The Missing Twin

Chapter Nine

                                                                   Dakota Bradshaw

I wasn't at all surprised when I got detention today in Maths. It has always been one of my worst subjects and a class that I pay almost zero attention in. Not to mention my teacher Mrs Clifford is one of the most annoying people on the planet. What I was surprised about however, is walking into detention and seeing Toby there.

I raise an eyebrow and plonk down on a seat in front of him. "What's your crime little brother?" I ask and he laughs slightly. 

"Threw a paper aeroplane at Mr Stevens head." He says.

"Nice. Did you at least hit him in the head?" I ask and he nods. "Double nice. I'll leave the scolding to Eden and your mother." I say and he laughs. 

I look at my phone when he speaks. "Are you ever going to call them mum and dad?" He asks and I frown slightly and shrug my shoulders. 

"Honestly, I have no idea right now. It's hard going from knowing one set of parents to having another after 17 years of not knowing any different. It's hard." I answer.

"How come it's been so easy for you to accept Eden and I?" He asks.

I smile. "Because I never had siblings before. It was just me. I didn't lose any siblings, I just gained them and the siblings that I've gained are pretty cool and are the only reason I haven't bolted right now." 

He smiles back. "You're pretty cool too. And I'm glad you're staying."

"Me too bud." I respond.

It goes silent for a moment and he speaks again. "Can I admit something?" He asks and I nod. "This is actually the first time I've ever had detention and mum and dad are going to flip when they find out." 

"Don't worry. What they don't know won't hurt them." I respond.

"But it's detention, doesn't this go on your permanent record?" He asks. "Don't they inform your parents?"

I shake my head. "The only time it goes on your permanent record is for a serious incident, which would most likely lead you to suspension. You threw a paper aeroplane, that's hardly the worst thing a students done and when they say they'll call you parents, they never do." 

"How do I explain why I'm late home?" He asks.

"You were studying after school, missed the bus and I was here at detention and you had to wait for me to give you a ride home." I answer.

"That easy huh?" He asks.

I nod and put my feet up on the desk. "That easy kid. Hope you're a good liar, or at least an actor."

Finally after an hour, detention ends and Toby and I dart out and head back home. When we pull up on the driveway, I can see the curtains swaying which means, Veronica or Michael have been looking out and as soon as we step out the car, Veronica comes rushing out.

"Where the hell were you two?!" She demands.

"I had detention and Toby missed the bus and had to wait for me." I comment and start walking into the house.

"Why'd you have detention?" She asks.

"Because my Maths teacher can't take a joke and is super sensitive to every little thing." I respond and Toby runs past me to his room and makes the safe exit. "God if you're this mad about me making a remark to someone, what the hell will you be like if I actually hit them?" 

"You're saying you plan on hitting someone?" If her eyes get any wider, they'll pop out of her head.

"No, but I'm not making any promises, I have ended up punching people who I initially did not intend on punching." I admit. 

Veronica covers her hands with her face. "I don't know why I bother?"

"Neither do I and I've been asking myself that since I got here." I respond and walk upstairs to my room. 

I throw my bag onto my bed and walk through the bathroom and into Eden's room. "Hey E." I greet and freeze when I see her on FaceTime with Parker. "Whoa...Hey Park." I say and he smile at me. 

"Hey D." He greets back.

Eden looks at me and smiles. "Hey D. How was detention?" She asks.

"Boring Eden, it's detention. So, what are y'all talking about?" I ask laying down next to Eden. 

Parker shrugs. "Not much, just school and stuff. Also what do you want for your birthday?" He asks and I smile.

"For you to come to Virginia and see me." I smile big. 

"I promise I'm trying. My mum's on board, it's just my dad we need to try and sway." He responds and I smile bigger.

"I can always help with that. Mr James has always liked me." I sing. 

"Uh huh, sure he has. Listen I gotta go and do something with my mum, but I'll talk to you both later." He says and we say goodbye as he hangs up.

I immediately look at Eden. "What?" She asks.

"How'd you get Parker's number?" I ask. She immediately looks down and I smile bigger. "You got it from my phone didn't you." 

"Are you mad?" She asks.

I shake my head. "Why would I be mad? I'm mad impressed that you managed to break into my phone." 

"I saw you type in the pass code." She responds.

"Remind me to change that in a minute. Either way, I'm proud of you." I say and she looks at me weirdly.

"You are?"

"Hell yeah. Eden you took the first step, making contact with Parker just between you and him, no me involved and it was you who initiated it, not him. That's the hardest step." I say and she smiles. "Now if you don't mind, I need to go to bed, I am tired."

She frowns. "I thought detention was boring, how can you possibly be tired?"

"The fact that it was boring is how I can be tired. Nothing happens." Before I walk out, Eden calls me back. I walk backwards back into her room and turn to her.

"Have you heard from Nathan?" She asks and I smile.

I nod my head. "He text me earlier. We're going on another date this Saturday. I may also be meeting him tomorrow, get a sneaking little make out session in."

"Ew gross." She complains.

"What?  How's the gross? You'll be doing with Parker come December." I tease.

"Dakota!" She exclaims.

I raise my hands in surrender and as I walk out the room, I mock her with kissy faces and she throws a pillow at my head, which I swift dodge. I make it back into my room and change before falling into one of the deepest slumbers I've fell into in a while.