“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” I told her.
“I guess not. But definitely something I never wish to repeat. Is my singing really that bad?” She teased me.
“No, worse,” I joked.
“I guess I should probably head back to camp now, but can I raid the pantry first?”
“Go ahead.”
I hugged her, then opened the door to leave. Amanda was standing right there. She had listened to our whole conversation! I dragged her into the room. “So the portals work?” she asked before I was able to interrogate her.
“She knows!” Taylor said, a panicky look in her eyes. “How much do you know?”
A crocodile smile crossed her face. She seemed so innocent, and yet… “Oh, everything. How you (she pointed at me) are my dear adopted sister from a different dimension, and where you go when you run away. I might as well tell my mom right now.” She pretended to leave but I held her shirt tight.
“Don’t tell her anything!”
“What’s to stop me?” The crocodilian grin returned full force. This girl reminded me of myself.
“What will you take?” I asked coolly.
She pretended to think for a minute. “I want… for both of you to get out of my life for good.”
“And just how would that come about?” Taylor asked, more than a little offended.
First, she pointed to me. “All I need to do with you is get you back to your own dimension. And with you (she pointed to Taylor) I want to find another family that can so graciously adopt you instead of us.”
Taylor crossed her arms. “The adoption was final. So you’d better learn to deal with me for at least another two years. So I guess we’ll have to get rid of you ASAP, Other Taylor.”
“I’ve wanted to go back since the minute I got here. I'm sure Mom is frantic. What's the plan?”
“Remember when I told you about the two experimental mirrors being installed, and their counterparts placed in your dimension?”
I told her I remembered. I realized later that she had only mentioned one pair.
“The first was installed in Donovan’s bathroom, but I broke it. The second was installed at the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle, as part of a new exhibit. But after the company destroyed Dad’s work, the exhibit was taken down. But Dad heard rumors that, through a remodeling mishap, part of the portal mirror was installed in the second floor women’s restroom. We could try there. Actually, I think that my History class is going there next week. I can take a look while I’m there.”
My stomach growled. “I’m going downstairs to get food. Amanda, if you breathe a word to anyone…”
She nodded, but I still felt wary. Who knew that behind this wide-eyed, inexperienced face was the mind of a predator?
I ate a granola bar quickly, briefly bumping into a texting Chelsea in the hallway. She glanced at me, but was clearly involved in her cybernet conversation.
Carmen came down the stairs as I was going up. “Hey, I was just talking to you…” Her eyes narrowed, and she yanked me up the stairs - her first use of force with me. “Do you have anything you need to tell me?”
“No,” I answered truthfully. “I just walked really quietly downstairs to… get a pencil, and then realized halfway down that I didn’t need one, and went back up.”
“Don’t get smart with me, and tell me what’s going on! I talked to you and Amanda and did a little laundry and then there you are coming up the stairs. I must be going crazy!”
The door to Taylor’s room was closed. I hoped she had hid, otherwise everything would be laid bare. My heart dived to my stomach, and I felt numb all over. My ears burned, and I hoped Carmen didn’t notice.
The door swung open, revealing… an empty room. The light was still on, but no Other Taylor. She must be hiding under the bed, or in the closet, or in the bookshelf corner. Carmen barely stepped into the room and looked around, but I was terrified that she would find us out.
My heart stopped when she turned to me, but her words were like a balm to my frazzled mind and heart: “Taylor, I’m sorry that I doubted you. When you ran away, it really made me question whether I am doing well as a parent and guardian. You remind me of myself when I was your age, and I can understand what feelings you’re going through. After all, our experiences have been nearly identical. I just want you to know that I’m here for you and will vouch for you no matter what.” She briefly hugged me, then left.
Okay, that was a bit mushier than I expected, but doubtlessly heartfelt. I closed the door and said softly. “It’s okay to come out.”
She came out of the closet. Her red face and shining cheeks gave away the depth of her emotion. “I told you Carmen’s sincerity isn’t a facade!” I crossed my arms and looked at her, who smiled a little. I tried to lighten the situation. “But I think she likes me better than you.”
The smile disappeared, and anger replaced the happy tears. “The only reason she said that was because she thought you were me! I’m the one who ran away. That spiel would’ve been for me, except that you’re here!”
