Seeing Double - Final

-Vitas and Sophie stood at the airport, not really knowing what to say. What can you say, an unseen divorce and partial custody for the next year? They wouldn’t see each other again till summer, the summer of their senior year. Sophie had driven Vitas and her dad to the airport, seeing them off. Their mother had already said goodbye to Vitas. Sophie hesitated, twiddling with her long, wavy brown hair and said, “I’ll miss you Vi.”
-Vitas grinned for a second, running his fingers over his open, honest face saying “miss you too Soapie.” How do you say goodbye to a brother who you shared stupid nicknames with? Vitas checked his watch saying, “we gotta go Soph, but I’ll be in touch, dunno about Dad.” They both looked over at the middle-aged man sitting on the airport seats, staring at his plane ticket.
-“Ok, Vi. Bye Dad, I’ll miss you.” Sophie hugged her dad goodbye, choking up as he pulled her tight.
-“Bye Sophie. Know that whatever happens, Mom and I love you ok?”
-“Yeah Dad, I’ll see you.” She turned away as they walked toward the gate. As she walked off, Vitas called,
-“Soph!”
-“What Viking?”
-“Don’t go trying to take my place at Seaport!” Sophie grinned. She was really going to miss him, especially his jokes. At Seaport, Vitas was one of her best friends. Average height for a guy, girls loved him for his gorgeous looks, the eyes and brown hair that his twin Sophie shared with him. Sophie kept with a small group of girls, tight-knit, and not the most popular crowd, but she loved them. They went shopping, lounged on the beach, and played the normal seventeen year-old-girls.
-Sophie watched planes take off from her car. She wondered exactly which one held her dad and Vitas, leaving for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a long call from Seaport City, California. She thought about every one at school, thinking of Vitas’ friends. There was Emily, his ‘just friends’ girl, a blonde from Tuson, Arizona with runway quality looks. Sophie was pretty positive she liked him, but wasn’t brave enough to say. Maria and Toby, Emily’s best friends, dating, and voted ‘cutest couple’ and Andrew, one of Vitas’ not-so-close friends, who was also mad over Emily. Andrew wasn’t such a hit with the girls, his average looks and terrible social skills could be held accountable. Vitas’ best friend, Luke, was also, no big surprise, crazy for Emily, Sophie thought. Somehow they were still best friends though. Sophie however, had been head over heels for Luke ever since Andrew’s beach party. They had met, and barely said 20 words to each other, yet she was still crazy for him. His golden surfer curls and bronzed California body were to die for in Sophie’s opinion. And that’s when it hit her.
-Vitas’ friends didn’t need to know that he left. As identical twins, with a little makeup, she could pass for Vitas. They had the same honey-colored hair, the same bright blue eyes, and were almost the same height. Why not do it? She’d get more friends that way, her friends would support her, it would be her own little adventure. And, she’d be closer to Luke. She could tell him that there was a last minute change, and Sophie went to Harrisburg. She changed course, and went to CVS to grab makeup, cologne and ace bandages before she went home.
-She walked into her house and called her best friend. Jess wasn’t so sure of the idea. She figured someone would find out, but agreed to help Sophie. Sophie next took all of the clothes her brother had left behind and stashed them in her closet. She figured she may need to plan a shopping trip to a men’s shop in the near future. She tried wrapping her body in the Ace bandages, to dull her curves and make her body thicker and more proportionate. She stuffed her brother’s shoes with old socks and pulled on the wig she’d picked up. It fitted perfectly, not showing any of her long wavy tresses. She grinned, putting on concealer and fake eyebrows; till she let hers grow out. The concealer dulled her feminine cheekbones and showed the tan lines on her body. The greatest sacrifice was to not shave her legs, which she figured would soon become disgustingly masculine. But in California, there wasn’t much of a pants season. Sophie called Jess and asked her to come over. Jess flipped when she walked in the door.
-“GOOD GOD! You look just like Vit!!! You’re still a cute though.”
