Turnabout Twist (2 page)

“Liar.” Vicky flipped her hair. “Shoot I forgot my team Edward shirt.”

“Yeah I forgot my team get me the hell out of here shirt.” Darn it. I just said that out loud.

“Heh! No filter on the brain boy- I heard that.” Vicky flicked me in the arm and laughed. “Your superpower is not tact.”

“I mean, I’m team Edward too because I am a closeted vampire lover. Bet you didn’t know that. Plus my incisors are kind of getting pointy too.” I planted a kiss on the top of her adorable red head. “So now that I proclaimed my love of vampires, will you’ll wear the Black Widow costume to prom?” I stroked her back.

She twisted away then crossed her arms and tapped her foot.

“That’s a no, huh?” I asked.

She scrunched her eyebrows and pursed her lips. The definite look of no.

“I mean, I’m just saying. It’s our last prom. Why not go out with a bang? Make it memorable,” I said, just as we reached the front of the line.

It was our turn at the ticket window.

“Since you’re paying for prom, I’ll get the popcorn,” Vicky offered.

“Then I’ll get the tickets.” I pulled out money I had borrowed from my twin Timothy and slid it under the glass. “Two tickets to the vampire movie.”

“This is last of these horrible movies, isn’t it? I mean after today, I won’t have to go to anymore right?” I said wishfully to Vicky as I handed her a ticket. I loathed the first couple of vampire flicks and was sure this was more of the same.

“No.” She pursed her lips.

“There’s more?”

“Yes.”

“Jeez. I don’t know how much more I can take of that brooding girl who can’t decide between a wimpy sparkly dude and that dog guy who never wears a shirt.” I put my hands up.

“Ted, he’s not a dog, he’s a werewolf. You know the whole full moon transformation and all.”

“Yah. Whatever. I mean, why can’t she choose between normal guys, like between a nerd and a jock? Or a dude like me, who’s a little of both?” I smirked.

“That would be boring,” Vicky said with a glare

“I’m boring?”

“No. But a love triangle between a girl and two unlikely hunks makes for a great flick.”

“For you maybe. I’d rather catch the superhero movie next door. It starts in ten minutes.”

“You think they’re better than vampires?” Vicky asked as we entered the lobby.

“Way better. They can fly, have incredible elite powers and have kick ass fights.” I did a hand swipe thing like a sword and added a kick.

“It’s like I’m dating a twelve-year-old.” Vicky smiled.

I gazed into the glass case at the concession stand. “Look! Gummy bears.”

“Point made.” Vicky hugged my arm and handed the employee behind the counter her money. “Medium popcorn, one large Coke and a box of gummies.”

While we waited on our order, Vicky said, “So is Timothy taking that new girl to prom?”

“Gabrielle? Yeah, I think he is.” I got two straws and some napkins.

“I bet he won’t ask her to dress up in some sexy weird superhero costume.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. We are identical twins, after all.” I waved my hand down from my shoulders to my feet.

She handed me the drink and box of gummies and then grabbed the popcorn. “Do you want to double date with them?”

“Because we’re double?” I made a twin joke whenever I could.

“Bad. Really bad.” She grinned and threw a kernel of popcorn at me.

We found our seats in the air-conditioned darkness of the theater. Settling into the comfy soft velour seats it took less than a few minutes into the movie before I dozed off.

Vicky nudged my arm, jostling me. “You’re snoring.”

“Huh?” The side of my mouth felt wet with drool.

“You fell asleep.”

“No surprise. This movie sucks...and not just because of the vampires,” I whispered as my brain came out of a fog.

“You didn’t even see five minutes of it. And if you hate it so bad, go see your stupid superhero movie.”

“Really? That’d be great.” My glee was obvious in my tone.

“Go.” Vicky said with a scowl.

We got shushed from the couple behind us.

“Okay,” I whispered.

“Okay, Fine. Get out of here.” She pitched the box of gummy bears at me.

I caught them. “I’ll see you in the lobby after?”

The movie soundtrack became extremely loud, so I didn’t hear her response. This was a great compromise. I could see my movie, she could see her’s, and we’d both be both happy. Well maybe not happy. Vicky had been scowling. But she’d get over it.

Who would have known after all of these years of dating her, and all of the chick flicks I’d seen with her, that falling asleep would get me out of seeing those horrible movie? I mentally patted my back for a job well done.

The Avengers
had everything I loved, action and superheroes. And mostly the smoking hot Black Widow. After it ended I made it to the lobby and saw Vicky walking out the front door.

I ran after her. “Hey, I thought we were meeting up. Why did you leave?”

“Well, I also thought we were going to a movie together and we didn’t,” she huffed. “Guess we were both wrong.”

“We did go together but then you told me to go to the other one, and I did.” Did I miss something?

“I didn’t want you to leave,” she sighed.

“But you said to go.” My stomach felt like a bowling ball had lodged in it. Something was going on here. My gut said it was not good. I had a feeling I’d screwed up pretty bad.

“You’re a moron.” She looked down at the ground and kicked a small piece of paper.

“No, I’m just really confused.” I put my hands up.

Her back stiffened and her jaw clenched. “Well, here it is simple enough for you to understand. I’m leaving now and I’m pissed.”

“I don’t get it. Why?” My head began to spin. Girls were like twisted coils of emotion. I’d never figured out how to unravel the knots.

She shrugged her shoulders. “You just don’t get it.”

“I must not. I’m sorry.” I tried to give her a hug but she pulled away from me.

“Teddy, let’s just cool it for a while,” she said as she walked away.

“Cool it?” I followed after her. “What’s going on?”

