That October Night

Chapter 14

                        "NO, YOU'VE GOT IT all wrong, sis. You've got to put the toothpaste on the toothbrush and then wet it," Paris squabbled to her sister for the third time, focus still glued on the flatscreen.

Before knowing these pairs of twins, I used to believe that twins had EVERYTHING in common, but now they have made me realize that no two people are exactly alike.

Not even identical twins.

"Oh my Lord, Paris! Why put toothpaste on a dry toothbrush? It didn't make sense to me when we were five and it still doesn't make any sense nine years later," London replied, finishing the last of the cornrows she was braiding in her sister's hair. "See even the girl Ray agreed with me."

At the mention of my name, I swiftly glanced at her to catch her glaring at her newly broken nail, also using the time to get a quick bite from my ice-cream sandwich. London's pedicured nails were long unlike Paris' nubby nails due to her always chewing them, so whenever she broke a nail it kinda infuriated her.

I shook my head, bringing my attention back to the game.

Although London was into polish and other stuff, I admired her because she didn't try to grow up before her time like the other younger teens these days.

"Technically I-" I paused the game, eyeing her weirdly when the rest of her words registered to me. "But I'm the only Ray in here."

Paris snorted, nodding behind me. "Yeah, three seconds ago."

"What are we talking about?" Raymond questioned, plopping directly beside me. He practically yanked the ice cream sandwich from my hand, reminding me that he was the guy with the hands that were too fast. "Damn, I'm starving."

I opened my mouth to give him a taste of his medicine, but looked at the twins and swallowed what I had to say. The words that were itching to spurt out my mouth was far too repulsive so instead, I said, "They're debatin' on the right way to apply toothpaste."

At first, he seemed surprised that I didn't do anything but quickly smirked and licked his lips. He then rolled his eyes as if he heard this argument far too many times and clicked his tongue.

"Paris, for the last time I'll run it down for you. Wet your toothbrush. Put toothpaste on the toothbrush. Wet toothbrush again and then you brush your teeth. No one wants to have a dry toothbrush in their mouth."

"Nah, too much work," my brother immediately quipped when he stepped into the family room with a bitten apple in his hand.

Carlos took a seat on the other side of me with an almost empty bottle of water. "How is that too much work?! It's the right thing to do."

Somewhere in-between their childish debate, I began watching Malachi; who looked rather lost or as if he was looking for something. He kept walking out and into the family room. The family room that became my favorite part, other than the kitchen, in the Evan's home.

The family room was a peach color on the walls that added immediate ease. The comfortable pieces of furniture with playful colors were placed in just the right places enough for anyone sitting to see the flatscreen television.

All of the Evans had a part in making this room come to life, but it was Ramona and London who organized everything and chose the color code. It only made sense, seeing as their personality was very much similar.

For the number of times I came here, Malik never uttered a word to me from the time we exchanged names. Whenever we came across each other's pathway, he would simply let me pass and continue on his way. London told me it was only because he wasn't used to me as yet.