Okay... have the chapter  now instead of the weekend. Double upload this week still of course (so another upload on Sunday)

Shout out to the awesome brightyeolie , amiva0402 ,  and jueka1 for making this story come to life through their comments.

Also... did not proofread because I'm too tired this morning.

Enjoy...

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Sara got out of her brother's car with us Monday afternoon, telling Noah she wanted to spend more time with Callie and me before she headed home.

I'd be lying if I said my body didn't have all sorts of fluttery feelings thinking Sara liked being in my company. Though I shouldn't have been surprised. Every class we shared, I was always right by her side, whether my sister was there or not.

So once we forwarded into the house, Callie immediately began heading to her room with Sara in tow, while I followed a couple steps behind them, pausing at my bedroom door, not sure if I was invited.

While Callie paid me no attention, Sara paused on the way into my sister's room, turning her head to meet my awaiting gaze. Throwing me a smile, she said, "You better be joining us for fat chats, Lex."

Grin on my face, I quickly opened my bedroom door, threw my bag inside, then hurried down the hallway to Callie's room.

Sitting on the floor of my sister's room—and much to Callie's chagrin—Sara narrated every detail of their bio class to me, of how Flynn sat with them. The number of times he whispered jokes into her ear. And even the notes he scribbled into the corner of her book. Apparently at one point he also drew a frog in her notebook?

"We're just friends," Callie muttered, looking everywhere but us.

"Yes, friends... who stuck tongues in each other's throats on the weekend and groped each other," Sara retorted.

"Groping is a strong word..."

"Did he, or did he not, touch your butt at some point while making out? Because Lex said she saw—"

"He did... But like..." Turning around, she yanked a pillow off her bed and let out a groan into it.

"Mhmm... it seems the butt touch is something you very much like."

Crimson face lifting from the pillow, she choked, "Please don't make this harder for me to face him when he comes here for tutoring tonight."

Lips pressing together, Sara's face turned serious as her eyes danced around Callie's face. "I'll drop it in one second. But I just need to ask you one more time... Are you sure you're not into him?"

"Why?" she asked, eyes hesitantly meeting Sara's. "Are you?"

Sara barked a laugh and shook her head, eyes momentarily flickering to mine before looking back to my sister. "No. Definitely not."

"So I'm a weirdo thinking he's cute?" she said.

But it was the wrong thing to say in front of her bestie. Corners of her lips turning upwards again, Sara struggled to hold back her teasing grin as she said, "Flynn's decent on the eyes, Callie. You're not weird. Besides, you don't need mine or Lexi's approval on who you're attracted to. I just want to know if you like him so I know if I have to go into wingwoman mode."

Callie's brows knotted together and she shook her head. "No... I think my reactions are just because he was my first kiss and it was a good one."

"You... think?" Sara pressed, still not budging.

Evidently reaching her end on the topic, Callie said, "Look, all I know is that he said he's helping me with the list and I want to tick more off, and that Ashton stirred similar feelings—while not as intense—in history today, and I just don't know. I do know that Flynn and I are friends. And if I keep thinking about whatever feelings I am having instead of letting myself get over it, then I will make things awkward. If it becomes a thing, I will tell you, okay?"

Sara didn't say anything for a whole five seconds, still mulling over my sister's words as she searched her face. But eventually she nodded and we switched our topic to the latest episode of the Magic Mutations Series that aired over the weekend.

The sun was setting in the sky outside as evening drew near, and we had already turned on the bedroom light when the doorbell sounded through the house. But Sara and Callie were still gushing about the show—Sara and I had not read the books and Callie was doing everything in her power to restrain from spoiling it for us while Sara theorised where the plot was going.

Because dad had come home not too long ago, popping his head into Callie's room to greet us, I assumed he'd get the front door.

But when the bell went off again, neither Sara or Callie seeming to notice (or care), I heaved a sigh and got to my feet, rushing out of the room towards the front.

