First Impressions (A Lying Game Alternate Ending)

3: Worlds Collide

When we arrive home, I show Emma to the guest room, which is just beside mine, decorated in blues and whites in contrast to my wine-reds and golds. After she drops off her stuff, I lead her to my room and begin to carry out my plan.

First, I let Emma have a shower and then I doll her up, lending her a strappy silver number that I just happen to have in gold as well. Emma looks starstruck by it, and I giggle as I help her put it on. This is fun. When I'm finished, we are exactly identical, save for our dress colours. I'm surprised at how similar our physiques are, and I turn away to rummage in my closet for the matching purses and shoes. I also lend Emma my old iPhone and she palms it, looking awed.

"We're fabulous, aren't we?" I grab her hand and grin, and Emma grins back, giving my hand a squeeze. "I'm so nervous. What if they catch me the moment I walk in? I'm nothing like you."

I roll my eyes and pull her up from the bed. "Are you kidding? With just a little work, they won't even tell the difference."

We head downstairs and my father all but breaks down. He squeezes us in a hug, and afterwards we get into his car and set off for Nisha's. in the car, I teach Emma how to sound just a little more like me, enough to fool my friends, and by the time my dad pulls up in front of the Banerjees', she has my mannerisms down pat, tossing her hair and smirking just like me.

I can hardly hide my excitement as I watch Emma kiss my dad goodbye and exit the car. As she walks up the driveway, her ankles trembling ever so slightly in the strappy silver heels, my friends grab her and pull her inside, just as I knew they would, thinking she was me. I wait a beat, then exit the car as well.

I catch sight of the Landrys' house next door, decrepit and strewn with police tape. I swallow, hard then I slip around the side of the house and through the back door, barely pausing to greet people. I see Garrett corner Emma and hide a snicker, knowing that this would be the perfect opportunity to dump Garrett after last night. Emma's eyes are wide and dart around frantically, and she looks like a trapped animal. Luckily, Madeline saves her and pushes a red solo cup into her hand, guiding her further into the throng of people.

I trail after them, Madeline's white A-line dress making it easy for me to follow. Madeline slips into a room off to the side and shuts the door behind her. I press up against it and strain to listen.

I hear the girls whoop and Charlotte clears her throat, and I picture her giving Emma that look.

"So? Why'd you come so late?"

I wait with bated breath for Emma's reply.

"A diva is never late. Everyone else is just early." I clap my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing. It was a perfect, word-for-word imitation of something I would totally say, and I could almost see Emma doing a hair flip, too.

It's quiet for a while, then Emma says, "Girls, I have something to tell you."

I can feel everyone rapt at attention, even through the door. That's the effect I have on them.

Emma groans loudly. "This party sucks!" The girls laugh, then make noises of agreement. "This calls for a Lying Game prank!" Madeline chirps, and the girls cheer. "Who's it gonna be this time?" Charlotte sounds eager.

"It's you guys!" Emma cries, and right on cue, I burst into the room.

"Hey, bitches!" I yell, throwing my arms wide.

The girls are shocked silent. The solo cup drops from Madeline's hand and spills a clear drink on the Banerjees' spotless floor, and I gleefully whip out my phone and snap a photo of their faces.

"What- who-" Charlotte's mouth is open wide as she pivots from me to Emma and back again. "How did you clone yourself?" Madeline sinks onto the sofa, looking down at her drink on the floor. "How strong was that drink?" she mumbles.

I shut the door behind me and wrap an arm around Emma's waist. "Girls, meet my twin sister, Emma!" Emma slips out of her Sutton persona and offers a meek smile, raising her hand in a wave. "Hi." I can almost feel her sag with relief beside me, and I give her a reassuring squeeze.

We sit on the couch and immediately they start bombarding us with questions.

"You have a twin?"

"How did you hide her all this time?"

"She looks exactly like you. This is... unreal."

"I don't think we can handle more than one Sutton."

I laugh, while Emma gets the same scared-cat expression she had on just now. "One at a time." I remind them of what I told Quinlan in the station and their eyes get round, and I show them the messages Emma and I exchanged the previous night. Emma is mostly silent, sipping at the drink in her cup and wincing at how strong it is. Char stands and looks at Emma, scrutinizing her.

"Take a picture. It'll last longer," Emma blurts, and her eyes grow wide as she claps a hand over her mouth. Charlotte's jaw drops for the second time that night, her alpha personality reeling.

I burst out laughing, slapping the couch with joy. No one ever tells Char that. Even I have never told Char that. Emma looks shocked at what had just come from her mouth, and she looks panicked. "Sutton, stop laughing! This isn't funny!" Charlotte looks ready to kill, while Madeline tries to hide her giggle demurely in her hand.

"Are you kidding me? That's the funniest thing I've heard all night!" I pull my girls up and open the door, leading them to the dance floor. Throughout the night, people double take at me and my twin, and I bask in the attention. Emma slowly begins to loosen up, too, as the alcohol works its way into her system.

By the time Charlotte drives us home, Emma's head is lolling onto my shoulder, and I can hear her mumbling about something called "Socktopus" and "Becky". The name stops me short. Becky is our birth mother. The one who gave me away, but kept Emma with her.

Char pulls up to my house, and they help me get Emma's legs out the car and I support her as we get inside. I wave goodbye to my friends, then hoist Emma up the stairs and into her room. She splays on the bed and immediately starts snoring, but I begin to remove her makeup and shoes, my mind swirling with questions.

"Why me? Why Emma?" 

I supposed I should have been grateful to not have been caught in the foster care system, but it would've been nice to meet my birth mom at least once before last night. I tuck her in then head to my own room, changing into my pajamas and slipping into bed. It's almost four when I finally fall asleep.