The Impeccable Infinity

Chapter 21

I laid in bed longer than I should have this morning, but my mind just wouldn't stop wandering. I started thinking about Mute and then told myself that I'm too good for him, which led me to daydream about tonight with Alex. He texted me the night before and let me know that he was coming to pick me up a few hours from now. My stomach is uneasy with the thought of being in the middle of a crowded room with a bunch of loud and obnoxious teenagers. I know I sound like an old lady complaining about kids, but I do truly fear what's going to happen tonight.

"Haley, come on. We need to babysit the twins," Riley said, bringing me back to reality.

"Isn't Colby watching them?"

"He's out somewhere and Ruth's at work."

"What about Mute?"

"Do you really think he's going to babysit two eight year olds?" She asked, raising her eyebrows at me.

I groaned and rolled out of bed, preparing myself to hear the screams and excitement of the twins. They like to only talk to each other, but when the opportunity to take advantage of two babysitters practically twice their age arises, their going to take the offer without a second thought.

"Where are they?" I asked, straightening out my clothes.

"In the living room waiting for us."

We walked through the hallway and I looked at Mute's room out of the corner of my eye. The door was opened slightly, allowing me to see him sit on his bed and writing in a journal.

What is he doing? Schools out, so why would Mute of all people be writing when he's not being forced to?

"Haley, come on," Riley said, pulling on my arm.

We trotted down the stairs and got to the living room right as the twins were beginning to fight with each other, as they always do. Instead of getting involved, Riley and I decided to stay off to the side and see how far they get before we have to intervene.

Ethan looked at Nathan with a dead glare in his eye, as if he was ready to attack him to the ground. The two walked around in circles like wrestlers, and screamed back and forth to each other.

"I'm the better twin!" Ethan shouted, making Nathan huff with anger.

"No you're not! I'm taller," Nathan yelled, crossing his arms in triumph.

"No you're not!"

"Yes I am! And I'm older than you!"

"No you're not! We're twins!"

"I was born first! I'm older by five minutes!" Nathan yelled, taking a step closer to Ethan.

"Well, I can count higher than you!"

"You're lying! I can count all the way to one hundred!"

"Well I can count to a thousand!" Ethan blurted out, causing Nathan's eyes to widen with surprise.

"I'm not your brother anymore! I quit!" Nathan yelled, throwing his arms up into the air and walking out of the room.

I laughed quietly to Riley as we watched the two turn away from each other in anger and mumble under their breath.

"You go get Nathan. I'll talk to Ethan," I said, leaning in closer to Riley so they couldn't hear our plan.

She nodded and went after Nathan, who opened the back door and at this point is probably in the backyard.

I walked over to Ethan. He was sitting on the ground in the corner, crouched up in a ball with his arms crossed and eyes narrowed and staring ahead. I crouched down and put a hand on his shoulder.