The Evil Twin? (2 page)

Chapter 2
 

“Vinnie!! Open up!!”

I woke up next day to the annoying knock on the bathroom door.

“Go away, Meg. I am sleepy,” I said to my fourteen- year-old cousin who I loved to death.

“I will when I get what you brought for me.”

I rolled out of bed grumbling to myself, opening the door to let her in, and crashed back onto the bed. I pulled the sheet over my head and ignored the teenage blabber.

Meg started rummaging through my tote for the souvenirs the club handed out to their VIP members on event nights.

“Meg, I need to sleep, take the crap and disappear.”

“Yeah, I love you too Vinnie,” she snorted.

“Sorry…that’s not what…” I was interrupted by her excited squeals.

“What the…who is this hottie and why do you have his wallet?”

“Shit!!” I got out of bed and charged towards her.

“Did you sleep with this dude?” She ran around the room holding the plastic bag and the wallet.

“Meg!!” I growled grabbing the plastic bag and the wallet from her hands. I had handed Neel the phone and the bag of clothes at the hospital but had forgotten to give him the smaller plastic bag with Reyan’s wallet, watch, and other stuff.

“Vinnie, please let me look at his picture one more time, he is so hot!!”

“Stop it!! He is too old for you, and he is not into women let alone teenage girls.”

“What?” Meg was more disappointed than shocked that the guy wasn’t into women.

“No way. He is way too hot and it is not fair.”

“Get over it, Meg. Can you please take your stuff and let me go back to sleep? I didn’t get home until four in the morning.”

“You’re just lying to me. You partied hard with that guy and you’re making up stories.”

I rolled my eyes at her theory. “Yup, partied hard serving up a million drinks a minute at the club.”

“Well, that’s why they ask you to work when they have those events.” Meg shrugged.

“Yeah, yeah...whatever!!”

“Vinnie, let me please look at his driver’s license one more time.”

“Absolutely not!!”

“Please,” she whined.

“Okay, but be careful with the watch. It’s already broken.”

“Vinnie, who is this guy? Please tell me this is your boyfriend.”

“I don’t know him. I accidentally brought his stuff home.”

“That’s doesn’t make any sense.”

I took a deep breath telling her about the events from the night before, and saw Meg’s face go pale as I told her about the accident and how the car spun off of the highway.

She listened quietly as I told her about how the guy wanted me to ride with him in the ambulance.

“So, now you know why I have his stuff.”

“Are you okay?” she asked boring her dark brown almond eyes into me.

“What? Are you asking if the guy is okay?”

“No, Vinnie. Are you okay?”

I weakly smiled when I realized she had figured out why I felt compelled to accompany a stranger to the hospital.

“Stop trying to be my older sister,” I taunted.

“There is no need to be mean.”

“I know, I am sorry.” I wrapped my arms around her petite structure and kissed her forehead. “Thank you for asking. I am fine.”

“Good,” she smirked and added, “Can we talk about the dude now?”

“Meghan Gill, let it go. That guy is not into women.”

“That’s not possible. Can I look him up online?”

“No.”

“Do you have his phone number?”

“I don’t.”

“How do you plan on returning his stuff if you don’t have his phone number. Please let me look him up. I just need his last name”

“No, you won’t. If I don’t have a way to contact him, I will send a snail mail to his address with his stuff.”

“You’re so boring.”

“Oh, the same boring person that is going to give you a ride to the rescue center?” I mocked.

“Whatever!! How do you know the guy is gay?”

“Fudge, Meg. Stop it!!”

“I want you to have a hot boyfriend like him…he’s like a model!!!”

“Well, he didn’t look model like with blood on his face, but he doesn’t look too bad in that picture.”

“Don’t be a snob. Are you sure you didn’t follow him to the hospital drooling over his rugged looks?”

“Yup, and I was heartbroken when his boyfriend showed up.”

“Darn it!!”

I laughed at the disappointment on her face. “I have had a lot of women at the bar complain that all the good guys are either taken or they are gay.”

“What about Jason?”

“What about him?” I snorted.

“Did Jason try to get into your pants again?”

I rolled my eyes but did not respond to her. Jason was the bar owner’s son who managed the club and took every opportunity to ask me out. I would politely decline by reminding him about the club’s employee policy.

“Jason is cute too.”

“That’s enough, Meg. Out!!”

“I am not leaving because you have to take me to the rescue center for my volunteer hours.”

“That’s in the afternoon, and I can use a few hours without Ms.Match.com in my room.”

“It is afternoon, Ms. Sleeping Beauty,” she retorted.

I pulled out my phone to look at the time, only to realize I had slept for ten hours straight.

A new record. 

I noticed I had messages from an unknown number sent that morning. 

Unknown: Hey...This is Reyan.

Unknown: Ping me when you have a moment.

“Meg, I have a text from the guy who is not your boyfriend.”

“Is he asking you out?”

“Yup, that’s exactly what he said, and that means I can’t take you to the rescue center.”

“You know I won’t mind…so…are you going to
sext
him back?”

“Watch it, Meg.”

“Okay, fiiiine.”

Thirty minutes later, I sat in the car outside the rescue center where Meg was volunteering that afternoon and stared at my phone. I debated about calling or texting Reyan back. I was in no mood to make small talk so I typed a reply to his text.

