A pillow hit Jazmin's face startling her awake. Glancing up she sees Reni standing above her as she has her hands placed on her hips.
"Finally! I've been trying to wake you up for the past 10 mins." a scowl obvious on her face, Reni turns and walks over to the love seat where she was previously, before her attempt at waking up Jazmin. Jazmin sighed while stretching before sitting up on the couch where she had been napping. Picking up her phone from the table, her small scenes from her dream flowed through her mind as she tried to save them in her memories. A sense of worry took over her and she quickly brushed it off as she looked over at Reni, who had broken the silence they were in just a few moments ago, with a questioning look.
"Have you not heard me calling you? For God's sake please tell me that you finished editing the rough draft." ending her thoughts with a sigh Reni looked expectantly at Jazmin as she sighed while running her hand through her hair, glaring at her her older sister.
"No I haven't, I've been distracted, especially from work and well you know how it is. You can't possibly expect me to be able to finish it in one day."
Jazmin watched as Reni placed her thumb and index finger against the bridge of her nose and sighed nodding at the end.
" Okay fine, I'm sorry but you know my publisher really needs the book, I do have a deadline to keep."
Jazmin nodded and let her head fall back onto the couch. Reni sighed and stood up, placing the laptop beside her and walked away only stopping to look back at Jazmin with her head against the backrest of the couch with her eyes closed. "What do you want to eat?" Jazmin looked up with a slight smile "I don't care, some pasta is fine, I guess."
Reni nodded as she turned to walk towards the kitchen, leaving Jazmin alone in the sun-room. Feeling the exhaustion start to kick in like a pile of blocks weighing down on her, the weight only allowing her to realize that her twin sister is still nowhere to be found. Sadness crept in slowly as if she was being filled to the brim with emotion. she sighed as her eyes began to sting, she opened her eyes towards the ceiling trying to wrap her mind over the past few days that have led to the situation at present.
'If only Iris came back that day, none of this would be happening right now.' Closing her eyes again her mind slowly traveled to a few months ago when Iris had left early in the morning, only to not come back at all. Iris had disappeared off the face of the world, without a single trace. No clue, or any thing that could show where Iris had gone to. Her cell phone began to ring, breaking her out of her thoughts. Picking up the phone, she glanced at the caller id.
"Yo, sweetheart long time no see."
Tristan's voice flowed through the phone, igniting Jazmin's heart to race uncontrollably. The thought of Reni somewhere in the kitchen made it acceptable for her to get so excited over his voice. The realization of her lack of response brought her back from bliss.
"Hey, did you need anything?" disinterest clear in her voice.
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"Nothing, just trying to say hello. Haven't seen you in a long while."
Tristan turned his head over from where he stood next to his car to see a woman around his age with blonde hair and light skin, resembling a model walking on the runway. His smile widened as the girl walked closer to him, allowing him to wrap an arm around her waist pulling her closer to him as he places a kiss on her neck.
"Hmm," was all he heard as he waited for Jazmin to say more. As he realized that she wasn't going to continue he kept going.
"I missed my flower, what have you been up too?" he began again, flirtatious as ever, a sly smirk plastered on his lips when he heard Jazmin's voice quiver as she tried to respond back. As he listened to the other end of the phone call with Jazmin explaining about her day, the blonde wrapped herself around Tristan's arm and guided him towards the restaurant doors. As they walked in he acknowledged the waiter that waited for them to take them towards their table and seat them. With his free hand he covered the phone and placed a quick kiss on the blonde's cheek. "Maci, love take a seat so we can order." Smiling pleased she walked over to her seat and grabbed the menu to take a look to decide what she wanted to order.
"Have you guys found anything on Iris? "
Sadness poured from her voice "No not yet, we're hoping she will just come back soon. We don't even know where to start looking."
"How about this, let's go to the movies. Maybe that can take your mind off things?"
Startled with the sound of movement in the background he heard a breathless reply "Uh sure when?"
Tristan smirked, satisfied, 'This is just too easy' with a wave the waiter walked up with their drinks in hand "How about later tonight, don't worry, I'll pick you up. I have to go but I'll see you tonight." With that the call ends and places it back into his pants pocket. "Now, where were we?" he smiles flirtatiously at Maci as the waiter gets ready to take their orders.
