Twisted Fate

Chapter 4 will be split into 2. It is running long...



Like his sister, Simon planned on getting drunk. He was burning and storming with embarrassment, regret and shame as he fled from the room. What had he done? He had just revealed to Reggie that he was in love with her! He had just been so furious to see her with someone else. And now…now he made things even worse! Now she would more than just hate him, she would be disgusted by his presence. What sort of pervert blurts out that he loves his own sister? Someone like you, a cynical voice taunted in the back of his mind as he made his way through the thick crowds toward the refreshments.

He had never planned on revealing his feelings to Reggie. Never in a million years would he have told her that he loved her. The only person who knew his love for Reggie was his father. His understood that they were soul mates, it was unavoidable, and he had faith in Simon not to act upon his feelings. He reluctantly and bitterly accepted that he would have to love Reggie from a distance. All he wanted was for her not to hate him but to like him, even if it was as a brother. His true feelings would have festered in silence but at least he would not be a pervert.


Simon went to get a drink but then he saw Samantha in a corner, hanging off some guy. Damn, he thought as he looked at the overflowing glass. He could not drink his problem away! He could not get trashed then drive back home inebriated. He was smarter than that. No matter how much it pained him to do so, Simon set the cup down grumbling and cursing under his breath. Sitting in a corner on the stairs, Reggie did not have the control that Simon had. She was quickly gulping down drinks as she watched the people below her.

She was not upset because of Simon’s confession. No, he must have been drunk or high to do something so stupid. No what upset her was her reaction. She did not laugh in his face or feel extremely disgusted. No. It felt fucking right. Deep down, somewhere buried and hidden from her own consciousness, feeling arose. She was glad that he confessed to her. It was like she was subconsciously waiting for him to come forward. She had been anxiously anticipating for him to love her. To tell her that he knew. What the hell was that? Who would fucking think that? He was her brother. Her brother! That shouldn’t have been her reaction even if it was just some drunken comment. She should have been utterly revolted. Reggie took another large gulp of punch before staggering to her feet to find another one.

The continued on as Reggie became more and more inebriated and Simon sulked in an opposite corner, listening to other conversations. Near one o’clock, party guests began to drunkenly fall out of the house and stumble to their cars. Simon decided to wait until most of the drivers were a safe distance before leaving himself. It would be horribly unwise to join the drunken drivers on the road. A girlish giggle burst somewhere close to him and Simon looked over to see Candy hanging off an unfamiliar guy. She had a red cup clutched in her hand and her dress was rumbled as well as inside out.

“Yesh,” she slurred. “I gots me an apart-ee-ment with mes best friend.”

“Who would that be?” The guy smiled at her drunkenly and nuzzled her neck.

“Why Reggie, of course, silly.” Simon’s blood went cold when he heard Reggie’s name. He jumped to his feet and in an instant was standing in front of Candy and her boy toy.

“My Reggie? My…sister…” Simon corrected himself. “My sister Reggie?”

“Duh. You know another Reggie, Sigh-mon, Whiny-man? Yup, me and her will be living it up after she turns 18.”

“What? She can’t do that!” Candy looked at him like he was an idiot and clumsily hit his head.

“Of course she can, she will be an adult! And we split the rent and she says bye-bye to the Baudelaires. Sayonara! Adios!” Candy took that as he cue to leave as she chanted it in a sing-song-y voice. The boy shrugged and grinned wildly before stumbling to catch up with Candy. Simon watched them in disbelief as rage and sorrow replaced the chill in his veins. Did she really hate him that much? Was she really planning and running away as soon as she turned 18? Why did she hate him so much?

“Hello,” Reggie cried, stumbling out of a closet. The pounding music had become rather irritating and frightening for her and she found a closet to hide in. It brought back memories of the nights when her father had to work late and left her alone. Whenever she had felt afraid because of the dark or perhaps a storm passing by, Reggie would run and hid in the closet underneath the stairs. There she had felt safe and hidden in the closet when no on was around for her, bundled in covers and out of sight. She would put on some earphones and listen to her cassette player while reading by flashlight. Reggie learned to depend on herself when she was younger because her father couldn’t be around and of course, she had no mother who would calm her fears.

Reggie giggled at her clumsiness and winced as she stood up straight. Yet, she did not let her lonely childhood get to her. She felt extremely light and carefree. It was a wonderful feeling. Her little haven in the closet, as well as the three cups of booze, really seemed to help her lighten up. Leaning on the wall to steady herself, Reggie stumbled and looked around the house. There were not many people still lingering behind. Only a few had decided to stay and enjoy the rest of the night. Where is Candy and Peter, Reggie wondered, pressing her fingers to her lips. She could not see them anywhere.

