Two Ruels, One Love

The Escape

You

People are always asking me what it's like to be dating a famous singer. Honestly, it's not as amazing as you might think. I never get to see Ruel because he's always on tour. When I do see him, the press covers everything. You never know if people are really your friend or just acting like they are because your boyfriend is literally famous, and everyone else is some crazed fan who's jealous. So yeah, it's not great. I just wish we could go back to the way things were before Ruel became famous. We met when he moved here from Australia. I knew he would be a great songwriter, so I told him to turn his poems into songs. He got angry at first saying those weren't to be shared with the world and I shouldn't be invading his privacy, but eventually he decided to write songs and now he's on tour with millions of fans cheering him on, and I might as well be one of those fans. I never see him anymore. Of course, he offered for me to go with him but there's no way I could put up with the press for that long, and anyway I still have to finish school. I don't know how Ruel does it, he knows exactly how to handle all the questions and accusations. It seems like he was always meant to be famous, but I still sort of wish he wasn't.

Steven

I've been preparing for this for all the 4 years I spent in that asylum. I know exactly what to do. The guards used to bring me books to entertain myself. One time I asked for a map. I memorized exactly where to go once I escaped. First, I went to a secondhand clothing store. It was close to the asylum and there was a trail through the woods that would help me to conceal my bright orange uniform. Hopefully the store isn't busy, I want to be spotted by as few people as possible. Once I get my clothes, I'll use my brothers bank account to buy myself a plane ticket to Australia. They call me crazy for a reason, I memorized all his passwords, usernames, and yes, credit card number. When I get to Melbourne (where he is currently on his tour) all I have to do is find out where his room is. I go to the front desk posing as Ruel and get an extra hotel key card. I've known him for years, he is my brother after all I have a strange way of imitating people, their voice, their personality, and with my twin brother, his appearance. I will then report Ruel telling the police that he is me escaped from the asylum and send him back there to live my horrendous life that I've been stuck in for too long. My plan starts now, I have 2 days before he's on the move again. It's time for the revenge I've been long awaiting.

Ruel

I walk off stage to the sound of a cheering crowd. This is the dream. This is what people work all their lives to become. Someone, someone who will be remembered, someone who will change the lives of others. That's who I am, but why does it feel like it's not what I want. What am I missing? It seems stupid I know when I have my perfect life as a famous singer. I'm not trying to complain it's just that I've felt so empty ever since I left the US. I'll be on tour for another 2 months. That's another 2 months that I won't see (y/n) except over the occasional Skype call. When we talk it's just not the same. It's like we don't have anything to say to each other. It would be so easy to just forget about her in the constant bustle of a life on tour, but every time the press asks about her I'm reminded of how alone I feel, even though I'm surrounded by people. I check my phone and read a text from (y/n). Crikey! I was planning on calling her to wish her a happy birthday, but I left my phone in my hotel room. I go to favorites, I'm about to call her when I hear someone insert a key card into the hotel room door there is the faint clicking of the door opening. I assume that it's Nate, my manager, he's the only one that has my card. "What's up Nate?" I look over to see a mirror of myself. My heart jumps, my breath catches, "Steven?" I gasp. Suddenly I'm struggling on the floor, something hits me over the head and the world goes black.