The Perks of Being a Freak (Editing)

65. Now The Twins Know

I have never been so nervous.

I know what being nervous feels like. Being nervous is standing by the blocks before a race. Being nervous is holding your bow to the string in front of twenty, thirty, forty people. Being nervous is normal, and it’s human.

But this? I wasn’t sure if I could do it.

The snow was falling outside the window, light and fluffy, when Cody and I brought Seth into my room and shut the door.

He looked curious, glancing between us. Cody seemed calm, much calmer than I was. Me? I was bouncing, full of tension and fear.

“What’s going on, guys?” Seth asked, crossed his arms and sitting on the edge of my bed. It was good if he sat down, I realized. That way, if he fainted in shock, he didn’t have as far to fall.

I had no idea what to say. I looked at Cody, hoping that he would offer some assistance, but he only shrugged. “It’s your secret, Lia. You tell him.”

I sighed and rubbed at my eyes with the heels of my palms. I hated this. I really, really hated this.

“Back in July,” I began. “I left for a week and a half.”

“Yeah,” Seth said, frowning. “I remember. What has this got to do with anything?”

“I’m getting there,” I replied. “When I came home, you two asked me where I had been, and I said that you wouldn’t believe me. Then I said something like “I was trapped in an underground facility getting wings grafted onto my back against my will.” Do you remember?”

Seth nodded. “You told us you were kidding.”

“I lied.”

Seth narrowed his eyes, brows furrowing. I could see the gears in his head turning,. Does he believe me?

But then he laughed, and my hopes fell to shit.

“You guys are pulling my leg, right?” He looked between Cody and I again, watching for any sign of humor. There was none.

“Seth,” Cody finally spoke. “You have to promise me that you won’t scream.” Seth twisted his head, peering at Cody one moment and me the next.

“No,” he said, standing. “Whatever this is, I don’t want to be a part of it.”

“Please, Seth,” I begged. “I don’t want this to be a secret anymore.”

“No! Lia I’m not going to play pretend with you anymore!” Seth started to walk by Cody, who grabbed him and spun him around just as I unzipped my sweatshirt, pulled it off, and extended my wings.

Fifteen feet of brown and white feathered glory. Seth’s eyes widened, almost as if they were about to explode out of his skull.

“You…” he whispered. “Wings… you… c-can… What?”

“I was kidnapped and held in a science lab. They experimented on me and four of my friends. They turned us into freaks.”

Seth sat down heavily on the floor, eyes still locked onto my wings. I felt self-conscious. Naked, even. I couldn’t remember the last time someone scrutinized them so closely.

“Who else?” Seth whispered. “Who else is like you?”

“None of them are exactly like me,” I said, shaking my head and sitting down as well. “I was told that they were trying to make me into a weapon, and that the others were more experimental. They gave me wings, and they cut into my eyes to correct my vision.”

“Why would they do that?” Seth sounded and looked absolutely horrified, as if I had just asked him to stab me. “How could they do that to you?”

“I don’t know,” I let my chin drop to my knees and wrapped my arms around my legs. “I really have no idea.”

Seth was silent for a long, long time. He stared at curse, eyes trailing over each individual feather. Cody stood against the door, watching Seth watching me.

I hadn’t realized that I could rely on my brothers. I wish that I had figured it out months ago, but the Freaks weren’t my only allies.

Thinking of the Freaks made me think of Simon, and of his promise to change weeks ago, and not be such an ass anymore.

And, of course, thinking of Simon made me think of kissing him. I felt heat rise to my cheeks, and looked back down at my knees to hide the color. I was so pale that a blush would turn me into a tomato.

“You have to tell mom,” Seth finally decided, and stood quickly. Moving faster than I realized that I could, I grabbed his wrist.

“No!” Both boys stared at me.

“Why not, Lia?” Cody asked, cocking his head to the side. “Everyone should know. Then they can arrest the bastards that did this to you.”

“We can’t tell anyone else,” I said, nearly begging. “Please, you don’t understand!”

“You’re right,” Seth said, relenting and stepping back towards me. 

“We don’t,” Cody continued.

“So explain it to us,” Seth finished.

“I… I woke up in a dark room,” I told them, trying to fit the words together correctly in my mind. “And I was in my pajamas. The night before… I had gone up to the roof, and left my rope ladder down. It was out when we got back. But they wouldn’t have been able to carry me out down the ladder without waking me up.”

“You think that the bastards who kidnapped you got to you through the house?” Cody asked, frowning and considering it. 

“But no one woke up,” Seth mused.

“Why don’t you want us to tell mom and dad, exactly?” Cody crossed his arms, and I sighed.

“I think that they were involved in my kidnapping,” I spoke softly, thinking that maybe if the words were quiet, they wouldn’t make me feel as guilty.

“Lia that is the most idiotic thing that I’ve ever heard,” Seth snorted. “As if mom and dad would ever do that to you.”

“I get it,” my tongue tasted bitter. “I understand. Neither of you has ever been the least favorite. But to me? Honestly? They didn’t even notice that I was gone. It kinda feels like they knew that I was gone, because even if they are the suckiest parents alive, they would have noticed if I didn’t leave my room for so long.”

Cody and Seth still looked skeptical. 

“Fine,” I shrugged. “Whatever. Don’t believe me. Just, whatever you do, please don’t tell them.” Reluctantly now, they nodded.

“Can we help you in any way?” Cody asked.

“You can help me hide, I guess,” I said. “I dunno. Make excuses to mom and dad if I don’t show for something, or I get hurt.”

“Will you be getting hurt often?” Seth’s eyes narrowed. Ever the protective older brother.

“Probably,” I offered a half-smile. “But never on purpose.”

Seemingly satisfied with this answer, Seth stood and turned towards the door.

“Oh, and guys?” My brothers turned back to me, and I grinned, blinking back tears. “Thank you.”

What else was there to say?