Westedge

Chapter 10: Denial

Chapter 10

"No, you have to be joking. Please tell me you're joking!"

Leo Valdez & Alexander Zona

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Leo V.

"Thank you sir, have a great day!" I exclaim as a man hands me a three dollar tip and happily walks out of the diner, a bright, happy smile on his face. This is splendid! Eleven tips in one morning!

What could possibly go wrong?

I spent all of last night watching that Soul Eater anime Ray is in to, and well... Apparently that's her favorite character, so even though I only got an hour or two of sleep, that still made my morning. Then Mr. Abate even gave me some slack and just told me I'm a great waiter! He's such a tough guy, so him out of all people giving me a compliment had to be the best feeling.

I felt like I was walking on a rainbow, my head was in the clouds, thinking that no worries could overcome me and that I'm fine, and that I'll always be fine.

The worst part though is that well, that;s not true. No one is always fine.

I walked on the rough hardwood floors, a smile from ear to ear on my face as I almost ran towards Roberto to tell him the orders of the customers and the good news as well, until the TV above me stopped my movement and made me as still and silent as a rock, having that bright smile wiped off my face and turned into smug, making me hear the most devastating news I've ever heard in my lifetime:

"Today on Saturday morning we have a terrible tragedy on Unison Ave, where the old but small store Roundabout was caused in a shooting incident. The owner of the business, Mr. Steven Reynolds was on a business trip while the terrible incident occurred, and only three workers; Samantha Garza, Amerah Hall, and Ruby Valdez were in the store at the time. Ms. Valdez had gotten shot in the chest and shoulder area, while Ms. Samantha Garza and Amerah Hall gotten out safely. Since Ms. Valdez was the cashier, and she was in his or her way, she was forced to get shot down. Police are at the crime scene now and Ms. Valdez is at the hospital..."

My heart felt like it completely stopped, as the reporters words went on and on, and my mind was unable to process what they were saying. Before I knew it my brain was drowned from the world around me, not able to hear what others were saying. I started shaking uncontrollably and I had a knot in my stomach that was pulling non-stop.

So this is how it goes wrong.

I became so dependent on my twin, that I couldn't get through my life without her. She was my better half. While my head was in the clouds of happiness, her foot was down on the ground of reality. While I had a smile on my face, she had her head focused on the job ahead.

I was the imagination and she was the reality. We were opposites that depended on each other.

I finally realized the truth after all these years.

Before I knew it, I heard metal crash against the floors caused by me and I ran. I didn't care if I was to get fired, I didn't care if Roberto ever got those orders, I DIDN'T CARE what happened to me, unless my twin was okay.

I jumped into my truck and even as my boss was yelling and swearing at me to come back or else, I drove off to the hospital my sister was in, hoping to see her one last time, alive no matter what.

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Alexander Z.

I sat in my fathers office and saw a huge smile on his face, showing maybe pride, or astonishment. Maybe both. His eyes showed pure joy and excitement. For the first time in a long, long time; he actually showed pure emotion instead of acting it.