Addison woke up bright and early the next day, sunlight streaming through the window behind his bed. He blindly reached for his glasses, and after nearly poking his eye out trying to put them on, manages to shove them on his face. Addison looked over to his night side table to find a note taped to it, and immediately recognized Sienna's messy, cursive/print penmanship.

Addison-

Your mother and I will be out of town for the next few days. Be smart, careful, and keep your sister in line. Mrs. Henderson from next door will check on you every night - you know the drill.

Love, Mom and Mom

He sighed. Addison did know the drill, because this happened nearly every other week. He was pretty sure he was closer to the next door neighbor than he was to his own parents.

Quickly and quietly getting ready for the day, Addison crept down the hall and into the kitchen - but not before checking in on his sister.

Amberley was sprawled across her bed, still fully clothed and not even under the covers. Paint brushes and and faux fruit were scattered around the room, along with clothes, shoes, and things that had been out for so long Addison couldn't even recognize them anymore. Amberley's long white hair hung in her face, and the strands that didn't stick out in positions that shouldn't have been scientifically possible. Her unearthly pale skin was barely visible against the yellow of her bed spread.

Addison sighed. He figured he might as well wake her up now, and get it over with.

He sat down on the side of her bed, and pushed a lock of hair out of her eyes. Even though she was asleep, Addison could tell by her puffy eyes that his sister had been crying.

"Amberley, wake up." Addison shook his sister's shoulder. She didn't budge.

"Come on, Amber. Not today, please!" He whined, and dragged her off the bed. Amberley remained on the floor, a motionless lump. Addison sighed, unsure of what to do, when suddenly, inspiration hit him square in the face.

Addison ran out of the room, only to come back a minute later with a bucket water and ice.

She's gonna kill me, Addison thought. But he didn't care if Amberley had to drag his bloody corpse to school - he would get there on time.

And so, before he lost his courage, Addison dumped the bucket of ice water on his sister.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Amberley jumped straight to her face, sopping wet. She slowly turned to her brother.

"Why. Did you. Wake. Me. Up?" Amberley asked in a calm voice that shook with hidden anger. Addison gulped.

"B-be-because we have school in thirty minutes?" Addison's voice wavered as this only seemed to anger his twin more.

"Let's make two things clear." Amberley said in a deadly calm voice, slowly walking toward her brother. Addison stumbled backwards, tripping over a can of paint in the process.

"One - I don't care about school. Sleep is more important." Addison opened his mouth to protest, but his sitter quickly silenced him with a look.

"And two-" Amberley picked up a can of Perfectly Perfect Princess Pink #2227  and raised it above her head.

"-ITS SATURDAY!" She shouted, and dumped the contents of the can over her brothers head. He glared at her.

"What was that for?!"

"What do you think, you ignorant, moronic dunce?!" Amberley said sarcastically.

"Aw, look who managed to stay awake in English." He sneered. Amberley's pale pink eyes seemed to burn holes into his skull.

"Did the lunch lady you sit with teach you that one? I heard you're taking her to homecoming!" Addison winced as though he had been slapped in the face. It was true he wasn't all that popular in school - no, he wasn't just unpopular. He was that one kid you didn't know went to your school until you saw his page in the yearbook. And yeah, he had exchanged a few words with Bathilda, but it wasn't his fault nobody else wanted to talk to him, was it?

He stormed out of Amberley's room, and into his own, where he sat down his bed and sulked. He saw blur of army green pass his open bedroom door, and heard the slam of the front door shutting shortly afterwards.   

For the next few days, Amberley refused to utter a word to Addison until he apologized for waking her up. And Addison refused to apologize to Amberley until she apologized for turning him into a fairy princess, and since she wasn't talking to him, that clearly wasn't gonna be happening any time soon.

So they days went by.

By Monday, Addison was getting sick of not speaking to his twin. As annoying as she was, she was still his sister, and even though he swore that he would never admit it to her, Addison loved Amberley, and she was one of his closest friends.

So, he walked into the living room in search of her, and found her sitting on the couch, her eyebrows knit together and a frown evident on her face.

"Hey Ads?"

So surprised to hear his sister talking to him again, Addison pointed to himself turned around to see if she was talking to another Ads - only to remember she only called him Ads, and that they were the only people in the house at the moment.

"Yeah?"

"What time did Sienna and Kathryn say they'd be home again?" She looked nervous.

"Um..... Five PM. Why?"

"It's Five thirty....."

Addison sighed. There wasn't any real reason behind it, but whenever anyone or anything was late, Amberley would get nervous and paranoid.

"Chillax, Amber. They're probably just running late."

And their disagreement forgotten in Amberley's moment of fear, Addison sat down by his sister, and gaze her hand a gentle squeeze, her albino skin vibrant against his chocolatey skin tone.

But soon it was six. And then it was six thirty. And then it was seven. And by seven thirty, Addison was starting to get nervous, meanwhile  his sister was shaking with silent fear next to him, her strong grip cutting off the circulation to his fingers.

"Calm down, okay?" Addison wasn't sure if he was speaking to his sister, himself, or both. He was guessing the latter.

"I'm going to text Kathryn and Sienna, and we'll get this all sorted out, okay?"
Amberley gave a half nod, as she stared straight ahead at the TV, her mind clearly elsewhere.

Me - Where r u guys? Amber is freaking out!
Momma K: We need you to call your Uncle Okieriete, honey. Tell him it's a code Q.
Me: Why? What's going on, mom?
Momma K: I'm sorry honey, but I have to go. We should've told you earlier, but we never got the chance. Just know that we love you, and your uncle will explain everything.
Me: Mom, what's going on???
*This user has blocked you*

Addison closed his eyes, shaking. He distantly felt Amberley's head peering over his shoulder, reading his texts.

"Well, don't just sit there - call Uncle Oak!"

But at that moment, Addison can't. He can't do anything - can't move, can't breathe. Amberley calls to him repeatedly, but he just shakes his head.

"This can't be happening...... It's all a dream..... This can't be happening...."

"Hello? Uncle Oak? Hi, it's nice to hear your voice too, but we're kind of in the middle of a family emergency...."

Okieriete Welsh wasn't actually Amberley and Addison's uncle. He wasn't even related to Kathryn or Sienna. He was their closest friend, though, and he had babysat the twins for ten years, and had only stopped once Kathryn and Sienna decided that they were too old for a baby sitter. And even then, he would come over most Saturdays for dinner, or to take the siblings out to see a movie.

Needless to say, Uncle Okieriete was pretty damn awesome.

As Amberley hung up the phone, she turned to her brother only to find him still stuck in his frozen state. Fed up, she took a deep breath - and slapped him across the face.

Addison's head snapped up, his cheek burning. He touched it lightly, and threw his sister a dirty look.

"Thanks."

"Anytime!"

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Cautiously, the two walked over, and Addison opened it to reveal a tall, slender man with light brown skin and hair that had been dyed blue for the twins' birthday two months ago. Uncle Oak's normally mischievous grin had been replaced by a grave stone face, though, making him looking years older and much more intimidating.

"You two better come with me."