Deception

The Box

I shuffled over to this smallish box that was labeled 'Jersey's KEEPOUT! in duct tape. I was confused since I have never seen this box before. This box looked sort of like a treasure chest except it wasn't in the shape of a chest it was just an ordinary box. I looked around to make sure no one is in my room before I opened it. There must be a reason it says Keep Out right? I felt really guilty for opening it but at the same time it felt right since it said my name on it. I tried opening the lock but I couldn't.
"Come on. There has to be a key." I whispered to myself. I couldn't deal with the suspense anymore so I looked over at some of my school work I had brought with me and grabbed a paper clip bending it so I could use it to open the lock. Once I finished bending it I ran back over to the lock and wiggled with it for a bit. I heard a click meaning I had opened it. I took one last look at my door to see if anybody was in my room. I opened the box. I seen the key to the lock which I placed in my pocket. I seen this really old burgundy book that was tied up with leather string. I took the leather book out and began to open it.
"Jersey! Dinner!" I heard my mom call out as it made me jump.
"Coming!" I called back hearing my voice kind of crack as I shut the box locking it before sliding it under my bed. I went down the stairs to eat. I was so caught up in what was in that box that I ate extremely fast.
"Woah slow down tiger. You have eaten 4 slices already. What's gotten you so anxious?" My dad asked as I put my plastic plate in the garbage.
"Nothing I just want to finish unpacking. May I be excused?" I asked as I waited for a reply.
"Yes go ahead." My mom said as I kissed her cheek and then my dad's before running back up the stairs. I shut my door and went back to the one side of the bed furthest away from the door so I could open that book. I grabbed it from under the bed as I pulled the key out of my pocket. I unlocked it and pulled that book out. I put the box to the side and untied that book. I opened it up. It was a bunch of background on me. And my father?! I was extremely confused. I turned to a page that was my birth certificate.
Name: Jersey Alexandria Marine
Mother: Tammy Noreen Peters
Father: James Allan Marine
Wait?! Father?! My father's name is Michael Spencer Jackson. Or at least that's what I have always been told. I kept reading the book. I got to a page that read 'James Marine: Criminal Assessment' I was intrigued with this page. Apparently this James Marine guy was once a FBI agent but he was framed for murdering a guy and robbing a bank. They had an entire page on the things James was like. He had every aspect of me in him. Or I had every aspect of him in me. I spent a good couple minutes reading this book. I found a couple pictures of him in this book. I took them out and compared them to me. I walked into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. I looked a lot like him. I wonder why my mom kept this from me I heard a knock on my door.
"Hey sweetheart, can we talk?" I folded the picture and put it in my pocket before I jumped out of the bathroom.
"Yeah sure mom what's up?" I replied as I walked over to the bed and sat down hoping she wouldn't see the box. She sat beside me. She put her hand on my knee.
"Are you okay? You seem very off. First you were sad and now your excited. What's going on with you?" My mom asked as I bit my lip.
"I'm fine mom. Just I'm a bit tired and you know what I'm like when I'm tired." I said as she nodded her head.
"Okay well your father and I are off to bed. So if you plan on listening to music. Keep it down. Good night. I love you." She said as she kissed my head and walked out the door. I took a deep sigh as I walked back over to the box. After reading some more I realized this man was my father. Every aspect of him, his looks and personality was me. I had to find him. I decided that it was getting a little late and knowing my family we would be up early tomorrow. I plugged my laptop in so I could use it all day tomorrow. I grabbed my charger and pulled in my phone as I set up my bed. I locked up the box again and slid it under my bed. I looked at my phone. 8 text messages. All from two hours ago. Shit. I opened up my texts. All of them were from Jake. I don't really read them I just decided to respond back.
To: Jake
From: Jersey
I am so sorry I didn't text you back!! I was so caught up in unpacking I didn't hear my phone go off, anyway I'm off to bed..I am sorry again good night xo
I shut my phone off before I laid in the dark. I was a bit confused but yet I was curious to find more out about this James Marine guy my 'father'.

---When I woke up I was woken up with the smell of bacon being made. I slowly got out of bed and walked down the stairs to the kitchen where my entire family was.
"Well good morning sleepy head." My dad said kissing my forehead as I sat down on the island in the kitchen.
"Morning. I smell food." I said as I sniffed the air.
"Yeah bacon, waffles and has browns." My mom stated as she brought the pan close to me. I groaned at how my stomach was growling. I really wanted to talk to my mom about what I found in my room but I didn't at the same time. Maybe there was a reason she kept it from me. I shook these thoughts out of my head once the plate of food was set beside me. I got off the island and sat on the stool. I began to eat as I felt myself get a text. I finished eating as I was excused. I was about to race up the stairs when my father called my name. When I found out he wasn't my father or at least that's what I thought I felt a little odd being close to him.
"Jersey, think maybe you could help me later with the garage?" He asked me as I thought about it.
"Um sure." I said as I waited for him to tell I could go.
"Okay great. I'll give you a few hours to finish unpacking." He said as I nodded my head racing back up the stairs. I shut my door and grabbed that box opening it up again. All I kept thinking about was I wanted to know about this man who was so similar to me. I opened up the book and began to read where I left off. I got to a page that said 'Retirement' I was confused. He was an FBI agent who got framed for murder and robbing a bank but he was retired? I read the page it was the day I was born.
"July 1st 1998. James Marine retired due to an infant being born with girlfriend Tammy Peters." I read quietly out loud. I was in shock I kept reading to see if it mentioned a name of the child. I seen a picture of a bunch of people with James Marine and my mom holding a child in their arms. It listed off names of everyone in the photo. I scanned through the people's names to find my mom and James' name. But then in between the two names was 'Jersey Alexandria Marine.'