Chapter 5: The Twin Revelation

Tara's POV

"Tara, honey, can you help me set the table?" Mom called from the kitchen, her voice unusually cheerful. "We're having guests for dinner tonight."

I groaned internally. The last thing I wanted was to make small talk with some random family friend. 

"Do I have to be there?" I called back, hoping against hope that I could just hide in my room with a bowl of cereal.

"Yes, you have to be there," Dad's voice boomed from the living room. "The family is old friends. The least you can do is be polite."

I trudged downstairs and started setting out the good China, the stuff we only used for “special occasions” that seemed to happen about twice a year. Mom was bustling around the kitchen, preparing what looked like enough food to feed an army. 

"They should be here any minute," she said, checking her watch. "Oh, I'm so excited to see the boys, I’m sure they’d have grown up so much since we last saw them."

Boys? Plural? 

The doorbell rang just as I was placing the last fork, and I heard Dad's footsteps heading to the front door.

"Jasper! Xavier! So good to see you!" His voice carried from the entryway, followed by the sounds of adult laughter and greeting.

I don’t know why the name reminds me of the twins, but I quickly brushed it away. 

"And these must be the famous twins we've heard so much about," Mom's voice added.

My blood turned to ice.

Twins? 

No. No, no, no. The universe could not be this cruel. It can’t be the twins, right? It can never be. 

"Boys, come say hello," a woman's voice said warmly. 

I heard two familiar voices respond politely, and my worst fear was confirmed. Deep, smooth voices that have been haunting me like nightmares. 

I stood frozen in the dining room, desperately hoping that maybe there was another set of twins that had that name. 

"Tara!" Mom called. "Come meet our guests!"

My legs felt like lead as I walked toward the living room. I rounded the corner and came face to face with my absolute worst nightmare. 

Xavier and Jasper stood in my living room, looking just as horrified as I felt.

"Oh my God," I breathed.

"Tara!" the woman who must be their mother exclaimed. "Look how beautiful you've gotten! You probably don't remember us, but we used to visit when you were little."

I stared at her blankly, then at their father, a tall man with the same dark hair and green eyes as his son.

"No," I said faintly. "No way."

"Language, sweetheart," Dad warned, but he was smiling like this was the most wonderful surprise in the world.

Xavier and Jasper looked like they wanted to bolt for the door, which made three of us.

"This is... unexpected," Jasper said carefully, his eyes never leaving mine.

"You three know each other?" Their mother asked, looking delighted. "From school?"

"You could say that," Xavier muttered.

"Oh, how wonderful!" Mom clapped her hands together. "I was worried you might not have anything in common, but if you're already friends…”

"We're not friends," I said quickly.

"Tara," Dad's voice held a warning note.

"We're... acquaintances," Jasper supplied diplomatically.

"Barely," Xavier added under his breath.

The adults exchanged glances, clearly sensing the tension but not understanding it.

"Well," their dad said with forced cheer, "I'm sure you'll get along great over the next month."

"Month?" I squeaked.

Mom beamed. "That's the wonderful news! Yes, the twins' parents have an incredible business opportunity in Singapore, but they'll be gone for four weeks. The boys will be staying with us while they're away!"

The room started spinning around me. "Four weeks?"

"A whole month!" Their mom added enthusiastically. "We're so grateful you're willing to take them in; we couldn't bear the thought of leaving them alone."

I looked at the twins, who looked like they'd been punched in the gut.

"That's... great," I managed weakly.

"We can't impose like that," Xavier said quickly. "Really, we'll be fine on our own."

"Nonsense," Dad waved dismissively. "You're practically family. Besides, it'll be good for Tara to have some company around here."

"I have plenty of company," I protested.

"From your room?" Mom raised an eyebrow. "When's the last time you had friends over?"

“I have Zoey and Jane,” I replied. 

“They’re female. You need a male friend, too.” 

Before I could say anything, she continued, "It's settled. The boys will take the guest room, and we'll all have a wonderful time getting reacquainted."

"But Mom…”

"No buts, Tara. These are our guests, and we will treat them with kindness and respect."

I caught Xavier’s eyes, and I saw my own panic reflected.  A month? Four entire weeks of living in the same house with the two people who had made my life a living hell? 

"When do you leave?" I asked their parents desperately.

"Tomorrow morning," she replied. "Early flight. The boys have already packed their things. “

Tomorrow. Less than twenty-four hours to mentally prepare for a month-long nightmare.

"This is going to be so much fun," she gushed. "Like a sleepover that lasts a month!"

"Fun," I repeated numbly.

Dinner was the most awkward affair in the history of awkward affairs. The adults chatted animatedly about business deals and old memories while the three of us sat in hostile silence. Every time one of the twins reached for something, I flinched. Every time I moved, they tensed up.

"So," their mum said during dessert, "what activities do you kids like to do together?"

Xavier choked on his water.

"We don't really..." I started.

"Hang out much," Jasper finished smoothly.

"Well, that's about to change!" Dad announced cheerfully. "Four weeks is plenty of time to become best friends again."

Best friend? Again, Right?