Earlier that afternoon…

*

“Can’t you do this just once, Forrest?”

“Oh my God. I wish, okay? But I can’t! Not today. Can’t you just tell Nana that I’ll do it tomorrow instead?”

“You know how Nana gets. It has to be today! Come on, there will be another party, and you can get together with Brad the quarterback next week anyway.” There’s a derisive tone that I never intentionally want to take when I say that name, but I can’t help it. I really can’t believe that my sister actually likes that guy. Brad looks like he’s made up of 90% muscle and 9% body hair, and the final percentage is divided between brain cells and other organs. I think my suspicion is accurate, because Brad never talks much aside from cracking football-related jokes, which I don’t get anyway, since I don’t play or watch football.

“And really? Brad?” I make a disgusted face. “He’s slept with half the girls at our school. I bet he’s crawling with STDs.”

“But the girls have given him really good reviews,” Forrest said as she winked lecherously. I balled my hands into fists, and my sister seemed to notice. “It’s just a joke, dear brother. I’m not going to sleep with him. Brad is just… you know, my type.”

“Yeah, I notice you always go for the dumbest-looking ones.”

“Better dumb jocks than Khaol the God of Pain, right?” The mockery in Forrest’s tone is unmistakable.

“Forrest.” My voice drops into a warning tone.

Today is the eve of our 17^th birthday, which incidentally was the week Forrest is supposed to stay at Nana’s house. We haven’t been living together for 7 years—not every day anyway, ever since our parents got divorced. Mom got me, and Dad got Forrest. At least, that’s how it was been before Mom died five years ago.

I didn’t go back to Dad’s house, though. Because Nana didn’t want me to. And because I wanted to be near Nana, since she was the one who took Mom’s death the hardest.

This arrangement works well for both us, because the myth of twins being close is just that for us—a myth. Yeah, there were times when we seemed to finish each other’s sentences and other cute moments, but both of us are such different people now, so spending more time together would prove to be more detrimental than heartwarming.

Especially now, when Forrest finds it really easy to postpone Nana’s seventeen year-old plan just to go to some party or whatever.

“You know that Nana has always wanted to this on our seventeenth birthday!” I almost yell out of frustration. “Remember? You’re ‘The One’ for the gods.”

Forrest rolls her eyes. She’s pretty, my twin sister. Very pretty, in fact—almost otherworldly. Her blonde hair cascades down in waves and her face is designed to make people experience love at first sight. Too bad Dad spoiled her too lavishly and turned her personality to shit.

“Well, I think both of us have come to the conclusion that Nana is a bit delusional,” Forrest says at the same time her phone pings. She pauses a bit, and I just know that she’s holding herself back from texting her friend in front of me. “River, don’t tell me you believe those stories, too.”

What I believe at this point is no longer relevant. Because this is not about me. Or about Forrest, really. It’s about Nana. What matters is what Nana believes.

But of course Forrest won’t get that. Forrest won’t understand any of that. She’s way too focused on her newfound beauty. She’s having too much fun dating and playing and generally existing as a very popular teenager.

When we were younger, both of us were ugly kids. We were lanky, with straggly hair and really long limbs. Fortunately, puberty did both of us good, and ever since Forrest’s chest size grew, so did her list of friends (and her list of exes, ha.)

Now, nearly seventeen and exceptionally beautiful, she’s swarmed with party invitations and a throng of suitors. Of course she’d prefer a party over Nana’s tales of gods and the promise of being a god’s bride. Even I can see the logic behind it.

But I’m not going to let Nana down today. Not after she practically drilled into both of us that Forrest is The One for the gods and she’s to be presented on the eve of her seventeenth birthday for nearly every day of my waking hours. I’m not a sadistic person.

“Whatever, Forrest, just go to your party.” I wave my hand to my sister and she squeals in glee.

“You can come, you know. Nana always goes to bed early. You can sneak out and come to Brad’s party at midnight or something.”

I groan, but I actually think about this. Attending parties hasn’t really been… my scene. But today is my birthday, and it’s actually kind of tempting. Besides, my sister’s social standing basically gives me free access of alcohol and insta-friends, since a lot of guys beg me to put in a good word for them with my sister.

“Let’s see about that, but I need to make sure that Nana’s fast asleep before I consider sneaking out,” I say. “You owe me big-time, sister.”

Forrest grins her charming grin, and then she hugs me. “I know. See ya, brother.”

As she saunters away from me, I’m left with my own thoughts. While I did give her an out from Nana’s plans, I’m still determined to not let my dear old granny down.

And thus came the most cliche idea of the century:

Pretending to be my twin sister.