Swinging the door open as the bell sounded again, my head craned up slightly, meeting his dark eyes.

We stood there for a moment, me blankly looking at Flynn, Flynn alarmed, looking at me like he didn't expect me to answer.

Then finally the corners of his mouth turned all the way up to his eyes and he said, "Somehow I forgot you were Callie's sister and live with her."

Shaking my head, I stood aside from the doorway to let him enter. "She's in her room."

"Thanks, Lexi," he said, stepping inside, eyes searching the place. "This is... nice." His jaw was dropping slightly as he took in our open plan living room that connected onto the kitchen.

I replied with a small shrug and started walking towards the hallway, planning to lead Flynn to Callie's room. But before we even stepped foot in the hallway, dad came down from the opposite end, hair wet from his shower he just exited—explaining why he didn't answer the door—and eyes starting to narrow as he zeroed in on Flynn.

"Who's this, Lex?" dad asked.

We came to a stop in the dining room, and I glanced at Flynn to see his eyes wide, looking anywhere but my father.

"Callie's new friend," I answered, holding back the details that might make dad too defensive, "And... tutee."

"Tutee, hey?" dad leaned against the wall, hands crossing over his chest as his eyes trailed up and down over Flynn.

Meanwhile, all light had dropped from Flynn's eyes as he squirmed under dad's watch.

I didn't like the sight. While I didn't know the guy, every time I had seen him, he normally radiated confidence. Which meant whatever my father was doing was definitely making him uncomfortable. And I didn't want our father to be the reason Flynn ditches Callie before the pair had a chance with... whatever it was they were doing.

"Dad," I said, calling his attention to me.

"Mmm?" His blue eyes flickered away from Flynn.

"Do you mind not being a dweeb?"

"Dweeb?" he exclaimed, posture straightening as he pressed a hand to his chest, mocking offence. "How am I—"

"Because you're being one of those lame-arse fathers who seem to freak out the moment someone of the opposite sex walks into their daughter's house. Total dweeb behaviour. Especially from the guy who knocked up mum at our age."

Dad opened and closed his mouth, no words coming out.

"Point made," I said, then I pushed him aside as I led Flynn down the hallway. "Ignore him," I said to the poor guy over my shoulder.

But Flynn just let out a chuckle, humour sparkling once more in his gaze as he said, "I'll try." Yet as I opened the door to Callie's room, Flynn called down the hallway at my father who was standing where we left him, still with shock, "Thanks for having me here, Mr Peterson."

Dad's head whipped around, looking at Flynn. "If you're really grateful, don't ever call me Mr Peterson. It's Cory."

Flynn saluted my father and said, "Noted. Thank you, Cory... sir."

"And not sir either!" dad called out after us as I yanked Flynn into my sister's bedroom.

Yet as we walked inside, Sara and Callie paused, both faces turning towards Flynn as though they were shocked he was here.

"Am I early?" Flynn asked, reading the room.

Callie glanced at the time on her wall clock then looked back to Flynn, shaking her head. "I didn't realise it was so late." Then at once, she reached for her prosthetic, attempting to secure it back on her leg.

Meanwhile, Flynn fell to the floor, hand coming down on top of her prosthetic, pulling it away. "How many times do I have to tell you—"

"I just—"

"This is your house. And it's just me. Be comfortable."

Callie pressed her lips together as the pair eyed each other off. Flynn was the first to break the eye contact, unzipping his bag and pulling out his books.

Almost as if on cue, Sara then pushed herself to her feet. "Well, I'm going to head off," she announced.

Callie's eyes went wide as she turned to look at her best friend, and then to me, still standing by the doorway. "What?" she asked. "Why?"

"I don't need maths tutoring," Sara laughed, picking up her bag from the ground. "Have fun you both." And with that, Sara left the room.

