Seeing Double [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 2

Living with Sebastian again was, needless to say, different. He wasn't a slob but he wasn't a neat freak either. He didn't sit around and do nothing but he didn't exactly jump at the chance to help Mitch and I with chores and such. Nonetheless, I still didn't want him living with us.

I had talked to Mitch about it, but he insisted that I 'be nice' and 'leave him alone.' Yeah, I'd like to leave him alone, on a deserted island. Even though I didn't particularly agree with Mitch, there was still a part of me that felt bad for thinking negatively about Sebastian's reappearance. He had told his parole officer that he'd called me and I'd said that he could stay with me. How he had gotten my address was beyond me, but thanks to the LAPD, Sebastian was required to live with me for at least 6 months.

Despite this, I, of course, wasn't blind and I saw just how well Mitch and Sebastian seemed to be getting along. While I was silly and goofy with Mitch, Sebastian was witty and smart-alecky with him. But at the end of the day Mitch got into my arms and slept with me and kissed me and said he loved me, so I tried not to let it bother me.

Oh, I tried.

It just wasn't easy when you were out shopping with your identical twin and your boyfriend who were 10 yards ahead of you at all times laughing their heads off.

Mitch had insisted on taking Sebastian shopping, since the few belongings that Sebastian still had from prison included an ugly orange t-shirt and some second hand sweatpants. To quote Mitch, he had said 'No one living in my house will be dressed like that in public.' And like the puppy dog that Sebastian was around Mitch, he had willingly agreed.

I was just the driver, seeing as I didn't trust my twin around my boyfriend.

A final thing that kind of bothered me were the looks Sebastian and I got. People would usually see Sebastian first and then see me, and do an actual double take. No joke, a few people almost got run over staring at us. While Sebastian and I were so similar it was disgusting, the only noticeable difference was our eyes. He had bright green eyes that made people at ease with him, and they were kind yet held some kind of unspoken smugness. He had faint laughing lines around them, like I did, because just like our dad we both enjoyed a good laugh. I, on the other hand, had blue eyes that were one of the first things people noticed about me. I always got complimented on my eyes, but I never complained. Except nowadays, people wouldn't say "Your eyes are so nice!" No, now people said, "Your eyes are such a bright blue and your twin's eyes are such a vibrant green! If it wasn't for the different colors I wouldn't have noticed the difference between the two of you!"

~~~

Back at home, Mitch was showing Sebastian his expensive turn tables that he never let anyone, not even me, touch. Every time Sebastian reached out to touch a button or a knob Mitch would slap his hand away playfully, insisting that he was going to kill him if he didn't stop.

As I sat on the couch pretending to be watching tv, I thought about back when Sebastian used to live in our household and we were both prepubescent. We got along well. We were more than twins, we were best friends. We did everything together. Until the incident that completely changed my life.

[Flashback]

I ran into my house and tossed my backpack on the couch. I saw my folder fall out with 'Scott Hoying - 4th Grade' at the top. I bent down to pick it up, but stopped when my mom walked into the living room. She wrapped her arms around me, and even though I was confused, I hugged her back as she sobbed in my 10 year old arms.

"Mom? What's wrong?!" I asked her. She took a few moments to compose herself before bursting into tears again.

"Honey.. your brother has to leave us for a little while," She said through her sobs. I felt confused and alarmed.