"Elena, Leo, Austin's here, and Wyatt's already in the car, come on", Mrs. Nelwyn yelled from downstairs. Elena hadn't heard or cared what her mother said after the name Austin though. She rushed down the stairs, and almost fell when she caught sight of the boy. He had dark hair, and eyes that looked like the evening sky just before night fell. He gave her a movie-worthy smile, and her heart fluttered.
Just as her heart and stomach, which had joined the show, finished their gymnastics routine (complete with 5 front walkovers) her identical twin brother came down the stairs. He looked exactly like her, with chocolate brown hair and greyish-green eyes. They both had the same face-shape and height, though Leo had grown maybe a centimeter taller. The only noticeable difference between them (other than the fact the Leo was a boy) was that Leo had a lot of freckles peppering his face, while Elena did not.
That was easily replicated and masked in case they decided to switch places. Once, they had done so when Elena had a art competition and a book club at the same time. Leo had disguised himself as her and set out for the club. She had to pay him 1 dollar for it later, but it was almost worth it, almost. Elena tried and failed to talk to Austin, but her brother quickly covered it up by striking up a conversation with his best friend.
As they made their way to the car, Elena wondered whether she could get any more obvious. Everyone, every single person, knew that she had feelings for Austin. She silently thanked all the gods for boys' obliviousness. "About time", Wyatt said, from the driver's seat. Wyatt was 4 years older than Elena and Leo, so he was 19 and old enough to drive a car. He looked absolutely nothing like his younger siblings, with blonde hair and blue eyes.
The only thing they had in common was their parents and the love for books that all three siblings shared. Wyatt also had the same passion for parkour that Elena did, and he had taught Leo how to fence. Leo immediately called shotgun and winked at Elena as he made his way to the front.
Elena knew this was his way of helping, or possibly embarrassing, Elena by putting her in the back seat with Austin. "Oh, Amelia's waiting for us in the park with Ashlynn", Austin informed. "So, go to the park, then the Devil Trailer Centre, got it", Wyatt mumbled. "Stop by the McDonalds on our way there, we'll get something for everyone", Leo suggested. "Fine, McDonald's, park, then Trailer. I really should be paid for this.", Wyatt sighed. He pulled out of the drive-way and drove us in the direction of the park.
Half an hour later we were in the car with Austin's sister Ameillia (Millie) Caron, and her best friend Ashlynn (Ash) Zayn. It was common knowledge that Ash and my brother liked each other, though neither of them knew about the other's feelings. Somehow, by some coincidence, Elena was pushed up against Austin in the back seat, while his sister was on his other side.
Ash had picked the other window seat and was having a conversation with Millie about Harry Potter, while they both were eating their burger and fries. Elena tried to concentrate on her double burgers and fries. Elena tried and again failed to concentrate on her double cheeseburger and coke. But after a while, Austin and she joined in the debate Ash and Millie were having on who was the one that eventually saved the day.
They could not decide between Neville and Harry, and in the end, Wyatt mentioned how this conversation was occurring only because the company was bored. So, they decided to play some songs, but everyone wanted their favorite songs to be played first. Ash and Millie wanted to play 'Boy with Luv' by BTS but Elena suggested playing 'Legends Never Die'. Leo immediately agreed.
One thing about Leo and Elena was that they were the kind of siblings who always got along. The only time they had a fight was when they were about 4 and both of them wanted to play with the teddy, but they were both comfortably playing together in about 5 minutes.
Austin also immediately agreed with their choice and the group played a bunch of songs in the next few minutes, as they maid their way to the trailer center. When they reached there, they were met by Diana and Selene Purvis.
"About time you got here, we've been waiting for ages", Diana moaned. She immediately grabbed the rest of the coke from Elena's hand had finished it in seconds. Diana and Elena were close, but no-one, not even they, understood how they got along. All through middle school, Elena and Diana had hated each other, but after an incident involving make-up, the new kid, a bully, chewing gum and a squirrel, the girls had gotten a lot closer.
"So, how many more left?" She asked, slurping the last of the drink. "Uhm, I think Etaine, Easton, Asher and Damian, yeah, they aren't here", Austin said, counting on his fingers. "I'll call them", Elena suggested, pulling out her phone. She wasn't religious, but often thanked the universe for the fact that she wasn't the type of person who spoke in stutters around Austin. The only time she was weird around him was when he surprised her.
As she strolled in her contact list, she remembered the times he had walked into the room when she wasn't expecting it, or the time he had decided to hide in her room to scare her. She usually squeaked, or dropped something, or fell down, or an odd mixture of all three.
She found Etaine's number and called her. "Hey, El", Etaine Wicce's voice said. "Hey, where are you, Diana's gonna throw a temper tantrum if you don't reach soon", Elena said." I am not!" Diane yelled. "Yeah, we're just around the corner", She replied, with a small chuckle. "We?" Elena asked, confused, "Who's with you?" " Damian, Asher, and Easton decided to hitch a ride, and I was in the neighborhood anyway", Etaine clarified. "We'll be there in 5, see ya."
