Twinfestation

Johna Tane has ben my best friend ever since my sixth grade year. She was a year ahead of me (Though, she failed her senior year last year due to some sort of sickness that she never liked to talk about), but never cared or complained when she'd hang out with me or my friends that were a year or so younger. Somehow, instead of us making her seem childish, she'd always make us seem more mature. I've always told Johna everything from my random mindless thoughts about nothing to my odd affection for my brother. She was one of those people that never judged you, only wanted to help you.

Johna was also the adopted daughter of the people who owned Seaweed, a beach themed Chinese restaurant. Most of the employees wore swimsuits or beach attire unless they were back in the kitchen. Of course, Johna always wore a bathing suit and white warpaint for some odd reason. It was always underneath her cloths whether she be in jeans and a T-shirt, or a silk dress. I always liked to think it's because she didn't like to wear underwear, but she hit me when I told her that.

But I still like to think so.

"Tane-sempai!" Silver yelled in over excitement as he always did when he saw a friend. "You work here?"

Johna laughed like she always did at this cheesy, over-used joke "Na, just working the takeout counter for free." She smiled at me while typing in our usual order. "Naked sushi, vegetable low mien, and the usual egg rolls. Anything else?"

"Nope. Anything new?" I set my chin on my hands onto the counter, mimicking Silver's position and looked back up to Johna's smile. Her smile always made you want to look just a bit longer, hoping maybe those dull green eyes would turn your way. Maybe the person who this kind look belonged to, would one day be involved with you. "It that a new suit?"

"Yep" Doing a 180, she showed us her new black and white pin striped bathing suit with a low low front, spaghetti straps, and buttons at the chest that looked like they might fly off. "Like it? I got it twenty percent off at Hot Topic."

"Uh, well," Silver's eyes were in the exact place I expected them to be. Even though this was usual, I still felt a twinge of jealousy towards my best friend. "It's a little...."

"Your tits look like Mexicans going for a drive."

"Oniichan! Racial slur!" Silver's playful anger always made me smile. I mainly smiled because I knew that the hurt look on his face was fake and that he was fine, maybe even because of me. But I also smiled because it genuinely amused me. "Apologize!"

"To who? I'm not Mexican, Johna's not Mexican, and I don't think you're Mexican. So, there's no problem."

"Nope, you must learn your lesson." Silver turned and pointed at two girls eating at a window on the other side of the restaurant. "There, she's Mexican. Go apologize for insulting her ancestors."

"Silver, how do you know. Aren't you being racist now? She's probably mixed or something."

"I dunno Say," Johna rested her chin on her fist, looking out at the two girls. "She did ask if we had salsa. Plus my boobs can sense when their kind is near."

"B cups?"

"I almost upgraded to a C!" She yelled, groping herself. Johna, strangely, has always monitored her boob growth. They've grown a lot since the middle of last year. "They won't stop growing! Anyway, I meant Mexicans."

"You heard her Niichan." Silver's playfully pursed lips made him look like he'd just eaten a lemon. "The boobs don't lie."

"He's right, they're all knowing."

"Yep, that means they know all."

"You better listen to 'em Say, you don't know what'll happen if you don't."

"Consequences, Oniichan, consequences. You could die."

"Mmmmhuuhh."

"Sempai's boobs will kill you."

"Do you want that?"

"That's death, Niichan."

"Death by Mexican boobs."

"Okay, okay!" I shouted through my laughter "I'll go apologize!"

"Good choice!" Johna yelled after me.

By this point, the two girls were already looking over at me before I approached, like most of the other people in the restaurant. I'm used to people looking at me, I've been told multiple times by multiple people that I was good-looking and how when people saw me, male or female, they'd be interested. Not that I particularly cared since the only one I wanted interested wasn't.

"Hi." I said with a smile as I approached the table. There was no doubt, she was Mexican. And the other was pure white, blond, bony, and ditsy looking.

"Hey." The assumed-Mexican said as she flipped her hair.

"So, I, uh, wanted to apologize for ever offending or insulting you or any of your kin."

"Um, Thank you?" The confusion on her face almost broke through the slight awkwardness you always get from telling a stranger sorry for something you've said to your twin brother. "I'm Gabriela."

"I'm Salem. I have to go, though. It was nice meeting you." Turning to get away fast, she called my name.

