Everything Is Made to be Broken (pending)

The Twins That Don't Look Alike

"Carson!" I heard someone holler up at me from downstairs. 

"Carson dear it's time to get up!" The voice was getting closer but I ignored it. I could hear soft footsteps approaching my bedroom door but I just rolled over and placed the pillow over my head. Two small knocks sounded on the wood before the handle turned and someone walked through the door. 

"Carson it's eight o'clock, it's time to get up."

"Whyyyyyyyy?" I was so not a morning person. 

"Because love, I'm leaving for work and I don't want you home alone sleeping. Besides, it's supposed to be a beautiful day! You should get out, meet some people, sightsee! You're still new to the area." 

Don't remind me. 

"Mhfphi sondh ant uou mnnt pdlrlb." 

"Carson you're going to have to come out from under the pillow if you want me to understand

you." 

I lifted the pillow just slightly above my head and repeated, 

"I don't want to meet people." 

"Don't be like that Carson. Greensboro is full of wonderful people and I'm sure they'd love to meet you." 

I looked at my aunt incredulously. 

"Have YOU met me?" My aunt gave a tinkling laugh. She was my dad's sister and she looked so much like him sometimes it hurt. She shared his big blue eyes and black hair, at least we had that in common. I shared the same green eyes as my mother. My aunt was a tall woman, standing at maybe 5'8" and had a slight frame. She was an absolute health fanatic; in other words, we couldn't be more opposite. I was short, only reaching about 5'4" with wider hips (thanks to my "appealing" hourglass figure) and I loved anything junk food. 

"Of course I've met you Carson, that's how I know that anyone here would be lucky to know you." 

"My mom wouldn't agree." My aunts smile faded and anger filled her eyes. 

"You're mother has no right to have an opinion either way. She lost that right when she said what she did to you." 

Suddenly she brightened back up a bit, just enough for a small smile to escape.  

"Well I'm sorry, this'll be harder on you then. I need you to do some things for me while I'm at work today. There's breakfast ready downstairs, a list on the fridge and um..." She cringed a bit when she said the next part, "bus money on the counter. I'm sorry, we'll go out looking for a car next week if we can." 

"It's alright aunt Karen. I don't mind the bus." I smiled brightly at her. 

"Alright then, I should be off or I'll be late. My boss will have my head if I show up late again. I love you, I'll see you when I get home!" 

"Love you too!" I called out after her. A minute later I heard the front door shut and her car start up. I looked out the window on the wall to my right and saw her silver honda accord take off down the road. I stood up from my bed and padded over to the bathroom down the hall, deciding to start my day with a nice hot shower. 

Once I was washed and clothed I headed downstairs to grab my breakfast and look over my list of things to do. Breakfast turned out to be cereal and my list was longer than expected. I ate my bowl of fruity pebbles in front of the television while watching cartoons. Once finished I placed my dirty dish and spoon in the dish washer and headed back into the bathroom to dry my hair. I got about halfway through before I decided that it was taking too long, I just braided it to the side and walked into my room. I pulled a pair of jean shorts, a white tank top and a fuchsia cardigan out of my closet. Once my clothes were on I walked over to my floor length mirror and did a minimal amount of makeup: mascara and lipgloss. I slipped on white ballet flats, grabbed the money and the list off the counter downstairs and headed out the door, making sure I locked it behind me. Then I headed down to the bus stop ready to start my day. 

The problem once I reached town was that I had absolutely no idea where in the world I was going. I was thankful I had bought a day pass because I'd gotten off at the wrong stop three times already. I walked down the street looking for my first stop. It was a place called

"Vinnya's"; I had no idea what they sold. I obviously looked like a tourist because a girls voice called out from behind me 

"You lost?" I turned to face the voice. It was a tallish girl with blond hair that went to her shoulders. She was tan with blue eyes and a light dust of freckles on her nose and cheeks. 

"Um, kinda?" I offered. 

"This isn't really tourist season you know. If you want to see what this town really has to offer, you should come around spring. But since you're already here, why don't I help you out? My name's Brook." She smiled and stuck her hand out for me to shake. 

"Carson. Um, I-I'm not a tourist. I just moved here."

"Oh! Well then let me show you around a bit." 

"Uh, okay. Thanks." She gave me another beaming smile and I smiled weakly back at her. 

"So, where to first?" 

"Vinnya's. What do they sell anyways?" 

"It's a bakery. Best in town. It's this way." I let Brook lead me to Vinnya's; and then Safeway (at least I know what they sell) and finally to the hardware store. All the way at the other end of town. By the time we were done it was getting dark and I wasn't sure how I was going to get so many bags on the bus. 

"So where'd you park?" Brook asked, turning my direction. 

"I didn't. I took the bus here." My face blushed lightly having to explain that to her. 

"No problem, I can take you home." She had spent all day smiling that dazzling smile, I'm not sure how her face could manage. 

"You really don't have to-" 

"I insist." 

"Okay. Thanks." 

"Don't mention it." We walked back to where we first ran into each other and she headed over to a parking garage. She pressed a button on a key ring and I heard a beep sound ten feet away from us. I followed her to her-very expensive looking-car and climbed in the passenger seat once the groceries were in the trunk. 

"I hope you don't mind....I have to pick up my brother real quick." She looked over at me apologetically.

"It's fine." I smile my reassurance. 

"Awesome! He's super shy so he might not talk to you- or talk, like, at all. But he's not rude or anything, just shy. I think his car broke down or something." 

"How old is he?" 

"18." My age, I thought. 

"How old are you?"

"18. We're twins, but we really don't look alike at all." 

"Oh." It was a silent drive, her pop music playing low in the background. We arrived in what was a little less nice of a neighborhood than where we just were and I saw a tall boy with dark hair sitting on the sidewalk a few feet away. 

"Is that him?" 

"Yep!" She rolled down her window. 

"James, climb in the back." The figure got up and slowly made his was toward the back door.

"James, this is Carson. Carson, this is my brother James." I turned in my seat to face the mystery boy to say hi or something, but when my eyes landed on his face they widened a fraction and I could see his did too. It was the same boy I'd run into the other day. I was so shocked I almost missed the song that was now playing. 

"When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am."