"You are a talented artist, much better than I am," John walked up to his rival, Callum at the art gallery.

The two of them took an art class together and the reward for the one with the highest grade was to have their own show at the art gallery. John's grade was higher than Callum's by one point, making him the one who won his spot at the gallery.

He was shocked when he saw Callum walk in, thinking that there was no way his rival was going to show up today.

"No, you deserve to be here," Callum forced a smile. "The teacher saw more potential in you than she ever saw in me."

"But you worked so hard on your final," John said.

"So did you," Callum said.

John knew this argument would go on forever, each complimenting each other, but neither of them meaning a word they said. They both smiled at each other and went their separate ways.

‘These feelings are new for me,’ Tiberius’ jaw clenched, ‘I’ve never been in love before. I want to be the best for you.’

‘You think you’re the only one with feelings?’ Aurius felt his face redden in splotches - the way it always did when he was about to cry.

Tiberius blinked once. Twice. ‘I … didn’t think…’

Aurius choked back a laugh. ‘You always think, Tiberius, it’s what I love most about you.’

A ghost of a smile haunted Tiberius’ lips, only just visible in the candlelight. ‘And the thing I love the most about you is that you barrel into every situation wearing your heart on your sleeve.’

Aurius couldn’t keep back his laugh. ‘You make it sound like a good thing.’

‘It is,’ Tiberius insisted, head bobbing earnestly, ‘I always know exactly where you stand. Just like I know when your face goes like that it means you’re going to cry.’

‘See?’ Aurius pressed the back of his hand against his eyes. ‘You’re a thinker.’

Tiberius chuckled softly, gazing up at Aurius through his eyelashes. ‘Just to be clear, are we still fighting?’

‘I don’t think we ever were,’ Aurius smiled, opening his arms for Tiberius to burrow into. ‘I’m sorry,’ he added, throat thick with tears, causing Tiberius to plant a quick kiss on his cheek.

‘I’m sorry too,’ he echoed, his head resting against Aurius’ chest, atop his heart, ‘I’ll try not to overthink things.’

‘Don’t you dare!’ Aurius clutched him tighter, laughing despite his tears. ‘My beautiful genius.’

They stayed like that until the candle coughed and spluttered, unspeakably comfortable in each others embrace.

“Can you toss me that blanket, babe?”

“Of course, you cold, hon?” He hands me the light throw off the back of the couch.

“So cold! I can feel my nose getting cold.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, my nose is cold.”

“Yeah, but you can’t feel the cold with your nose.”

“What? Of course I can!”

“No you can’t. You could touch your nose with your finger and feel that it’s cold with your finger, but you can’t feel the cold with your nose.”

I curl my knees up under the blanket and stare at him.

“Um, yes I can. I don’t have to touch my nose with my finger to know it’s cold. I can feel that it is cold.”

“I’m pretty sure you don’t have the nerve endings on your nose that would register the cold.”

I think I see a faint glimmer of teasing in his eyes. “You’re kidding me, right?”

“I mean, maybe you’re special, but you can’t feel cold with your nose.”

“You absolutely can!”

He shakes his head at me, “Oooookay”

The hint of sarcasm slides under my skin, tugging the irritation into my voice. “Come on, you have to be messing with me. You don’t actually think that I can’t feel the fact that my nose is cold.”

“I mean, I believe that you think you can feel it.”

“Well isn’t that gracious of you?” He can see the heat rising to my face.

“Aw, babe don’t be like that.”

“I can feel when my nose is cold.”

“Of course you can, dear.”

“Just…ugh. I can!! I can feel my damn nose when it is cold.”

He shrugs his shoulders.

“Say it!! Say I can feel when my nose is cold.”

“You can feel when your nose is cold.”

“I’m gonna punch your nose and I am going to bet you can feel that.”

“Punching is different.”

“I cannot fathom how.”

“Fine, dear, you can feel cold with your nose…my magical baby.” He reaches forward and tweaks my nose.

“I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.”

“No, I don’t.”

He sits down next to me and I snuggle up to him. I lean over and nuzzle his warm neck with my cold nose.

I really envy your ability to stay home and not have to ever lift a finger. You must please your husband in all the right ways to get him on board.

