This is dedicated to L who will probably never read this.
‘You know you have a twin right?’
‘Excuse me?’
‘You have a twin, I’m sure of it.’
‘What there can really be someone else as good looking as me? ’
They were sat there, together again. It had been about a year since they’d last done it and I guess you could say it helped.
‘No seriously, he has the same hair, same jacket and he even has legs as skinny as yours.’
‘Impossible. Bet he couldn’t fit into these baby’s.’
Alex lifted his right leg high upon the table and caressed his impossibly small black skinny jeans as if they were his pet.
‘He even has room to spare.’
‘Bull shit. Lemme meet this guy, I bet I can fit into his jeans twice over.’
‘You can’t I don’t know him. I’ve just seen him around. But really he just looks like you.’
As she said this Laura began to smile. She wasn’t lying; the guy really could be his twin. And it was true she didn’t really know him. Not really.
‘Yeah well whatever. Do you want another drink?’
‘Sure, just an orange juice.’
‘No probs.’
When he stood Alex had a hard time reaching the bar. If he had known the football was on he would have arranged to meet her somewhere else. He barely got to see her anyway and the last thing he needed was a bunch of football louts screaming their heads off.
‘Two oj’s please.’
He hated asking for soft drinks but they were the doctor’s orders. Shouldn’t be much longer though, maybe a week.
While he waited he checked his appearance in the mirror behind the bar, god he looked good. Smart suit jacket, slick black hair, almost handsome if it wasn’t for his damn glasses but shit not everyone can be perfect.
‘Here ya go.’
‘Thankyou.’
‘So he really looks like me.’
‘Absolutely.’
‘You find him attractive.’
‘Oh no, I’m not falling for that.’
‘Falling for what?’
‘You know. If I say no you’ll take it personally as a slight against you now I’ve said that you and him are identical and if I say yes then I’ll have just admitted to fancying you.’
‘And is that such a bad thing?’
‘It is when I know from your own admission that you wanna fuck the life out of me.’
This was true. He thought she was beautiful because she didn’t think she was. Maybe not at first but it didn’t take long. Not quite a blonde but not brunette either, slim but small and blue eyes that said more than anything she could ever say with her tongue.
‘I suppose that’s a crime now?’
‘No I just know your game too well Alex.’
I guess she liked him too though but she wasn’t sure. Why had she brought the twin thing up? Idiot. If he ever found out. No he won’t.
‘What’s your plan then, for the rest of the day?’
‘Oh I don’t know. I’ve arranged to meet up with some of the girls, you know from college.’
‘Yeah that should be nice, catch up and all.’
‘I hope so. What about you?’
‘Fucked if I know. I guess I’ll ring James see if he fancies a frame or two then I might just head home and read.’
‘Sounds good. How is James?’
‘Not bad. He’s been out about a month now. Nearly back to normal.’
‘Good. Anyway I better be going, Jess will be waiting.’
‘Sure. And hey, it’s been nice catching up.’
‘Ditto. Let’s try not to leave it a year till our next one.’
‘Agreed.’
Then they both stood up and embraced with a hug.
‘Think I’ll stay here a while, see if James fancies coming down.’
‘Oh alright. Take care Alex.’
‘Yeah, you too.’
She watched him sit back down as she walked to the exit. Now she felt really bad.
It was raining so she put up her umbrella and made the short walk around the corner, up the street and to the left.
Then her umbrella came down as she tapped on the door. Was she really going to do this?
But before she could change her mind she met the gaze of a spectacled man in a grey suit jacket with slick black hair and impossibly small skinny jeans.
Perhaps Alex’s were skinnier after all.
