Plan B (Best Laid Plans #2) - Jana Aston Page 0,5

deception. Which was a complete buzzkill. If I'd wanted to learn about the structure of matter I'd have paid attention in class, not gone through the trouble of switching clothing and backpacks with my sister in the school bathroom and then sending her to take the test in my place.

Anyway, the point is I only use twin switching for good, like a superpower. And this twin switch is for Violet, not for me. She doesn't quite realize that though, or she'd never have agreed to it. Tough love, I silently remind myself while emitting a loud sigh into the phone. "I'm so tired of your bullshit, Violet. Pull on your big-girl panties and just do it."

"Thanks, Daisy. That's a very nice thing to say."

"You're welcome. Look, no one is forcing you to do this. If you want to go back to my place and sulk on the couch for another six months you're welcome to it. In fact, take my room. I'm not home anyway."

Don't go back to my place, I silently implore her. I need her to get her groove back before she finds out about this baby. It's killing me not telling her, but it's for her own good. If she knew, she'd put my needs ahead of her own and I can't let that happen. Besides, I'm only asking her to take my place this once, not for the rest of this pregnancy. I just want to push her out of her comfort zone a little. She can get me fired this week for all it matters. If she doesn't, I'm putting in my notice as soon as she's done with this trip.

It's probably unnecessary to mention it, but Violet is the good twin. The responsible one. I'm not implying I'm the evil twin, not at all. I'm a good person and it's ridiculous to think that just because you have two of something one must be good and one bad. Life isn't black and white, people aren't black and white, not really. People are like mason jars filled with Skittles. A variety of flavors and feelings and tastes and colors. We all have a little good and a little bad inside of us. A little light and a little dark. It's what makes human behavior so hard to predict but equally fascinating.

But I'm self-aware enough to know that between us, Violet is the one people would perceive as good. She's the planner, the rule-follower, the girl who crosses her t's and dots her i's. She always has been. She was the kid who asked permission. I was the kid who jumped in feet first and asked for forgiveness after.

She's definitely not the twin who gets knocked up from a one-night stand.

Violet is the most loyal sister in the world and she'd do anything for me, including putting her own life to the side for mine. Which is exactly what she'd do if she knew I was pregnant and why I've been keeping it from her. It's killing me, keeping it from her. I normally tell her everything but she's in a bit of a bad place right now, my sister. Hence how she ended up living with me. Temporarily. But if she finds out about this baby she'll insist on making it permanent. On sticking around to help. She'll make decisions about her life based on what's best for mine.

I can't let that happen.

So it was time to kick her out of the nest, so to speak.

"What you need, Vi, is a kick in the ass. An adventure!" I'm ramping up my sales pitch now, which isn't difficult because my sister really could use an adventure. In a series of very unfortunate events she lost her job, her boyfriend and her apartment all at the same time. That's how she landed on my couch. The unfairness of it isn't lost on me. Violet is a careful planner and I fly by the seat of my pants, yet I'm the one with two jobs and a condo. "Aren't you bored, Violet? You should live a little. Throw caution to the wind. Grab life by the balls!" I wish she'd grab someone by the balls. I don't think she's been with anyone since her douchebag ex-boyfriend, and if anyone deserves a fling it's Violet. I'm positive her last boyfriend was shit in bed even though she would never admit it. She said he was fine, which honestly was all the answer I needed. Fine in bed is not