Fatal Attractions : The Masquerade

Chapter Three

"Do you realize how beautiful you are?" he asked, running his fingertips along my cheek.

"I guess not. Why don't you tell me again." His lips pulled into a soft smile as he looked at me.

"I don't know, maybe I should tell you less often. I think you're starting to become conceited." I smiled back and rested my forehead against his.

"Not even close," I said.

There was a knock on the door before it opened, allowing a sliver of light to crawl across the bed and rest on our entwined legs.

"Oh, um." Nate cleared his throat and looked away. "Sorry. Um, Lena, your mom's been calling. She said she hasn't heard back from you in a while." I blushed as Nate avoided eye contact with me.

"Nate, you're fine. We're not naked. Just cuddling," I said, smiling. He pursed his lips and glanced at us quickly before once again looking away. Alex let out a chuckle and crossed his ankles.

"You should probably call her back before she gets worried," Nate said. I let out a sigh and slowly got out of the bed.

"I'm sure it's a little late for that."

Ever since the whole kidnapping incident, and my returning home, my mom has been extremely paranoid when it comes to my safety. Every time I leave the house, I need to let her know where I'm going and how long I'll be gone.

As I approached the land-line that sat next to the kitchen doors, it began ringing.

"Yes, mom?" I asked, pinching the bridge of my nose as I answered.

"Why haven't you answered your phone?" she asked, her tone one of worry.

"I was a little busy, I'm sorry. I can't pay attention to it all the time, you know."

"Well, I was worried about you. You need to check in more often."

"Mom, I check in every other hour. That's more than enough."

"You didn't check in an hour ago, when you were supposed to."

I let out a sigh. "Mom, I'm not a little kid. And anyways, I've been with Alex the whole time, I haven't left his place once. I think you need to loosen up a bit."

There was a moment of silence on the other end before she answered. "I think it's time for you to come home."

"What? No. No, I'm not coming home yet."

"Helena, you need to come home. Now." I could feel my face begin to warm up.

"I told you, I'm not a little kid. I'm gonna' be turning twenty soon, did you forget that?"

"Did you forget who's paying for your car insurance? Home. Now." The phone clicked, and I was left with a dial tone in my ear.

"Ugh!" I yelled, and slammed the phone down on the receiver.

"Hey now, we just got that!" I turned around and saw Andrew leaning against the banister at the bottom of the staircase.

It's funny how I couldn't tell Alex and Andrew apart at all in the beginning. Now it only takes a glance. It's how they carry themselves, the way they talk, the way they walk. The way different facial expressions look on them. I haven't mistook one twin for the other in almost six months.

"I have to go home," I said. He raised his brows and walked closer.

"Already? I thought you were planning to stay until nine."