“Who is Ally?”
Tracy looked up at Isaac. After unplugging the phone, everyone had decided they needed light. The two of them had been elected to scour the kitchen for candles to put around the living room. “I don’t think I know,” she said simply.
“You don’t think you know?” he asked doubtfully, rummaging through a drawer.
“I saw the picture of her that Tay has. She looks like me - only blond.” She touched the ends of her hair unconsciously before adding, “Like I used to be.”
“But other than that, she looks just like you?” he asked, pulling two thick white candles from the drawer. Tracy nodded. “Is it your sister?”
She looked up at him. “How’d you know we were twins?” she asked.
He shrugged, feeling around for a pack of matches. “Lucky guess,” he said. “So, is it her?”
She shook her head. “No. Her name’s not Ally,” she told him.
Isaac pulled some matches out of the drawer. “How do you know she didn’t lie to Taylor? I mean, it seems to run in the family.” He paused to light the candles. When he finished lighting them, he looked up at her. There was a wounded look on her face. “I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I didn’t mean it like that, really.”
Tracy nodded. “We should get back into the living room,” was all she said.
Nodding, Ike picked up the candles and led the way through the kitchen. In the living room, he set a candle on the television and another on an end table. “There. It’s a little brighter in here now.”
Tracy sat down in her spot on the love seat and looked around the room. It had almost been better pitch dark. At least then, she hadn’t been able to see the scornful scowl Taylor wore like a shield. She hadn’t been able to see the wide-eyed terror on Zac’s face. She hadn’t been able to see Isaac’s shaking hands.
What am I doing here? she asked herself. How did I get myself into this?
Tracy shook her head slightly. Everything was so confused that she knew for a fact she wouldn’t figure anything out. There were just too many questions. And it seemed like not one of the questions had an answer.
“Let’s talk about something,” she blurted out.
There was a moment of heavy silence. Tracy wished she hadn’t spoken. Everyone looked at her as if she had spoken Japanese.
Finally, someone spoke. “Why’d you come back.”
Tracy’s attention snapped to Taylor. It hadn’t been a question; his words had been a statement. She took in a deep breath. “I had to,” she began. “I told you that -”
“Why?” Taylor asked, cutting her off.
She looked at him blankly. “Why?” she repeated.
“Yes,” he said shortly. “Do you want me to clarify the question for you?”
Tracy narrowed her eyes at him. “Why did I come back?” she asked rhetorically. “I’ll tell you why, Taylor. I came back to see you. How’s that, huh? I wanted to see you again.” She held his gaze as she spoke, not allowing him to look away. With a weak smile and a low voice, she added, “And, silly me, I thought you might wanna see me too.” Taylor opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off. “After that kiss, can you blame me for thinking that?” she demanded. Tay’s blue eyes grew wide and he opened his mouth again. “What?” she asked, once again cutting him off. “You don’t remember? We were sitting right about where you are now, Tay, and you kissed me. You kissed me - you wanted to. And now, you’re repulsed by the sight of me? Why, Taylor? What’s changed?”
Finally, Taylor was able to reply. “You lied,” he told her quietly.
She glared at him. “Is it any worse having me lie than having you lie? TJ? Or is it just because I lied to you? I’m sorry, but that’s one backward view of the world, Tay. That’s not the way things work,” she said steadily. Then, after a moment’s deliberation, she added, “How can you condemn me for something you did too?”
He didn’t reply. Instead, Taylor stood up and stomped out of the living room. A door slammed and then all was silent.
Zac stood up. “I’ll go in there with him,” he offered quietly, starting after his brother.
There was a minute of uncomfortable silence between Tracy and Isaac. Finally, she looked at him and asked, “I suppose you hate me, too, huh?”
Ike shook his head. “No. I don’t hate you.” He stood up and cautiously walked over to her. He sat down beside her before adding, “And Tay doesn’t, either.”
Tracy looked up into his brown eyes. “You think?” she asked softly.
He smiled at her. “How could he hate his first kiss?”
Tracy smiled, too. “Thank you,” she told him. After a moment, she yawned.
“You tired?” he asked, almost rhetorically.
She shrugged. “It’s been a long day.”
“You could lay down if you want,” he suggested. “Catch some Z’s. I’ll keep lookout.”
Tracy nodded and laid down, resting her head on Ike’s lap. “Thanks,” she murmured, closing her eyes.
