Twin Fate: Sun and Moon

Chapter 11 - Deep Roots

"I'm home," I announced to the quiet house, expecting to find Alex still in bed. The emptiness seemed to echo my words, but I nearly jumped when I saw him in the kitchen. He looked rough, like he'd been through a battle, hunched over the counter and wolfing down soup as if it were the only thing keeping him alive.

"Hey, how's the temperature?" I asked, trying to sound casual, though the concern slipped through. He just shook his head dismissively, spoon still halfway to his mouth."It's better—down to 37.5. It'll be back to normal soon," he muttered between bites, his focus never leaving the bowl.

"So, how was school today?" he asked, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that made it clear he wasn't asking about classes. It was as if he'd already read my mind—he knew what, or rather who I was thinking about at that exact moment. Elin.

Her name stirred up memories of the morning, ones that felt distant now, like they belonged to another time. Then it struck me, the waitress...

"The waitress thinks you're handsome," I said, trying to keep it light, though the tease in my voice was unmistakable.

Alex snorted, nearly spilling his soup. "What waitress?" But he wasn't fooling me; he knew exactly who I meant. He was just dragging out the conversation out.

"How many waitresses do we know here? The one who always works the first shift, for some reason," I added, watching as he nodded with exaggerated realization.

"And how exactly did you end up talking about me with her?" he asked, shifting the focus, but I wasn't going to let him off that easily.

"I don't know," I replied, feigning nonchalance as I poured myself a bowl of the steaming soup. "When she took my order, she asked, 'Where's the handsome one today?' and I told her you were sick."

His smirk grew, and I could see that he was on to me. "So, who were you with today, or were you alone?" he asked, his tone almost smug. My cover was blown, and we both knew it."Elin," I tried to say it casually, but my voice betrayed me, cracking at her name. I laughed, trying to shake off the sudden nervousness.

"So, how is Elin?" he asked, mimicking my voice crack perfectly. I paused, searching for a simple answer. There wasn't one. She was too complex for that.

"It was great," I said, knowing how much of an understatement that was. "We even hung out with some of her friends during lunch. There's this guy, Leif—he's into basketball too," I added, knowing that would catch Alex's interest.

I took a moment to savor a spoonful of soup, letting the warmth spread through me before continuing. "And yeah, she did an okay job of replacing you in math, but her handwriting is awful. I spent half the morning trying to decipher it." I smiled at the memory of the scribbles that had driven me crazy.

"Oh, and we're invited to a hike with her and some of her friends this Saturday," I added, remembering the plan we'd made.

. The thought still unsettled my stomach, but it eased somewhat after I got to know Leif and Freya. If the rest of the group was anything like them, it couldn't be too bad. "Oh sure, I hope I'll be up and about by then," Alex said, his voice sounding stronger as he squeezed some dishwashing soap onto a sponge.

"Bed. I'll handle that," I commanded, stepping forward with authority. "You need to rest. There's only so much scribbling one person can decipher in a week."

He chuckled but didn't argue, giving in to my insistence. The rest of the week passed in a blur—a mix of schoolwork and keeping an eye on Alex. By Friday, he was back in school, the flu completely gone.

"So, it's 1 o'clock tomorrow at the college?" he asked Elin during lunch. We usually sat with her and a few of her friends now, our circle expanding slowly but surely. Alex had gotten to know Leif and Freya, who were regulars because their classes aligned with ours. But today, the two of us were introduced to Maya. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and impossibly tall—if we stood shoulder to shoulder, we'd be nearly the same height.

"Yeah, don't be late, or you'll have to wait for us," Elin teased, a playful glint in her eye. "To be honest, half the group is always late anyway, so let's say 1:15."

"I met Eric when you two were getting lunch," Alex said, nodding toward Elin and me. "He and the guys wanted to play basketball tomorrow, but I had to turn them down. Let me tell you, he didn't look too pleased about it."

There was something in Alex's eyes, as if he was wrestling with a difficult thought, trying to come to a hard conclusion. His gaze lingered on me for a moment before he spoke again, more slowly this time. "For some reason, he seemed really disapproving."

At that moment, my eyes flickered to Elin, catching her in what she probably thought was a private exchange—a meaningful look shared with Maya. I quickly turned my head away, hoping I hadn't been noticed.

"Boys will be boys," Maya said, attempting to sound casual, but there was a darker undertone to her voice. Even her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. It became clear then that it wasn't just Elin and Arvid; there was tension simmering beneath the surface between both groups. And somehow, Alex and I, as always, found ourselves caught in the middle of it all, fortunate in a twisted way.

"Rain," Elin said suddenly, breaking the silence. I couldn't tell if her comment was meant to ease the tension, but she was right—it had started to drizzle. "Always a good sign," she added, stretching out her hand as if expecting snowflakes instead of raindrops.

"How so?" I asked, pulling my hoodie over my head.

"It usually means tomorrow will be clear. Not sunny—that's rare around here—but at least it won't be raining," she finished, following my lead and pulling up her own hood. Alex and Maya did the same.

"We'll need some hiking equipment," Alex noted, more for my benefit than anyone else's."Americans," Maya snorted softly.

"Just bring a jacket," Elin said, dismissing the idea of fancy gear. "We'll grab some sticks for climbing from the ground. You connect with nature more that way, trust me."

She often made these almost eccentric remarks, her face always serene as she spoke. But then again, I understood—there was something about nature, a peace and quiet that charmed me more than any words, song, or art ever could.