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Jazmin smiled as she held her phone close to her chest. Still in disbelief that Tristan just asked her out. She was ecstatic to say the least. Closing her eyes again, vividly the dream played again. A sense of worry slowly crept over her, with an abrupt stop Reni broke through her reverie as she stood by the entrance of both rooms.
"Hey, the foods ready Jaz. Let's eat."
Turning back around Reni walked further into the dining room as Jazmin raised her head and trailed behind her towards the table. As they both sat down and began to eat there was a deafening silence. Reni spoke first not looking up at her younger sister, "I have an event tonight so I won't be here, will you be fine alone?"
Jazmin looked up with a frown at the lack of eye contact from her. "I'll be fine. I'm going out anyways." Reni looked up at her with a shocked expression. "Really? With who?" Jazmin sighed and looked up at Reni. "Tristan, he invited me out to the movies." Reni nodded with a frown. "Okay, well just be careful." a switch made Jazmin's blood boil. 'Be careful, be careful?! Yea right, from who, Tristan?' noticing the change of atmosphere from Jazmine, Reni sighed placing her fork down.
"Jaz, I didn't mean it in a bad way. I'm just worried okay? I don't want to lose another sister." Jazmin scoffs. "If that was the case, you would be helping me look for Iris." Reni stayed quiet, picked up her fork and started to eat again. Looking at Reni, she placed her fork on her plate and ran her right hand over her hair, "You can't say anything? Why pretend to worry if you don't care. Do you know the nights I go through, the thoughts that run through my mind, the fear that I feel knowing that Iris could be hurt. I know there is something that we're missing but I don't know what it is, or where to start."
Sighing, Jazmine stays quiet and starts to eat all over again. Reni pauses for a second and looks at Jazmin with tears in her eyes. "Jaz, I do care. So much that I'm distracted that I can't do work anymore. I feel like I'm stuck in a rut and I can't get out, I feel helpless now and I hate it." Jazmin looked at her with a blank expression, "You don't show it. It's been just me having to stay up looking through her stuff to figure out what could have happened. All I've seen you do is work and work as if you don't even care that she's gone." Reni was left speechless and all she could do was nod, the silence continued as they ate their food. A few minutes passed like hours until Reni broke the silence again.
"Jaz, go have fun with Tristan. Just be careful okay? I don't want you to get hurt in any way." The way she said it made something in Jazmin feel as if Reni knew something about Tristan. Deciding to ignore it for the time being she smiled "Thanks Ren, I'll be careful don't worry." Reni smiled and both continued to eat as they settled in comfortable silence.
With their food finished, Reni and Jazmin had cleared up the table and were now sitting in the love seat in the sunroom. Reni typing away on her laptop and Jazmin reading over the packet in her hand, they sat in low silence, with various music genres playing in the background. Trying hard to concentrate Jazmin looks over the packet again, this time finding it harder to focus and having her mind run miles a minute. Looking up she noticed Reni staring blankly at the glass double doors in front of them on the other side of the room.
"Ren? Are you okay?" Waiting for a response from her sister an unsettling amount of worry crept inch by inch inside her. Placing the packet aside she moves closer to Reni and waves her hand in front of her to get her attention back. Realizing that wasn't working she placed her hands on both of Reni's shoulders and she shook her slightly just enough for it to work. Reni stared at Jazmin with a confused expression on her face. "What the hell Jaz? Why are you shaking me?" Jazmine gave her a small smile and a sigh of relief. "I've been trying to get your attention for a while now. You looked as if you were in a trance. It was incredibly weird."
Reni sighed and nodded in understanding, "So that's what happened." Jazmine stared at her with confusion. "What are you talking about? What happened?"
Reni stayed quiet trying to get all her thoughts together asa to not scare Jazmine anymore than she already was. "Well,- when I was out of it to you, I felt as if I was fine. It seemed like I was in a trance but to me - I was fine, we were all sitting around you, Iris, and I." Jazmine stayed quiet as her eyes grew wider as Reni explained some more, "We were all like this, except Iris was talking. She was happy and laughing around with us. It felt real, incredibly so, it's scary thinking about it now."
Jazmine couldn't speak. 'Was it a daydream then? Or just something she wanted to happen?' Her thoughts jumped around in her mind, she honestly couldn't really believe in Reni's words but a part of her felt like they were true. Settling for just comforting Reni, a strange feeling of being watched loomed over them. Trying to ignore the feeling, Jazmin decided to change the subject. "Reni, don't worry about it, I'm here and I won't leave. I promise. I'll help you find Iris and she'll be back soon."
Reni smiled softly as she turned her head to face Jazmin. She gave her a small smile and nodded. "I know, I just want to be together again." Jazmin smiled and nodded. She pulled her phone out of her back jeans pocket and checked the time saying 5 o'clock, "Don't you have to go to the event? It's getting late, when were you planning on getting changed?" Reni suddenly stood up "Crap, I forgot to ask you to choose my outfit. Can you do it? My make-up too, please?" Jazmin smiled and stood up. "Sure, I'm not a stylist for nothing." chuckling a bit, she made her way towards the stairs before turning back around to look at Reni "Go take a shower while I'll get everything ready for you." Reni nodded and Jazmin went up the stairs ahead of Reni, with her following suit.
As they made their way upstairs, the feeling of being watched grew more intense, making Jazmine and Reni slow their pace as they stepped. Being more aware of her surroundings, Jazmine finally reached Reni's room, opening the door she turned to look at Reni. "Go shower, I'll deal with the wardrobe.", Reni smiled and walk into the room first towards the bathroom. Jazmine walked in behind her going straight to the closet.
Walking up to the closet door she opens it and walks inside grazing over Reni's clothes that were all hung in order. Finally reaching where the formal outfits hang she began to shift through them. Picking out a soft cream colored button up shirt and a navy blue cropped suit jacket. Placing those on her left hand she grazed over Reni's clothes one more time before landing on an all black with slight white striped bell bottom dress pants. Smiling satisfied with her outfit of choice she walks out of her sisters closet and towards the bed, placing her choice spread out on the bed.
Standing over, looking down at the clothes laid in front of her with both hands on her hips, one drumming alongside her hips, Jazmine was lost in thought. Debating what shoes she wanted to pair with the outfit, Reni walked into her room with her hair wrapped up in a towel and a robe wrapping around her body. Looking down at her bed she noticed the clothes laid out and smiled approvingly. "Jaz, thank you so much! I'm going to look awesome tonight, I knew I could count on you!" Startling Jazmine out of her thoughts, she turned her head to smile at Reni, "You're welcome, now go ahead and get dressed. I'll be right back with your shoes."
Smiling at Reni she walks back towards the closet and disappears leaving her dressing herself. Buttoning up her shirt, Reni stood by the bed waiting as Jazmine came back out with a pair of red ankle buckle pumps in her hands and a bright smile on her face. "Ren! I got the perfect shoes. Try it on!" Grabbing the shoes from her sister's hands, she sits on the edge of the bed and places the shoes on her feet, buckling up the ankle straps to finish the look. Standing back up again, Reni takes a few steps forward and turns to meet Jazmine's eyes.
Sparkling with happiness and satisfaction, Jazmine nodded vigorously, "You look amazing! I love it." Reni smiled about to turn her head when Jazmine jumped in "No, I still have to do your makeup! Here, come sit down. I'll do it and then you'll be ready." Reni nods and sits still as Jazmine begins to apply makeup. Taking a step back Jazmine smiled clasped her hands together in appreciation. "Done, go ahead and look into the mirror now. Reni smiled excitedly as she stood up and walked towards her full length mirror.
Taking a look at herself, she gasps as her hands automatically go up to cover her mouth in surprise. The person that met her eyes was beautiful, nothing like how she would look on average days. Her hair fell in soft waves just above her shoulders, her almond eyes and full lips accentuated by the light makeup and her outfit matched her like a second skin. The shoes made her legs appear longer and more modelesque. She instantly fell in love with how she looked. With tears threatening to spill, she turned to Jazmine with a huge smile on her face. "I love it! Thank you! You're the best, now I have all the confidence in the world!" running towards Jazmine, she hugs her tightly as she tries her best not to cry. Letting her go at arms length, they smile to each other and Reni breaks the silence. "I'll get going, I'll see you later okay? Take care of yourself." Jazmine nods and with that Reni walks out of her room and out the front door to her car.