The Meaning Games

3. Chevy Chases' Most Loyal

It was hard to understand a girl who hated trees being cut down yet loved to collect comic books. 

So when Collins Wazowski's latest Marvel magazine didn't come, she wasn't happy. Especially since it had cost her $47. 88. She expected it to be on her doorstep promptly. The price wasn't the problem; she just needed to read the latest issue. Her mother, who would offer up her credit card instantly if Collins asked for a new, girly wardrobe, refused to buy them, and so she had herself, and she was really looking forward to it. 

She hit her head down on the table as her twin brother put the rest of the mail down by the microwave. He jumped up on the counter, ignoring the fact that Marie, their cleaner, had only cleaned all the kitchen surfaces ten minutes ago. 

"What's wrong?" Thayer cocked his head. "Are you still feeling it from last night?" 

"No," she grumbled. "I wanted that magazine." 

"Oh."

Collins looked at him for a moment. His brand new Rolex slid down his arm slightly as he ruffled his soft, slightly wild, slightly curly hair. "You need a couple of links taken out of that watch. Why didn't you do that when you bought it?" 

"I was on the phone – I was busy." He brushed it off, but Collins continued to stare at him. Sure, he was sweet, and cared about other people's feelings. But he had style, wasn't he annoyed that his watch didn't fit him properly? 

"Who rang you? Who was so important?" Collins pressed.

"I was sorting something out for someone," he answered cryptically. 

"Who?" Collins frowned. They told each other every thing; they only ever kept things from their parents. Why didn't he just answer the question? They didn't have a reason to hide anything from each other, did they? Thayer didn't answer his sister. "Thayer..."

He held up his hands in defence. "Alright, OK, I was sorting out those sleeping pills for Avarie. I needed to get the right ones – and the right amount. They needed to dissolve in the orange juice. 

Collins face had softened, she forgot all about her magazines. "You could have told her that you guys had given her those, you know." 

"I know," Thayer said shamefully. He'd wanted to tell her, but Avarie thought it was best to leave her out of the loop. If she didn't know, she didn't need to act. 

"She thought it was just the vitamins," Collins continued. "It scared her when she woke up. I hope you realise that." 

Thayer looked angry for a second, before he remembered he was talking to his sister, his best friend. "Hey, this isn't my game. Not my rules."

"I know," Collins agreed. 

Thayer kicked his feet against the cupboards. Collins remembered when Evangeline, her mother, had chosen those cupboards and the oven, and everything else within the four walls of this house expect for the things in Collins bedroom, and the music room. "Why do you girls even play that game anyway? It's mean."

"You've pulled mean pranks too," Collins said cantankerously. "What about that time you guys drove Eugene to Brookmont and left him there. Brookmont is fifteen minutes away in a car!"

"He got back safe," Thayer argued. "It's Carl's fault. He drove us all out there." 

Collins wrinkled her nose. She didn't like Carl Monty, and never had. Although he'd moved school late last year, Thayer hadn't still been friends with him to say goodbye. He'd turned into an adrenaline junkie; always doing something extreme that could have got him, Thayer, or their friend Eugene killed. For some reason Collins didn't remember, Eugene and Thayer didn't talk anymore either. His mother, Annie, was Collins mother's best friend still, though, so they heard about him from time to time. "Mom would have had a fit."