EDWARD HUGHES<br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130909183918/maditsmadfunny/images/d/de/Zac_efron.jpg)</div><br/>No matter how much I tried to not think of it, my mind went back to the same conversation repeatedly.  It happened just a week ago after I informed my boss at the local GameWare, a gaming store solely for PC games and is run by GameStop, that my family couldn't stay in that location for any longer.  Luckily, the guy was understanding and had me wait outside his office while he made a few calls, pulled a few strings.  Eventually, he called me in and said that the guy he called ran a large GameStop close to where I said I was moving to.  I was to expect a call on Wednesday two weeks from now, enough time to get settled in before the interview.<br/><br/>As the memory ended, I sighed and looked back down at my newest acquirement, a murder mystery novel written by a John Lutz, a bestselling author,<em>"Weren't they all, these days?  Weren't they all....'</em>Thusfar, it was a very good read.  It was a story about a madman dubbed as "The Night Sniper" who gunned down men and women, no matter their age or ethnicity all for some currently unknown agenda.  All that stands against the man was a detective by the name of Repetto.<br/><br/>I glanced over at my sister, Debbie, and noticed that her eyes had just very slightly narrowed, which explained why she was so quiet.  That book, ("Human Disqualification", was it?), had stolen away most of her attention from most everything for a while now.  From the looks of it, she was nearly done.  Shrugging, I returned my attention to my book.<br/><br/><strong>"....Now I know you twins are a bit old, but would you be okay sharing a room?  Then your mum can have the room next to that shares a balcony with your room."</strong>said my aunt, Angela.  My head jerked up from my book quickly, as would be expected from someone who had that bombshell dropped on them,<em>'I...have to share a room with Debbie?'</em>Aloud, however, I started speaking after Debbie's answer was interrupted and there was a moment of silence,<strong>"It's fine, so long as we have enough space for our things."</strong><br/><br/>Eventually, we reached the house, if someone could even call it a house.  The place was huge, easily big enough to place the old home in and still have room for a home on the next floor!  As the van pulled to the stop, I opened the door and slung my backpack over my shoulder before stepping around the vehicle to get a better view of the place that we were going to call home for an unknown period of time.  I turned around, trying to get a glimpse of everything.  I could not wait to take a dip in the pool.  We never had one at our old home and the public pool was not what one would call very clean.<br/><br/>As I turned back to the van, I caught Debbie's eye and the nod to the van.  I knew what she was referring to, but didn't make any other moves except walking casually back to the vehicle.  No sooner than I walked behind the van did Debbie toss a couple of bags at me.  I very nearly dropped them, but I managed to hold on to them.  Judging by their weight, I was going to have to carry the heavier ones.  I rolled my eyes at Debbie, knowing mum was nearby.  Had to act like a normal brother who had to deal with his sister, right?<br/><br/>As we headed into the house, we passed the two servants, Debbie waving at them and I nodding a greeting.  I had no idea which was which, so I dubbed one Alpha and the other Beta.  Not like I was going to ask who they were, especially as they didn't ask us.<em>'Then again,'</em>I thought,<em>'Perhaps they already know what our names are.</em>'  I shook my head and allowed Debbie to take the lead.  She always seemed to know where to go when we went somewhere.  Directions were not my strong suit in the matter.<br/><br/>I paused as we passed through the balcony, taking a deep breath.  I always believed that the air was cleaner the higher one went and was thankful that our room was on the second floor.  I shook myself and continued walking through the floor, eventually finding the twin room.  Debbie flew by me, heading downstairs.  Normally, I'd be the one to get things, but we did have to keep up our public appearances.  It was obvious to most people that the two of us were close, closer that most brothers and sisters, but most brushed it off as respect for one another.  It helped that our father wasn't home as often and that mum was somewhat stressed, if not happy, with her work.  Father's death seemed to make the cover even stronger for our public relationship.<br/><br/>While I waited for Debbie, I set her bag by her bed and placed my bags on the foot of mine.  Debbie, as usual, got dibs on everything we shared and took the bed nearest to the bathroom.  As she was walking in, I took a look inside,<em>'Nice...very, very nice.  Shower is quite large, looks like a couple of people could easily fit in there.  Room's nearly larger than my room at the old home.'</em><br/><br/>I turned back to Debbie as she lay down on her bed and started speaking to me,<strong>"Hey, Edward. How do you think this'll be?  I think it'll be good really, though I'm curious of what Angela meant earlier when she talked about the bottom floor. I only picked up about half of it, but it was something about... Gah, I don't remember... What did she say about it?"</strong><br/><br/>I leaned against the doorframe of the bathroom, fingering the leather collar I wore like I usually did when I was thinking,<strong>"Well, with a larger place such as this, it would certainly be easier to hide our relationship.  I personally like the arrangements here, nice rooms, open areas, an actual, clean pool.  Knowing Angela, she'll keep mum busy for a few days or a week or more.  Mum always said she enjoyed greater freedom than she did, so she may help her wind down.  While that's going on, we can check the place out better? ~"</strong>I paused as I tried to remember what was said about a bottom floor,<strong>"~ Hmm, I don't really know.  I think she said something about room arrangements being made, but whoever stays down there won't be able to sleep?"</strong>I shook my head as my words came out more like a question than a statement,<strong>"To be honest, I was reading that novel and somewhat drowned them out."</strong><br/><br/>I walked back over to my bed and opened a bag, fishing out one of the softer leather collars I had and exchanged the one on my neck with the new one.  I'd been wearing that one for a few days and I couldn't seem to get used to it.  I figured it was the way it was made compared to the others, but Debbie liked it, so I kept it.  Still, I much preferred the one she gave me for our last birthday, the one I was just placing on.<br/><br/><strong>"So, what do you think we should do, hmm?  Check out the pool?  Take a look around the place we'll be calling home?  Or should we just relax for a while?"</strong>I asked with curiosity.  The house was much more than I had expected, despite being told that it wasn't like any home we had been to before.