The Occult Twins

Chapter 3: Moving To The Fast Lane

Finally the day had ended, not necessarily a bad thing but not quite a good thing. As I walked out of Clairemont High holding Aria's arm with a big smile on my face I felt a soft tap on the shoulder, I span around and there Josh was, looking all sweet and lovable, much like a puppy. 

"Hey Arna" he said, giving me a smirk, "and hello Aria" he smiled at her. Is a smirk better than a smile? Who cares? While me and Aria were walking into the parking lot Josh walked beside me, he wasn't afraid or embarrassed to be seen with me. He branched off in his own direction, turned around and waved at us both, we both waved back and smiled.

"I think he really likes you Arna" Aria stated, I wanted to believe her but I also wanted Josh to say it himself, I know it's way too early and we have to get to know each other first, I was just hoping it to be true.

"Yeah, well if he does I don't want to rush into anything, you know with what happened last time and all..." I said, I can't have a repeat of that.

"Yep, I'm going to encourage you two to go on a date, I'll try every way possible to get him to ask you and then you can really get to know each other.

"Thanks Aria" I hugged her, her hair smelt of coconuts, yum.

As we walked up to the car mom was nowhere to be seen, it was dad driving us home. We got in the car. It was hella awkward, I looked at Aria with a confused face and she wasn't any less confused.

"So dad, where's mom?" Aria asked, I was going to be the one to ask, but I don't think dad knew.

"She's just ... At home ... running errands." He answered, I knew he was un-sure where she was. I just didn't be the one to say.

"Don't you usually run errands outside?" She asked, while she was waiting for an answer she turned to me and mouthed 'what the...'

"Well you know how it is honey, garden errands, like mowing the lawn, tidying the ... BBQ." He was trembling, something was off by a mile.

"Yeah, we haven't had a BBQ in 4 years, the last time we did it was for me and Arna's 12th birthday and you burnt the steak." That was the best BBQ, it got everyone laughing which was something that doesn't happen anymore. Dad didn't reply to that, he just carried on driving.

I got out my phone and saved Josh's number and without hesitating texted him a hello. And obviously who it was. He replied back quite quickly with a 'Hey Arna x' a kiss? This was moving all so fast, I love it! 

We texted constantly until we got home, dad didn't say a word he just opened the door and let us out. Aria shouted for mom, but no reply, it's obvious she wasn't here, I didn't think to text or call her so I just left her to whatever she was doing, Aria also done the same. Me and Aria went into the kitchen, while dad was in the office doing ... office stuff, me and Aria had the kitchen to ourselves, to cook whatever we wanted. And what we were feeling like was cookies.

Aria could bake the best cookies, with milk chocolate and white chocolate and I was pretty good at mixing the mix, you know the job for the person who has muscle even though that was not quite me I still had fun. We used to bake all the time with mom and dad too, we used to use left over mix and wipe it on each others' faces.

As we waited for the cookies in the oven we were sitting on the couch watching TV. Just as I was about to get up to get some juice mom came through the front door with two big shopping bags in her hand. "Mom, where have you been and what is in those bags?" Aria seemed a little too interested to know what's in the bags, maybe it was something private for you know ... adults?

"Well, I have been shopping, quite clearly and I asked your dad to pick you two up from school seeing as I was you know, shopping and what's in the bag is nothing for you ... Well actually it is, a big day is coming up and I wanted to get you guys a little something." It seemed like a good excuse why she didn't pick us up, seemed legit so I thought nothing of it, however Aria wasn't so convinced.

"So where did you shop? Get me any clothes, something white, I'm moving on from the black goth theme we had going on for a couple of years, it's getting old Arna just needs to realize it." Aria snapped. And I was about to snap, I never thought she could be so harsh to me, when I was standing right next to her, I looked at her and gave her the 'evil eyes' when we were kids we used to do it a lot, when we got in trouble we'd blame it on each other and that's when we'd do the evil eyes.

About 5 minutes of talking with all of us and mom explaining why she went shopping, I smelt smoke. It wouldn't take a lot to figure out it was the cookies. Aria rushed over into the kitchen and slammed open the oven door, I thought about telling her to use the oven mitt but then I remembered what she said to me not long ago, so I just bit my tongue.

"Oh shit in hell!" Aria yelled, literally at the top of her voice, I never knew her lungs had it in her. So me being the 'nice' sister, I instantly grabbed her wrist and ran it under the cold water.

"Thanks Arna." She said and wait for it ... "I'm sorry about what I said, I'm just growing out of the goth scene, I'm moving on to a normal stage, for now anyway, who knows I might change back?" At least she apologized.

I had an incoming call from Josh, I answered it. "Sorry Josh, it's not a good time right now, family things and we burnt cookies so we must see to them immediately." It was barely an excuse, but more of a I didn't want to talk to him now kind of excuse, the cookies came first.

"Oh I totally understand, you go save those cookies from being burnt, we'll talk later?" He seemed okay with it, but for all I know he could be really hurt. Nah, he'll be fine, unlike Aria's hand.

"Yep sure, call me about 7." 7 seemed like a good time, now the wait to see if he will call exactly at 7, I expect it from him. I put my phone down and carried on helping Aria with her burn, while my mom being the clever one took the unfortunately burnt cookies out of the oven.