“You’re the one who brought me over! And she wouldn’t have said that if you hadn’t!” I heard footsteps. “Shhh! Be quiet!”
“At this point, I don’t care anymore!” She tackled me, sending a wave of pain up my legs, but I quickly flipped over and shoved her into the door, which opened as if of its own accord. Carmen stood over us. There was nothing more we could do to keep the secret.
Carmen yanked me off of Taylor, and stood us up next to each other. “Explain to me what’s going on here.” She didn’t seem super mad, more curious.
“I - she -” I didn’t know where to start.
Other Taylor interrupted. “She pulled me through this weird mirror to this place and is forcing me to take her place in this family.”
“That’s not at all-” I started to say, but Carmen peered at me strangely and tightened her grip on my arm.
“You used the Interdimensional Travel Unit? When your father specifically told you not to?”
“You’ve got it all wrong! She’s the one who-”
“Taylor. Tell me what’s going on.”
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“I’m trying to say that I’m the Taylor who she brought over through the portal thingy!”
“Taylor, I’m not going to punish you if you tell the truth. This lying, though, will get you grounded. Tell me what happened.”
I tried to calm down. “I’m the Taylor from another dimension. My family is still alive, and are probably freaking out right now since I’ve been here since Saturday morning. I need to get back, but this unhappy little freak broke the stupid mirror in the bathroom!”
“Do you have anything to add, you?”
“Nothing except she’s a liar. I’m the one who she brought over, and it’s my parents who are worrying and cried themselves to sleep last night and are pleading with everyone they meet to “please, give our daughter back, or at least tell us where she is and if she’s safe”. I think that the other me right here hates you and wants to live with her family again in the other dimension.”
Carmen seemed at a loss for words. “You - I… There’s no way we can tell who is who; so, for now, both of you are grounded. And since you guys are arguing, guess what we’re going to do?”
The other Taylor let out a little sigh that Carmen didn’t quite hear. “One of you has been officially adopted as part of our family, and what we do when our kids argue is tie them together until they get along. Let me go get the belt and we’ll get started.”
As soon as she was out of earshot, I turned to my other self. “What are you doing?! Just admit that it was you! This will never work out!”
She smirked. “You’re just jealous that she believes me and not you.”
“No, not really. I never asked to be here and I just want to return to my own dimension.”
Carmen returned, holding an oversized belt. “Put your backs together.” We did begrudgingly and she fastened it around us. “Until you two work it out, you’ll be together. And I’ll be keeping an eye on you. Now come on. I have to do some laundry.”
For the rest of the afternoon, we followed Carmen around the house, barely getting any chances to speak privately. When we did, my torture partner did nothing but smirk at me evilly. I knew Carmen believed her story more than mine, and it was unsettling. I had to convince her, somehow. If I could get her alone and talk rationally with her, maybe. Otherwise, with the other Taylor around? Not a chance.
So I endured. I let her choose where to go and blindly followed. When she had to use the bathroom, we unlatched and immediately rebound ourselves.
Finally, Carmen settled down to watch TV with Donovan. The other me snuck upstairs and I followed. I didn’t care about what happened as long as I could convince Carmen of my innocence. We entered her room and she took off the belt. “If you think that I’m going to tell the truth, you’re wrong. All I’ve wanted for a year is to have my family back, and now I will. And you can do nothing to stop me.”
“That’s not fair!” I knew it’s exactly what I would’ve done in her place, but it seemed so barbaric now that it was happening to me. “Can’t you just accept what has happened and move on? You could be doing so much more with your life than dragging me into your own problems! I mean, come on! I’m innocent, I had nothing to do with you until you took me here. I had no idea that there were even other dimensions, or that you could travel through them! I - I hate you!”
We were both stunned at my outburst. I didn’t know I had that in me, but now that I had that out of my system, I felt light as a feather, free as a bird, but my words still were not going to get me back to my true family.
She started to speak, but I had more to say. “Carmen is actually really nice, and Chelsea isn’t so bad. Amanda and Donovan will need a little work to be friends with, but can’t you realize that you’re surrounded by people who care about you? There’s no point in you going to my dimension to be with our family again, because you have one right here!”
Taylor turned away and flopped on her bed, hot tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. I felt bad, but I knew that she needed to hear it. Then, her mouth hardened into a grim line, and she stood up quickly. She said nothing to me, and rushed out of the room. I followed, curious as to what she would do. I stood at the landing. After running downstairs, she told Carmen, “That Taylor just threatened me and told me that she was from the other dimension, not me! When can I go back?!”
