The Other Me

Chapter Six

Chapter 6

“What?” I cried in shock. She knows how popular I am with guys i.e. not at all, so why on earth did she think this? Though, I guessed it was better than her finding out the truth- a future version of myself was currently camping out in my room so then later she could stop the potential murder of the vast majority of my classmates.  

“I’m right aren’t I?” Mum trembled with excitement. “Can I meet him? What’s his name? Is it Rafi?”

“No no no!” I sputtered, shaking my head. I could not believe this was happening. That I was having a conversation like this with my mother. And Rafi? She thought I had smuggled Rafi in the house?

“Not Rafi?” Mum sounded disappointed. “What about the other one? The one with the glasses. Derik I think his name was…”

Derik? “Mum stop! I am not-“ Then I stopped myself. Surely there was no harm of her thinking this. Otherwise what other explanation could I use for my talking? I was making arrangements with someone who also happened to be me; to break into the school principal’s house? I don’t think so.

“Yes Mum,” I finally said awkwardly. “You got me. I’ve hidden a boy in my bedroom.” Instead of being horrified, as most normal mothers would be; my mum jumped up squealing with joy, also knocking over her basket of clean clothes.

“He is here now isn’t he?” she squeaked happily, still jumping. If she didn’t stop, the ceiling downstairs will fall through.

“Er yes- no- maybe…” I stammered, trying to figure what was the best thing to say. What if she searched the room?

“Is he here?” Mum lifted up the corner of my duvet and checked under it, even though I moment ago she had been sitting on that same spot.

“No Mum!” I gasped. “Erm, he is here alright, but he is shy. Yes, he’s shy! He won’t come out now. Later on, I will show him to you when… he has prepared himself…”

“Alright,” Mum said doubtfully. “But you have to show him to me. Today. Because I can’t let you hide someone in your room who I don’t know.”

So it would have been okay for me to hide someone like the postman in my room?

“But Mum!” I cried. What can I do now? I couldn’t show her who I really had hidden in here. She would freak out more at Rosaline than she would if I brought out a wrinkling, balding, seventy year-old man. Unless…

“Okay, I’ll show him to you,” I bowed my head in defeat. “But not now okay? In… an hour. I’ll speak to him, but you can’t listen or ‘accidently’ burst in…”

“I promise Rosy!” Mum beamed. She got up and began to bustle out the room. Then she turned back curiously. “Before I go, can I ask you a question? How on earth did he get in?”

My heart sank. Why did I know that she was going to ask me that?

“Er… I have my ways.” I told her vaguely, hoping that now she wouldn’t start putting up security cameras or hiring doormen.

“Right then! One hour! Your father and I will be waiting.” Mum gave me one of her trademark awful winks and hurried back downstairs. I ran to the door and locked it quickly. Why didn’t I do that before?

“Rosaline?” I called softly. I didn’t actually know where she was hiding. A rustle from underneath my bed answered my question.

“You idiot,” she hissed as she rolled out, her hair stuck up in all random directions. “I know what you want me to do. What the hell are you thinking?”