Identical (COMPLETED)

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

TRENT'S POV

"I'm Trent Townes, it's nice to meet you Cali."

She stares at me with a look of confusion in those pretty golden eyes. She's a strange girl, nothing like how my dad described her. When he realized I was serious about joining the family business he gave me a rundown of just about everything, including his favorite employee, Cali. He told me she was a sweet, friendly young woman with a bright mind. He warned me again earlier that she was to be left alone by my 'play-boy' advances. I just laughed, making him angrily walk away.

But this girl in front of me didn't seem to match up with his descriptions. She looked like a lost deer-in-headlights. I don't know what is up with her or if she is always this skittish, but for whatever reason it has me completely intrigued. Which is dangerous... mostly for her.

Finally she speaks up after I watch a dozen different emotions cross her face, settling on anger. "What are you playing at?"

I raise an eyebrow; it's my turn to be confused. "What do you mean Blondie?"

"Is this some kind of game? Do you enjoy messing with me? Why can't you just leave me alone! If you're worried I'll tell anyone the truth you can relax, I'm not going to say shit. So just please leave me alone," she rants. The anger slowly leaves her golden eyes, turning into sadness.

And when I continue to stare blankly at her trying to figure out what is going through this girl's head, her eyes fill with fear. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry Travis. Forget I said anything, I don't know what came over me," she rushes out.

Travis. She thought I was my brother...

CALI'S POV

A look of clarity washes over his face as I prepare myself to make a run for it. What does that look mean?

Suddenly he starts laughing and I watch him with wide eyes. I've never heard him laugh before, not wholeheartedly like now. "I'm... not... Travis," he says between laughs.

What?

He takes a look at my dumbstruck expression and chuckles some more before finally gathering himself enough to explain. "Travis is my brother, Blondie. I'm his identical twin Trent," he says with a smirk.

"Twin?" I breathe out.

He takes in my reaction, his amusement slowly turning into curiosity. "Yeah, if you don't believe me, maybe this will help," he lifts his shirtsleeve up and his arm is covered in ink. He didn't have tattoos...

"Oh and I also have slightly lighter eyes, see look," he comes closer to me and opens his eyes wide. I actually look right into them, and it's true. While he has dark piercing green eyes, Trent's are slightly lighter, softer.

"Oh," I whisper as he backs away from me with a smile.

"See, now can you relax," he laughs again. Identical twin...

"I'm sorry," I apologize for my erratic behavior; he probably thought I was crazy.

Now that I'm actually allowing myself to look at him, I really can tell how much softer his gaze is. "It's alright Blondie," he says, but then his face slowly darkens and my eyes widen in fear.

TRENT'S POV

Realization spreads through me. She was terrified of my brother. That was the only explanation for her actions, if she thought I was Travis. What the fuck did my asshole brother do to this poor girl?

"Cali, why did you react the way you did when you thought I was Travis?" I don't miss the way she flinches at the sound of my brother's name.

She plays with a strand of her blonde hair nervously. "Oh that was nothing, just felt a little weird today, no worries," she fakes a smile. I know fake smiles better than anyone. You can't hide from me Blondie.

"What did he do to you?" I whisper aloud. Her eyes harden, defensively. I can almost see her closing up right in front of me. I know, because I do it to, it's a defense mechanism I know well.

"Look, I should probably get back to work. Your dad doesn't pay me to stand around," she lets out a forced laugh and I decide to let it go... for now.

"Yeah, sure. It was nice meeting you Cali," I put a hand out and she flinches back. I feel myself grow angry at the thought of my brother being the reason behind her skittishness. I rein in my anger for her sake; clearly she is easily startled.

"You as well Mr. Townes," she whispers and eyes my hand nervously.

I laugh lightly. "You know that's my dad, just call me Trent," I tell her.

She looks up into my eyes, something she was avidly avoiding when she thought I was Travis. Her lips spread into a small smile, a genuine one, before raising her hand and placing it in mine. "Nice to meet you Trent," she whispers.

Her small, soft hand feels so nice in my hand. Where'd that thought come from? I shake my head and immediately drop her hand. She eyes her own hand, as if she felt the same way when our hands touched. I ignore this strange feeling building inside of me and move to the side, gesturing for her to pass by me and get back to work.

"See you around Blondie," I say as she walks by me. She looks back at me, a slightly guarded, but a curious look on her face as she gives me a small wave.

CALI'S POV

I get back to the front desk in a daze after that encounter. I know it seems stupid to be slightly wary of this 'Trent,' but my mind keeps playing with me. Asking questions like what if it was all a lie? What if the tattoos were fake? What if his eyes were always that light, but I didn't notice? What if he was playing another game with me? But he just seemed so different from him, despite the identical physical appearance... But what if he is like his brother? What if he also had a façade?

"Hey girl, what happened before? You looked like you saw a ghost and then just took off!" Dana mobs me the second I sit down.

I muster up a reassuring smile. "Sorry, I just got really dizzy and nauseous all of a sudden," I lie.

Dana's eyes crinkle in concern. "Are you alright? I was so worried I sent Mr. Townes' son that I never met to make sure you were okay. Sorry about that, but I couldn't leave the desk unattended," she says guiltily.

"It's okay, really. You know who is?" I ask with curiosity.

She laughs. "Well I didn't at first. Like damn those two are as identical as identical twins can get. But after I called him Travis, he corrected me. We didn't have much time to talk since I was so worried about you."

"You're a good friend," I tell her honestly.

She smiles widely. "Girl, I know. What would you do without me?"

I laugh. "I don't know."

I should tell her. I should tell her what happened. She's a good friend; she'd believe me. I can't keep this to myself. It's going to eat me alive... I'm going to tell her.

"Well if Link and I don't work out maybe we can snatch the Townes twins, one for each of us," she smiles deviously. "I'll take the bad boy, I mean Travis has his eyes set on you anyway," she nudges me with a smirk.

I can't tell her.