My life started falling apart when I walked into the quad. The first thing I saw was Lonnie, kissing someone. I'm not sure who, didn't look at all familiar, but he was all punked up just like her.

I'd always thought... somehow... that Lonnie loved me. Even though we're nothing alike (even forgetting the whole different-species thing). That I didn't have to change to please her, anymore than I needed her to change.

I walked away. I tried to distract myself talking to Maria. She was unfairly happy and I lit into her. "Terrific. You're trying to get at me about Lonnie, right? You and Liz didn't approve of us to begin with, and now she's cheating on me, you're loving this, aren't you?" I'd expected more sympathy and support than this.

"I ain't Maria," she said, obviously amused.

"Not funny," I objected. She pointed to Maria and Liz. "Oh."

Turned out her name was Esperanza. She said something about 'genetic engineering and government conspiracies' before punk versions of Max and Liz turned up. Their exhibitionism made me long for the pained, soulful stares of the originals.

"Quels twin, huh?" Iratze asked. "Speaking of Quel, you two bitching again?"

"Yah. We crash this party, and he goes off with this red head in the garden shed, making like friggin Discovery Channel."

"Now he's eyeing up that blonde," Zan added. "Why do you bother?"

I stared at them. So Quel must be... but he looks nothing like me... "No way. No possible way."

Esperanza smirked. "You just gotta learn to live with it, like I have."

"But how can he be my twin? He's nothing like me... I would never..."

"You've never looked at anyone other than, uh..."

"Lonnie. Never."

"Never?"

I closed my eyes. I was not attracted to Esperanza. Of course not. I made myself think about Lonnie. It had to be all some mistake. She thought Quel was me and as soon as she learned the truth everything would be all right and she'd make it up to me. But every time I tried to picture Lonnie, she appeared sans piercings and tattoos. "This isn't happening."

Iratze laughed softly. "What, the twins, or losing Lonnie?"

"Both... I haven't lost her she just thinks he's me... look just leave me alone. All of you. All right?" I turned and ran off.

I hid in the little cubbyhole shared by student council, newspaper and yearbook. I had the newspaper editors key... was subbing while she was sick... so I figured I'd be safe here while I gathered up my courage to go confront Quel and Lonnie.

Seconds after I'd vanished inside I heard the door open. Nothing was going right. It was either someone else with a key, or else an Alien. Lonnie? I turned around hopefully.

I'm still not sure whether what I felt was disappointment, or something else.

"You all right Alex? I saw you run off after the invasion of the clones, and I wanted to make sure..." Isabel trailed off.

"How come she thought he was me? I'd never kiss you by mistake." (Maybe I emphasized the 'by mistake' more than I'd meant to.) "We've been going out for how long now? She can't even tell he's not me!"

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