Two

16. Replaced

       Rest of school had been very exhausting. After leaving, it started heavily raining. I rushed home as fast as I could, without an umbrella. The sky was dark with no trace of sun.

       Dripping wet, I barely managed to reach my home's front door. I sluggishly opened it, only to see mom and 2.0. in the kitchen. The table inside was full of food. A lot more than mom could make herself in half a day.

       Rachel had texted me that morning that she was out until night time. Dad was still at work. Conclusion was pretty obvious.

      - Hey, mom.

      - Hey, ah... Marcus.

      - Excuse me?

      - Well, I won't call you Change too. That would be confusing.

      - Here, sit down, Marcus, he said.

      - Undress first. Look at yourself.

      I threw my clothes in the drier and dressed up in my room. Then I went back.

      In front of my chair , there was a big, fat omelette on the table and a tall bowl of pasta next to it. He had the same.

      - Bon appetit, the two of you.

      Honestly, I needed that meal after such a day. I took my mind away from all the thinking and tried my best to fill up. Even so, I couldn't help but notice the previous plastic at his feet. It wasn't see-through, but it was obvious he had eaten the last half of the sandwich.

      After the whole ordeal, I wanted to sleep. I didn't want to deal with them. Not them. And certainly not the mom who put me below him.

      For dessert, I wanted to eat what Paula made me. I got up and went to my backpack next to the entrance. They were still in the kitchen. I unwrapped the present and, on the inside of that wrap, there was a note: "Love you! Talk to me if anything"

      I was actually kind of into her. But she wasn't. Not a bit. She had other crushes in school. Better, taller, more mature guys. And, as of that day, she seemed to be a lot more fond of my clone.

      I felt even more disturbed by the situation. By myself. The pink-chocolate cake looked so nice. But I didn't think it was for me anymore. I took it and went to the kitchen.

      - Yo, Change. Here's something from Paula.

      - Aw, that looks so sweet. You sure you don't wanna split?

     - It's all yours.

     I felt dizzy and depressed. I handed him the present and went to bed. There were lower chances of getting murdered in my sleep if mom was awake, right? And even if it were to happen. I didn't think they would mind that much. I was the clone to them, after all.

      I went to the living room and laid on the couch. Rain drops were audibly pressing against the room's window. I quickly feel asleep.