Twin Lakes

S1, Ep. 6 - Know Thy Creatures Is A Foe

I was at the play practice as everyone was there but James, as usual he is late and late means he's going to be replaced by the understudy. In his case it was Steve, as him and Claire were saying lines I heard the door open. I saw James and got out of my seat, "You're late.." I said, "I know! But why is Steve up there?"

My eyes rolled, he is such an idiot most of the time. "He was your understudy..", "Was?" he is seriously playing the dumb card. "You're his understudy now..", "Oh.." there was applause as Steve came by us and hit us both in the shoulders. "Thanks for the role Lake.." he left as Claire looked at him. "You had to be late,", "Yes I know and I'm sorry.." she looked at me then back at him. "Sorry doesn't cut it..opening night is in 2 weeks away and your sister has remembered all her lines and arrives on time. I thought twins would be on time with everything and not just one without the other." she left in anger as I wish I could do the same but I'm stuck with him.

"If you could let me explain..", "explain about what..where you go during play pratices.." she said as I looked at him, "and where you sneak off at night..", "I'll talk with you later Josie about it but Claire it's hard to explain.." he looked at us both but mainly at Claire, "Can we talk in private.." she sighed, "five minutes..tops.."

When he left with Claire in private, I was called up on stage with Steve to practice lines, both understudies filling in for the leads. "Okay, let's take it from 'Wherefore art..'", I nodded as I was saying my lines along with Steve. And when we were practicing, up to the kissing scene, "So are we doing this scene or calling it for the afternoon.." I said nerveroulsy, "We can do this scene.." I breathed out. "You're telling me I have to kiss half of one of the Lakes..ew..", "You both decided to be understudies, what did you expect.." said Eli. "Ok..um.." Steve laid down on the fake grave, and closed his eyes. I bit my lower lip and know this is just a one time kiss, "I will kiss thy lips."

I leaned in and kissed him, "Thy lips are warm! Then, I'll be brief. O happy dagger! This is thy sheath. here rust and let me die." I took the script and used it as the fake dagger and then laid next to him as Eli rushed on stage for his cue. "A gloomy peace this morning brings. Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things. For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.."

"Curtain!" yelled Ms. Janeth as people clapped, meaning just her. As I heard them muffled, Steve turned to me. "We survived the play and you're not a bad kisser Josephine .." I looked at him, "Thanks and didn't we technically die in the play.." he laughed, "Yeah by poison.." I laughed and looked at him. "You know once someone gets to know you, you're not such a bully.." he smiled, "thanks..so we're not going to mention we kissed to your brother right?"

I nodded, "Yeah better we don't, he'll just flip out and go all over protective..", "Aren't all brothers like that.." I laughed, "Nope. Just James, he protects me and my mom whenever things go wrong and says he doesn't need protection yet he does some days.." he nodded as Eli came behind the curtain. "Well done to both of you..acting was so spot on..", "Thanks Eli.." I got down from the fake Grave as Steve looked at me. "Now I have to kiss Claire for the real play.." I sighed, "Yeah..or you could just be nice and give Jim the part back..", "True..only on one condition."

I raised a brow as Eli left outside of the curtain, "What if we hang out someday..", "Like as friends.." he laughed, "yeah as friends.." I nodded, "Sure..just give me the time and day..", "What about after the play.." I looked at him, "That sounds more like a date since it's at night..", "Will that be awkward?" I shook my head no, "No. Just I need to avoid telling Jim because you know why.." he nodded.

"Well I am going to Eli's, he wanted to show me something..", "Okay we'll see you again in school.." I waved goodbye and went to meet Eli as we walked to his house. "So what did you want to show me..", "Remember how I told you about all the creatures I kept seeing at night.." I nodded confused, "Yeah and I asked you for photo proof.." he pulled out his camera and showed me and told me to look at the fifth one as it was of James and Tobes.

"Isn't it funny how he is wearing his Romeo costume at night..it's' like his one of those L.A.R.P's.." I looked at him, "Aren't you one of those..", "Yes but they aren't this realistic, most are cardboard...though these creatures are appearing to be stone and with the flash of my camera their teeth look like fangs." I looked through more of the photos and found one similar to my sketch before it was torn. "This one isn't made of stone..looks more like a green pigment of human flesh skin.."

I showed him. "Yeah. But I don't know what to call these creatures..", "Well let's call them creatures or monsters for the time being..and I'll attempt to ask Jim questions later.." he nodded, "Keep me posted.." I nodded, "ELI! WHO IS THAT?! IS THAT A GIRL? IS SHE YOUR GIRLFRIEND?" my eyes widened, "NO MOM, SHE IS WITH STEVE AS HIS GIRLFRIEND."

I looked at him as his mom didn't reply, "I'm not Steve's girlfriend..", "Then why are you going on a date with him after the play.." I looked him in the eyes. "We're just castmates and friends..nothing special..", "Nothing special huh..you two kissed.." I rolled my eyes, "it was in the script and he told me that I wasn't a bad kisser.." I covered my mouth as I spoke too much. "And in Steve's case that means he likes you..and you like him if you admit that kissing comment.." in my mind I was thinking do I like Steve? I did agree to a date with him after all the play business. "I might.." I said to him, "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me.." I nodded. "Okay just don't tell Jim at all..he will lose his mind."