Yin & Yang

Chapter 7: Danger Zone (Gabe)

A week later, Alex and I sat in the back row of our algebra class, working on a particularly difficult problem set.

"So it's actually 15 out of 29 for the next sample because you removed a marble and didn't replace it, see?" I was explaining a concept that Alex seemed to be struggling with.

"Oh, that makes more sense," she said, looking down at the paper to finish the problem. "I knew I'd forgotten something. Thanks."

"No problem. It's not your fault Mr. Jones can't teach." She smiled up at me. God I loved that smile. Over the past week, against my better judgement, I had grown to really like Alex. I couldn't ever seen to get her off my mind. It tore at me. Logic told me I shouldn't get close to her. But my feelings were rapidly becoming too strong to resist.

"Alright, class, project time!" Mr. Jones shouted out from the front of the classroom. Alex and I joined the collective groan as we looked at each other in dismay. I zoned out, barely listening as Mr. Jones explained the project while he walked around handing out rubrics. That is, until I heard, "Everybody partner up! And make sure it's someone you'll get it done with, not your best friend."

I looked over at Alex, but I knew she was thinking the exact same thing as I was. "We should get together to work on this after school!" she exclaimed.

"Sounds good, do you want to go to your house?" I asked.

"Well..." she looked embarrassed. "Can we do yours? Mine doesn't really... work."

"Sure! You can come with my sister and me after school. Just meet up at my locker after your last class."

The bell rang, and I nearly skipped out of class with excitement.

***

When Alex and I arrived at the car after school, we found Lilith already sitting in the driver's seat.

"Hey sis, this is Alex. We're doing a project together in algebra," I told Lilith. "Alex, this is my twin sister, Lilith."

"Whoa, you didn't tell me you were a twin. Clearly you're not identical," she joked.

"See, this is exactly why I didn't tell you I had a twin sister," I shot back.

I looked over at Lilith to find she was looking at me funny. "Nice to meet you, Alex," she said. She seemed like she wanted to say something else, but decided not to. Biting her lip, my sister turned away from me and put the car into gear, joining the long line of cars in the mass exodus away from school.