-Sophie giggled.
-“Don’t do that Soph, you’ll give it away. If you want to be a guy, play the part too.”
-Sophie tried her manly voice. Jess howled with laughter,
-“Okay, we’ll work on that one. Good thing it’s only Saturday!”
-On Monday, Sophie was nervous. She had memorized Vi’s schedule, but wasn’t sure she could make it. When she walked into Vi’s first period, she didn’t even have time to react. Luke walked up to her and grinning, grabbed her round the shoulder.
-“You missed the action this weekend bro! I thought you were leaving!”
-Luke’s presence hit her so hard she could only stare.
-“You all right man? Hey, did you shave? Looks good, that scruff wasn’t fitting you too well.”
-Sophie finally found her voice well enough to say,
-“Nah, m’ good. Sophie left instead of me, went to Harrisburg. Miss her.”
-“Yeah, your sister was cool, never talked to her much-liked what I saw though, you’re lucky to have a hot sister,” Luke paused, grinning. “Hey, do me a fav? Go talk to Emily and try to get a date for me-please? She’s right there.” He grabbed Sophie while she was still digesting ‘hot sister’ and spun her toward Emily.
-“You liked Sophie?” was Sophie’s parting question.
-“Yeah, just a bit. Sorry bro, would’ve asked her if she was here!”
-Sophie was too dazzled by Luke’s smile to respond, and found herself walking toward Emily, never having asked a girl out before. She walked over and said,
-“Hey. Emily.” Emily looked up and checked her out. Another thing that Sophie wasn’t quite used to.
-“Luke wants to know if you’d like to go on a date with him, y’know, party? Soon.”
-“Umm, no thanks, sorry, unless-Vitas? You’re going to be there?” Emily smiled, pausing and tossing her long blonde hair for effect.
-“No-don’t think so, sorry, but Luke just wanted to know if you would. See you round.” Sophie whirled around and walked off, shoulders stiff and back ramrod-straight in embarrassment.
-As she walked away, Sophie was aware of whispering behind her back and Emily’s eyes on her back. Oh god. Why did she do this? Luke liked Emily. Emily liked Vitas. How could Sophie get Luke when she dressed as a man? Luke used to like her, but now he thinks she’s gone. Her cell phone rang, Vi’s number popping up on the screen. Great. She walked outside into the sun to answer.
-“Hey Vi. What’s up?”
-“You’re not going to believe this Soph. I’m coming back.”
-She stood, stunned.
-“Why?”
-“Dad had a change of heart, wants to come back and live here instead. I was pretty surprised myself.” Vitas still sounded a little stunned.
-“Oh god. I have to tell you something, when does your plane get in?”
-“I’m at home now. Dad’s at the hotel. Why are my clothes in your closet?”
-“Meet me afterschool by my car, it’s in your usual spot. Ok?”
-“Umm, alright,” Vitas was a little puzzled by the abruptness. “I can’t wait to see you Soph.” he added.
-“Yeah, me either. See ya!”
-Sophie whirled around when she felt a tap on her shoulder, and started when she saw it was Emily.
-“Hey Emily,” she said cautiously, “what’s up?”
-“Vitas-I kinda have to talk to you.” She had on the doll face and a hopelessly soppy look that Sophie hoped had never crossed her own countenance anywhere near Luke.
-Good lord, Emily thought, is this what girls really come across as to guys? This is sad.
-“Bout what?” was what Sophie actually said.
-“This.” Emily reached up in one quick swoop, grabbing Sophie’s neck and pulling her head down for a kiss. Sophie panicked, seeing Emily’s eyes happily closed, and Sophie turned her head, Emily’s upturned lips landing on her jaw. Emily pulled away, disappointed.
-“Well, if that’s the way you feel Vitas, I’ll see you around. And are you wearing concealer?” Emily wiped her lips, seeing the tan makeup come off in her hand, confused.
