Chapter Text
Consciousness was coming back to me, the low hum of the car gently stirring me awake.
I open my eyes to the early morning sun coming over the horizon to my left. I sit up and stretch out in the back seat while I yawn so long my jaw clicks.
“She's finally awake!” My mother says from the passenger seat.
“Morning Mama, Pa” I say, sitting back and rubbing my eyes of any remaining sleep.
I hear yawning and shuffling around and look over the back of my seat to see my perfect sister and her boyfriend waking up.
Or should I say my ex boyfriend.
Yeah that was a fun conversation we had when we found out Annabeth was dating my ex.
My parents were wholly against it at first seeing as how the breakup between Trey and I was basically catastrophic but then they eased up seeing how happy he made Annabeth. To me it was the ultimate betrayal from both of them and had put an indefinite rift between us, a rift our parents had noticed straight away.
It was why we were on this trip to our grandparents property in Newt, Texas in the first place. To get out of the city for 2 months and just live off the land.
My mothers side of the family was like that, wild and free and literally lived off the land. They had been farmers for generations but mama was the one to break that generational curse as she'd called it her whole life to go off to Boston of all places and pursue her passion in fashion design.
This was actually the first time we'd be ever meeting mama's side of the family.
“How much longer?” I asked as I opened my water bottle and took a swig. I watched as mama fiddled with her watch but didn't answer, “Mama?” I said.
“Huh, oh it's gonna be another 6 or so more hours sugar.” She said, her southern accent coming out more and more on this trip and then she went back to fidgeting. I could tell this was a really big thing for her, she'd kept in contact of course with her parents and siblings with the annual thanksgiving and Christmas postcards and calls but this was the first time since moving that she'd be seeing them face to face again.
I then watched as Pa reached over and took a hold of Mama's hand to reassure her and stop her fidgeting, she gradually relaxed and gave a small grateful smile to him and I knew she'd be alright if not a bit apprehensive still.
It was what I loved about my parents' relationship, they were each other's rocks. The pure love and affection they displayed spoke volumes of their years together.
My twin sister Annabeth and I were born only 9 months after they had literally just met and from then on they were the picture perfect couple, Pa was in construction and Mama was a fashion designer, not a super famous one but she sold many of her pieces to famous people.
It still meant we grew up more than comfortable, in a lavish house with expensive cars and the fridge and the pantry constantly stocked with food.
Despite it all though, I always felt there was something missing for me. Like a calling elsewhere, and the closer we got to Newt the bigger the feeling of being called was getting.
I was honestly excited about it all just not the fact that my parents were also using this trip as a way for my sister and I to hash out any ill will towards one another and to forgive and forget but how can you ever forgive your twin for getting with the man that had hurt you, both mentally and physically.
Trey and I's relationship was beyond toxic and abusive. I never actually told my parents that part but my sister knew it all. It was why it was the biggest betrayal. And then seeing them flaunt their perfect relationship in front of me, Annabeth walking around with no bruises or scars really fucked with my mentality.
Made me think that I would forever be the discarded twin, the one left to bear the ugliness of the world while my perfect sister gets everything she ever wants.
It was one of the reasons why I felt left out at times. My parents never had a favourite but it was obvious mama spent more time with me and Pa spent more time with Annabeth yet they always treated my sister and I fairly but it seemed not everyone shared the same idea. I was the quieter, ‘weirder’, horse girl twin whereas Annabeth was the loud, outgoing peppy cheerleader that she was. At times we even had people question whether we were even sisters, let alone twins. The only thing we had in common was our last name and some of our features, we were even fraternal. But we did have the same honey blonde hair, although Annabeth preferred to keep hers short and I wore mine long down to the top of my ass, amber brown eyes, tanned skin and the exact same hourglass figure with long legs. Although as soon as I found out about Annabeth and Trey, I dyed my hair a gorgeous cherry red from the honey blonde we shared. Trey had ‘forbid’ me from ever dying my hair when we were in a relationship so it was a freeing feeling when I did. The shock on my sister and Trey’s face was indescribable. And the praise that came from my mama and pa was amazing, they had absolutely loved the colour on me and so I bought as much store boxed cherry red hair dye as I could to keep the colour. I currently have an entire bag dedicated to my hair dye.
So, yes she was the popular sister and I was the loner sister. I mean don’t get me wrong, I had friends too but people at school never really spoke to me unless it had something to do with my sister.
The 6 hours went by fairly quickly when I blasted my ears with music so I wouldn’t hear anymore conversation. I knew it had gone by because 10 minutes ago we had passed a sign that read Newt, Texas, the heartland of Maize.
I don’t know how anyone could be proud of corn but then again I wasn’t a diehard farmer.
We drove for another 30 minutes until we were pulling up in the smallest most decrepit looking town I’d ever seen. The only new building and that was being generous seemed to be the hospital near the end of the main road. It looked to have a run down gas station, restaurant, motel, fire station and police station next door from the hospital. As we kept on driving there was a post office, a ‘friendly’ grocers that looked anything but friendly, a teeny tiny school house with a well worn playground and swing set and a bar next door to a pharmacy.
There were small townhouses scattered throughout but all in all it looked like practically a ghost town. There were maybe 2 other cars driving on the road. But not a soul in sight, not even walking along the sidewalk.
It was lunchtime so Pa suggested we have a look at the little ‘family restaurant’ for something to eat.
He pulled up and parked and we all got out, I had to of course pull the seat forward for her majesty and man-child. I stood outside the car and tied my hair back into a ponytail as the sun beat down on us. I prayed the restaurant would have air conditioning or even fans at this rate.