Me: Hey…

I got a response back almost immediately. Meg would have confirmed that he was staring at the phone waiting for my response.

Reyan: Hi Vinnie…

Me: Hey…you feel’n better?

Reyan: Yes

Me: Still at the hospital?

Reyan: Nope.

Me: Good…so no broken bones..

Reyan: My wrist…hairline

Me: I have your stuff

Reyan: Oh...really?

I realized that he texted me to say hi and not for the stuff.

Seems to be a nice guy.

Me: I have your wallet, watch, and some other stuff…

Reyan: Oh…Neel said he had my stuff so I didn’t realize you had them…

Me: Yup I have your wallet too and I am about to go shopping..

Reyan: Anything you want!!!

Me: Really?

Reyan: Anything!!!

Me: Oh you need to head back to the hospital buddy…get yourself checked for brain damage

Reyan: I will only if you go with me…Again

Me: Noooo

Reyan: C’mon

Me: C’mon

Reyan: Are you copying me?

Me: Are you copying me?

Reyan: You are silly

Me: You are silly

Reyan: You are hot

Me: You are hot

Reyan: I want to kiss you.

Shit!! What the...

Me: Hey got to go…some dude wants to kiss me.

Reyan: Got you!!!!

Me: Yes, you did

I realized I was grinning, as I was texting with him.

Me: Don’t worry…I am not going shopping or going to kiss you…

Stop flirting Vinnie!! He is gay!!

Reyan: I won’t stop you if you want to…

He’s flirting back?

Me: Still have your stuff…

Reyan: How about I swing by tomorrow and pick’m up?

Me: What time?

Reyan: 6?

Me: Meet me at Pier 33…at the bar

Reyan: Are you asking me out?

Me: Duuude.I work at the bar…come by and pick up your stuff…

Reyan: You can ask me out…I don’t mind…

Me: You really are silly…

Reyan: ??

Me: Bring Neel with you…I will get you guys a drink on the house..

Reyan: Will be there…

I scrolled through the conversation and couldn’t believe the conversation I had with Reyan. I knew at that point he could be the friend I have always wanted, someone who can give me a tough fight.

*****

“Good morning, Vi!!” Jen cheered as I walked into the Starbucks coffee shop for my day job.

“Hey, Jen. Did you have a good weekend?”

“Oh, the usual,” Jen scrunched her nose. She worked as a waitress and always recovered during the weekdays.

“Ready for the Monday morning madness?” she cheered.

“As always, and I doubt if it’d be crazier than my Saturday night.”

“Oh, anything fun?”

“Not really.” I shook my head smiling as I remembered my text conversation with Reyan.

Jen and I worked the counter for two hours nonstop until the Monday morning rush died down. I was rearranging the pastries in the refrigerator when Jen nudged me.

“I think I see someone that may be buddies with your doppelganger.”

I shook my head at the memory of random people asking me if they had met me before, and I could tell from the overly familiar accent they were all from India. It was the accent my mom and dad had, and it was hard to miss.

I had initially presumed it was a way for the shy Indian guys to have a conversation with me but when I had a couple of elderly women ask me the same question, I figured I had a doppelganger or a twin from another mother that has been socializing in excess within the local Indian community.

I looked at the guy Jen pointed to as my doppelganger’s friend as he approached the counter.

“Hi, there. What can I get you?” I chirped and saw his expression freeze. I could tell he was holding his breath and was looking at me like he couldn’t believe his eyes.

“Ummm...Nandi?” his voice was shaky.

“I’m sorry what?”

“Are you...are you Nandi?”

“Not sure what that means.”

“I am sorry…you look just like one of my friends from school.”

“Sorry, not me. I haven’t seen you before. What can I get you?”

“Are you sure?”

I darted a not so friendly look towards him but did not respond.

“I am sorry. I’ll get two tall lattes, please.”

I picked up the cups and asked for his name for the order.

“What is your name? I am only asking your name for the order.”

“Sorry, I still can’t believe you are not Nandi. I haven’t seen her since school.” I noticed that he kept staring at my left hand as I took the payment for the order.

Weirdo.

“Are you from India?” he asked weakly.

“Are you from India?” I bounced the question back to him.

“Yes, I am. I am here for grad school,” he said without moving away from the register. I hoped another customer would come by so he would move on. I looked at Jen hoping she would interject, but it seemed like she wanted to know why the guy kept staring at me.

“Oh, okay.”

“The last thing I heard about Nandi was that she was in a car accident and she died.”

“What the…” I uttered and heard Jen gasp at the same time.

“When I saw you, I was hopeful that I had heard incorrectly about her,” the guy said softly.

“I am sorry, but I am not your friend. My mom and dad were from India, but I’ve never been to India.”

“Your drinks are ready,” Jen interjected just when the guy was about to say something. He smiled at Jen and picked up the two cups of coffee and started walking away; he stopped short when he saw a woman walk towards the entrance.

He turned around to look at me and said, “That’s my girlfriend and she knew Nandi too…I wonder if she thinks you look like her too.” He stepped away from her view and stood facing me. I looked at the woman who seemed to be my age as she walked into the coffee shop. She looked around and then looked right at me.

She froze in her spot dropping the bag she was holding and stood staring at me. She stood a few feet away from me, and I could see the blood draining from her face. She covered her mouth with her palm as she approached me.