“That name seems familiar.”
“He was another dealer and we became close. When he tried to get out…” She drifts off but I can guess what she’s alluding to.
“He was killed,” I answer for her. She sadly nods her head, a lone tear falls down her cheek, which she quickly wipes away.
“Ave, all this…” She flicks her hand around at me. “This happened,” she sniffles, “because of me. You’re in here because they thought you were me. This is all my fault.” She drops to her knees and cries. She shuffles toward the bed and rests her head on the mattress and continues to cry. I sit here and watch my sister falls apart. The grief of what happened to me and losing her friend, Kye, is crushing her right now. And seeing her like this, it’s crushing me too.
She lifts her head and looks at me. “I’m sorry, Avie,” she sobs, she reaches out and squeezes my hands. “I’m so so sorry.” Her body shudders as she lets it all out.
“Ohh, Bay,” I say. Trying to sit up so I can console her, I flinch in pain. “Arrrgh,” I moan, holding my ribs.
Bays head snaps up and when she sees me holding my side, she begins to cry again, harder this time. “Ohh, Avie, I’m so so sorry. Please don’t hate me. I was so scared when I came home and saw what was happening. I didn’t want them to hurt me too. I didn’t know what to do. I panicked and pretended to be you to save my ass, but then it kinda spiraled. I was confused. I was scared. I was emotional. Once we got to the hospital, I kept up the facade. I don’t know why I did that. Please forgive me.”
“Bay, come here.” I beckon her to me with my fingers. She takes my hand and sits on the edge of my bed. “I get why you pretended to be me while at the apartment, but I don’t get why you did it here? Or why you pretended with Flynn the other week. I don’t understand that.”
“I don’t know why I kept it up once we got here, but it was nice to feel wanted again. I’d pushed you away and after losing Kye, I was all alone and suddenly there were people everywhere and I was hugged, and I liked that. Had you not got a tattoo, totally badass by the way, I would have eventually been found out when you woke but for those few hours, it was nice being you. You really do have a great life and boyfriend.”
“You can have it too, you just need to make a few changes. What about the other week when you went to Flynn’s and pretended to be me? That wasn’t to save your ass, that was to hurt me.”
“I was in deep at that stage. I was hoping, if I split you and your Irish hottie up, you’d hide at home and be safe. I pretended to be you to save you.”
“That was a seriously dumb plan.”
She shrugs. “Hey, I’d popped a few pills beforehand. I thought it was a brilliant plan. I didn’t really know what I was doing.”
My eyes pop open at her pill use declaration but then I remember her saying she hadn’t used. “You just told me you didn’t do drugs.”
“Not the hard stuff. Pills are fine.”
Shaking my head, I’m so disappointed in her right now. “I just…Bay, why? Why? I don’t understand. You’re a smart girl but this is really dumb.”
“I don’t know,” she spits, “I was sick of living in your shadow. You’re the angel twin. Great job, sweet school teacher. Me? I’m the college dropout. Always fucking up. Jumping from one shit job to the next. When this fell into my lap and it was something I was good at. I felt amazing for the first time in a long time.”
“You’re proud ‘cause you’re a drug dealer?”
“Never said I was perfect.” She sighs deeply, “What am I going to do?”
“Tell the truth for starters. When the officers come back, you will tell them everything and suffer the consequences. It's time to grow up, Baylor Martine Evans.”
“Wow, you used my full name again, twice in one day,” she jokes and then swallows deeply. She looks at me. “I’m scared, Avie.”
“And you should be, Bay.” Pausing, I take a deep breath. “But I’ll be here for you.”
“Why?”
“You’re my twin. I’d do anything for you.” Reaching out I squeeze her hand and smile.
“You know if the shoe was on the other foot, I’d probably leave you at the mercy of the dealers, right?”
A laugh escapes me. “No, you wouldn’t. You play tough, but underneath it all, you’re just as sweet as me.”
“It’s a twin thing,” we say in unison, and we both smirk at one another.
She squeezes my hand. “I really am sorry, Avie.”
“I know.”
There’s a knock at the door and Flynn steps in with another doctor. “Ave lass, this is Clay, he just needs to check you over.” He pauses and looks awkwardly at Baylor. “And, Baylor, the officers are outside wanting to speak to you.”
She freezes next to me. “You can do this,” I say, as I squeeze her hand reassuringly. She shocks me by standing up, leaning over, and hugging me.
“I love you, Avie,” she sadly whispers.
“I love you too, BayBay,” I say, as I hug her tightly back, using the childhood nickname I had for her. She laughs into my neck and holds me tighter; she’s crushing me, and it kind of hurts but right now, she needs this. Pulling back, she looks to Flynn. “Let’s do this,” she says and I watch as my twin, for the first time in her life, faces up to her actions. I could not be more prouder of her, than I am at this moment.
My room is empty and the silence is nice. Lying back down, I stare at the ceiling and go over all that Bay told me. Sadness envelops me and I start to berate myself. I knew something was up, but I was so absorbed in my own life I didn’t help her. I need to apologize to her next time I see her for not being there for her. Had I been, I don't think she’d be in the mess she is right now.
A few minutes later, Flynn walks back in and sits on the edge of my bed. “You okay?”
Staring up at the man I’ve fallen for, I nod. “As long I have you, I will be.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” He leans down and places his lips against mine, but our loving moment is interrupted when Marvin comes barging in. “Where is she? And whose ass do I need to kick?” He pauses and looks to me. “Ohh, baby girl. What did they do to you? And why are there two of you?”
“Marvin,” I say, happy to see my friend.
He walks over and takes a seat beside me. He looks me over from head to toe again. Reaching up, he cups my cheek, “What happened, baby girl?”
“It’s a long story but I promise you, I’m fine.”
“Okay, I trust you. But why am I seeing two of you? Did the quacks give me too much and I’m tripping right now?”
A laugh escapes me. “No, you’re not tripping. That’s my twin sister, Baylor. She’s in trouble but we are going to fix it.”
“Really?” Flynn questions, his voice laced with shock and apprehension.
“Yep. I’ll fill you in later.”
“Why do I always miss out on all the good stuff?” Marvin whines, but before I can reply, a nurse steps in, pauses, and crosses her arms.