Finding a Twin

Chapter 3 : Night

Chapter 3   

Later...

Riker POV

I didn't know what was wrong exactly, but Jeff just didn't seem comfortable. He was sitting next to me at the table, and he kept jumping at every single noise. He'd also barely touched his dinner. And he looked extremely pale. If it was possible, he seemed even whiter than white.

When dinner was over, we went back home, and Jeff followed me upstairs again.

"Hey, so um... I don't know what you usually do before bed. But I usually like to take a shower. So um... I'm going to go do that. And then if you want to, I can show you where everything is and all that."

"R-Riker?"

"What?"

"C-could I p-please just use t-the b-bathroom?"

"Yeah, of course. Um... I'll show you where it is."

I led Jeff down the hall to the bathroom. And then I went back to my own room. I left the door open though. 

I got out some pajamas so I could shower. I sat on my bed, waiting for Jeff to come back. But he didn't.

Mom walked into the room.

"Riker, where's Jeffrey?"

"Uh... Last time I checked, he was in the bathroom."

"Oh."

"Mom, can we talk for a minute?"

"Sure, honey. What is it?"

"Um... Something just seems weird with Jeff... Like... He stands far away from us. And when we were changing before we went to the restaurant, I went to give him a shirt to borrow, and he flinched. And not like... startled, flinched. It was like... he was terrified, kind of flinch. I don't know what's going on..."

"Honey, he might just be a little nervous. The police told us he's been being abused by his fake parents, and he was bullied at school. He might just need some time."

"Ok, well... At dinner, he jumped at like... every noise. And he barely ate anything. He just sort of stared at the floor the whole time. And if it was Halloween, he could've been a ghost because he was so pale."

"Riker, he just might be a little nervous. Just give him some time to warm up to us."

"Mom um... One more thing."

"What's that, honey?"

"Um... Well when we were changing before... Um... I sort of watched him... And... He had marks on his back."

"What kind of marks?"

"Like cuts and bruises. It really looked bad, mom."

"Well the police said he was abused. He might just need some time to heal."

I sighed.

"Ok..."

"You said he was in the bathroom?"

"Yeah. I told him I was going to take a shower, and he asked if he could use the bathroom, so I showed him where it was. And... I don't know where he is..."

Right then, Jeff walked into the room.

"Hey, Jeffrey. I just wanted to say goodnight," mom said.

"N-night," Jeff said, just above a whisper.

Mom left.

"So um... Are you ok?" I asked.

"Yeah..."

"You barely ate any dinner."

"I um... d-don't f-feel so well..."

"Oh. Ok... Well um... I'm going to take a shower. But I'll be quick. Um... Will you be ok here alone until I get back?"

Jeff nodded.

"Alright."

I grabbed my clothes, and walked down the hall to the bathroom. I shut the door, started the shower, and stripped down to nothing. I got in, and let the water run down my body. To be honest, I couldn't get my mind off Jeff. I can tell something's wrong, whether he'll admit it or not. I don't think he's just nervous of being at a new place. I think it's something more than that. But I don't know what.

I washed my hair and my body, and then I got out. I dried off, and got into my pjs. And then I did my hair, and went back to my bedroom. Jeff was sitting on his bed. But he didn't have sheets on it yet.

"Ok, um... We should probably get you some sheets," I said, smiling a little.

I went into the hall closet, and got Jeff some sheets. I helped him put them on his bed and stuff. 

"Alright, so if you need anything, you can wake me up and stuff. And we usually get up around 8:00. Or maybe 9:00. So... yeah... Oh! Did you need anything before bed?"

I noticed he'd changed into pajamas while I was in the shower.

He shook his head no.

"Alright."

I was sort of trying to study everything about him that I could, without trying to seem like a stalker or something. 

I noticed his pajamas seemed a little small for him, even though he was really skinny. And I could see a bunch of marks and bruises on his arms because he was wearing a T-shirt.

I got into bed, and Jeff got into his. Jeff was sort of moving around in his bed, but when I shut the light off, he stopped. I closed my eyes, and went to sleep.

Later...

Jeff POV

I was doing everything I could to stay calm. I can't let myself have a panic attack. Not here. Not now.

I was absolutely terrified of the dark, and Riker's room was completely black. I couldn't even see my own hand in front of my face.

And I was way too scared to sleep. When I would go to sleep at my old house, I'd wake up to the beatings. But if I stayed awake, there was a chance I could at least try to run and hide.

I was currently curled up in my bed, completely under the covers, scared to death to even move. And Riker snored. It sort of sounded like a wild animal snarling, possibly wanting to get me. 

I was sort of used to sleepless nights, but that didn't mean I enjoyed them...