“Oh, honey, that’s terrible! You just sit here, and I’ll go talk to her.” This was turning out better than I expected, and I’m not being sarcastic. I could talk to Carmen alone, and everything would get straightened out. I would get sent back to my rightful dimension, and I would never have to think about my other self again, which was all I wanted.
Of course, Carmen had different ideas. I was in Taylor’s room, pretending to read a book, when really I was on high alert. The footsteps coming ever closer to the door made my heart pound faster and faster while leaping to my throat. I knew, deep in my gut, that this was not going to go well.
“So. You lie, and now you threaten her, who you brought from the other dimension? I don’t understand why you would do such a thing.”
“I already told you, I’m not the one who brought her over! She brought me over on Friday night, and she wants for us to switch places so that she can be with her family again. She’s a selfish little brat and I hate her.”
“Well, I already told you that there’s almost no way that we can prove anything. It’s your word against hers, and so far, she’s been pretty convincing.”
“How can I prove to you that I’m right?”
“I don’t know. What did we do last Sunday?”
“I don’t know. I was with my family, and we went ice skating. There’s no way that I would know what you did last Sunday, because I wasn’t there and I had no idea that there were other dimensions anyway!” I paused to catch my breath, and she replied.
“That’s exactly what Taylor would say if she was masquerading as the poor girl who she brought over through the mirror portals, which she is strictly not allowed to use.”
My head throbbed. This was getting confusing. “But that’s not me. I was brought over. I am here, trying to explain to you what happened so that you can fix it. All I want to do is be with my family again, and the other me is just jealous.”
“I understand that you might be envious that your family has passed and hers is still alive and kicking, but you’re here now, and these things are out of our control. I know that we cannot fill the void that your family has created, but we can help to lessen it. We’re here for you, Taylor. This lying is not tolerated. Whatever you need, let me know. We’ll help the other you to go back, and then everything will go back to normal.”
“There’s just one problem,” I said, my heart pounding at the thought of what she was going to say. “She broke the mirror when she pulled me through.”
“You mean, ‘I broke the mirror when I pulled her through.’”
“No, I didn’t. I meant what I said and I said what I meant. I don’t care how it happens, I just want to go back.”
She ignored me, instead saying, “I’m going to start making the spaghetti now. You can come down when you’re ready.”
“When pigs fly,” I replied. Facing the entire family, most of which probably thought that I was the Taylor in their dimension, was not a thought that made me leap for joy. However, my stomach needed filling, and spaghetti sounded surprisingly good.
I put on a mask of indifference and trudged downstairs. The five of them were already eating, and the smell of tomato sauce permeated the air. The other me pretended not to notice my arrival, but everyone else at the table looked at me curiously. In the kitchen, Carmen cut the garlic bread. I got my bowl, filled it, and ate at the table; trying to avoid everyone’s furtive glances. In between looking at me, Donovan prattled about his work to Chelsea, who somehow looked interested.
The other me rinsed her bowl and placed it in the dishwasher, like a good adopted daughter should. I finished last, and did the same. After helping Carmen clean up, I grabbed an extra pillow and blanket and settled on the couch to read. I certainly did not want to spend another minute in the presence of the other Taylor, even when we slept.
Amanda perched on an armchair like a nervous bird, still peeking at me over the edge of her sports magazine. “Which one are you?” she asked when no one was nearby.
“I’m the one who lives in the alternate dimension,” I sighed. “But no one seems to believe me.”
“I believe you,” she surprised me by saying.
“And why is that?” I wasn’t sure whether she was just saying that to be nice, or genuinely meant it.
“You - you act differently. The other one is really mopey sometimes, but you’re perky. Plus, I can just tell. I don’t know how I know, but I do.”
Now I believed her. “Will you help me convince your mom that I’m who I say I am? She thinks I’m the one your family adopted.”
“I can try, at least,” she put the magazine down. “Mom listens to me pretty well. I think I can convince her.”
“I’m glad one person believes me.” I started reading again. The rest of the night passed uneventfully, though my brain was full of Chelsea’s texting about me to her friends. At this point, I didn’t care about what she said about me.