Chapter 16
Well, it’s 9:00. One hour to go. The phone rang. I went and answered it.
“Hello.”
“Hey Frick.”
“Hey Frack. What’s up?”
“I’m scared.”
“Me too, but hey, better you than me!”
“Thanks Nick. I love you too.”
“Yo, listen. Be safe. Don’t go no place that we wouldn’t be able to find you.”
“Aight. I better get ready, ya know?”
“I know. Talk lata.”
“Got that. See ya.”
“See ya.”
Oh, how I did not want to go to this ‘meeting’. I honestly was worried that chick
would try to kill me! Well, not really. I was kinda curious what she needed. About an
hour later, I headed down to the lobby.
There she was. Damn, she looked so like Sara. I walked up to her. “Well, here I
am. What did you want?”
“Oh, hello. Um, would it be ok if we went outside for a while. Someplace more
private, please.”
“Oh, well, ok. I guess that would be ok.” We walked out of the back door and
headed to the park a few blocks away. “Well, were here.”
“Yes, we are. Brian, I got something I need to ask you.”
“Yes, that’s what you said earlier. I have something to ask you too.”
“Oh, well, you go first.”
“No, you’re the one who called me out here. The least you could do is go first.”
“Oh, ok! Well, Brian, who is it I remind you of?”
“My late fiancee.”
“Oh. What was her name?”
“Sara.”
“Last name?”
“Petersen. Why?”
“Nothing. Do you still love her?”
“Of couse! Are you crazy? My life is a living hell each day I’m without her! The
only reason I make it through the day is because of Alex, uh, my daughter, our daughter.”
“I see totally now. What did you want to ask me?”
“What’s your last name?”
“My real last name or the one I have now?”
“Your maiden name, not your married one.”
“I’m not married.”
“Then why do you have 2 last names?”
“Because I was adopted and I changed my name to the family’s that adopted me.”
“Oh, I see. The one before you were adopted.”
“Petersen, all e’s.” I froze in my tracks, it couldn’t be.
“Why did you care about Sara?”
“She’s, she’s my, well, she’s my sister. We were separated when we were like 3 or
something. We’re identical twins, if you haven’t noticed. Our family couldn’t afford to
take care of us both, or one of us at that. They put us up for adoption, with an agreement.
If no one adopted us within a few months, they’d be stuck with us. Well, a really nice
family, the one that adopted me, the Martin’s, they didn’t have enough money right then
to adopt both of us, so they took me and would come back for Sara when they had more
money. Well, they came back a week too late, and Sara already had to be back at our
parents house. I’m sure she went through hell twice and back there. Our mom just puts
on a show for visitors so I’m sure you don’t know what it’s like. Tad and Liza, my
adoptive parents tried for weeks on getting her, but it fell through. I never saw her since
that day. I tried searching for stuff on her on the Internet, and came to a Backstreet Boys
site and it had her name as your girlfriend, so I thought if I found you I’d fine Sara. Then
I read on and found out she had died.”
“She told me you were dead, killed in a train wreck.”
“I also found out that our parents just told her that when she was older so that she
wouldn’t wonder anything about me. Oh, how I wish I could just have one chance to talk
to her. All these years, and our dumb ass parents kept us apart.”
“I’m so sorry. Do you want to hang out with us for a while. You can stay as long
as you want. And you better come see your niece, well, I guess you already have, haven’t
you?”
“Yeah. She such a darling! I can’t believe Sara and you named her after me! I
feel kinda honored.”
“Well, let’s go back. I want you to meet everyone better. Because you were
gonna be family, and technically you kinda are, through Alex.”
“Yeah, it makes me your daughter’s aunt, I guess. I’d rather of been you
sister-in-law though.”
“Well, we’ll call ya that, it’s a lot simpler.”
“Got that right.” While we were walking back, we mostly talked about my past
because she really didn’t know that much about me. She said she likes our music, but isn’t
obsessed with it. She more likes punk rock and alternative. That’s cool though, you
know.
We walked into my room laughing. Then we saw everyone sitting there. “What
cha all doin’ in my room?”
“Waitin’ for ya. Have fun kids?”
“Oh yeah. Everyone meet my should of been sister-in-law.”
“WHAT?” everyone asked.
“This is Alex Petersen, well really Martin. No, she’s not married, adopted. If you
don’t understand from that sentence, don’t ask.”
“Got cha,” said Nick.
“Yepper,” said Megan. Everyone talked and got to know each other for about an
hour. “How about we all go out and celebrate!”
“Celebrate what?” asked A.J.
“This, well, what do you wanna call it? It’s not really a homecoming, or a, no, I
don’t know! Just let’s go somewheres!”
“Sounds like fun!” said Alex.
“Great! Where shall we go?” I asked.
“I say it’s up to Alex!” said Lia.
