Where Two Collide

Chapter Forty-One - Alice

Chapter Forty-One

Alice

"I think it's so sweet that you two still share a room," said Rachel, who was laying down on my bed, propping her head up on her hands. "I wish I had a sister to share a room with."

"You have a little brother," I pointed out, going to my closet and throwing open the doors. Owens parents had invited me round for dinner, this would be my first time properly meeting them, so Rachel had insisted on helping me pick out the right outfit.

"It's not the same," she moaned. "He's a boy, not a girl, and he just messes with my stuff." She sat up and opened the drawer of my nightstand, digging through the contents. She pulled out the book I'd been reading and flicked through the first few pages. Rolling her eyes, she dropped it back into the drawer letting it fall heavily from her hand. "Do you really still read this crap?"

I hesitated looking back at her judging eyes. "Sometimes. That's an old book though, I haven't picked that up in a while."

Rachel nodded and lay back down on her side, leaning on her elbow. "Did you see that photo Dan put up online last night?" She made a tsk sound and arched a brow. "It looks like he took Jess to that diner he used to take me too, the cheap one with the good burgers. He's just reusing all the same date spots he went to with me, isn't that tacky?"

"So tacky," I agreed, reaching into the closet and pulling out a hanger with a polka dot swing dress on it. "What about this?"

Rachel wrinkled her nose and shook her head. "Only if you're going to drink milkshakes at a drive through. Try something a bit more this decade."

I put back the hanger and pushed it to the side. It was probably a bit too dressy too for a dinner at their house, I needed something a bit more casual but not so much that it looks like I couldn't be bothered to make an effort.

Rachel pulled out her phone. "Do you think I should join one of those dating apps?" she asked, scrolling through her phone with her thumb. "I feel like all the boys around here suck. I mean, just look at Tia, she bounces from one boy to the next every week because none of them are up to scratch. I don't want to be single whilst Dan's off hooking up with that bimbo."

I threw her a look of concern. "I don't think a dating app is a safe idea. What if the guy turns out to be a psycho? That happens all the time you know."

"At least that'd be more fun than what I'm doing right now."

"Hey!" I glared at her. "You insisted on helping me, I didn't ask you to be here."

Rachel rolled onto her back and put her hands straight up in the air, staring at her nails. "Yeah only because you really need my help, this is important isn't it? You don't want to look stupid in front of his parents, they probably already have some terrible idea of who their son's girlfriend is. Owen's probably been sparing with the details, guys just don't big girls up like girls do with them."

I flinched. They probably thought I was a complete idiot. Few people knew the truth of the accident, and they did. I felt like an idiot. "Oh god, what if they hate me," I said, covering my face with my hands.

This whole thing was way more pressure than I'd hoped it would be. When I imagined meeting them, I thought it would be like something out of the movies, all light-hearted and fun. I thought maybe we'd talk about movies we'd seen and they ask me about my college plans and what I'd been up to over the summer, and I'd tell them they are a lovely couple and they'd say the same about me and Owen. That was all a dream, after the stunt I'd pulled, it could never be like that now.

"What if they hate me and tell me I'm not good enough for their son."

"Then Owen will break up with you and I will have opportunity to date somebody who is up to my standards." Rachel laughed evilly to herself.

"Thanks, that's very helpful," I said, glaring at her.

Rachel sat up and crossed her legs on my bed. "Don't be stupid, I'd never date your sloppy seconds, besides, this isn't a real issue they will definitely not hate you. I literally don't think there is anybody in this world that would hate you if they met you."

I pursed my lips, eyes shining. "Rachel."

"Ugh, no crying. I just finished your makeup and it's perfect, don't ruin it," she said, waving a hand dismissively at me. "Now show me your other outfit choices, I'm sure there must be something wearable between yours and Cats wardrobe."

We settled on a cream blouse and a floaty skirt topped with a long gold necklace that nestled just past my cleavage. It was dressy but not too dressy and said that I'd put thought into the outfit because I cared how this was going to go. At least, that's what Rachel said. She disappeared off before Owen was due to pick me up, leaving me to panic in my thoughts.

"Has she gone?" whispered Cat, poking her head around the door.

"If you mean Rachel, yes she's gone," I replied.

Cat sighed and threw open the door, marching into the room. "Thank god for that." She began tidying away some of the clothes I'd piled on her bed, still on their hangers.

"Where have you been?" I asked, eyeing her easy smile. She seemed way less stressed than usual.

"Figuring out some stuff," she said vaguely.

My eyes followed her around the room as she moved to straighten the makeup containers on our dressing table, then to the jewellery box to restore the necklaces and bracelets that Rachel had pulled out and left strewn on different surfaces as she'd played dress up with them. "Figuring out what stuff?"

"Things."

She was so secretive nowadays. It was getting worse too. It's like she felt like she couldn't unload on me anymore. I didn't like that she kept to herself, it was like we were moving further and further away from each other and one day, she might just disappear.

"Jeez Alice, it's like a bomb exploded in here, what on earth were you and Rachel doing?" she asked.

"Things," I mimicked, just to be cruel.

Her head snapped toward me, sensing my irritation. She smirked at me. "Fine, keep your secrets."

I puffed my cheeks out. "I have dinner with Owen's parent's tonight, Rachel was helping me get ready." I was always rubbish at keeping secrets, besides I needed her calmness to help me stop freaking out.

"Oh wow, big night then."

My phone buzzed next to me. It was Owen, he was here already, waiting outside. I stood to go; guess I'd have to skip the sage advice from my twin tonight. As I left the room, Cat called out to me.

"Alice," she said, tilting her head slightly to the side. "They're going to love you, and not just because you're awesome, but because with a son like Owen, they can appreciate the crap you have to put up with." She winked at me and I ran out to meet Owen feeling somewhat calmer.

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