The Stolen Heart

"Stay awake."

When Mrs. Scone walked in the house after a week-long business trip and found everything spotless, she knew right away that Bradley hasn't been alone.

"Explain." She says.

"I got kicked out." I shrug.

"And you've been staying here...alone...in the same bed?"

"Mom, we're both eighteen."

"Who cleaned?" she asks.

"Me." I say.

"I thought so. Did you two fix your problem?"

"Yup, it was just an argument." Bradley says.

"Okay." She smiles.

She doesn't know? I look at Bradley. He gives me the Don't you dare look.

But she needs to know.

I blurt, "He lied we were fighting because I was ignoring him because he said he loves me and then I said it too and now we're dating. I was kicked out because my parents were trying to force me to tell him I love him! Bye!"

I was planning on going to patch up the mess with my parents today anyways. I need to go home.

I get in my car and I speeding out of there.

I pull into my driveway and take a deep breath, and then I get out and go ring the doorbell. I hear footsteps and then a man I don't know opens the door.

"Some girl is here." He says.

I hear more footsteps, and then Dad moves into sight.

"Why did you ring the doorbell?" he asks.

"I don't live here." I shrug.

"Who is it?" Mom calls.

Dad opens the door wider.

I walk in and he shuts it. I walk into the living room. Mom narrows her eyes.

"Did you tell him?" she asks.

"I told him the night I got there, I just didn't want to leave."

"Oh god!" mom says. "I need to get your morning after pills-"

"We didn't have sex." I say. I look at the guy. "Who are you?"

"Who are you?" he asks.

"I'm Emma."

"I'm Adam." He says. "Emma Lane." He says. "Friends with my son, Bradley?"

"Well I wouldn't say friends but yeah."

This is Bradley's Dad. I've only seen him once from afar.

"I'm actually here to speak with you. Let's go on a walk."

I follow him out of the house.

He starts to walk and I walk next to him.

"I need your help." He says.

"With?"

"Well, have you heard of Bailee Scone?"

"Yes." I say.

"She's Bradley's twin sister." He says.

I look at him in shock.

"Bradley doesn't know but Bailee knows she has a twin nearby, she just doesn't know who. I need you to be there for Bradley when he finds out." He says.

"Of course."

"And just keep your head clear." He says.

I don't know what that means but I nod anyways.