Haunted

My Best Theory

Maddox sat on the beach looking out at the water. It always seemed like that was where people came on TV shows and in movies when they needed to think but he'd been there awhile and it didn't really seem to work for him. He felt awkwardly exposed, and there were a lot of distractions.

He was supposed to be at his daily therapy session but as he'd started driving he'd decided he just didn't feel like it. Ever since he'd gotten back to LA he'd been in therapy every day, working through every last random thought he had. It was exhausting and often seemed like a big waste of time. It wasn't like he had real problems - his life was pretty much a dream and any other person would be happy to trade with him. But therapy wasn't negotiable - he'd tried to kill himself, there wasn't a chance his parents would let him just pretend it hadn't happened.

But his parents were a whole other issue with the major secret they'd dropped on the family. It was hard to get his head around the idea he had another sister out there he'd never met. In a sick way he felt a little relieved to find out Justin wasn't as perfect as he pretended to be all the time. But Maddox knew it was wrong to think that way. It was also wrong the way he and his mom had laughed about Kylie's reaction to the news but she'd brought that on herself.

It wasn't like Maddox could blame her either. He was pissed at Justin for cheating on his mom, but he just couldn't get so angry about having another sister. It wasn't like anything changed, she was already Kylie's age. The whole thing was just really weird, no matter how much he thought about it.

A few days later Maddox found himself sitting in the family room looking at a girl who basically had his face. He was pretty sure that even if his parents hadn't told him who Emily was he would have known it immediately. She looked exactly like a girl version of him and Justin and had an accent that was a lot like Eli's.

"Up, please?" Aiden held his arms up to Emily. She picked him up and he settled in on her lap, completely unaware that it was a big deal. For all the practice Justin, Clara, and Maddox had talking to nervous fans who forgot how to speak at all when they were around, it didn't seem to help them know how to talk to Emily.

"That must be Kylie," Clara said when the front door opened. Maddox felt oddly relieved. Kylie could handle anyone, surely she'd get Emily to relax.

But Maddox was wrong because Kylie was still upset that Emily was there to begin with. She kept glaring at Emily and didn't bother trying to talk to her. Finally Justin started asking questions about school until Clara gave up and suggested they eat.

Emily talked a little bit more during dinner but most of what she said seemed really forced, like she was nervous. Maddox kept trying to think of things to help her feel better but it was hard with Kylie constantly rolling her eyes and sighing. No matter what Emily said, Kylie seemed offended by it.

"Is there a bathroom I can use?" Emily asked after Kylie had gotten up to feed Wes.

"I'll show you," Maddox offered. He waited in the kitchen while Emily was in the bathroom. Kylie came out of the back bedroom a minute later with Wes.

"How's he doing?"

"Fine," Kylie handed Wes over.

"He's getting heavy. That's my boy, gotta bulk up," he joked.

"He's growing so fast. I can't believe it."

"He's really cute," Emily came back into the kitchen.

"Thanks," Kylie huffed.

"I just can't imagine having a baby right now," Emily shook her head.

"Yeah, it's hard, but he's like the greatest thing that's happened to me so," Kylie shrugged.