Darkness of the Light

Chapter 3: The Beginning of the End

 I stared at my phone with confusion and fear. What could it possibly mean? “You okay, Kat?” Gabby asked.

“Yeah,” I stuttered. “I just...here, you drive,” I told her as I threw the keys. She looked at me in disbelief. She then picked up the bag of stuff we bought for Jordan, and walked towards my car. After knowing Gabby for so long, I knew she thinks something is wrong, but how do I explain this to her when I don't even understand what's going on. We sat down in the car as Gabby drove us back to my house.

Inside our home, Rachael sat on the counter, eating Chinese take-out food. “Hey,” she said, “you want some food?”

“Sure,” Gabby said, “but I need to drop off my bag in Kat's room. Be right back!” she said as she ran up the stairs. I watched Rachael carefully until she put down her food.

“Something wrong?” she asked me cautiously.

“I think so,” I told her. “Look.” I handed her my phone. She read the message quickly then looked at me again.

“I completely forgot,” she sighed.

“What?” I asked as Gabby jumped down the stairs.

Gabby poked me in the arm. “Hey!” she yelled enthusiastically.

“Hi,” I replied. “You want some Chinese?”

“Sure, what kind?”

Rachael walked up to us and leaned towards my ear. “I'll explain later,” she whispered and I nodded. “I got Katrina chicken stir-fry and I got you vegetarian lo mein.”

“Thanks, Rachael!” Gabby and I said as we grabbed our food and sat on the couch. We began to eat when Gabby sighed and put her chopsticks down.

I stopped eating. “What's wrong?” Gabby shook her head.

“Nothing,” she sighed. “Oh, we forgot Jordan!” she said with mock horror. I jumped up and grabbed the plastic bag with Jordan inside. Carefully, I filled the bowl with water and gently poured Jordan into it.

“She's good now,” I said with relief as I carried her into the living room.

“That's good!” Gabby laughed. “Look how adorable she is!” I laughed too.

“So how did Kendrick ask you?”

“He gave me roses,” Gabby gushed.

“Awe that is so cute!” I squealed and Gabby nodded her head. “Oh, wow. It's already ten. I'm going to go get in my pajamas. What about you?”

“Okay,” Gabby agreed as she jumped up the stairs with me. We both got into our pajamas that of course matched. I swear we could be twins, except for our hair color. Her auburn curly hair looked nothing like my straight blonde hair. We both sat down on my bed and were talking. “Kat, let me braid your hair. Please!”

“Why?” I asked her.

“Because I am going to braid your hair for prom so we might as well see what it looks like now.”

I sighed. “I don't remember saying you could braid my hair for prom, but okay.” Gabby squealed as she brushed my hair and started to braid it. Since my hair was very long, I knew it would take an hour or two just to braid it. “I hope you realize, this means I get to do your hair for prom.”

“I know!” Gabby said. “You should braid my hair so we match perfectly at prom!” I thought about it. It did make sense. We bought the exact same strapless red satin dress over spring break and the same black stiletto heels.

“Okay,” I agreed. “Oh it's midnight! Happy birthday, Gabby! I have a present for you that I'll get once you finish my hair.”

“Awe, you are the best friend ever! I just finished your hair. Look at it!” Gabby said as she passed me a mirror.

“Oh, wow, it looks amazing!” I squealed. I stood up and walked to my desk where a perfectly wrapped present sat. I wrapped the little box in purple paper, one of Gabby's favorites. “Here you go, birthday girl,” I smiled.

Slowly, Gabby opened the miniscule box. Inside, there was a silver necklace with a heart charm. “Oh, Kat, it's perfect!” I smiled.

“Look, it has your name on it, too! It says best friends Gabby & Kat. Now we match even more!”

Gabby looked at me. Then she eyed my necklace. “Oh they do match!” Gabby shrieked. The door opened.

“Hey you two,” Rachael said. “Happy birthday Gabby!”

“Thanks Rachael,” Gabby said.

Rachael looked at us uncomfortably. “Girls, I need to talk to you. It's really important.”

“Oh okay,” I said.

Rachael looked at us again. “You two are eighteen now and I need to help you. Katrina, there's a reason why you live with me, not your parents. Gabby, you already know some of this, but there's a big thing your parents left out. You two are twins, and you are in great danger.”