Chapter Five - Revelations and Redheads Don't Always Mix
Chiara freaked out and jumped up from the bed. "TWINS?! You're brother and sister? What the fuck is going on?"
Marc looked at Chiara nervously, "I should have told you last night, I'm so sorry Chiara. God I'm such an idiot."
Chiara slapped Marc with all her strength then went and punched Annie in the mouth, "You lied to me!" She screamed as she pointed an accusing finger at her roommate. "Was any of it real? How you felt about me? What about those fucking dates you made me go on, were they real? Did Steve and Aaron really want to go out with me or was that just an act? Did they even like me or was that an act too?"
Then she turned on Marc. "You son of a bitch were you in on it? Everything you said...then...then we...oh my God I feel like such a fool!"
"I deserved that," Annie said as she wiped her mouth. "But Marc is as much a victim of what I did as you are, don't be mad at him."
Chiara stalked around the room like a caged tigress. "You expect me to believe you? Really? When did you plot this thing out Annie? The day we met?"
"Chiara STOP!" Annie yelled. "Sit down and listen okay? I'm going to be totally honest. Just please hear me out."
Chiara sat back down on her bed and seethed. Marc tried to put his arm around her but she brushed it off angrily and glared at him.
"Kiki I fell in love with you the day you walked through our door. I just wanted to love you and keep you forever, but I knew it wouldn't be fair to you if I did that. I've never been monogamous Kiki, ever. How could I expect you to be monogamous with me if I couldn't do that for you? I tried, believe me I tried. I knew that even though I loved you I wasn't perfect for you, but I knew who was, and that was Marc. I set you up on those damn dates because I wanted you to see that there were guys out there who thought you were beautiful, and sexy, and smart, and funny, and sweet. Yes those dates were real and the guys weren't acting, both Steve and Aaron wanted to be with you and loved being with you. They both bitched at me that it wasn't fair that it could only be for three dates, but I had to limit it because I needed you free to meet Marc."
Annie paused for a moment. She could see that although Chiara was still angry she was at least calming down, so she soldiered on.
"Marc didn't know anything about what I was doing Chiara. He couldn't have because we haven't really been on speaking terms for a while. I know I shouldn't have done what I did to you last night, but I didn't know any other way to get you two to meet. If I had tried to just introduce you two Marc would have hated you too because of me, regardless of how perfect you were for him. It was wrong, so bloody wrong. I screwed everything up, I'm sorry. I was just trying to look out for the two people I love most in the world. I know you both probably hate me, but maybe one day you can forgive me." Annie wiped her tearing eyes and sat on her chair, drained of life.
Chiara looked from Marc to Annie. Marc nodded sadly and Annie just sat in her chair, still crying quietly. She got up and went to Annie, kneeling in front of her as she began to cry as well.
"Annie please don't cry, I'm so sorry for what I did!" She said as she hugged her friend and kissed her, tasting Annie's blood on her lips.
"No Kiki, I did deserve it, but you and Marc didn't deserve what I did to you."
"Sis, this is probably one of the lowest things you've ever done. But your heart was in the right place for once, and somehow I think if you hadn't done things the way you did I may never have met Kiki. Even though you've burned me a million times in the past, I can't hate you this time." Marc said.
"I can't hate you either Annie. You've been a great friend and have taught me so many things in the time we've had together. I do think you were right though when you told your 'stupid brother' that we were a perfect fit." Chiara said as she smiled at Marc.
Marc looked surprised at Chiara's last statement. "So you're not made anymore Kiki?"
"Oh I'm still mad Marc, you're just both going to have to make it up to me now."
Marc grinned at his sister, "I think we may be in trouble here Annie, could you get my back?"
"Oh yeah little brother," Annie nodded.
They pounced on Chiara, all of them falling onto Annie's bed, making it groan in complaint. Annie went low, attacking her hips, feet and behind her knees, while Marc tickled her ribs, back and armpits. Chiara was gasping and giggling uncontrollably, completely at their mercy.
"You fucks are gonna pay for that," Chiara growled at them when they finally let her up.
The twins both made goofy scared faces at her then they all cracked up laughing.
Annie gave Marc and Chiara an appraising look and smiled, "While it's great seeing you both naked, Kiki you're getting me hot, but could you maybe put your boxers back on bro? You've got a great package and all, but really."
Marc blushed and slipped on his boxers and jeans while Chiara put her shorts and top back on as well.
Annie moved around on her bed to be more comfortable and Chiara snuggled into Marc on hers.
Chiara looked at the two of them and decided to ask what she thought was the obvious question, "So how do we work this out?"
Annie and Marc exchanged a look, Annie shrugged and he nodded. Then Marc said in a quiet voice, "Chiara would you like to be my girlfriend?"
Chiara seriously thought about it for a moment, how gentle and caring Marc had been the previous night and that day. Then how Annie had taught her how wonderful being with another woman was, and everything else she had done for her. She really couldn't decide what to do and wondered again how her life could have gotten so complicated so quickly. She suddenly had an idea that might work if everyone would agree to it.
"I'm very torn about this guys, I love you both, but I've got an idea that may work for all of us if you can play nice together." She stated with a pause.
"Well? What is it?" The twins said in unison.
"Marc I will be your girlfriend, but only if you accept my relationship with Annie too. Annie, I'll still be with you for as long as you want. I won't just dump one of you for the other, and I don't want any jealousy or drama. It's all or nothing, sorry guys."
Another look passed between Marc and Annie, then they both got up and left the room. Chiara's heart sank as she thought that they'd decided that she wasn't worth the compromise that she was offering. She began to cry and feel totally miserable about losing them both to her own selfish needs.
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When they left the room the twins went to the TV room and Annie not-so-subtly told the girls there to scram. They sat across from each other and just looked into each others' eyes for a minute.
"Listen Annie, about last night. I'm sorry about blowing up at you like I did. Seeing Kiki like that last night scared the hell out of me, and honestly, that was pretty stupid of you sis."
Annie hung her head and sighed, "It scared the hell out of me too, and I know what I did was stupid. But seriously, like I said before, if I'd walked up to you with her under my arm like a sacrificial lamb would you have even given her a chance?"
Marc grinned at his sister, "Uh I think that's kinda what you did, but the lamb you brought me was in heat and pretty much had her way with me in public. How could I refuse?"
"Well from what I saw when I got in the room just now I think the little lamb was still in heat." Annie laughed.