Eyes flickering between the two as Callie's words about them 'just being friends' rang in my ears, I couldn't help but feel a little devious, wanting to let the 'just friends' be alone in each others' company. "I'm going to see her out," I said. "Enjoy!"

But before I could leave, Callie almost squeaked, "Are you coming back?"

Corners of my lips turning up, I could feel the mischievous gleam creep into my gaze as I turned to look at her, ignoring Flynn altogether as I said, "But you don't like me, Callie... You hate when Sara forces me to hang out with you."

Knowing I had her there, I backed out of her room, closing the door behind me. But as the wood thudded shut against the frame, dad barked from the living room, "Keep that door open!"

Rolling my eyes, I pushed it open a smidge but then jogged down the hallway. 

Slipping on my shoes, I pushed open the front door, eyes searching for Sara who had already exited the house and was midway down the driveway.

"Wait up!" I called after her.

Sara paused, glancing over her shoulder, smile taking her face hostage as our gazes collided. "What's up?" she asked.

"Let me walk you home," I said, slowing to a walk once I reached her.

Her brows furrowed together before she said, "I only live ten minutes away."

Shrugging, I said, "I want to make sure Callie has her privacy with Flynn." Was that the full truth? Not exactly. To be fair, a part of me wanted to force my sister to be alone with him in case there really was more to her feelings than she was letting on. Because why else would she have freaked out when we both decided to exit her room? But the other part, the one whispering to my heart, knew the other reason I chased after Sara was because I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to her today... not just yet.

I wanted to be the last twin she saw. As stupid as that thought was and as much as I was trying to not think about why.

And rather than pressing me on my statement, Sara just continued to walk, corners of her mouth turning up a little more, eyes avoiding mine.

We went on like that in silence—just us and the sun almost behind the houses now as the dark pink and purple hues filled the sky and the birds bid goodbye to the day.

But as some car suddenly came up behind us, going almost 70 in the 50 zone, my hand shot around Sara, yanking her off the road and to my other side.

"Oi fuckface! There's kids walking here!" I shouted after the driver, even though they couldn't hear.

But Sara just let out a soft giggle beside me.

Glancing over at her, I noticed her eyes were looking up at me, glistening behind her glasses. My heart let out a slight flutter and I immediately looked away and released the grip I realised I still had on her.

Yet as I removed my arm back to my side, Sara's palm brushed against the back of my hand. Then next I knew, her fingers weaved between mine.

I was overly conscious of my face starting to flush as we continued to walk down the road. And of the dryness in my throat. And of the millions of questions racing through my mind, including:

Why is she holding my hand?

Is this a friend thing? Is she just trying to make sure we're safe while walking?

Or is she... She's not into girls, right? She would have said something when I confessed.

Better yet... she doesn't like me back.

Back? BACK? Do I like Sara?

No... I can't. She's Callie's best friend...

Though Callie likes Noah.

But Callie refuses to make a move on Noah... and she might like Flynn now.

No. We can't go there. We can't—

Yet rather than acknowledging the awkward silence that had fallen around us or the fairly evident lacing of our hands, Sara disturbed the air with, "Thank you for what you're doing for Callie... I know I've said it before but... Seeing her talking to all these guys, kissing them, realising that she is as beautiful as I've been insisting all these years... It's nice. I like seeing her acting like a normal teen, freaking out over which person she likes." Sara let out another one of her adorable giggles, which caressed my heart into another flutter. It was honestly like a lullaby to my ears.

"You don't need to thank me for that," I mumbled back. "She's my sister. I love her and I'd do anything to help her. Especially when I started some of that lack of confidence."

Sara stopped walking, and our joined hands pulled me to a halt.

Slowly, I turned around to face her, brows coming together in confusion.

"None of it is your fault, Lex," Sara said softly, eyes tenderly searching my face.

But I couldn't handle the pity in her gaze. Giving her a small shrug, I looked down. Yet looking down made me more aware of how dainty her small hand felt in mine—and how right it felt. Which also wasn't a welcomed emotion right now.

