“You Iago?”

A deep, gravely voice pulls my attention away from the book draped over my crossed legs.

Huh.

People don’t talk to me.

Especially in the school library.

Only Indy.

And that doesn’t sound like Indy.

Looking up from Beowulf in the original Anglo-Saxon, which is a shame, being distracted from Beowulf, I am surprised by who the voice belongs to.

Nuka Black Feather.

I’m even more confused.

I don’t know what the popular hockey star wants from me.

I don’t answer, I just stare at him.

“You’re Iago, ain’t ya? Iago Bruin? Or did I get the wrong twin?”

I can feel my brows furrow in confusion, my head tilting to the side.

Why is he talking to me?

Why is he looking at me like that?

He’s really handsome.

Is that weird to think?

I’m still staring at him.

Fuck.

I’m being weird again.

Everyone tells me I’m weird.

I should say something.

Anything.

Maybe it’ll make this less weird.

What did he ask me again?

Something about twins?

That’s seems right, twins.

He has the wrong twin.

He must want Indy.

Indy’s not here.

I should tell him that.

“Indy’s not here.”

He chuckles, smiling brightly at me.

Whoa.

Why did my stomach feel like it fluttered?

Maybe I got food poisoning.

Lunch did look iffy.

“Then I guess I got the right twin.”

He sits down in the armchair that is across from mine.

“Huh?”

I’m so confused, again.

I don’t like it.

This is why I don’t talk to people.

They confuse me.

Confusion makes me uncomfortable.

“Ms. Blanchard told me to find you. She said you could help tutor me for Lit. When I asked around, people said I could find one of the Bruin twins here, in the library and the other in the computer lab. I took a wild guess that the “Literature Prodigy”, that’s what Ms. Blanchard called ya, would be in the library. Oh Man! Is it insulting that I didn’t know which twin ya are? Did I just make some major twin Faux Pas? Damn, I really feel like a jackass now. Shit, I hope this wont make ya not wanna help me, cause I really need it. I just can’t figure this stuff out ya know. It’s not like I’m some dumb hockey jock. Math and science, that stuff I get, but symbolism and metaphor and all that junk, I’m lost. Like, why can’t they just say what they mean, ya know, get right to the point.”

What?

Did he breathe at all during that?

Now he’s looking at me again, like he expects something.

Right, normal interactions Iago.

Normal people respond.

Say something.

“Tutoring?”

Nice Iago.

One word, asked like a confused baby bird.

Fuck.

I’m useless at normal.

“Exactly! So, you’ll do it? Fantastic! I was worried I made a huge mistake cause I didn’t know which twin you were.”

Why does he keep saying that.

I don’t know people, why would it upset me that they don’t know me.

That seems like a it would be very egotistical if I really felt that.

I sigh, deeply.

This is a lot for me.

Where is Indy?

Indy is better at people.

Oh, there he is.

Now, Nuka will know the difference.

So, I point at my twin who is walking toward me.

“That’s Indy. Now you know.”

I stand up and go stand next to my Indy. We look alike, same facial features, same build, tall and lean, same dark brown eyes but while I dyed my hair black and got my ears gaged, my nose pierced twice on the right side and two eyebrow piercings on the left, Indy kept his hair our natural red/brown and has no tattoos or piercings. I wear black jeans and black t-shirts, maybe a black hoodie, Indy wears the same jeans and grey hoodie all the time.

We’re easy to tell apart when you know which twin has which style.

Indy looks between Nuka and me.

He leans in to talk to me.

“Are you ok? Was he bothering you? Did he make fun of you? Was he mean to you?” He whispers.

Indy worries.

He thinks people bully me.

They don’t.

You can’t bully someone you don’t notice.

And I make sure not to be noticed.

I shake my head, telling Indy no.

Nuka confused me.

But, bothered?

I don’t think so.

I kinda liked him being around.

That’s different.

“Iago, we’re leaving.” Indy says, grabbing my wrist and starting toward the door.

“Wait, hold up! You never actually answered me.”

Indy stops.

We both turn back to look at Nuka at the same time.

I’m sure that looked creepy.

I tilt my head as I look at him.

Tutoring.

It can’t be that bad.

He seems nice.

Confusing, yes.

But interesting too.

So, I nod.

There’s that smile again.

The weird feeling is back in my stomach.

“Yeah? Awesome! Let me get your number, just in case.”

He comes towards us, pulling out his phone.

I point at Indy.

Now the smile is gone.

He looks upset.

Indy sighs.

He’s upset with me.

I can tell.

“Iago doesn’t have a phone. You can talk to him here. We’re going now.”

Fuck.

Indy’s mad.

He usually doesn’t say no to getting someone’s number for me.

Nuka looks upset too.

I really am the worst.

I upset them both.

“Will you be here tomorrow Iago?”

I nod and wave to Nuka as Indy pulls me out the door.