“Maybe it’s just not working.”

“What’s not working? I work. I cut grass.” I tried to lighten the situation. I hated to fight and thankfully we rarely disagreed.

“Not you. Us.” Her eyes filled with tears.

“Don’t cry. Whatever I did I am so sorry. Really I am.” Placing my hand on her arm, I tried to lean in to kiss her. She jerked away.

“See that’s the problem. You don’t get me. You just don’t.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

“No, I do.” My chest felt like it was smashed by a wrecking ball.

“No. You don’t. Even after three years.”

“But I do. You’re super smart, and gorgeous. You can’t parallel park to save your life.” After all of these years, I know so much about her. “And you’re in love with that vampire dude in the movie.”

“Edward.” A slight grin crept on her face.

“Yes, Edward. How could I forget?” I smiled. “And you hate palmetto bugs. Math problems and essay questions are super easy for you. You’re a perfectionist in school, but you leave your clothes in piles on your bedroom floor. And you will never eat a ripe banana, and you hate mustard. You love that song from Shrek.”

“I’m a Believer.” She smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

“I like that song too.” I hoped that we could move on. “So are we okay now?”

“I’m still mad at you. I think I need some time.”

“How much time?” My whole body tightened, as though turned in a crank. “Does this mean we’re breaking up?”

“Not sure. I need just time alone.”

“Five minutes?” I offered, trying to joke.

She didn't crack a smile. “It’s late, I’m tired. I’m going home to bed.”

“I’m wide awake.”

“That’s because you took a nap in the movie.” She touched my face.

“At least let me walk you home.” I wanted to make sure she got home safely.

We walked in silence except for the crickets and the stray sounds of traffic. The whole time I kept trying to think of what I could say to her that would make her forgive me. I drew a blank.

When we got to her house, I got a peck on the cheek instead of a kiss on the lips. I waited outside until I saw her upstairs bedroom light go on. She opened the window and waved me off.

“See you tomorrow at prom?” I called up to her.

She closed the curtain.

Was our relationship over? What happened? Damned if I knew. But I planned on doing anything I could to get her back. On my way home the full moon shone, illuminating leaves on trees. There was so much folk lore about full moons. My favorite was how they turned men into werewolves.

The movie.

Vampires.

Then it hit me, I needed to show Vicky how much I ‘got her.’ I’d dress up like Edward. She’d think that was so romantic and forgive me a million times over.

Maybe as Edward I could make us right.

“Mom, where can I find some sparkly white face paint stuff?” I grabbed a cupcake then pulled a chair next to the kitchen table and plunked in it.

“What for?” My mom stood at the kitchen sink, up to her elbows in bubbles. She was the same height and build as Vicky. My mom’s dark hair was twisted in some sort of round shape at the top of her head held in place with a pencil. Women and their hair.

“Vicky is pissed at me after we saw a movie.” The kitchen smelled like lemons and fresh baked cake.

“Was it that bad of a movie?” she asked as she pushed a hair from her face, leaving behind bubbles.

I got up and took a kitchen towel and patted the bubbles from her face. “No, mine was great. I am sure hers was too.”

“You saw different movies?” Her voice rose.

So I sat back down at the table and explained what happened.

“Honey, you should never have left her, even if she told you to. That is rule number two for dealing with us. You have to learn to read the signs.”

“You remember that I’m dyslexic right?” I bit into the cupcake.

Mom laughed. At least one woman understood me. Then I asked her, “What is rule number one?”

“We are always right.” She finished washing a dish, then wiped her hands on her apron and sat next to me. “So why do you need the makeup?”

“I need to turn into that vampire guy she loves, Edward.” I told her about Vicky’s vampire obsession and my ploy to win her back by becoming her leading hero. “Even though I hate the whole idea of it, I need to do it for Vicky. To prove to her that I will do anything for her.”

“I have a whole box of Halloween costumes and makeup. Maybe something in there will work. I think we can make you a pretty respectable Edward. Although, I’m sure you’ll be much cuter.” She stood and kissed the top of my head.

***

It took about a half hour to get my face white and sparkly. When mom finished, I grabbed a flashlight, turned off the overhead light, and then shone the light under my chin to illuminate my face.

“You absolutely twinkle!” My mom said as she turned on the overhead light.

“Thanks. Wish me luck.” I clicked off the flashlight then shoved it in my back pocket and headed off to Vicky’s house.

Vicky had said that she loved the scene where Edward had crept into his girlfriend Bella’s bedroom. Heck, why not? She has to forgive me after all the trouble I went through to reenact a part of her favorite movie, right?

Approaching Vicky’s house, I noticed her window was still open. The drapes fluttered in the wind. Under her window near vines of jasmine, stood a wooden trellis. I could climb that. Mentally calculating the distance, I moved the trellis under the window, which would allow me enough height to climb up and maneuver myself into Vicky’s window.

It looked doable. It would be just as sappy romantic as the movie. Vicky would rush into my arms and forgive me.

Perfect.

When I got to the top of the trellis and entered the open window, my foot gave way knocking the trellis to the ground. Thump. I hope no one heard that. I wouldn’t want my surprise ruined.

A cool breeze blew the branches causing scraping sounds against the house.

I walked over to Vicky’s bed. The moonlight shone on her face. The smell of jasmine wafted through the window.

The noise coming from her bed sounded like a cat purring. But I knew she was allergic to cats. Upon closer inspection, I realized she was snoring. She even snored cute.

Time to perform.

I got the flashlight out of my back pocket and turned it on. With one hand I held it under my chin. With my other hand I gently shook her. “Vicky, it’s me vampire boy. Um Edward.”