Rabbit Hole Carnival: Circles

“Daddy?” Renee asked, walking downstairs. “..did one order a Shocking Apple.”

“I would like one.” Amber replied.

“A moment then.” Renee said. “I know a second star code when I see one.

“She is rather insistent!” Nick said. “You might stay up all night!”

“You say that as though I didn’t stay here!” Renee replied. “Amoungst other moments!”

“We’re Amber and Emerald.” Emerald said.

“And Amber ordered the drink.” Amber said.

“Twins or not.” Renee replied. And set them down in front of Amber. “Don’t insult a bartender's intelligence, you swap with that little hair trick, I’ll know.”

“You…” Emerald said.

“You fiddle with it.” Renee said. “Not adjust it,but fiddle with it. Like going to swap it.”

“So why doesn’t she drink?” Amber asked.

“One of you got over endlessly being copied, the other made a point to not be a copy." Renee replied. “Not my job, which is why which did which.”

“Wait.. Amber?” Emerald asked. “

“I.. it's not that I don't like being your sister…  I just don't like being mistaken for you.”

“Not that.” Emerald said.  “Is that why you're always ordering something different?! I don’t like being mistaken for you either.”

“It’s not the only reason why…” Amber said. “I”  like sour a lot too.”

“If I may?” Renee asked.

“Hmm?” Amber replied.

“If you may what?” Emerald asked.

“We get a few twins in here from time to time.” Renee said. “Rarely do they actually bond, because people don't bond if you force them to do so. In fact, they usually go doing the opposite."

“Right.” Emerald replied. “I mean no one likes being pushed around.”

“And it usually circles, but… twin or not she is still my sister, and I like her.” Amber said. “Not her fault our parents did… a lot of things.”

“We kind of raised each other, huh?” Emerald giggled. “Shielded the other a lot too. Like one prom night.”
“Oh my god I was explaining that to him forever.” Amber replied. “I’m happy Isaac even bothered with a second date after that.”

“She had this massive crush on Isaac.” Emerald said. “Finally got the nerve to ask to prom, and our parents insisted we wear the same dress.”

Renee stopped shuffling bottles going from listening to fully focused. “Your parents know that?” Renee asked.

“Yes.” Amber replied. “I was on my actual knees begging to let it go.”

“I’m asexual myself too, so it was just making things so much awkward then it needed to be.” Emerald said. “Thankfully Emmett agreed to hide a dress in his locker, and we got Amber changed.”

“That poor boy.” Renee replied. “Probably spent like 20 minutes looking for some dress of a different color, and was hoping he wasn’t stood up or something.”

“His words exactly.” Amber replied. “I to this day have never seen more emotion out the the relief he got when he finally saw what he was looking for.”

“You know what.” Emerald. “Maybe I will take up my sister's drinking habits.”

“Get a Shocking Apple and I’ll take a Homesick?” Amber said. “A fruit cider for the star an sour drink for me. because I like sour.”

“Sound like a plan to me” Renee said.