She hung up and I looked up and the gang. "They're on their way. The guys are with Etaine, and they'll be here in 5", Elena told them.
"Hey El, come here for a second", Leo called from about 100 yards off to the right. I walked up to him, to see what on earth was he looking at. He was glaring at a box, which had intricate carving and gold plating. But it wasn't the design that caught my attention, but it was the tag attached to it. The tag stated-
This is the property of-
Wyatt Nelwyn, Selene Burvis, Elena Nelwyn, Leo Nelwyn, Austin Caron, Etaine Wicce, Easton Hunter, Diana Burvis, Damian Ender, Ameillia Caron, Asher Sleigh, Ashlynn Zayn.
P.S- The games always begin with a smash.
"Leo, why are our names written here?" Elena asked, glaring at her brother as though it was his doing. "Do I look like I have any idea", Leo said, glaring straight back. "You never look like you have any idea", Elena said, smirking at her brother. "Oh, shut up. What should we do with it?" "Take it back and show the other, I suppose", Elena answered.
We made our way back, Elena holding the box gently in her hands, holding it like it was a nuclear bomb. The others immediately noticed it, and watched the twins make their way back. "What on earth is that?" Diana asked. Elena held it up and showed it to the others. Wyatt gasped as he looked at the nametag. "Why- How- What?" he stuttered.
Just then a car rounded the corner and stopped just in front of us. The rest of our group climbed out. The Etaine, Asher, Easton, and Damian jogged toward us. "Wait, what's that?" Asher asked, noticing the box. "No idea. We just found in sitting in the bushes", Leo answered. "Why does it have our names on the tag", Etaine asked. Elena said, "We've been trying to figure out ourselves".
"Well, not meaning to be a buzzkill, but can we go to the trailer already, and get this trip started. You know full well I have no patience", Diana said, with an expression of pure exasperation. We took her advice and walked into the trailer center, signing our names and sitting on the waiting chairs.
"So, Wyatt, where are we going again?" Leo asked. "Wyoming", Wyatt grunted, studying a map. "Yeah, but where in Wyoming?" Leo asked impatiently. "Uh, the Devil's Tower", Wyatt replied absent-mindedly. "And why on earth are we going to a place called the Devil's Tower. Isn't it like- unlucky?" Leo asked. Wyatt ignored this question or just did not hear it. "Dude, is the place unlucky or not?" Elena broke in. "I don't really know", Wyatt said, glaring at Elena.
Just then a voice from the reception center called, "Trailer 13, please report to the main desk." They made their way to the desk and signed the trailer out. Then we made our way outside to the road. There was a big trailer waiting there, with a burly-looking driver sitting at the front seat. We climbed into the back, and Elena audibly gasped.
The back of the trailer was a full-on tiny home. There was a set of 3 bunk beds, a squishy sofa, a mini kitchen, and a well-stocked bathroom. After they made themselves comfortable, Elena asked, "So how is the road part of this trip gonna go?" "A few days in the trailer, then we catch a bus, then a cab, and a bit of the trip on foot", Wyatt answered.
A few hours later, the sun had started to set. Selene, Wyatt, and Ash were in the Kitchen, starting on the salad and potatoes. Leo and Elena had promised to cook the chicken and soup. The others were fast asleep, and Leo was taking a shower. Elena was staring out the window.
She was lost in thought when- "Hey El", Austin said. He sat down next to Elena as she let out a strangled squeak. "You ok?" He asked. "Yeah, just, thinking", She replied. "About?" He asked. "Dad", She replied, her voice dropping to a whisper and her tone falling. "Oh", Austin's beautiful eyes turned worried. He covered her hand with his, and she stared at it. "Wanna talk?" He asked, the question so motherly Elena almost relaxed, almost. "Just, still hurts", Elena shrugged.
Austin's gripped her hand tightly. They sat in comfortable silence for a few seconds, before Wyatt called from the kitchen. "El, do I put soy sauce or ketchup on the potatoes?" Austin laughed as Elena got up from the sofa, half reluctant, half exasperated. "You do not put the sauce in mashed potatoes", Elena ran to the kitchen.
"What about mashed potatoes", Leo asked, walking out of the bathroom in a new set of PJs. "Wyatt almost put the sauce in the potatoes", Elena replied, taking the spatula from her brother. "No, you did not", Leo ran into the kitchen. In the end, Elena and Leo made the whole dinner on their own, minus the salad. That's all they trusted the others with.
"Dinner's ready!" Leo called, just as the twins finished frying the chicken. And they all sat down for dinner. Just as they began to a eat, the trailer flipped over, and Elena's vision went black.
