A Life In Dreams: Chapter 3
Okay, I swear, I know where I'm going with this.
Current word count: 6,552
A Life In Dreams: Chapter 3
The only class Wes does not share with Lee is art, and though he regrets leaving his twin outside the drama classroom he is not sad. He had tried taking drama with Lee last year when it was not in the same time-slot as art, but not even his twin could make him like it. Speaking in public makes him shudder, and he hates the feel of face-paint and glitter on his skin. Then there was the acting itself… he just could not understand how to be anyone other than himself, and he left the wide gestures for Lee to play with. That and it was hard to convince the teacher that he had been taking notes and not sketching people in class when there were no notes given. With a yawn, he makes his way to art class.
There are twenty students in his class, and Mrs. Porter separated them into five groups of four at the beginning of the year. Each group has a large wooden table, about five feet squared, and four wooden stools to perch on. Today, there are mirrors in front of every seat and Wes sighs when he sees it. He finds self-portraits boring but many people in the class seem to love drawing themselves.
Mrs. Porter walks over to the boy, giving him a large sheet of thick paper and a piece of charcoal. “I know you don’t like self portraits, but the curriculum requires it.”
“I know.” Wes takes the piece of charcoal and starts drawing. He doesn’t really need the mirror to tell him what he looks like; he has Lee.
His mind wanders as he draws, barely noticing when his classmates take their seats. He mumbles a non-committal reply when someone seems to be addressing him, but it rarely happens anymore.
The face and body were easy, he frequently used Lee as a model when he wanted to try a new drawing style and the dimensions came easy to him. Drawing normal clothes did not feel right in his mind though, so he lets his imagination guide his hand: a t-shirt becomes a partially unbuttoned dress shirt with tears along the forearms, a pair of jean becomes black dress pants that actually fit him nicely. The weirdest thing about the drawing was the blue sash around his waist with fine rune-like symbols along the hem. He does not know why he added it, or how he knows it is blue, but it looks right. Feels right.
He shakes his head, and is about to raise his hand to ask if he could leave now that he was done when he picks up the piece of charcoal again. With his usual care, he draws a small pouch hanging from a string-like necklace.
Wes shivers as he looks at his completed self-portrait. The piece of charcoal falls out of his hand, and rolls along the table for a couple seconds before coming to a sudden stop.
“That’s very good, Wes.” Mrs. Porter comments, looking over his shoulder. “But why the ripped sleeves?”
“I don’t know.” He lies, the knowledge rising to the forefront of his mind at the question. He could not say that a nightmare’s claws had ripped them.
“Oh well, it’s very nice.” She repeats, taking the piece of charcoal. “I assume you want to go see your brother?”
“Yes please.”
“Don’t make me regret it.”
Wes gives her a small smile and hops off his stool.
~
They walk home from school with Mike, a guy from Lee’s drama class. Wes is almost glad that he doesn’t have Lee’s full attention; he does not feel like explaining why he feels so… weird. He sees everything, hears everything, even smells everything there is to smell; but he feels detached and more than slightly light-headed. When Lee had pulled him into a hug as he came into the classroom, he felt like he was slipping away. It should scare him, but it doesn’t. It was as if he had just emerged from the cold ocean and the heat of the sun had yet to burn away the numbness.
He watches idly as Mike walks backwards as he talks to Lee, making grand gestures as he did so that had no relation to what he was actually saying. Oddly enough, Wes knows what he was trying to emphasize anyway. Lee starts to dance as he walks, pushing off in a variety of directions with the top of his feet to some beat only he could hear.
“You’re so flexible,” Mike says at one point. Something in his voice makes Wes look at him sharply, his protective instincts flaring; but Lee just laughs obliviously and runs his hand through his hair.
“Among other things.” Lee twirls, slinging an arm across Wes’ shoulders. “I’m also a wee bit crazy, right Wes?”
“Just a wee bit,” he agrees, watching a shadow cross Mikes face.
It passes before Lee notices. “Aren’t we all?” The other boy smiles toothily.
“And what’s your insanity?” Wes asks softly.
“Knowing what I want.”
Wes’ fingers curl into a fist as Lee laughs and says: “You’re probably the only guy in our class who knows that.”
