The Other Half of Me by Emily Franklin

Author:Emily Franklin
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780375890581
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2007-11-13T05:00:00+00:00

TWENTY

After a long afternoon of hanging out in my room and trading stories, I take Alexa with me to pick up the twins from camp. I put art supplies in and slam the trunk of the car shut, and Alexa slides into the passenger seat. She puts one hand on the roof as she gets in, just like I do.

I tell myself I’m not going to do a constant running tab of what’s the same and what’s not, but it’s hard not to. Alexa lifts her hair off her back and ties it in a knot that stays put without an elastic. My hair could never do this in a million years.

“Jenny,” she says when I start the car. “I am so psyched to be here.”

I have my hands on the steering wheel and my eyes on the rearview mirror as I back out of the driveway, but I nod to her. “Me too.”

“It’s like, I have a whole other family here that I’m getting to know. And you have one waiting for you in New York.”

If only it were that simple. There is a string of complications that Alexa somehow doesn’t seem to see.

“The truth is,” I say to her when I put on my turn signal, “dealing with Team Fitz isn’t going to be easy.” I look at her before pulling onto the road. “Don’t expect a giant welcome dinner, is all I’m saying.” Alexa nods, taking in the info but not looking damaged by it. If I were in her position, I’d want to back down, hop on the next train home, and start all over.

“Plus, there’s my painting. I have so little time.” I say this while Alexa fiddles with her tank top, smoothing out the straps on her tanned shoulders. I’m in the middle of stressing about getting the artwork done, and imagining the massive tension that will invade my house once Dad comes home, when I hear a car horn sound behind me. I’m driving all of ten miles per hour. Yikes.

“You think too much, Jenny.” Alexa leans forward and fiddles with the radio. “We have the same fingers, by the way. Do you see?” she asks, holding out her hands.

I nod. “Yeah. Your middle finger is almost the same exact length of your ring finger, like mine.”

“And our thumbs are exactly alike.” Alexa smiles with satisfaction as she looks out the window. We drive through the camp gates, and she peers out the open window, her hair flying in the breeze.

“Our thumbs.” It’s a small thing, just a tiny overlap, but it feels good.

A few minutes later Sierra and Sage leap into the car with a flurry of tights and legs, costumes and flailing hands that demonstrate just how revved up they are about the dance performance. They don’t say hello to either of us and immediately begin to gush.

“They said we’re good!” Sage exclaims. “We’re in the front for at least half of the show.”

“Well, I can’t wait to see it!” This is the first thing Alexa says to them when she turns around on her knees to make eye contact.

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