Were unbreakable.
Cath looked at Wrens smooth brown hair and the glint of steel, the crown of gray, that circled the green in her eyes.
You are, she thought.
Does this mean no more tres leches cake on our birthday? Wren asked.
Theres something else I want to tell you, Cath said before she could think it through. Theres, I mean, I think theres this guy.
Wren raised her eyebrows. But before Cath could say anything more, they heard voices and a key in the door. Wren let go of Caths wrists, and the door swung open. Reagan barreled in and dropped her duffel bag on the floor. She rushed out again before Levi even made it into the room.
Hey, Cath, he said, already smiling, are you? He looked at the bed and stopped.
Levi, Cath said, this is my sister, Wren.
Wren held out her hand.
Levis eyes were as wide as Cathd ever seen them. He grinned at Wren and took her hand, shaking it. Wren, he said. Such fascinating names in your family.
Our mom didnt know she was having twins, Wren said. And she didnt feel like coming up with another name.
Cather, Wren Levi looked like hed just now discovered sliced bread. Catherine.
Cath rolled her eyes. Wren just smiled. Clever, right?
Cath, Levi said, and tried to sit next to Wren on the bed, even though there wasnt enough room. Wren laughed and scooted toward Cath. Cath scooted, too. Reluctantly. If you give Levi an inch
I didnt know you had a mother, he said. Or a sister. What else are you hiding?
Five cousins, Wren said. And a string of ill-fated hamsters, all named Simon.
Levi opened his smile up completely.
Oh, put that away, Cath said with distaste. I dont want you to get charm all over my sisterwhat if we cant get it out?
Reagan walked back through the open door and glanced over at Cath. She noticed Wren
and shuddered. Is this your twin?
You knew about the twin? Levi asked.
Wren, Reagan, Cath said.
Hello, Reagan said, frowning.
Dont take any of this personally, Cath said to Wren. Theyre both like this with everyone.
I have to go anyway. Wren slid cheerfully off the bed. She was wearing a pink dress and brown tights, and brown ankle boots with heels and little green buttons up the side. They were Caths boots, but Cath was never brave enough to wear them.
Nice meeting you, everybody, Wren said, smiling at Reagan and Levi. See you at lunch tomorrow, she said to Cath.
Reagan ignored her. Levi waved.
As soon as the door closed, Levi popped his eyes again. Bluely. Thats your twin sister?
Identical, Reagan said, like she had a mouth full of hair.
Cath nodded and sat down at her desk.
Wow. Levi scooted down the bed so he was sitting across from her.
Im not sure what youre getting at, Cath said, but I think its offensive.
How can the fact that your identical twin sister is super hot be offensive to you?
Because, Cath said, still too encouraged by Wren and, weirdly, by Abel, and maybe even by Nick to let this get to her right now. It makes me feel like the Ugly One.
Youre not the ugly one. Levi grinned. Youre just the Clark Kent.
Cath started checking her e-mail.
Hey, Cath, Levi said, kicking her chair. She could hear the teasing in his voice. Will you warn me when you take off your glasses?
Agatha Wellbelove was the loveliest witch at Watford. Everyone knew itevery boy, every girl, all the teachers The bats in the belfry, the snakes in the cellars
Agatha herself knew it. Which you might think would detract from her charm and her beauty. But Agatha, at fourteen, never used this knowledge to harm or hold over others.
She knew she was lovely, and she shared it like a gift. Every smile from Agatha was like waking up to a perfect sunny day. Agatha knew it. And she smiled at everyone who crossed her path, as if it were the most generous thing she could offer.
from chapter 15, Simon Snow and the Selkies Four, copyright © 2007 Gemma T. Leslie
EIGHT
Have you started your scene yet?
They were in the subbasement of the library, the sub-subbasement, and it was even colder than usualthe wind was making Nicks bangs flutter over his forehead. Do guys call them bangs? Cath wondered.
Why is it windy in here? she asked.
Why is it windy anywhere? Nick answered.
That made her laugh. I dont know. Tides?
Caves breathing?
Its not wind at all, Cath said. Its what we feel when time suddenly jolts forward.
Nick smiled at her. His lips were thin but dark, the same color as the inside of his mouth. English majors are useless, he said, twitching his eyebrows. Then he elbowed herSo. Have you started your scene? Youre probably done already. Youre so fucking fast.
I get lots of practice, she said.
Writing practice?
Yeah. For a second, she thought about telling him the truth. About Simon and Baz. About a chapter a day and thirty-five thousand hits I write laps, she said. Every morning, just to stay loose. Have you started your scene?
Yeah, Nick said. He was drawing swirls in the margin of the notebook. Three times Im just not sure about this assignment.
Professor Piper wanted them to write a scene with an untrustworthy narrator. Cath had written hers from Bazs point of view. It was an idea shed had for a while; she might turn it into a longer fic someday, someday when she was done with Carry On.