“Aight, what’d ya say?” said Nick.
“Well, I don’t wanna pick somewhere you guys don’t want to go.”
“Don’t worry about it,” said Kevin. “We’ll enjoy it.”
“I don’t know what’s all here. You guys do. You decide.”
“Oh. Ok,” I said. “What all you all wanna do?”
“Don’t care,” said everyone.
“I nominate, um, Howie for picking out the place.”
“What?” said Howie. “Oh, alright. How about we go and um, I dunno. Where?”
“Uh! You’re not any better! Got any ideas cuz?”
“How about we go roller skating.”
“Um, I dunno,” said Alex. “I haven’t been skating since I was like 11.”
“That’s ok,” I said. “I haven’t either.”
“Oh bull roar!” said Nick. “We went last year!”
“Shush your little mouth stupid.”
“Oops, sorry.”
“That’s ok, as long as someone makes sure I don’t fall down and break my neck.”
“Don’t worry,” I said. “You’ll be fine.” And with that we left for the roller rink.
We were all a little rusty. I seen Meg and Nick fall down on purpose too, so they could
‘help each other up and use each other for balance’. I’m sure it was for balance, right. I
thought it was only right that I skate with Alex. Besides, she definitely needed someone
to hold onto.
“Ahhhhhh! Brian! Help!,” she said right before she clung to my shirt to keep her
from falling on the hard floor. “Oh, thank you. Thought I was gonna die!”
“No problem. Hey, where are you staying tonight?”
“I was gonna go and find a hotel room. Last night I slept at friend’s house, but her
husband is gonna have a party tonight and it might last a while, she said.
“You can stay in my room. I mean, there’s an extra bed. And rather than you
spend all that extra money.”
“Oh, I’d feel like I’m intruding.”
“No, your not. Just hopefully Alexandria won’t keep you up all night, she’s
usually pretty good though.”
“Ha, ha. Ok, I guess I’ll stay. You’re sure it’s ok.”
“Sure I’m sure.”
“Ok. AHHHHHHHHHH!” She fell down taking me with her. We both laughed.
“I’m so sorry. Didn’t mean to take you down with me. Just meant to grab onto you so I
could get back up.
I laughed. “Thanks, I feel so appreciated.”
“I know.” We helped each other up. There we were. Staring into each other’s
eyes. They were just like Sara’s too. Right then I started to believe, I couldn’t. Was I
really, was I actually falling for Sara’s sister and her me? I snapped out of my trance and
she did too. I wondered if she was thinking the same thing as me. I wonder....
“What time is it?” she asked.
“Bout 11:00. Aw, man. That means this place is gonna close up soon. Let’s
gather up the gang.” We skated off. “Hey all. We’d better get going!” As soon as I said
that the announcer guy said for everyone to start taking their skates off, so we did.
As soon as we left, Amber said, “I’m hungry. Let’s go get some chow.”
“Let’s go munch on some grindage!” said Alex. We all looked at her funny.
“What? Haven’t you guys ever seen that movie? It’s hilarious. You’ll laugh your ass
off!”
“What movie is it?” asked Howie.
“Son In Law. It’s, oh, it’s funny. It is very, very funny.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” said Kevin. “Where we eatin’?”
“I dunno, where you all wanna go?” I asked.
“Don’t care,” said everyone.
“Someplace that’s still open,” added Nick.
“Well that’d be a good idea,” said Meg.
“You guys are so helpful.”
“We know,” they said in unison.
“Your hopeless. Now where we goin’? Got any suggestions Alex?”
“Noper.”
“Aw, why does everything come back at me? Kev you thinka somethin’.”
“But I don’t wanna!”
“Too bad, you little whiner.”
“Fine,” he said like a little 2 year old, but it was funny. Let’s go to, um, to
Outback Steakhouse,” he said, using the cheesiest Australian accent ever.
“Tell em to throw some more shrimp on the barbie!” We headed over there. It
was packed! You couldn’t find a place to sit anywhere, not even on the floor.
“Maybe this was a bad idea,” said Amy.
“I know what cha mean,” said Nick.
“Where to now oh, great cousin of mine?” I said.
“Thanks for the compliment Bri. Do we just wanna go for pizza or something.”
“I like it, I like it!” said Nick.
“How about you Alex, sound good?”
“Yeah, I think I’m having a pizza craving!” We got back in the car and headed to
the nearest pizza place we could find, which was Pizza Hut. It was a complete turn
around from the steakhouse. We were the only ones there.
“Oh MY GOD! AHHHHHH! IT’S THE BACKSTREET BOYS!” You could
hear the one waitress screaming in the background. She, the obsessed one, sat us down at
a table, before even giving us our menus she asked, “Can I have your guys’ autographs,
please!?!?!?!?!?!?”
