peaceful. 
Phew
.  He crossed the living room, carrying her through the dim hallway toward the last door on the left.   The door was already slightly open, and he could see the edge of her bed through the gap.

With his shoulder, he pushed the door open further, hesitating slightly as he walked inside.  A picture of her and Jamie stared up at him from the nightstand, watching him as he shuffled across the room.  As he reached the side of her bed, Dillan's mouth brushed against his neck. Her breath tickled his skin, causing a visible shiver to run down his body. He lowered her to the bed and gently laid her limp form against the pristine white bedspread, taking care as he placed her head on the pillow.  Standing back up, Trey watched her for a moment as she rolled onto her side.