Luke
"We have to get going, or we won't be there by nightfall!!!"
"But I want to eat more of Märtha's pancakes!"
"We can pack them for the road!!"
"They're better sitting still to appreciate!" You know what, I've had it. I pick her up and she gasps, struggling to get out of my grip. "We don't have time for this, Tori." She's kicking and screaming.
I did this to myself. Why did I ask Märtha to make pancakes yesterday?
I march out of the house and put her in the back seat of the G-wagon. She tries opening the doors, but they don't budge. "Did you seriously pull child lock on me?!" She snaps. "Yes, I did, because you won't stop acting like one." She frowns and huffs, fuming in silence. Sin finally brings the wrapped up pancakes and puts them on the passenger's seat. But our little sugar lover is too angry to notice. I start the car, and we get going. Two full, silent hours later, I look at her through the rear-view mirror. Still on her phone. "Tori." She completely ignores me.
"Toriii." No answer.
"Historiah Kurrusso." Nothing. I sigh and pull over at Starbucks so she can get a drink. "What would you like to drink?" It's like talking to a wall. "Alright, here it is." I pick up the pancakes and hold them in front of her. "Märtha added extra whipped cream on top of it. And she packed blueberries too, I know you like those." She finally looks at me. She's about to break, but her ego holds on. "I'll get you a milkshake to go with it."
"And..." A response, finally.
"And I'm sorry." Even though I'm not sure what for.
Historiah
"I'll take my milkshake cranberry flavour, heavy on the cream." A small smile tugs at my lips.
"Of course you will." He's clearly exasperated. I know full well that I'm a lot to handle. He steps out of the car. "Wait here."
"I won't move an inch." I gawk at my meal. He leaves and I stretch. My legs are asleep, seeing as I've been in one single position for two hours. "Hello, cupcake. Are you Luke's girlfriend by any chance?" I turn to face the window, and my eyes meet very familiar ones. Just like Luke's. No, not quite.
His entire face is just like Luke's. Same tussled hair, although his is a bit more curly, same tanned skin, although Luke's is a bit heavier, same birthmark next to his lip, except Luke's is next to his left eye, same blue eyes, except Luke's are midnight and his are steel.
"Are you his brother or clone or..." I ask. He opens the trunk and places luggage in it then shuts it back. Sitting in the passenger's seat, he answers, "No, we're cousins. A clone is a bit far-fetched, don't you think?"
"I'm not his girlfriend, just so we're clear. And for the clone thing, you rich people do some real freaky stuff, so it isn't my fault. And why did he never mention you?" I'm still a bit sceptical, but the uncanny resemblance is at war with my doubts. "Let's just say he and I aren't exactly the best of friends."
"You just put your luggage in his car."
"Mhm, because we're going to the same place. Anyways, what's your name, cupcake?" He smiles as broad as Ivy. In fact, their energy is similar.
"How do you know it isn't cupcake?"
"Oh?" He grins. "I could've-"
"Jace! What the hell are you doing in my car?!" Luke exclaims from outside. His name is Jace, is it? Luke storms in and places the drinks in the cup holder, a tall milkshake and a cappuccino. "We're going to the beach house." Jace reasons.
"No, I'm going to the beach house. Go back to the hotel."
"And leave a monster like you with a pretty girl like cupcake? I don't think so."
"Cupcake?? It's Ms. Kurrusso to you." I've never seen Luke so irritated before, and I never thought I would.
"Look, I can't be in the same city that 'the organization' is holding, and you know it. Let's just go." Luke reluctantly obliges and we continue our journey. What's the organization, I wonder. But I've always been one to mind my business. Especially in family matters. They bicker in front for so long that my ears almost bleed. "Are you an old married couple? Because you sure fight like one."
"Jace is just obnoxious."
"Luke is just stuck up."
They say at exactly the same time. "What did you just say to me?!" They turn to each other again and continue. Frankly, I'm scared that they'll crash this car. And as much as I'd like to, dying in a car accident isn't exactly something that fuels my dreams. I draw in as much air as I can and then scream at the top of my lungs. They both jump, and Luke almost loses control of the steering. "Are you okay back there, Tori?!" Luke asks frantically. "I'm fine now that you've finally shut up." "You almost gave me a stroke, cupcake." Jace clutches his chest.
"And you two almost drove me insane. If you are going to keep fighting like this, you might as well take me back to the villa and have fun at your beach house." At that, they look at each other, and then back to the road. Finally. Peace and quiet. I lean into my seat and eat Martha's pancakes. Sweet and blissful. When I'm done, my eyes feel heavy, and the motion of the car lulls me to sleep.