I watched as Quel�s badly dressed duplicate walked off. I couldn�t help but feel sorry for him. I mean, it�s never easy when someone�s snaking on you. Esperanza learnt to live with it, she�s always been strong like that. This Alex guy� he seems na�ve. Na�ve can be good. It�ll help us in the long run.

Esperanza turned to Zan and I. �What now? Ain�t there another one? Ain�t there supposed to be 8 of us and 8 of them?�

�I think the odds might be stacked in their favor,� came a voice from behind us. Ava had arrived, with Trig in tow. I looked behind to see Rath there as well. Ava was holding a file in her hands. �Trig and I stopped in a cyber caf�, hacked into Roswell Highs school records. Turns out that there�s two of her.� She indicated Lonnie. �Lonnie Evans, and her twin sister, Isabel.�

Trig took the file off Ava and flipped through it, stopping on a page that showed a preppy version of himself, dressed in a football uniform. �Kyle Valenti. Your stereotypical dumb jock, as far as I can see.�

�Looks can be deceiving,� I snapped. �Do not be fooled. This ain�t minor, we are playin� in the big leagues.�

�Well, someone better tell Mr. Playa over there,� he retorted, indicating where Quel and Lonnie were still talking.

�Yo, point taken,� Rath said, heading in Quels general direction. Quel and Lonnie were already heading over.

�Start the party without me?� Quel joked, arm around Lonnie. Lonnie, who didn�t seem too upset about this.

�From the looks of things you were havin� ya own party,� Zan snapped. Lonnie blushed faintly, whereas Quel smirked.

�Totally epic.�

�Who are you all?� Lonnie asked, suddenly alarmed. �And why do you all look like people I know?�

�Yo, I�m Zan, this is Iratze, Ava, Trig, Rath, Esperanza and you obviously know Quel.�

�Yah, that�s cool and all, but why are you here?� Lonnie pressed. She straightened a little, pulling away from Quel, who clearly wasn�t going to let her go that easily. He put his arm around her again.

�Before you ask us any more questions, Blondie, why don�t you find a band-aid for your toyboys trampled feelings?� Esperanza said acidly.

�What?�

�Alex. Whitman. Ring a bell?�

Lonnie turned pale. �Oh my god, did Alex see us?�

�Brilliant deductions, Sherlock,� I muttered.

Lonnie shrugged off Quels arms and disappeared into the school building. Quel watched her go with a weird expression on his face. Meanwhile, Trig looked around to see some students watching them in suspicion. A prep looking Zan was headed our way, followed by a prep Rath and prep Ava. I took the folder off Trig and flipped through.

�Max Harding. Michael and Tess Guerin,� I informed the others.

�A little too much publicity out here,� Rath said uneasily. �Head to the cars. They�ll follow.�

Zan put his arm around me and we headed towards the carpark. I gave Zan a kiss on the neck.

�You up for a wild ride?� I said in a sultry tone.

�Better believe it.�

To be Continued...
[ Seeing Double ]