People had always noticed that Ben and Rachel were close. They'd rarely fought as kids, this may have been owed to the facts that they were twins and the youngest in the family and as such usually had to deal with the same problems. They sat together in silence in what was sometimes the most hated room in the Smith household, the homework room. It was late afternoon on the second to last Saturday of their high school career and they each had a million places they'd rather be. But this had always been where each of the four Smith kids spent much of their time after school and the occasional weekend. The room had a bland, unassuming quality to it. A TV sat in the corner with a single couch in front of it next to the door, the walls were still adorned with artwork the kids had done over ten years prior (their mom had refused to allow it to be taken down) a fridge sat in the other corner that was intended to be stocked with drinks and snacks, however, more often than not it wasn't. Across from the door was a large picture window that over looked the neighborhood. The Smith children had never lived anywhere other than 34 Hemlock Street and the view from the window was a very familiar one. Against the windowsill was a large wooden table that had sat in the same spot for nearly 20 years. The years of sun damage, art projects, and childhood rough-housing were very evident on its surface.
While Ben read from his text book Rachel sat next to him absent-mindedly staring out the window. Both twins had been athletic in high school, in fact all four of the Smith kids had been required by their father to play at least one sport each year in high school. Ben and Rachel, never to be separated, had both chosen to run on the cross country team in middle school and naturally continued to do so in high school. As such, they'd always had runner's bodies. Additionally they had inherited the Smith trait of green eyes that all four siblings shared and the twins sported light brown hair as compared to their sibling's blonde hair. Rachel had generally kept her hair just past shoulder length and Ben always kept his neat and buzzed.
As a result of their closeness, throughout the years they had always been a part of the same friend group. They'd turned 18 the week prior and one of their friends had insisted on throwing them a party to celebrate since his parents would be out of town for the weekend. Things had gotten a little wild at the house, but sometimes that's what made it fun. Thinking back to the night, Ben laughed to himself and said, "Do you remember that kid at the party last week?"
"Which one?"
"Remember handsy kid?"
"Oh. I remember him. Fuck that guy." Rachel said with a laugh. A kid that they had only been referring to as handsy kid had been coming on to Rachel a little too strongly and she'd set him straight.
"Did anyone even know who that kid was? He just kind of showed up." Said Ben.
"Yeah, what the hell was that about? He must have been from another town or something. I didn't realize word would get out like that."
The two sat looking out the window as they chatted, interrupted by a car pulling into the driveway. Their father, Mike, was home, bringing their sister Ellen back from school. Ellen was the Smith's second child, after Alex, and having just finished her Sophomore year of college she was two years older than Ben and Rachel.
"Ben! Rach! Dad and Ellen are home, time for dinner!" Came a shout from downstairs. As the twins descended the stairs to the front hall their mother, Lisa, was showering Ellen with kisses. When she saw the twins she ordered them to go help Mike bring the luggage in from the car.
Mike handed each of them a suitcase and carried a set of drawers himself but there was still more in the car, "It seems like your sister brings more and more to school every year, if this keeps up I might need to rent a trailer for next year." He joked.
"Eh, it's a girl thing. Just wait 'til you see everything that I'm bringing." Teased Rachel.
"Oh good, when the two of you are gone maybe the house will finally be clean." Mike shot back with a laugh.
With all of Ellen's belongings cluttering the hall in from the garage, and the five of them all seated for dinner, Mike and Lisa excitedly interrogated Ellen about her previous semester of school. Lisa was happy to see her oldest girl back home for the first time since the winter. Ellen hadn't come home for spring break this year, instead she went to Mexico with her friends. After hearing all about Ellen's semester Lisa moved on to summer plans.
"Anything going on tonight, Ellen?" Asked Lisa.
"No, I don't think so, I'm just going to stay here tonight. Samantha is coming back tomorrow and I made plans to see her."
"Oh, so Ellen will be gone while your father and I pick up your brother." Lisa said to Rachel and Ben, "You two will have a quiet house while you study for that test you have next week."
"Oh boy, can't wait." Said Ben sarcastically.
"When's your work start again?" Asked Mike.
"Next Monday, I'm really looking forward to having next week off."
"Yeah, I'll bet, you've been busy these past few months."
A half hour later the family had finished dinner and the kids had cleared the table before trudging back up the stairs, Ben and Rachel to the homework room and Ellen to her room. While the kids were gone Mike and Lisa began to wash the dishes. Soon after Ellen came back down the stairs wearing shorts and a sports bra.
"I'm going for a run!" She called as she put her headphones in and headed for the door.
"OK, but it's getting dark, be careful out there!" Replied Lisa.
Ellen had picked basketball as her sport when she entered high school. She still played, but not as frequently. Lately she'd been running instead. She didn't think of herself as a vain person, but the only reason she'd ever liked to exercise was to keep herself looking good, anything else was just a bonus.
The sun was almost gone and the night was still cool, summer hadn't begun yet. She ran down the street and along the old path she used to run back in highschool in the mornings before school started. Doing her 3 mile loop she soon arrived back home, sprinted across the front lawn into the house and into the bathroom to take a long shower to cool off.
Ben and Rachel were sitting in the homework room watching TV when Ellen came in, her hair still wet and wearing pajamas.
"Hey El. Jeez, your hair's gotten long, it's practically down to your butt." Said Rachel.
"Don't worry, mom already let me know all about it earlier."
"So what's up Ellen?" Asked Ben
"Just looking to see what you guys are doing." Ellen said, sitting down on the couch between them and putting her arms around them both. "I missed you guys."
"Oh yeah? But not enough to come home for spring break I guess." said Ben with a smile.
"100% correct, not enough to come home. But now I've got three and a half months at home, so that has to count for something."
"I hope you can make it up to us." Said Rachel putting her head on her older sister's shoulder.
"I'll think of a way. I can't believe you guys are 18 now, though! And you're graduating in what? Three weeks?"
"Yup, last week of classes, finals the week after, and then graduation after that."
"Wow, senior year went by so fast for me, and the summer after it was so much fun. I think you guys are going to have a blast."
"I hope so." Said Ben, "I'm certainly looking forward to being done with homework."
"Oh tell me about it. Let's do something crazy this summer. Remember that party Alex and I had two years ago? Let's do that again."
"Oh God, that would be so fucked up. The most amazing part of that night was how you guys managed not to get caught."
"No, the most amazing part of the night was seeing Rachel trying to figure out how to deal with all the drunk kids."
"Hey! I was young, and I didn't even know most of those people." exclaimed Rachel.
"Well you'd better be ready this time. Anyway, I'm glad I got to talk to you two but I'm fucking tired, I've got to go to bed."
"Night Ellen." Said both of the twins as she left.
"Yeah, I think I should go to bed too. I feel like such an old woman going to bed at this time." Said Rachel.
"Yeah well, it makes sense, you practically are one." Ben replied, shutting off the TV.
Rachel swatted him playfully. "I don't think you can make fun of your sibling's age when you're twins."
"Nah, that four minutes makes a huge difference, you're old."
"Meh, whatever, I'm too old and tired to fight about it now."
The next morning Ben woke up and headed downstairs. Rachel and Ellen were already in the kitchen eating. Getting bread out of the cupboard he stuck it in the toaster. "You ready to spend all day studying again?"