“You boys are energetic.” Kari’s voice drifts down lethargically. The three teenage boys look up in surprise. The woman is barely visible through the branches of the large sugar maple, but the twins can feel her smirk. With her back resting against its trunk and her long legs lying along the length of the branch, she looks completely at ease with a notebook in her hands and a pen behind her left ear.
“Who’s she?” Mike asks, staring with wide eyes. He had never seen an adult idly sit on a tree branch in real life, and the sight of an attractive woman doing so short-circuited his mind.
“That’s Kari.” Lee explains with a snicker, patting him on the shoulder sympathetically. Kari had that effect on people.
“You writing?” Wes asks, giving Mike a dirty look while Lee has his back turned.
“Yes.” The woman drawls, her sharp eyes not missing the exchange.
“Your mother’s a writer?”
“She’s not our mother.” The twins look at each other with identical looks of horror. “She’d kill us and use our bones to decorate her garden.”
“Bones are tacky.” Kari points out, her brown eyes gleaming gold for a second as she moves her head forward to get a better look at the newcomer.
“See how she doesn’t deny the killing!” Lee hid behind Wes, an impish grin on his face.
“If Alicia wouldn’t get upset…” Kari trails off ominously. “Who’s your friend?”
“Mike Hunt, I’m a friend of Lee’s. You’re hot.”
The twins stare at the boy, Lee in disgust; Wes in surprise. Kari’s smirk just widens. “Complimenting me won’t endear you, silly boy. I’m not your type, and you’re not mine so let’s not waste time with frivolous words. Now, scurry off before their mother comes home and notices you looking at her boys. She’ll interrogate you until your throat cracks.”
Mike takes a step back, more unnerved at the predatory look Kari was giving him than her words. “Erm… see you tomorrow Lee.”
“Bye Mike!” Lee replies automatically, frowning thoughtfully.
“Bye.” Wes echoes, steering his twin into the house.
Twelve minutes later, they hear their mother’s shriek of delight from the kitchen. Like a couple of curious puppies, they look over towards the living room; but caution prevails and they stay put. The door opens with a thump against the wall, and they can hear the sound of their mother’s muffled giggles.
Then Alicia bounces into the kitchen, her face flushed in excitement and two pieces of shiny paper in her hand. “You guys can stay home by yourselves tonight right?” She asks, putting her laptop bag beside the chair with a few stacked newspapers (also known as the junk chair). “Kari got tickets!”
“For what?” Lee obliges, giving Wes a look. They smile.
“Monster trucks!” She crows, flinging herself at Kari as the other woman enters the room. Kari takes a step back to keep herself from falling over at the impact, but her pleased look does not change.
Lee covers his eyes with a groan. “You do know most women prefer plays and the fine arts, right? Not monster trucks? How can our mother be so crude?”
“She is a dyke.” Wes pats hugs his twin, trying not to smile. His brother’s acting was always fun to watch
“Any woman who has made-” Alicia cuts herself off, blushing brightly. “I like them.”
“That was a horrid save.” Kari purrs, nuzzling the side of Alicia’s neck as she pulls her closer. Alicia gives her a kiss.
“Please spare us!” Lee pleads, and Wes finishes: “our virgin eyes! Mother!”
“This is why I can’t stand children.” Kari mutters, stealing another kiss before Alicia pulls away.
“She threatened to kill us.” Wes says pitifully.
“Boil us and feed us to her pet piranhas.” Lee continues.
“That’s an idea.” Kari gives them a thoughtful look.
The twins tug their mother away, shielding her from Kari and making anti-evil signs. “Begone~!”
Alicia shakes her head, patting her children on the head. “You two are ridiculous. Kari wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
“I’ve seen her kill a spider!” Lee objects.
“You know what I mean.” A sigh.
“Why aren’t you afraid that she’ll eat you?” They chorus, wonder on their faces.
“She’s more disappointed when I don’t.” Kari says sweetly, a smile on her face.
“Kari!” Alicia wails.
“EW!” The twins echo, covering each other’s ears.
The woman just shakes her head and walks out of the kitchen. “We leave after you feed the brats.”
“Mommy!”
Alicia just groans, and covers her ears. “No more! Any of you!”