“Hey. Hey. Anyone stober? Can I bum a ride?” A few looked up at her and shook their heads in giddy reply. Reggie pouted for a moment but it faded. Damnit! She needed to find a ride home. Clumsily, Reggie made her way to the front door where Simon was sprinting out to leave.

“Shh….Shy-mon,” she called, stuttering because she forgot his name for a moment. Simon turned around at the slurred called. Reggie was leaning against the wall, grinning wildly. Her appearance was disheveled and she looked positively drunk. Simon’s heart sunk deep. He was hoping to avoid her at least until tomorrow. He had to organize his thoughts better. “Hey…hey…”

“Whoa!’ Simon called out as Reggie took an uncertain step forward. He sprung toward her and she collapsed, drunkenly, in his arms.

“Dear…dear brother. Are you stober?” She purred through hooded eyes. Simon scowled at her. She was trashed beyond belief. Yet he felt somewhat relieved. She did not remember, at least at that moment, that he confessed to her. Simon shifted his weight so she was leaning against him.

“Yes. What of it?”

“Will you take your sister home?”

“Of course.”

“Yay!” Simon helped her along as she leaned on his shoulder. She smelt of perfume, booze and punch. Simon did not mind it at all as he helped her into the passenger seat of his car and buckled her in. He did not know where Sam went. Yet he really did not care at the moment. Simon jumped into the front seat and pulled away. Reggie sat beside him in silence as she watched the light absently flicker by. Simon was gripping the steering wheel firmly as he tried to think of what to do. The situation was awkward to say the least. Even though she was drunk, the fact still hung in the air that he had confessed to her. What if she asked? Would he tell her the truth? Would she remember? Is that why she was drunk was to forget? What should he do?

“Simon. Hey, Simon.” Reggie looked at the distant look on her brother’s face. He looked so serious and solemn. What on earth could he be thinking? It occurred to her that he must be upset. Why would be upset? Oh, yeah, he said he loved her. Oh that was silly. Of course he did. They were siblings after all. Nothing wrong with a brother saying that he loved his sister. Why had she been upset? It seemed extremely stupid now. She thought he was in love with her, romantically. How ridiculous.

“What Reggie?”

“You know what.”

“What…” he drawled.

“Uhh…you…love me right?” He did not reply and gripped the steering wheel tighter. “But, like, brotherly love, right.”

“No…not like brotherly love,” he replied delicately. She wouldn’t remember. Even if he fully confessed, she wouldn’t remember. Maybe he would feel better that he confessed to her, right here and now. A weight off his shoulders and then he could go back and love her from a distance. He waited for her to be disgusted or mortified.

“Well that is a problem then.” Simon turned over to Reggie. He did not expect such a relaxed reply. Yet then again, she was drunk. “We are brother and sister, you know?”

“I know.”

“I see. Can I ask you something then?”

“What?”

“Why do you love me even though I am your sister and it is morally and ethically wrong?”

“It is because we are soul mates.”

“Is that all?” Reggie laughed. Simon could only nod in reply. Why the hell did she laugh? “That is it. Just because you believe we are soul mates, you love me. Then, if we weren’t soul mates…would you love me?”

“I…I don’t know.” Simon scowled, admitting truthfully.

“If I wasn’t your sister and we weren’t soul mates, would you love me?”

“I don’t know. What does that matter?”

“It so does matter.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“Yes, it does.”

“No, it doesn’t. I was meant to love you and you were meant to...” his voice trailed off.

“Who said?”

“I don’t know. The powers that be.” Simon raised his hand in frustration and turned a dark corner. Though he was not drunk, rage was just as bad.

“You don’t know. Hah! Well how the hell do you know?”

“Is this what happens when you are drunk?”

“What are you saying? Huh,” Reggie poked him and giggled. “Changing the subject. Ha. Ha. So how do you know we are soul mates, huh? How do I know you aren’t shitting me to get into my pants? Wait, eww, you are disgusting!”
She was laughing hard and shaking her head. Reggie turned in her seat and was chuckling under her breath looking out the window. Simon clutched the wheel until his knuckles were white. She wasn’t taking this seriously. It was a big joke to her. It infuriated but at the same time he knew she was very drunk and giddy. Maybe it was for the better. He told her the truth and he was scorned. Maybe it would get it out of his system.

“Simon. How long have you loved me?” Reggie suddenly asked, no longer laughing. Simon’s gaze flickered over to her. She was staring at him, solemnly at him with strands of hair in her face.

“Three years,” he sighed.

“Oh. Okay.”