They Walk

Chapter One

“Come on Maggie, I swear it won’t completely suck.” Claire says.

Without turning to look at her I roll my eyes. How does someone respond to that comment anyway? I mean really. Here we are, two girls on a Friday night hanging out in my bedroom. School just got out yesterday for the summer, and already she’s trying to convince me to go to a party. We so rarely even attend parties, that I already made plans with my boyfriend Matt later. I suppose I should sympathize with her, since she’s single and all.

Though not for the lack of trying, that’s for sure.

For instance, one of mine and Matt’s favorite pass times is mocking all the guys she goes through. I call it payback for torturing us with double dates. It’s kind of turned into an inside joke for Matt and I. We pretty much made a game out of guessing the personality type he will have and how long it’ll take her to grow bored with him. Luckily, there are a plethora of single and sometimes not guys at our school for her to pick from.

Otherwise we’d be taking many road trips by now.

“Come on, please Maggie.” She whines.

With a sigh, I turn away from my laptop at my desk. Facing Claire, I almost laugh. She’s currently lying on her back on my bed, with her feet resting up on my headboard. She’s flipping through one of her latest trashy gossip magazines. There is some celebrity or another on the cover. It’s enough to make me want to roll my eyes at her. It’s a struggle, what with the look on her face as she stares at me upside down. She’s really trying to look sad and convincing. But can a leggy, blue eyed, redhead, who usually get what she wants, pull off begging?

I think not, that’s why I see it as priceless, and maybe a little pathetic.

Oh boy, now she’s pouting her lips. I shake my head at her and try not to smile.

I’m already turning back around when a new voice says. “You should just give in now Mags. She’ll wear you down eventually, she always does.”

I swivel in my computer chair, to see my brother Daniel leaning against the doorway to my room.

I glare at him. “And just how long have you been eves dropping, oh brother of mine?”

He shrugs and walks over to the footboard of my bed and leans against it.

I watch him expectantly, like he’ll say something important or wise. That will never happen I know, but stranger things have happened. A smile blooms across his ever bright features as he watches me. He so knows what I’m thinking about him. It’s the curse of the twin gene. We’re too much alike that it’s scary.

“Well…” He pauses for dramatic flair, which drives me crazy. “About as long as Claire’s been whining about Austin’s party tonight.”

At this Claire throws her magazine down on my bed and sits up giving me her best winning smile.

“See!” Claire is practically glowing with excitement. That is so not good, for me anyways. “If Dan’s going, and he’s practically married, then we have to go to. Come on Maggie, please, I need this!”

I have to snicker at this, because it’s mostly true, on both accounts. My brother has been dating the same girl, Maria, for a lot longer than I have been with Matt. Since he and I are the same age, being twins and all, which says a lot in my opinion. Then of course there is my dear sweet Claire. I definitely believe that she needs this. It’s been a while since her last hookup.

She’s probably having withdrawals or something.

Dan watches the two of us with mock excited interest. I doubt he cares about Claire’s attempt to woo me over. He just lives to torture me. He calls it brotherly love, I call it seriously irritating.

“Do I need to make a bet with Claire again on how long it’ll take you to be convinced?” He starts, drawing two sets of eyes to him. The smile on his face just begs for me to smack it right off. “Not that I mind taking your friends money, because I could use it.”

How he can pull of being arrogant, I’ll never know.

We look almost identical with dark hair and eyes and not on the tall side either. Where he can achieve confidence, I can barely swing being mousy. Much to my dismay of course.

With a heaving sigh, I swivel back to my laptop.

Already touching the keys I say, “Well, even if I were to go, I’d still have to convince Matt.”

Claire makes a high-pitched girly squeal, which dogs in the next county could hear, and falls back down on my bed. I can just feel the heat of one of her radiant smiles trying to mare a hole in the back of my head.

Dan laughs at something I can’t see.

My eyes roll against my protest.

“You almost had me there for a while Maggie, seriously.” Claire sighs, like it my adversary was extremely hard on her or something. “Matt’s always the easiest to convince, you on the other hand make it a chore. I can’t wait to pick out what we’ll wear!”

I cringe away from the excitement in her voice.

Dan laughs again.

He straightens up and makes his way to the door. “Better make it fast Claire, Maria is already on her way. We leave in an hour.”

Is she now? Well then…

Calmly, I reach for the paperback I have resting beside my laptop. I don’t even bother turning around as I chuck it in the general direction of the door. With a smirk of satisfaction I hear it hit his person. That’ll teach him to assume I’d already go. Even if he and Claire were right about Matt, a girl has a right to her prerogative.

He grumbles about annoying little sisters that are so rude sometimes and makes his exit before I find another book that is not a paperback to toss his way.