The Story of Us

Facing The Music

*A/N* That's Leah on the side ->*

When I got home, Leah was sitting on the couch. Her cheeks were stained with dried tears, and her hair was in front of her face—something she hated. I sat across from her, knowing what had happened. She really told Mom and Dad. What they said is beyond me. I was scared to say anything, afraid she'd yell at me. But who could blame her? I was selfish to let her do this alone. I should've at least been here.

“I'm sorry, Leah,” I whispered.

“I don't care,” she hissed.

I swallowed, afraid I'd cry. Leah never got this mad. “I don't know what to say.”

“It doesn't matter. You're not my sister,” she stood up.

“Look, I know you're mad but I'll always be your sister,” I stood as well.

She chuckled and faced me. “Think about it. Mom and Dad have blonde hair, I have blonde hair. You don't. We all have green eyes. You don't.”

“What are you getting at?” I asked.

She rolled her eyes. “I figured you would've put two and two together by now.”

I waited.

“You're adopted,” she said.

“I am not,” I shook my head.

“You were two. Already named. We don't know who you're real parents are,” she said.

“Prove it,” I glared at her.

She smirked and turned on the TV, putting in a DVD. A younger version of Mom was holding a baby, and a younger version of Leah was standing by Mom. So I assumed Dad was recording. But when he wrapped his arm around Mom, I waited for someone in the video to say something.

“Is the picture taken?” Mom asked.

“Oh, you wanted a picture!” a woman's voice said. “Oh, we're videoing.”

“That works too,” Mom laughed. “What do we say?”

“What any parents would say. Date, what just happened, the name of your new baby—but of course, little Rachel here is already named, so just prepare her for her future.”

“Okay, well, it's January second, 1998. Rachel, you're life is going to be filled with fun and happiness. We don't know why you were in a orphanage. You're so big and you're two years old. We know you might start asking questions when you get older, and we'll explain, but until then, just...be happy,” Mom smiled.

“You're gonna be my baby girl forever. Along with Leah, your sister,” he said.

“Hi!” little Leah yipped in the camera.

The TV went black, and my heart was beating really fast. Mom and Dad came running in the living room and I just went to my room to sleep.

The next morning, I ran out of my house. I avoided any conversation with my “family.” I sped to school, earlier than usual and cried in the parking lot. I wiped my tears away and fixed my makeup in the mirror. I hoped my hair looked okay. I had texted Ally what happened last night before falling asleep. So when she saw me, she hugged me and I refused to cry again.

“Hey, you okay? Ally told me what happened,” Thomas said hugging me.

“Al,” I tried to laugh. “Please tell me he's the only other person who knows.”

“He's the only other one I told. Sister swear,” she held up her index finger.

I managed to let out a chuckle and touched my index finger to her's. We started this when we were seven. We had watched Practical Magic with Sandra Bullock and liked the idea. But Sandra Bullock's character, Sally, and Nicole Kidman's character, Gillian, were separated in the beginning—doing their own thing. It's a lot to explain—you have to see the movie to understand our weirdness.