God fucking shit.

"Salem!"

"Yeah?" I fought the urge to rudely leave and decided to just let the even more awkward moment come.

"I was wondering, do you wanna go out sometime?" Straight forward and blunt, her look didn't let there be any misunderstandings in what she meant.

"Well, um, you see-" Shifting my weight, I thrust my hands into my pockets to keep them still.

"I don't mind if you have a girlfriend, I won't tell." She was biting her finger in what I guess was an attempt to be sexy.

God, why do you put girls like this on earth?

"No, it's not that, you see-"

"Is it that girl behind the counter? Here, I'll just write down my number." Shuffling through her bag, she quickly found a pen and grabbed a napkin.

"No, it's not that either. It's just that, well, um, uh, you see-"

"He's gay!" Silver's voice carried through the state, a relief to hear, but I wanted to gag him.

"Yeah. That." I could feel the looks I was getting etching into my back.

Thank you Silvester.

"Oh." I couldn't quite make out the full expression on her face, just the embarrassment. "Is he your boyfriend?" She said all too carefully.

"Oh, no! He's by brother, we're twins."

"Fraternal?" Her voice was calm as she tried to keep the conversation.

"No idea, we looked the same until age twelve. Well, I should go." I practically ran away before she could respond. No matter how many times it happens, it's always awkward, I never get used to it. It's easy for me to tell someone I'm taken, but telling them I'm gay is a whole nuther thing altogether. I'm not ashamed of being gay and I don't care who knows, it's just hard for me to tell people. It, for some reason, embarrasses them and that puts me in a awkward situation.

"Happy?" I asked as I hid my slightly warm face in the counter.

"Yep. You should be too, now Tane-sempai's boobs wont have to kill you." I could hear Silver take a sip of his drink before patting my head and saying "Be right back, I have to tinkle." Them literally scurry off, his feet sliding on the ground in quick short steps.

How am I the gay one?

"Salem," Johna started. "He just sa-"

"I know. It was so cuuuuute." I wined into the counter. "Why can I have them and not him!?"

"It's okay babe," She said as she rubbed my back over the counter. "You always get like this after you're hit on, it'll be alright."

I sighed as I picked my head up. "Yeah. Did you and Silver talk about anything or just watch me embarrass a Mexican?"

"Her name is Gabriela by the way. He told me you proof-read his manuscript for him. What happened?"

"He had a little bit of a breakdown. I think it's because he's not getting enough sleep. He's lighter too, you can see his ribs now." The image of earlier, Silver asleep, folded into himself on his bed flashed into my mind. His ribs clear on his sides and spine jutting out of his back, looking more pale than ever. "I don't think he's eating. He's spending too much time working."

"Yeah, he doesn't eat lunch anymore either, works through it." Johna took a sip of my drink before slipping a few extra fortune cookies into our bag. "His boss is working him too hard."

"I know, I want to kill the fucker. Hasn't he heard of child labor laws?"

She only sighed and shrugged. "As long as he has you, he'll be fine. But may I suggest you try ordering out more? When he eats he could at least try and gain some weight instead of withering away to nothing. Plus less time in the kitchen, less strain on his body."

"Good idea." I smiled at her as Silver approached, smiling. "Thanks Johna."

"Are we ready to go?" Silver asked patting his stomach. "I'm starving and Durarara!!! is supposed to come on tonight."

"Oh right, that new anime premiers, English dubbed, right?" Johna somehow always knew everything. Whether she listened or just spent a lot of time looking things up online, I don't know, but she knew it all. "I hear they cut out a lot."

"I hope not. You already lose a lot through the translation."

"Yeah, sucks. Anyway, you guys better get going. The Drunk Rush should be coming in soon, they always take up so much time."

"Sure sure." I waved her off after she thumped me in the head. "See ya later Johna."

"Bye sempai!"

"Bye guys. Don't forget about the trip Thursday!" She yelled out the door, leaving no time to respond.

"Do you want to watch Durarara!!! with me, Oniichan? You won't even have to read the subs." Silver smiled up at me through his scarf in the rather nice temperature. He managed to look like a child at any given time and forever managed to unconsciously seduce me with his wide green eyes.

I smiled back at him. He never asks me to watch new things with him. "Yeah. Sounds great."