Adolescence

Chapter 3

When I awoke the next morning, my sister was already awake, and stared up at me curiously, as if wanting to see what I had been dreaming, I grinned down at her, having forgotten last night's anxieties.

"Good morning princess" I kissed the top of her head, but she wriggled free from my grasp, offending me a little, what had come over her? She sat up, letting the bedcover slip off of her, making her blush and pull at the hem of her nightgown again, a gesture which irritated me a little.

"Why do you do that?" I questioned her, finally having the courage to ask; if she got angry at me for asking at least I wasn't left in curiosity. "It's not like you have bad legs" I frowned, resting my hand against the slender calf of her leg. She flinched at my touch, I wondered if I'd hurt her with my nails.

"Len please don't touch my legs" She blushed, moving my hand away. I got up angrily, I wasn't entirely sure what her problem was with me, but I decided it best for the both of us if I simply went down to breakfast alone for a change.

"Look Rin I don't know why you're so modest lately but I would never harm you alright?" I flared before leaving the room and slamming the door behind me. I buttoned up my shirt so as not to offend my ever pernickety mother before entering the kitchen. For once both of our parents were home, father sat at one end of the large table, sipping at a cup of black coffee while flicking through some of his paper work. Mother sat at the opposite end, mirroring him in actions. I laughed inwardly, and we were the twins? Surprisingly they both looked up as I entered, another thing they did not often do, the sudden change in normality caused me to feel a little agitated, and I stared down at the floor as I always did when I was nervous.

"Good morning father, good morning mother." I greeted them politely as I seated myself at the edge of the table. They both stared at me as if I were growing an extra limb, a look of pure amazement upon their faces. I hated them staring at me, and preoccupied myself my by taking a small slice of toast from the silver toast holder. They continued to gaze at me, drilling me with their eyes, hesitantly I reached for the strawberry jam, using the appropriate knife to spread a thin layer on to the surface, watching it melt into the surface, leaving only a few blobs visible.

"Where's Rin?" My father questioned as I took the first bite out of my toast. I finished chewing, and swallowed before replying, not wanting him to think I was impolite.

"Oh she's still in bed" I answered, not wanting to mention my getting angry with her. I continued to take a second bite into my toast when my mother continued.

"Don't you usually come down together to eat?" She pursued me, raising a suspicious eyebrow. I swallowed another mouthful again.

"How would you know you're never here when we get up..." I muttered a little too loudly. My mother's cheeks colored with anger.

"What was that?" She questioned irritably. I shook my head, apologising before continuing.

"I meant to say...yes we do usually but we had a little argument and...I came down alone this morning" I finished hesitantly, hoping they wouldn't ask about our 'argument'. I took a large bite out of my toast, praying that this would indicate to them that I didn't wish to continue this conversation. Not seeming to notice my signals they persisted to bother me. An attack from the opposite side.

"Oh that's a pity, what was this argument about?" My father this time, asked curiously. I didn't answer even when I'd finished the mouthful I was busy with. "I asked you a question" he said forcefully, clearly irritated by my lack of communication. I mumbled something illegible.

"I'm sorry? Could you speak a little more loudly son, it's rude to mumble" My father persevered. I gripped the edge of the table tightly so that my knuckles turned white; I took a deep breath and spoke.

"I was angry because she wouldn't let me touch her leg", my face flushed red with embarrassment. It sounded bad, like I'd been flirting with her or something; I saw my parents exchange a worried glance before staring back at me.

"Why were you touching her legs?" My mother said a hint of disgust in her voice. I finished my toast, feeling it catch as a lump in my throat; I was on the spot now. I dabbed at my mouth with a napkin, clearing my throat before answering her.

"She kept pulling her nightgown over her legs and I wanted to know why..." I trailed off, realising how bad the truth sounded, what had happened to the truth setting you free? Another equally worried look flew across the table between our parents. Nervously, I shakily poured a glass of orange juice from the pitcher into my glass and took a long gulp to break the silence.

"Son, we'd like to talk to your sister and you about something very serious" My father cut to the chase, I remembered in depth the hushed argument they'd had above our bed the previous night. I had to stall for time; I didn't want to hear their accusations! I stood up hurriedly, wanting to warn Rin before she came down. I accidently knocked my juice over, going to mop it up, but seeing one of the maids coming over to do it, now was my chance, they were distracted.

"Oh I-I'm sorry, I'm so clumsy!" I laughed, eager to break the tension; I backed away from my chair to the door. "I'll go and retrieve Rin shall I?" A question I wasn't about to let them answer; I flew up the stairs and into our room, shutting the door as quietly as I could behind me. I panted, out of breath from the running; I glanced over at our untidy bed to see she was gone. I turned my head to check the bathroom door, but noticed it was open. I lowered my eyebrows, not sure where else she could be, I decided I would get changed in that case. My eye was caught once again by the unmade bed, I grimaced, disliking things to be untidy, so I strolled over to the double bed, pulling the cream covers and pillows back in to place.

I laughed a little, when we'd been younger all of our things had been yellow, it was our favourite color, in fact we would still have had everything yellow at present if our parents hadn't insisted that we were 'too old' for such a color, so instead we settled on cream.

I grabbed some clean clothes from the drawers and ambled towards the bathroom. I glanced down at my watch; I figured I could stall for a while longer before having to face my parents once more. I stared down at my watch thoughtfully, closing the door with my back, not really paying attention what I was doing.

"Len?" the high voice of my twin questioned. I looked up casually, my jaw dropping as I realised I had walked in on her changing. She snatched a towel and held it against herself. My brain screamed at me to look away, to get out of there, but something else kept me rooted to the spot staring at her. That unusual feeling was back, and even though I was blushing furiously part of me refused to move. She stared at me in distress, desperately trying to cover her body up.

"Len I'm not wearing anything! Leave!" She demanded in a pleading voice. I moved, but not away, I stepped closer, not entirely sure what had possessed me to do so, making her cheeks redder, I could see tears in the corner of here eyes. I was causing her discomfort yet something had come over me and I couldn't seem to pull myself away. I felt feverish almost, breathless again. I reached out for her.

"Len" She whimpered helplessly, I shook my head, breaking the spell I'd been under. I seemed to awaken and notice what I was doing; I withdrew my outreached hand, moving away. I suddenly felt embarrassed, and finally glancing away, a frown upon my face a murmured;

"Next time close the door" Before running from the bathroom and throwing myself down upon the bed. I lay on my back, staring up at the ceiling, as if searching it for answers. What on earth had come over me? Back there...I'd felt something I couldn't explain. I wanted to apologise, but was too scared to even knock on the door now.