"Hey," she said softly, taking another step closer, releasing her grip of me.

And while my hand felt cold without her holding me, next I knew her hands were cupping my cheeks, forcing me to look back into her iridescent midnight eyes.

"I know Callie blames you for a lot but... I also know how intense it must have all been seeing that happen to your sister when you were so young. You would have caused you and her more damage if you had tried to stay and tried to bottle up your feelings."

I snagged my lip between my teeth as my gaze explored her face, looking for any hint of deceit. But warmth just filled her round face.

And then she tucked a lock of hair behind my ear before slowly releasing her grip on me. "Okay?" she then asked again as her hands left my body.

"Okay," I breathed, missing her proximity.

But it didn't take long for her to reach back down, grabbing my hand as she continued to tug me along towards her house.

With the hand holding and fluttery sensation welling in my heart and stomach, I should have bid Sara goodbye when we reached her house.

But when Sara said, "Want to come in for a bit and hang? Considering Flynn is still there..." And when Sara's gaze flickered over my face—glancing at my mouth for a moment—while her hand seemed reluctant to drop its hold of me, it was simply impossible to say no.

So I let her tug me into her house. 

But the moment we stepped inside and her parents called out from the living room, "Sara, is that you?" she finally did drop my hand.

"Yes, mama. And I brought Lexi."

Next I knew, a thudding came from the stairs as the black-haired boy bounded down, stopping right in front of us, eyes fixated on me. "Hey Lexi," he grinned.

Eyes narrowing, I responded with a hesitant, "Hi." I felt a little strange around Noah since that fainting episode and confessing my resurfacing trauma. On the one hand, it was cathartic to get it out to someone, but, on the other, I wasn't sure how ready I was to tell Callie about it all... or Sara. Evidently Sara had some clue but... I didn't want her to see me too vulnerable just yet. Because what if she didn't like that?

"We will be in my room," Sara then called out to her parents, leaning down to pick up my hand again—this time in a much looser manner with no finger lacing—as she dragged me up the stairs, pushing Noah out of the way as we pushed past him.

I glanced at her brother as I walked by him, and his eyes met mine, swirling with some indistinguishable emotion—one that I didn't quite like, but couldn't quite pin.

Then I followed the beautiful girl to her room.

Nothing happened between Sara and I in the half an hour I lingered there. We merely laid on her bed, watching YouTube videos, discussing filmmaking, until finally I decided I should head home for dinner.

Sara didn't hold my hand again in her room or look into my eyes like she did on the street. In fact, everything was innocent as it had been at school, which made me wonder how much of what I thought was going on here was all in my head and my stupid sudden feelings for the girl.

It was as I walked home under the blanket of stars that I decided I should probably try to avoid being alone with Sara—completely—for the meantime until I managed to suppress these emotions. Because if I did end up crushing on her, not only would I complicate our friendship, but I'd definitely upset Callie.

When I entered the house, mum was in the middle of setting the table while dad plated food.

As I kicked off my shoes, Flynn and Callie appeared down the hallway, with my sister giving him a shy smile as he slipped out the door—even though mum tried insisting he stayed for dinner.

Nonetheless, he managed to escape an awkward encounter with the parents and left.

Then we all crowded around the table, talking about our days in a casual manner, until dad just couldn't hold back at embarrassing Callie about having a boy over. 

The whole time as he teased Callie, I couldn't help but smile at them. It felt just like old times, back when we were kids before everything was messed up. 

When mum and dad were still together, when Callie and I were stuck together like glue. 

But seeing us like this also made my heart throb. My parents being civil was always a temporary affair—either ending in a spat immediately or in them getting together romantically before breaking up. So getting used to this was dangerous... because eventually it would end.

And, more overwhelmingly present in the back of my mind, I couldn't help but think that someone was missing from our table. Jessica.

MEME TIME

What an exhausting week. It's no surprise this is me right now: