Twins Apart Ch. 1

It was a sunny day and Shaunny McIntyre was really excited. Simply a perfect day, the weather was just great and what's most important was that at long last she was finally to be reunited with her long-lost twin brother, Shane, who had been separated from her and mother since her mother's divorce some fourteen years back.

Her father had won custody of Shane who at that time was, like Shaunny, only four years old. With only some meagre savings in the bank, a beaten up station wagon and the clothes on their backs, her mother had took her to sleepy Caverson's Bay, California. Upon arriving, her mother found out that there was a vacancy at the local diner and immediately seized up the waitressing post. After years of hard work and moving from trailer parks to rented apartments, she eventually saved up enough money to buy a small house in the suburbs of Caverson's Bay. It had been extremely hard raising a four year old alone but her mother had vowed to have nothing to do with her father after she caught him in bed with his fellow colleague. As an independent woman with a headstrong and stubborn nature Shaunny's mother did not wanted to be like the other divorcees who thrived only on alimony. Although they were not living the life of luxury like they were accustomed to, they were happy. But every once in a while Shaunny would catch a glimpse of sadness in her mother's eyes. With a faraway look, her mother's eyes would lament the tale of the unbearable grief she bore from being torn apart from her son.

For fourteen years the only news that they've last heard was that Shane was whisked off to London after her father was posted there as a US expatriate by the multinational corporation he was working for. Shaunny always thought that her mother's vow of never having any contact with her father was perhaps her greatest folly because she would never ever see Shane again. It had been that way until now. About a week ago, Shaunny's mother received a telegram stating that Shaunny's father had a heart attack and had passed away. The telegram also stated that Shane was coming from England to finish his senior year in Caverson's Bay and that he would be accompanied by a lawyer who would be reading out the late Mr. McIntyre's will. Amidst all her previous rants and ravings about hating her ex-husband, Shaunny's mother broke down and cried hysterically. When Shaunny questioned her about it she promptly replied, "Well I guess that deep down inside I always loved your father. I always thought, somehow, someday when I've battled with my own demons we would reconcile. But now I know it's final and I can never tell him that I'd always loved him and that I've forgiven him. I realise...I realise...I've forgiven him for the past twelve years".

Shaunny brushed back her tears with the back of her hand and gave her reflection in the mirror a great big smile. It was a brand new day and everything would be all right again. She's going to be nineteen at the end of the year. Summer's nearly over and she was going to start her senior year real soon. Never had she imagined that her twin brother was going to Caverson High with her for senior year. Goodness! Would he look remotely like the small boy in the old photographs her mother showed her? She barely remembered him. She studied her reflection closely; she had long waist length blonde hair that she mostly wore down. Her complexion was tanned from the long hours she spent under the hot Californian sun and her eyes were mesmerizingly cerulean blue. She has always been athletic and was particularly excited because she was going to be head cheerleader this coming school year. She wondered if her brother was athletic? Or did the years in London turned him to an English bookworm? She smiled at the thought. Whatever he is now he will be the one who's bringing the family back together again.

Shaunny gave her outfit one last glance and wondered if she should change into something more formal. She was wearing a pair of her favourite tight faded blue jeans and a white body-hugging baby t-shirt. The whiteness of her shirt emphasised the colour of her eyes and her jeans boasted her long willowy legs. She twirled around admiring the way she looked and wondered whether Shane would like her outfit. She immediately stiffened on wondering why she taken so much concern on the way she looked? It was her brother for goodness sakes! It wasn't even as if she wanted to catch his attention! Shocked at having such thoughts she sprinted towards the kitchen.

There she found her mother staring out the window with a cup of tea in her hands. "Excited mom?" Shaunny asked as she settled down on the dining table.

"Oh, Shaunny! It's been fourteen long years. I don't even know where to begin. What should I say to him? Does he blame me for what happened? Does he know that all this while I've always wanted him here with me so that I can raise both of you together? At times when I look at you, I can't help myself but to think of him... it's not that I don't love you Shaunny. I do. But it's just that...", her mother's voice started trailed off and the tears in her eyes threaten to spill.

Shaunny moved towards her mother and gave her mother a long hug, "Hush now mom. I know. I know you love me and I know that you love him too. Everything's going to work out just fine. We're going to be a family again. And nothing, nothing can ever change that again".

"My sweet child, what would I have done if I didn't have you?" Her mother hugged Shaunny tightly as the uncontrollable sobs wrecked her body.

"Shhh...everything's going to be fine. Just fine now mom..."

* * * * *

"So are you excited being able to see you mother and sister again?" William Masterson asked the tall figure slouched lazily in the opposite seat of the stretched limo. Piercing blue eyes stared back at him with his answer to his question. Indifference. That's what's reflected in Shane McIntyre's eyes. Standing at 6'2, the eighteen-year-old lithe and athletic frame was towering over his own plump middle-aged form. Shane McIntyre's father, Douglas McIntyre, was William's golfing buddy and had confided in him on his whole family affair. Douglas had always been a far-sighted man, always forecasting into the future. His forecasting talents had made him a very successful and wealthy businessman over the years. And it was this far-sightedness of his that had created a will for his ex-wife, daughter and son years before his untimely death. William let out a heavy sigh. It grieved him that Shane had to lose a father in the prime of his adolescent years. Especially when these years were the most critical and tumultuous.

Although Shane was an academically bright student and the star soccer player in his school back in England, Shane undoubtedly had caused Douglas much trouble because of his rebellious character. William was no stranger to Shane's indifferent and rebellious ways. Shane had dated and dumped William's only daughter just for the sport of it. Shane had always been the centre of attention, in school amongst the teachers and students, and in Douglas' eyes.

Douglas had confided to William that he spoiled his son because he felt sorry for the grief that he imposed on him and it was his way of showing Shane how sorry he was for of losing his wife and daughter because of his own misdeeds fourteen years ago. On the outside, William knew Shane puts on a strong front but deep inside Shane was battling his own private demons. William hoped that with Shane moving in with his long-lost mother and twin sister he would at last find peace.

* * * * *

"Oh! They're here!" Shaunny exclaimed as she saw a black stretched limousine pulled up to the curb from her seat on the veranda. She moved to the rocking chair where her mother sat and helped her mother up. Her mother stood up shakily and brushed her own tears off with the back of her hand and gave Shaunny a brave smile.

"Everything's going be alright now. I just know it... Shane's finally home".

As Shaunny and her mother walked hand in hand towards the limo, a stout middle-aged man got out from the limo. He was balding but he had a kind and cherubic face that immediately put Shaunny to ease.

"Arianna Crawford?" the man spoke with a heavy English accent. He extended his hand as he walked towards Shaunny's mother.

"No, I'm still Arianna McIntyre. I've retained Douglas' family name," Shaunny's mother politely shook William's extended hand.

"Very well then, Arianna McIntyre. I'm William Masterson, Senior Partner of Masterson and Waterman, a law firm in London. I was your late ex-husband's lawyer. I'm here to read out his will and my role was also to chaperone your son Shane to America," as soon as William finished his sentence, Shane stepped out from the limo. Shaunny and her mother stood there rooted the ground, unsure of what their actions should be.

"Shane, meet your mother and your sister..." William continued on but the words just faded into the background.

Shaunny was speechless. Never had she had seen such a perfect specimen of a guy, Shane was tall; she estimated that he was taller than 6 feet. He had a well-sculpted muscular frame. Not bulky like the football jocks in school but more like a dancer's lithe frame. He had short curly blonde hair and creamy white complexion. So pale... but he had a robust rosy glow on his cheeks. It must be that dreaded English pallor. His eyes were exactly like hers, they were in a shade of the most amazing cerulean blue. When he moved towards her mother and her, he moved with such feline grace and confidence that it took Shaunny's breath away.

"Arianna, Shaunny," Shane gave them a brief nod.

Shaunny's mother was obviously taken back by the insignificant greeting but she continued to step forward and embraced him, "Welcome to Caverson's Bay, dear. How was your flight? Shaunny dear will you help with the bags?" Arianna said while indicating to Shaunny that the chauffeur needed some help taking the luggage out from the boot.

Shaunny quickly snapped out of her awestruck state and hastily moved to help the chauffeur. As she pulled out the luggage, she noticed that the bags were Louis Vuitton. Never in her lifetime would her mother and her afford such designer labels. All of her clothes were from the local thrift shop. She wondered just how much her mother had had to adjust from her previous lifestyle while she was still Mrs. Douglas McIntyre to the one she was living now.

Out from the corner of her eye, she saw her mother laughing gaily at something the lawyer had said and Shane only smiled politely. Her mother was really happy at last to have finally seen and learn about Shane in the flesh after so many years apart.

"How long have you last seen your brother?" the chauffeur asked.

"Fourteen years. Ever since my parents separated. He went to live with my dad in London, while I stayed with my mom here," Shaunny replied as she got out the last of the luggage.

"Wow! That's a long time! But I can see the uncanny family resemblance. He looks just like you. Is he your older brother?"

"Nope, he's my twin. We're now eighteen", Shaunny smiled.

"A twin?! Wow! That's amazing. Fourteen years apart eh? That's a long while... I bet you guys are almost like strangers now," the chauffeur said wiping the sweat off his brow.

"Yeah, we're like strangers..." Shaunny echoed.

* * * * *

As soon as Shane stepped out of the limo he felt as though he had came home at last. As though he found the comfort and solace that he had been searching for all his life. It was as if inside he knew that everything was in place. A certain placid feeling had settled upon his soul. Maybe it was seeing his mother and his twin sister together. His only other family besides his father. Home...where was home now? Back in London where he was raised? Perhaps it was America, his country of birth. However, there was a certain something about his twin. He couldn't really place a finger on it. It was comforting feeling nonetheless. His twin was clad plainly in only a white baby T and faded blue jeans but she looked like a million dollars. She wore her sun kissed blond hair right down to her waist and she didn't wear any make up. But her features were beautifully defined, her pouty pink lips were well proportioned with the rest of her face and was lusciously inviting. He noticed that her lashes were a shade darker than the blonde of her hair when she lowered them to avoid his penetrating gaze. He knew immediately that she was somewhat intimidated by him and smiled to himself. She was well tanned, unlike the girls back home. He had always wondered how'd his twin turned out. When his father first brought him to London, Shane didn't quite fit in with the English kids at school. They had always alienated him and treated him an outsider. It was then he'd imagine that his sister was there with him. She sort of became an imaginary friend to him. Now he'd noticed that she was more than imaginary. She was surreal.

William and his mother proceeded into the house, as he had some legal matters to settle with her. He looked at Shaunny who was animatedly chatting with the chauffeur. He casually sauntered over and picked up two of the heavier luggage.

"Need help with these? They're pretty heavy," he asked. Shane's deep, rich voice was well complemented by an English accent that tinted his speech. It was a great sexy change to the American drawl that Shaunny was used to hearing.

"Oh, it's no problem. They're not that heavy," Shaunny beamed at him. She was epitome of the Californian girl. Suntanned, sun kissed in sunny Southern California.

"I should think they are heavy since all of my stuff from London are in these bags," he replied.

"I can handle it. I managed just fine removing the luggage from the trunk," she persisted and to prove her strength she carried the next two heaviest bags.

"Alright then," he grinned at her and made a mental note not to ever piss her off in the near future. She certainly looked like one hell of a tough cookie.

"So where's my quarters located?" he turned back and asked her. He was quite impressed that she was keeping up with his long strides although she was burdened with the weight from the bags.

"You've got some accent there. And in America we don't really use quarters in our daily speech," she quirkily replied.

"Accent? I don't have an accent. In my opinion, you're the one with the accent," he smiled.

"Well I guess we'll just have to get use to each other again," she said as she led him into the house.

"I guess we'll have to then," he replied as he followed her up the flight of stairs.

* * * * *

It had been a week since Shane came back into her life again. And things were getting quite rough. She found out that Shane wasn't exactly all Mr. Sunshine and Roses. Sure he had been polite and friendly on that first day he arrived but as the days that followed he rarely spoke to her or their mother. Her mother and William had left that morning to Los Angeles where William's firm had an American branch. She was going there see some legal matters through and would be back in a couple of day's time.

Shaunny's room was on the first floor just next to her mother's and for the past few days Shaunny could hear furniture being moved about upstairs in the attic. Her mother had decided that Shane was to occupy the attic because she didn't know just how much stuff he would bring with him from England. Her mother had also wanted Shane to feel at home thus she set him up in the largest and airy room of the house.

Since it was the weekend and she didn't had anything to do, Shaunny wondered if Shane needed help rearranging his room and decided to go ask whether he needed her help. She sprinted up the stairs and knocked on the door. She could hear some loud Euro-techno track was blasting from the stereo. So she knocked harder.

"Shane? You there?" she waited for a few seconds yet no response.

"Shane...?" she jiggled the door knob and realised that the door wasn't locked. She pushed the door a jar and peered inside.

There standing in his wet glistening glory was Shane completely nude from a shower. He apparently heard the door opened and he turned around.

"Jesus! Don't you bloody Americans knock before entering a room?!" he cursed. And instead of grabbing a towel to cover himself, he strode towards Shaunny and glared down at her. He had came so close up to her that she could feel the heat from his hot shower emanating from his body and the rivulets of water from his hair dripped down onto her bare shoulders. Shaunny couldn't take her eyes off his masculine body. He was an Adonis. She could feel his hot breath on her skin and her nipples were fast becoming hard. For God sakes, looking at her own twin brother was arousing her! She quickly tore her gaze away from his body and lowered her eyes to the floor. But before her gaze reached the floor she saw herself gaping at his cock. It was semi-erected at yet it looked huge! She couldn't take her eyes off it.

Shane cleared his throat. Flustered by her own curiosity and arousal she whirled around faced her back to him and tried to find something intelligent to say to him.

"I knocked...I didn't realise that you were taking a shower...your...your stereo was blasting...," Shaunny mumbled. So stupid, she was so stupid for looking at her twin brother that way. He wasn't a boyfriend. He was family! She started to fidget nervously as she wasn't sure whether she should turn around just yet. A few torturous seconds of silence passed and Shane finally answered, "You could turn around now".

She slowly turned around and saw that he was now clad in jeans. He didn't manage to completely towel himself dry. There were still beads of water glistening on his broad muscular chest and shoulders. He didn't look any less sensual with his jeans on.

"Now what is it that you want?" Shane asked as he perched himself on his writing desk. The muscles on his arms and torso rippling as he moved.

"Uumm..I...I was wondering if you need help tidying up here...I heard you moving the furniture...and I was wondering if I could help. Yeah, that's it. Help," she stuttered. Even though she was flustered she couldn't help but to look at him and feeling sexually aroused at the same time. She wanted to run her hands all over his body to feel whether he was real and how her body would react to his if they were standing at such close proximity again.

"Where does your expertise lie?" Shane asked casually as he raked his fingers through his wet hair.

"Excuse me?" she asked shocked.

"I mean what can you do to help? Is my accent really that difficult to understand?" he looked expectantly at her as a smile began to form on his full lips.

"God if he only knew what I was thinking about!" Shaunny thought to herself. "No, I just..." Struggling to find something intelligible to say, Shaunny scanned the attic and found that it was meticulously cleaned and everything was arranged quite nicely. The attic now bore a semblance to Shane's preppiness and high-flying lifestyle back in London. And there she saw peeking out under the cover of his bed was a porn magazine. She gave out a gasp and looked at Shane with her eyes as wide as saucers.

"I remember I've got some homework to do... I can see you don't need any help...", Shaunny said breathlessly. She turned around and sprinted out the door, down the stairs and straight into the room. She could hear Shane's laughter trailing behind her and then she realised her mistake - it was still summer and that school won't be starting until another week. She was so flustered from seeing Shane in the state of undress and discovering the porn magazine sticking out under his bed covers that she had blurted out a dumb excuse. She groan inwardly and plopped down onto her bed. What would he think of her now?