Chapter 8

• "What do you mean by that Natie?"
• Nicole asked, already not liking what her twin was about to tell her, she knew Natalie enough to know this was one of her many impossible requests again, she was going to stand her ground this time, no way was she going to let her twin talk her into doing an impossible thing just for her.
• "Nicole, you know I love you right? And you are my only true best friend,"
• "Go straight to the point Natie, I am a busy woman."
• "Okay, I need to help me go on a date with Rafael, I forgot about it and I can't go looking like this, please,"
• "What? No way, I told you before that I am never going to play you again."
• Nicole said. it was indeed as she had thought, another impossible request, this one was beyond impossible, she couldn't meet up with Rafael again..
• "Shoot, please Nicole, help me, I can't tell him I won't show up, he will get mad, I promised him I will go with him, do this for me, please? I promise this will be the last time, pretty please twin, if I go like this I am going to be out of place, please, you don't want to see me shamed right?"
• "Naty, come on, you can just call him that you can't make it, don't make me do this again please, I told you I am not comfortable in his presence and besides I can't play you properly, I can't do it, Natalie, I am sorry,"
• Nicole replied, already contemplating helping her twin, she has never been able to say no to Natalie , not when they were young and most certainly not when they got older, she needed to learn to say no and stick to it.
• "I can't tell him I won't attend, this is important to him, he told me so, please Nicole, please, do this for me please,"
• She pleaded almost in tears, God she was good at emotional blackmail and it got her each time.
• "Fine, I will do it, but this is going to be the last time I will do such a thing for you, next time even if you are crying blood I will not, okay?"
• "Yes!! Okay, that's my twin, let's get you dressed up,"
• She announced the sadness washing off her face completely, Nicole could only roll her eyes, she honestly didn't want to do this, but Natalie did look like a mess, she has always had a rough period cramp, she couldn't let her go out like that, her conscience will eat out throughout the day.
• "There is no way I am wearing this dress Natie, you can't make me do it,"
• Nicole screamed at the dress Natalie had brought out for her to wear, it looked too slutty and she would never be comfortable in it,"
• "Calm down girl, I just brought it out as a suggestion,"
• She said laughing, Nicole didn’t find it funny, first, her face was covered in Natalie 's style make-up, her hair same as Natalie would wear, looking at the mirror she looked nothing like Nicole and everything like Natalie she bet if she walked out now and met her parents they won't know she is Nicole, she watched her twin enter her enormous walk-in closet, she came back bearing a pretty blue dress, Nicole liked it on sight.
• "That's so beautiful,"
• She let out when Natalie raised the dress for her to see.
• "Yeah right, I saw it and ordered but I didn't like it and it had been laying in my closet, I did consider giving it to you but you don't even go out, it would be useless,"
• "Yeah, bitch, mock me, mock me all you want, I don't care,"
• She responded sassily, her twin started laughing.
• "Honestly sis, I think it's time to break off your shell and show the world the charismatic beautiful artist that you are, you are a work of art itself, how would you feel if you created a beautiful piece and it doesn't get to be showcased in public for people to admire? That's exactly how the maker will feel looking at you,"
• Natalie said. Nicole rolled her eyes, she was just talking to make her go, she knew Natalie enough to know when she is smooth-talking.
• "Just give me the dress Natalie , we don't have much time for talking right? He will be here soon,"
• "That right,"
• She said, handling the dress to her, she got up and wore the dress carefully making sure her hair and makeup didn't get ruined in the process. The dress fitted her, she twirled around at Natalie's request staring at her reflection in the mirror, she looked like Natalie .
• "Sit down let me do a few retouches to your makeup and you are good to go,"
• Natalie said pulling her to her seat, she wondered how Natalie could work so hard with the pain she claimed to be feeling.
• "I have got a question though, I haven't heard you complain of any pain since we started which Wass your excuse, mind explaining?"
• She asked.
• "Really Nicole? Do you think I will make this up? I am bearing it because I want you to look good out there, I am honestly going through shits right now,"
• She responded, Nicole felt bad, she knew just how bad Natalie’s cramps always were so she shouldn't have doubted her.
• "Okay, we are good to go, all we need now is the prince charming that I am lending you today,"
• She said, she looked too excited for Nicole's liking, her phone rang and she picked it up, Natalie watched her talk on the phone before handing it over to her.
• "He is here,"
• She said and Nicole's heartbeat increased, she didn't want to be in Rafael’s presence again but she had no choice.
• "I can't follow you out so, I will see you later Ni, thank you for this, I owe you,"
• She said, hugging her.
• Nicole walked out of Natalie 's room, she met her mom on her way out, and like she had guessed her mom thought she was Natalie and talked warmly with her, She resisted the urge to be jealous of the relationship her twin had with their parents but kicked against it if they were really close with Natalie they would have known her and not confuse the two of them, the only reason her mom was being warmed towards Natalie was that she was living according to what they expected, while she was doing the opposite hence the resentment towards her.
• "You look so pretty today, of course, you look pretty every other day but today it's exceptional,"
• Rafael said in greeting when she entered the car, he had not bother to come out, some prince charming he was, who seats in the car and give praises when he could have opened the door for her, she just couldn't see herself liking him, he was too arrogant and full of himself, Natalie had bad taste in men, she concluded, resisting the urge to call him out on his not so gentlemanliness but it wasn't in her place so she just shut it, forced a smile and mouthed thank you before turning her face away, she didn't have to speak to him, he was silent all through the drive and she preferred it too, less talk less chances of him finding out he was being played well that was until they got to the house where they were having the dinner party, she had thought it was a party, like a real party but when they got there she realized it was a round table thing, she was introduced to everyone and she didn't even realize that Margaret who was the host was the owner more like former owner of the place her favorite art shop was located, right from the introduction, Nicole felt out of place and was quiet most of the time except when she was asked questions which she fumbled with because she had to take a moment to remind herself she wasn't Nicole and she should answer like Natalie would, she silently prayed for the night to end but the night seemed to be dragging out, when they finally invited them to eat, she thought at least they won't have to talk but she was wrong so wrong.
• "So what do you do young lady?"
• Margaret the host asked her, she had been avoiding this question and hoping they won't ask because she couldn't go into details of Natalie's work, she knew her sister was an ex-model who now works with models but that's all she knew, she felt Rafael kick against her legs and realized everyone was waiting for her answer.
• "Sorry, I am an ar** no, I use to model, now I work with models,"
• She let out, she almost said she was an artist, way to go Nicole.
• "That's nice and it suits you because you are so beautiful, one of the men whose name she hadn't bothered to memorize said.
• "Thank you, sir,"
• She said and tried to continue eating but she needed to speak with Natalie , maybe ask her a few questions or just tell her to get over here and free her from this.
• "If you would excuse, I need to use the restroom,"
• She said getting off her seat.
• "Oh, okay, Raina will take you there,"
• Margaret said and Nicole politely left the dining room without looking at Rafael, dude must be in shock over her behavior, it wasn't her fault, she followed behind Raina wishing she could just go home from there...