chapter 25 : Twins?

On the way back to the college, Alexander and Becca were again in the backseat of the bus. They sat together��more like Becca forcefully sat next to him.
Alexander closed his eyes and leaned against the seat.
��Hey, I know you are not asleep because you cannot sleep,�� Becca said, poking his arm.
��Not in a mood to talk, Becca,�� Alexander informed her, still with his eyes closed. It was hard for him to focus on controlling his cravings and paying attention to the conversation. Moreover, he had to think about how to protect her from the other vampires.
��Okay,�� she simply agreed. She took out her phone and AirPods. She went to the music app, played the song Battle Symphony by Linkin Park, and shared her AirPods with Alexander, putting one in his ear and the other in her ear.
Alexander stayed quiet and felt something in his ear. He could hear a song playing and listened to it.
Becca, who was on the window seat, looked outside the window and leaned against her seat. She was hearing the song as well and soaked in the beautiful roads. However, she was enjoying Alexander��s company the most.
They were listening to the song quietly, and one after another, they kept listening until they reached the college.
A few days had passed since the trip. Everything was going okay. Becca, Alexander, and Lucas were attending the poetry class.
��Seems like everyone forgot what I taught because of the trip,�� Mr. Risorito announced, disappointment lingering in his voice. ��Becca, can you tell me the depth of this line on page twenty-four?��
Becca, who was busy doodling in her notebook, stood up from her seat with a sigh and took the book from Lucas. ��It means to die because life is screwed,�� she let out, making the entire class laugh, but Alexander and Lucas.
Alexander noticed the strange change in Becca. She was usually attentive in poetry class but now she was barely paying attention in the class.
��Even Becca got it wrong,�� Mr. Risorito said and motioned for her to sit. ��I am explaining this for the last time.�� With that, he started explaining once again.
Becca handed Lucas his book and started doodling again.
��Becca, are you okay?�� Lucas asked her.
She pouted and nodded her head. ��What will happen to me?��
Lucas glanced at Alexander and responded to Becca, ��Nothing. Just asking.�� He turned his focus back to the teacher.
��Becca,�� Alexander whispered her name. ��Don��t you like the class?��
��I used to, but I don��t like it anymore and I don��t know why,�� she whispered back.
��Then why don��t you drop the class?�� he inquired.
She licked her lips and answered, ��Because this is the only class we have together and I don��t want to miss it.��
Alexander felt immediate guilt within himself for lying to her. He didn��t have different classes, rather they had the same routine. Instead of attending the other classes, he would just chill under the stone pine tree in the wooded area of the college.
��What is your third class?�� Alexander asked Becca.
��Modern Drama,�� she replied with a sulking face. She was getting bored of the class. Usually she would pay attention to it, but now her focus was more on learning about the vampires.
��What��s with the sulking look?�� he said with a small smile.
��The teacher��s voice in that class is so gloomy. I absolutely hate it,�� she grumbled.
��Then how about you meet me at the garden during the class period?�� he offered. ��You will find me under the stone pine tree.��
She arched an eyebrow in amusement. ��Are you suggesting we skip all our classes and meet each other?��
He twitched his lips and feigned innocence. ��Yeah, something like that, I suppose.��
��Consider it done,�� Becca said and smiled. ��I have never skipped any classes before.��
��Not even in high school?�� Alexander asked, bewildered.
��Not even in high school,�� she confirmed. ��My dad would stab me to death if he found out about it. I didn��t want to take any risk. What about you? Did you go to school?��
��Of course. We attended school until we officially turned one-hundred,�� he informed her. ��Other times, we get extra training till turning two-hundred but that training is not mandatory.��
��Wow,�� Becca mumbled, ��A hundred years of schooling sounds like a nightmare.��
��Believe me, it is,�� Alexander agreed with her.
��Does the trio want another punishment project?�� Mr. Risorito asked all of a sudden, looking at Becca, Alexander, and Lucas.
Lucas raised up his hands in surrender. ��I am literally listening to you, Mr. Risorito. I am innocent for real.��
��Pay attention,�� Mr. Risorito said and glared at Becca and Alexander, who averted their gazes back to their notebook.
��No wonder why you don��t like his class anymore. He isn��t worthy of it,�� Alexander mumbled, making Becca chortle, which she covered up with a cough.
Alexander was waiting for Becca while standing under the stone pine tree. He could feel someone jumping on him so he moved from his possible position at that instant. Without even turning his back, Alexander grumbled, ��When will you stop doing that, Ness?��
Vanessa, who was now lying on the ground, got up and rubbed the dirt off her shirt. ��When will you actually hold me and protect your little sister instead of making me fall on my back?��
��You are only three minutes younger than me, Ness,�� he announced and turned to see her.
She walked to him with a smile. ��I am still your younger sister.��
He rolled his eyes. ��What do you want?��
��I thought you were waiting for someone here so I was wondering who. Is it Becca?�� she asked in a teasing voice. When he didn��t answer and pursed his lips, Vanessa said, ��Anyway. I am here to tell you that Becca is acting weird ever since we returned from the camp.��
He raised his eyebrows. ��Acting weird? Give me some examples.��
��She barely sleeps, so I have to pretend to be asleep because of her. Otherwise, I would run away from the dorm each time she would sleep since her sleep was deep. Now she turned into a light sleeper. Even when I get up to charge my phone, she wakes up hearing the sound of the charger which I plug into my phone,�� Vanessa explained to him. ��She barely eats any food either. Most of the time, her food is untouched, and in this cold weather, she takes a bath with cold water. Her body stays cold too.��
��That is weird,�� Alexander mumbled. ��Or perhaps, you are overthinking things, but don��t worry, I will keep an eye on her. And listen, since she has agreed to help me with the potion, I think you can reveal your identity if you want. That way, you don��t have to pretend to sleep.��
��I was planning to tell her but I am scared of her reaction,�� she told him. ��Also, I am getting a weird feeling these days; as if something bad is about to happen.��
He patted her head. ��Don��t worry. Everything will be fine.��
Vanessa nodded her head and pulled him into a hug. ��Thank you for being my brother.��
Chuckling, he rubbed her back. ��You are annoying but still, I am glad to have you as my sister.��
Meanwhile, Becca, who was supposed to meet Alexander, watched Vanessa and Alexander hug. She heard their last conversation and gasped, placing her hand over her mouth. She couldn��t believe that Vanessa was Alexander��s sister and she felt betrayed by Vanessa.
��Wow,�� Becca said aloud, making the Insworthe twins look at her, breaking apart from the hug.