A Broken Life

Chapter 20

I talked things over with Josh the next morning and he's been staying with us for a few weeks now. Aunt Thea was okay with him staying. I was angry with her at first because she apparently new about my twin, yet she never told me, but I can't exactly hold a grudge on her forever, besides she had to go on another business trip so I haven't seen her in a few days.

"Josh! Let me help." I whine as he grabs the glass plates from me and starts setting the table. Tommie was out of town for two weeks and he's returning today for his birthday, so I made dinner for him. Well actually Jackson made dinner, the two won't let me do anything anymore.

I turn to Jackson and give him the puppy dog eyes. "Jackson, tell Josh to let me help." He smiles, and passes me with a tray of food in his hands.

"No, Elle, you need to rest." I roll my eyes, and open my mouth to protest but the sound of a knock on the door cuts me off.

"I'll get it!" I hobble over to the door as fast as my short legs can take me and swing the door open.

Tommie stands there with his hair cut short enough to where the top only sticks up a bit. The tips of his hair are blue, and it makes me smile knowing he kept the color that makes him special.

"Tommie!" I awkwardly hug him, with my big baby bump getting in the way. He laughs, and hugs me gently.

"Hey Iz! Did ya miss me?" He raises his voice teasingly, "I know how much you love me and have been dying without me in your presence." I slap him jokingly and he just laughs. His smile drops, and I turn around to see Josh staring back at him.

"Uh, Tommie, this is Josh, my twin."

Tommie looks at me confused, "You have a twin?"

"Yeah apparently my parents split us up. It's... uh, complicated."

"Dinner's done bitches!" Jackson walks in with oven mitts on and a large smile on his face, but stands there awkwardly when he realizes the tension in the room.

I look at Jackson, processing what he just said. "Who are you?"

Tommie smiles, "Yeah dude come on, I know I was gone but when did you become so much like me?" He smirks, and Jackson's brooding face appears. Tommie laughs making Jackson smile.

"Well, somebody had to be you while you were gone." He grins, and comes to hug me.

"Alright! Let's eat people!" Jackson laughs at me. I process how I said that and blush, "You know what I meant..."

Josh doesn't say a word throughout diner, and Tommie continues to sneak glances towards him curiously. I try to ignore it, but the tension is killing all the fun.

"Tommie, you ok?" I stuff some green beans so it'll seem like a casual question.

He quickly averts his eyes from Josh, "Uh yeah," He laughs, "Just tired I guess."

I set down my fork, "Welp too bad, I need you help with dessert." I smile triumphantly, and head to the kitchen.

"Wait dessert? No, you need to rest." I hear Jackson's concerned voice and I roll my eyes.

"Ooh, Jackson doesn't approve. Well then I'm totally in!" I giggle at Tommie's words and start rummaging the fridge for ingredients.

Tommie enters the kitchen and I wait until I know for sure we're away from prying ears. "What's up?"

He looks at me confused, "Uh...Cookies?" He shoves the cookie dough in my face.

"No, Tommie, I mean what's up with you? Why are you staring at Josh as if he wasn't even human? Because if you're worried that we can't trust him, then trust me ok?" I look at him in the eyes and he almost looks broken.

"Yeah, I trust you Iz. I just... I don't know... It's weird." He lowers his voice to almost a whisper. "I mean I leave for a few weeks, and I walk in your door to see some guy that looks practically identical to you. I mean- It's just hard to process that there's a male you that nobody knew about. It's... weird."

I let out a deep breath, "Yeah, tell me about it. Apparently, when my parents left me, they went back and found him. They told him that I died, and they were sorry for not being there for him sooner." I roll my eyes at my parents bull crap. "They claimed that he would've been better off adopted because they could barely take care of one kid let alone two."

"Well, where are your parents now?"

I shrug, "Gone I guess. They just hit the road again, so Josh came out looking for them and found out that I was still alive and yeah..."

Tommie looks angry now, and I go to hold his hand, "Hey it's ok."

"No it's not Iz!" His voice wavers into and angry whisper. "Your parents are ass hats!"

"Tommie..."

"No. Don't Tommie me, these people don't deserve to be called you parents. How could they leave someone like you for him? And on your birthday!? Don't they know what a mistake they made?"

His voice calms down, and he rests his hands on each of my arms. "You deserve better than that." I stare up at him shocked of his outburst and his eyes lower, staring at my lips. He slowly leans towards me.

"Tommie..." I gently put my hands against his chest and slowly push him away. As if I had just pulled him out of a trance he jumps in shock and looks at me surprised.

His looks like a deer caught in headlights. I step towards him to comfort him, but he takes a large step back. "I- uh, I forgot to unpack my stuff, so I should really get going." He quickly turns exiting the kitchen.

"Tommie!" I go to run after him, but feel a jolt in my stomach, making me stop in my tracks.

"Elle, you ok?" Jackson rushes towards me and holds me up. I take a few deep breaths trying to calm myself, and tell him I'm ok. "Where's Tommie?" He almost looks irritated; "I thought he was helping you in here?"

"It's fine he just left, he said he had to go home and unpack." I look up to see Josh staring at me in slight disapproval. Did he see?

"I told you I'm fine guys, it was just a kick and it surprised me that's all." Jackson's on the couch next to me barking out orders to Josh to get me more blankets, and get me water and fluff my pillows. And to my disappointment Josh is rushing to meet every command.

"I don't think so. Are you sure?" Ooh, Jackson you do not want to make pregnant me angry...

"Yes! I'M sure! Stop treating me like I'm broken! I can make my own decisions, and I can take care of myself so get off my back and leave me alone!" Josh stops in his tracks as if he moved I'd snap his neck. I stand up to my best efforts without falling, and head out of the living room.

"Elle, where are you going?" Jackson's voice sounds tired, but I continue up the stairs on my own.

"Bed."

 I get under my covers and pull them over my head. I hear the door creak open, and Jackson comes over to lie next to me.

"Elle," He rubs my shoulder. "Elle I'm sorry, I just... you know what happened to my mother when she was pregnant." His voice was sad and I immediately feel bad for snapping at him. His mother was pregnant, but she was constantly working and wasn't taking care of herself, because his dad left them. Somehow, while she was giving birth, something went wrong, and she lost the baby, and Jackson almost lost his mother.

I sit up and lean against him, "I know I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you guys."

He looks me in the eyes, "What's on you're mind baby doll?"

I avert my gaze, unsure if I should tell him, "... Tommie... almost kissed me."