I stretched and my white crop top slid up and revealed my stomach and abs glistening in the sun. Once finished I pulled it down and it covered my midsection as I was wearing high waisted wrangler jeans and moms old cowboy boots. I opened my eyes only to lock gazes with Trey. I rolled my eyes and walked ahead of everyone and straight into the restaurant, a small bell rang out signalling the restaurant had a customer.
Cold air blasted my face as I scanned the area, there was a massive counter that ran along one wall with a busty woman with a blonde bun and brown eyes behind it who eyed me off along with the other patrons sitting at the counter before the woman was then greeting me with a big smile.
“Well howdy pretty little thing, I’m Dixie, the owner of this establishment counter, table or booth?” She asked, her Texan accent thick, I walked forward and being polite I replied,
“Table, please ma’am for 5 people” I had a small southern twang due to Mama but my sister got our Pa’s Boston accent due to us spending more time with one parent growing up.
“No worries sugar, take your pick” She said gesturing to the tables scattered about. I walked over to a table near the middle of the restaurant, at the counter sat 3 men, one was pretty young and looked near my age with brunette hair, brown eyes and tanned skin and sitting down he looked tall and a little handsome. He eyed me just a little and I eyed him back, the other two men were much older, one had honey blonde locks like mama and grey eyes and the other man had dark hair like the guy near my age and dark eyes. Each man wore clothes as worn as they looked.
Farmers were my immediate guess but looking closer I saw the sawdust caking their flannels, faded jeans and workmen boots drew the conclusion there must be a sawdust mill around here somewhere.
There was also a couple, tourists in their flashier clothes, who sat at one of the booths near the back of the restaurant minding their business and eating their food.
“Dixie darlin, can I get a refill?” The man with dark hair said moving his beer mug closer to Dixie’s side of the counter.
“Course ya can Jeb” She grabbed his mug and filled it with an amber liquid that looked too dark to be any whiskey I knew.
The bell signalled again which let me know my family just walked in, they shuffled over to where I had sat down at a table and mama sat next to me with pa across from me leaving Annabeth and Trey at the other end of the table away from me. I was thankful my parents arranged themselves like that, at least they knew that I was not yet ready to hash anything out with either of them.
I stood suddenly and walked back over to the counter and grabbed some menu’s so Dixie didn’t have to do all that.
“No, darling you just go and sit down”
“Ma’am please, let me and I’ll come up here and give you our order so you don’t have to fuss with waiting on us,” She smiled at me and nodded,
“My, you must have learnt manners from a saint to be such an angel.” At that I looked at her a little bewildered, considering my name was Angelina Mae but everyone has called me either Angel or Angel-Mae for as long as I could remember.
“Just my mama, ma’am” She nodded and I took the menus back to the table.
I sat down and gave everyone a menu each, I scanned through and my eyes landed on a burger that made my mouth water,
“Pa, can I just get the good ole Texan burger with curly fries and a coke?” He nodded and was already pulling his wallet out to give me some cash.
“I’ll just have the curly fries and a diet coke daddy” Annabeth said, lacing her hand in Trey’s, it made my eye twitch and I sat back in my chair so mama obscured the view.
I felt eyes watching me and looked to the counter again at the young man who was staring at me.
“And how about you Trey, what you having?” I heard Pa ask Trey, making me break eye contact and look down at the table blushing.
“Just a plain old cheeseburger with normal fries and a Fanta please sir” I held back a scoff, fucking basic asshole.
“I think I’ll have the ole Texan burger too, see if they still make it the same way from years ago” Mama replied setting down her menu, “And curly fries and a coke too” She said leaning forward on the table to look at Pa, which left me in Trey’s line of sight, I watched him lock eyes with me and saw a small smirk that had my skin crawling.
I sat up abruptly.
“I’m just gonna head to the toilet” I whispered to mama who nodded,
“You want me to go with you?” I rolled my eyes at her,
“I’m not 5 years old anymore mama” I said and stood up and walked over to the counter.
“Hi Ma’am where are your toilets?” I asked, she pointed to a set of doors near the back of the place,
“Right through there and down a hallway and the second door on the right” I thanked her and walked off,
I reached the back and walked through the doors and true to her words it was a hallway, to anyone else it’d seem horrifying but I wasn’t prissy and walked down it and found the second door on the right. I pushed open the door and walked in.
Now, if I was Annabeth, I'd probably be a little sook about the smell, the dust on every surface and the dim lightbulb that turned it into a horror film bathroom but because I was me, I simply walked in the cubicle, did my business and then went to wash my hand.
I heard noises from the other side of the wall and heard men's voices. Must be the men from the counter.
“You saw that beauty with the red hair, Thomas would go feral for her. The others would be perfect little playtoys for Mama and the clan.” One of them sniggered. Confusion and an uneasy feeling reeled through my stomach but I stayed longer. Wanting to know what these men were up to.
“The older woman looks really familiar but I just don't know from where”
“Maybe you can get closer to her and find out personally if you know what I mean” all of them laughed at that and a sickening feeling went through my stomach,
“Fucking tourists coming in with their flashy cars, technology and uppityness” they had no idea that mama was from here, that we weren't just a couple of tourists. Well Pa, Annie, Trey and I were maybe since we never actually grew up here but still we weren't ‘technically’ tourists.
I quickly finished up and walked out, the men exiting just behind me and so I quickened my pace and made it back to the table.
“Mama, we have to go!” I whispered harshly.
“What!?” Mama asked worriedly, “why?!” She went to stand signalling for the others too. When I turned to go to the door I found Dixie standing there holding a sawed off shotgun.
“You couple of city slickers ain't going anywhere!” She shouted and I had never felt such fear as she cocked the gun and aimed at us.