-“Umm, can I get back to you on that? Meet me in the parking lot after school? I’ll see you later.” Sophie ducked into Vitas’ last period class, relieved. That was very nearly gross. Luke was sitting there, waiting for ‘Vitas’ to walk in.
-“Hey man, I didn’t mean to freak you out or anything earlier, I just, liked your sister a bit. I’m kind of stuck between liking a girl miles away and a hottie here-though I think Emily likes you.”
-“Luke, what if Sophie actually wasn’t leaving, and was here in town?”
-“I would probably ask her out man! Why? Am I still freaking you out?”
-“No, Luke, Sophie’s here, she back, she’s not leaving. It’s cool if you like her-I think she really likes you too. In fact, I’m Sophie.”
-Luke looked at her, a little wierded out.
-“Vit, seriously, stop playing, dude, c’mon.”
-“No, really, I’m Sophie. I took Vitas’ place to talk to you, he was the one that really left. But he’s coming back. Come outside with me afterschool, you’ll see him.”
-“Seriously, Sophie? I couldn’t really tell the difference, that’s creepy. Though your face is different, couldn’t get my finger on it.” Luke tried to stare past the mask and clothes that Sophie wore.
-Sophie laughed, reverting back to her normal voice. “That must be the two tons of makeup I’m wearing-and the ace bandages I used. It’s crazy, don’t ask.”
-“So you never knew I liked you?”
-“No, we never talked – but…I…” Sophie couldn’t get the words out. Maybe she’d tell him later, but wasn’t this what she dressed for?
-“Holy crap. This is still weird coming from a guy’s face. Um, parking lot after school today? We can talk?”
-“Sure, sounds good. I’ve still got to sort out Emily Ryder, who still thinks I’m Vitas.”
-“Good luck, I’ll come over to your car afterschool, and prove it if I have to.” He winked, and went to sit in his class seat. Sophie exhaled a long breath. Did Luke actually just admit he liked her – to her face? On the other hand, she hoped Vitas would wear the cologne she had bought, she didn’t know what to do with it otherwise.
-As the bell rang, she jumped up, oblivious to Luke calling her name, and ran outside to her car – and was greeted by a strange sight. It was the real Vitas, with Emily, kissing, in the parking lot. Luke came up panting behind her.
-“Looks like everything had a happy ending huh? They look happy enough. Is she kissing the real Vitas? Or should I find that out?”
-Sophie turned and looked at him confused. Luke grinned, and bent down and kissed her, taking off the wig as he did. Sophie grinned, saying,
-“Nice. And if I had been the real Vitas?”
-“Probably would’ve beat me up, thinking I was a creep.”
-“That’s Vi for you.”
-“Yeah well. Put the wig back on, I want to see what Emily does.”
-Sophie giggled, slipping it back on. She walked over to the real Vitas and Emily, saying, “Hey Viking!” and giving Vitas a big hug. Vitas looked stunned. So did Emily. Luke was howling with laughter.
-“Sophie?” Vitas was the first to catch on, and began to laugh as Emily stuttered in the background.
-“Yeah. Long story, I’ll have to tell later. Emily, sorry, but I think you tried to smooch me the first time, not Vi.”
-Emily just stared. Sophie took off the wig. “See?”
-“Oops, sorry. Yeah, now I’m just glad that I got here to catch the REAL Vi. That’s embarrassing.”
-“You dress a pretty good guy Soph, I’m impressed.” Luke grinned, as Sophie struggled to get off the Ace bandages that were wrapped around her torso, and Emily went to assist her.
-“You said you would talk to me after school. Now can I ask you on a date?”
-“Sure Luke, anytime. Really.” Sophie smiled at him, and Luke grinned back.
-“Beach anyone?” called Vitas from the car “Now that Sophie’s a girl again?”
-Everyone agreed to go. In the end, Sophie thought, watching the sunset, legs back to normal, and makeup washed off, she was glad that being a guy only lasted one day, and she had Vitas back, along with two new friends. But would she ever pull another cross dressing? Don’t think so.