What Lies Beneath Page #11

The undiscovered truth of Nicholas Anderson

• Fiction

								


"Where am I going?" Anne inquires, appearing puzzled.

"You're going to a birthday celebration for one of Nicholas's friends," my mother explains.

"Is that okay?" she asks, looking at me with concern.

"Absolutely," my father assures her.

"Don't be concerned; they will adore you," my mother adds.

Realizing that they have completely forgotten about me, I quietly return to my room.

Chapter 9

POV Nicholas 

As I sat in my car waiting for Anne to come, I read my text from the group the guys added me to.

Evan: You know only the birthday boy is allowed to come late to the party.

Rick: His right.

Emmett: It's not his fault his sister is running late.

Rick: It is bad enough that she's coming. Now, she's running late. Just leave the b*tch.

Ray: It's okay, you just missed the part where we scream "surprise!" You're only 10 minutes late, plus it's less than a 30-minute drive, so you will get here soon enough.

Rick: Is she even out yet?

Me: Nope

Rick: What is she even doing?

Ray: It has been observed that women generally require more time to prepare themselves.

Evan: F*ck That Science

Emmett: Yeah, Evan takes five times longer to get ready than any other person I know.

Rick: That's true.

Ray: Can't argue with that.

Evan: Hey

That is when I hear the door to the passenger side being opened.

"I'm sorry I overslept," Anne said as she got into the car. "Don't you feel a bit chilly?" she asked while rubbing her exposed arm, wearing only a pink, short summer dress, before glancing at me. "Never mind," she added awkwardly, noticing that I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt as usual, even in this warm weather.

I texted the guys that I'm on my way, then turned down the AC before pulling out of the driveway.

As I was driving, I noticed that I was approaching the neighborhood where Evan and Emmett reside, which is also quite close to where Ray and Rick live. The neighborhood had significantly larger houses compared to the one I live in. The houses here were approximately three times bigger than ours and were close to being mansions, although not quite there yet. The houses were three stories tall and were fairly spaced out, with wide backyards.

I finally located Evans's home, where a few cars were already parked. I managed to find an unoccupied spot and decided to park my car there.

"We should go out," I say, getting out of the car. I open the back door of the car and look at my gift that is still there since Ray came by the house yesterday to take their gifts because they had to wrap them up.

"Do you need help?" she asks, closing the door for me.

"I am okay," I respond in a composed manner, heading toward the house as we near the porch. The door opens, revealing a person who bears a striking resemblance to Anne, albeit in a masculine form.

"Hi, you must be Nick. I'm Andrew," He says this with a forced smile, However, I am unable to respond and can only gaze back at him as he too notices Anne.

"What's taking so long?" Rick inquired as he emerged behind the young boy. He glanced at me, then turned his attention to Andrew. "Did you say something rud-" However, before he could complete his sentence, his gaze fell upon Anne, who was standing beside me. I could discern the unspoken question forming in his eyes.

As both guys looked at Anne, I sensed her discomfort. "Um, I'm Nicholas, and this is my sister, Anne." I introduce us, hoping to break the awkward silence.

"Hey," Anne said.

As if coming to a realization, Rick politely says, "Welcome, please come this way," practically ushering us inside. His sudden change in demeanor was concerning, but the fact that his brother and Anne are complete look-alikes was even more worrisome.

After giving it more thought, I've noticed that Rick and Ray look remarkably similar to Anne, especially in terms of their jet-black hair and vibrant, deep blue eyes. If someone were to suggest that they are siblings, I would agree because, unlike them, I have platinum blonde hair and dull blue eyes that don't compare to theirs. The only similarity Anne and I share is our paleness.

As we proceed further into the expansive blue house, Rick comes to a halt at a sizeable, circular table adorned with an array of gift boxes. "You may leave your gifts here. Everyone is currently gathered in the backyard, where we are having a barbecue." He says.

Placing the gift on the table, where there was still some space available, we began walking toward the back of the house. As we walked, I could sense them glancing at Anne and me, perhaps looking for some similarities between us. However, it is unfortunate that they will not find any, as we are not actually siblings.

We all made our way into the kitchen, where the door leading to the backyard was located. The door was made of glass, allowing us a clear and unobstructed view of the outdoors, where everyone had gathered.

That's when a man who resembled an older version of Rick opened the door. His gaze immediately fell upon Anne.

"Annabelle!" He exclaimed loudly as his gaze was fixed on the girl next to me, who was slightly trembling and clinging onto my hand. The touch sent shivers down my spine, but I refrained from shaking her off and instead returned her grip.

"Her name is Anne," I say, trying to get the man's attention. As if breaking out of a spell, his eyes snap to me.

"Excuse me, if I may ask, you are Nick, correct? And may I know the name of the person whose hand you're holding?" He asks, glancing at our intertwined hands.

"My sister, Anne," I state flatly.

"I'm sorry, you guys just don't look alike," he says. "I'm Leonard, but you can call me Leo. I'm Rick and Ray's older brother and guardian."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Anne greeted as everyone remained standing.

"Would you like anything to drink?" Leo asks, breaking the silence.

"We're going to head out first," Rick mentioned to his brother before leading the way.

During this entire conversation, Anne maintained her grip on my hand, which had become uncomfortably sticky. I could sense my heart palpitating as an unsettling sensation gradually ascended my arm from the point where our hands were connected. Mentally, I am aware that she is not 'him' and poses no threat to my well-being. However, it appears that my mind and body are not in agreement on this matter. 'What a pathetic boy.'

Don't think, just stay focused and breathe in and out. As we got outside, I managed to calm down a bit.

"Nick, you're here!" Emmett shouts, getting up from the pool chair and ignoring everyone's glares. As he approaches, he slows down upon seeing Anne. However, what he says first is more surprising than the others' reactions. "Is this your girlfriend?" he blurts out, looking at our hands. "She's pretty, but a little young." What is more peculiar is the slight expression of hurt in his eyes.

Both of us released each other's hands before simultaneously stating, "We are siblings." 

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