Trouble in Twinsville

Chapter One - Claire

Chapter One - Claire

I slammed close my locker on the last day of school, hoping that I didn't leave anything important, like, I don't know, my math textbook (though that won't exactly be a problem). I never want to see my ratty blue locker again! As I stuffed all of my papers into my backpack, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I whirled around to find my twin, Amalia, standing by my locker with a bulging backpack and a humongous basoon case.

"Claire," she asked, "are you coming or what? We're going to miss the bus!"

"Wow, this is quite a change," I replied. "Usually it's me who's yelling at YOU to hurry."

"It's the last day of school!" Amalia pleaded. "Come on!"

"Fine." I grabbed my backpack and joined the crowd of 7th graders heading out to the bus lanes. I spotted my friend, Nicki, pushing her way through the crowd. I squeezed between a tuba case and a huge lunch box (what's in that thing?) and gave her a hug.

"Hey Claire!"  Nicki yelled over the noise in the hallway. "Aren't you excited for summer to start?"

"Definitely! I can't wait to cross off all the stuff on my bucket list, like having endless sleepovers and color wars! Speaking of sleepovers, want to come over later for a slumber party?" I asked.

"Sure!" Nicki exclaimed. "I'd love to! Let me check with my mom first." She pulled out her silver iPhone, clad in a blue striped case, and pressed a few buttons before looking up and giving me a smile. "She said yes. Is anyone else coming?"

"Well, Amalia (of course), Risi, Becks, Courtney, and Sara, then some of Amalia's friends, like Emily, Olive, and Raine..... you know them, right?"

" Yeah, of course! So what time should I be over?"

The party would start at seven, but I love hanging out with Nicki, so I decided to have her over an hour earlier. "Six o clock!" I told her. "And don't be late!" I accompanied that with an eyebrow raise, since Nicki is famous for being "fashionably" late.

By that time, we had reached the doorway and Nicki had to get to her bus, and me to mine. I gave her one final hug and ran up the steps of bus 815. My sister was already sitting in our seat, and giving me the hairy eyeball. "What?" I asked her.

"The bus driver has been waiting to leave! I had to use my debate club logic to convince her to wait for you! If you hadn't come in the next minute, this bus would have been gone!"

Oops. "I'm so sorry! Thank you so much for having the bus wait for me!" I gave my sister a hug. "Now, scoochy. I need to sit too!"

The summer was off to a bad start. Oh well. I'll make up for it tonight!

The bus rolled out onto the street, and a cheer started up as we passed the school.

Oh yes, this would be a great summer. Just wait.