“Sure,” I said. The other guys agreed. “Got a pen and paper?”
“Yep, right here.” She handed us her pen and one of those pads that people
always write your order on, you know, those green ones. “Can I get you something to
drink?” We gave her our order, and our pizza order (we decided in the car).
After we were done eating, we left (you know, if you think about that sentence,
that really is stupid, and makes a lot of sense. Just thought you would like to know that.).
We went back to the hotel and we went our separate ways. “Where’s your bags?”
“They’re in my car. Oh, I’ve been so busy, I forgot to get them. I’ll be right
back.”
“I’ll come with you. I can help you carry.”
“I’ve only got 2 bags. I only packed to stay a few days.”
“Oh, I see. Let’s go.” We left for her car. “How much longer of school do you
got?”
“Oh, I’m on spring break right now. I spent like the first 5 days with my mom and
dad, and I decided to spend the rest trying to find you, but I’ll be done in about 3 weeks.”
“What’s your major?”
“Oh, I majored in emergency medicine. Do you know what Sara majored in at
UNI?”
“No, she never actually told me, but Megan would know.”
“Why would Megan know?”
“They went to school together and she’s her best friend.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that. I just thought Megan was Nick’s girl and that was it.”
“Nope. She was and still is Sara’s best friend.” By this time we were back at my
(our) room. “Well, here we are. That dresser is empty except for the top, so you can put
your clothes in there.”
“Ok, thanks.”
“No prob.” She unpacked. I decided to see what was on TV. I was so glad we
didn’t have a concert tonight. We do tomorrow, but that’s not the point. Our tour was
almost over. I wanted Alex to stay with us until the end of it. But at least she had a
happy family to go home to. But I knew she couldn’t, at least not until she’s done with
school.
“When do you have to go back?”
“Go where?”
“To school.”
“Oh, on Monday.”
“Oh, I see.” Monday. Today was Friday. She’d probably have to leave Sunday.
“When do you have to leave?”
“My plane leaves Sunday at 11:00. It should be about 2:00 when I get there. It’s
only a 2 hour flight, but because of the time change, you know.”
“Oh. I get it. When are you done?”
“April 27th. I can’t wait.”
“Me either.”
“What’d you say?” I can’t believe that came out of my mouth. Half of my heart
wanted to love every piece of Alex to death, but the other half wanted to stay with Sara.
They were so alike, but yet so different.
“Nothing. Oh, crap! I gotta go get Alexandria!”
“I’ll get her. I am her aunt. Who’s she with?”
“I didn’t want Mindi to have to watch her 2 nights in a row, so I asked Tommy.”
“Where’s he at?”
“Room 503.”
“Okie, Dokie, Smokie. Be back soon. Hey do you got an extra key?”
“No, I gave it to Nick. I’ll let you back in.”
“Alright.” She left. Then I heard a knock at the door, so I answered it. “What
now Alex?”
“Um, can you show me where that is. I get lost in hotels real easy.”
“Oh, alright.” We left, key in hand. We made it Tom’s room and knocked on the
door. He came out kind of startled, with Alexandria in his hands, and her bag on his
shoulder. She was asleep.
“Sara?” he asked. “Sara, is that you?”
“No, I’m afraid not. I’m her, supposedly, long lost and dead twin sister, Alex.”
“Alex? That’s why she wanted her girl named that! Nice to meet you.”
“As I am you.”
I interrupted, “You don’t gotta be so damn formal all the time you know.”
“Sorry, that’s the way I was raised.”
“Totally different than Sara, I see,” said Tommy. “Well, I’ll let you guys go. We
gotta long day ahead tomorrow you know. See ya Brian, Alex.” He set Alexandria in my
arms and shut the door.
“Long day tomorrow? What’s that about?” she asked.
“We got a concert, and you’re gonna come!”
“Oh, great! I can’t wait. I’ll get to like know your songs and stuff.”
“Do you know any of our songs? I’m just curious.”
“Um, don’t you guys sing that song, oh what’s it called? Let me think. Um, I
Want It that Way, or something like that?”
“Yeah. Know any others?”
“Not really, oh yeah, that one I want You Back, except you guys sound crappie on
it, like you were having a bad voice day.”
“No, that’s not us singing. That’s another group, called N Sync.”
“Oh, they sound more like N shit.”
“HAHAHA! That’s a good one. It’s gonna leave a mark. You have the same
sense of humor as you sister.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. You remind me a lot of her. But yet, you have your own sense of
everything. You can tell you were brought up better.”
“I just wish I could have met her once more.”
“I’m sure it must be hard.”
“Harder than you think.”
“We’d better get to bed. We got a long day ahead of us.” We both hopped into
our own bed. “Night Alex, night Alex. Well, that sounded weird.”
“Night Alex, night Brian.”
Cont.
Chapter 17