Ha, I really do. Peter falls asleep with a smile on his face every night. But I must say, I envy your ability to eat half a gallon of ice cream every day…and your toilet is immaculate. Almost like you clean it every day. What do you use?

My toilet is clean because we are clean people, Sheryl. We eat clean, we don’t let the yellow mellow. Now your house is positively spotless. So much energy you have! I can only imagine your husband let’s you get a good night sleep every night.

I married a good man, Donna. There’s still a few good ones out there that’ll agree with your interesting lifestyle. I know a woman who found a man that took in both her AND her mother.

I’m just grateful that my mother still wants to see me every day. The joy she takes in making me breakfast every morning…well I’m sure when you finally got into those jeans you’ve been hanging onto, yours will come around and enjoy you too.

Oh my lanta, Donna, aren’t you just a peach.

“You train here?” “Yes, Master Jin lets me practice with what ever i want. My father pays him well for my training, so i am able to fight if i ever went to war.” I admired the weapons on the stand, running my hands along my favorite sword i smirked. “It is a strange request to have a woman train with such dangerous weapons. Are you the only child from your father?” As he stood next to me i could feel him looming over me. I didnt look up to see if he was admiring me or the weapons. “I have an older brother whom i adore. Though i know im adopted.” My gaze was lost in the thought of when i was young. I snapped myself out if it and turned to him changing the subject. “Do you know how to use a sword? I couldnt imagine you needing it much where you are from.” “I have dabbled with one or two in my days.” He chuckled. “Im not sure my skills are quite to your level my lady. Never needed such things on the farm other then our normal tools.” “Well we could spar with them if you are up for it?” I twirled the sword around to my side and handed him one. His eyes widened at my gesture. “I dont want to hurt you in any way.” “Oh trust me, you wont hurt me.” I smirked walking to the center of the practice mat. I turned to him taking my stance. He stood there studying me for a minute then joined me. I took a couple swipes at him and he parried as designed. He did a couple of undiciplined swings at me. I dodged and parried them with a triwling fashion. He laughed at me, “What was that?” “Have you never seen anyone parry an attack before?” I responded with a devilish grin. “Not with such sass and grace. I would almost guess you are toying with me.” “Then lets kick it up a notch.” I teased with a wink lunging at him my sword pointed straight ahead. He dodged it just as i had done with a twirl, only he added a tap of his sword on my ass. I gasped and turn to face him, “How dare you!” I exclaimed holding onto my backside. He laughed louder, “Well beauitful lady what are you going to do about it?” He stood still as his laugh turned to a chuckle. I took that lowered defense as my opportunity to attack. I darted from side to side as i raced to him this time taking to a forward roll swiping downward with my blade. Staggering back he met my blade with his in a loud metal clank. We traded more blows, more loud metal clanks errupted. Every now and again sparks were born out of the metal clashing. “I say Elijah you have more skill then you let on. Quite impressive for a farm boy.” I managed to say trying to steady my breath from our fun little battle. “My true skill is in hand to hand combat. The sword might be a close second. Id show you but with my strength and skill i know i would surely hurt you.” He said putting the sword back onto the weapons shelf. “You want to bet on that?” I asked. “My lady are you serious?” “I am willing to bet on my skills. Are you? Or are you afraid to be bested by a woman?” “I am, but not on you.” He replied looking very hesitant. “I will make it worth your while, i promise.” I winked again at him and didnt give him a chance to react. Throwing a couple punches at him i nearly got his jaw. He had dodged them once again, he didnt try to strike me back. He only parried my moves. Once i had made him annoyed enough he finally did start to throw in a lazy punch, which he knew id grab and twist it around so he ended up on his knees from the compromised direction i twisted his arm in. He stared me in my eyes with this look of admiration i had never seen from anyone. “My lady i would let you best me in any thing in this world, so long as i can look upon your beautiful face for the rest of my days.” I couldnt help but smile.

She sat down on the edge of the bed, unclasping the gold bracelet on her wrist.

“What did you think of her?” Her husband asked from the closet, as he unknotted his neck tie.

“What did I think of who?” She asked, pretending she didn’t know exactly who her husband was referring to.

“What do you mean, who?” Her husband asked, knowing that by placing emphasis on the “who,” by giving it importance, his words would sting his wife even more.

“I met so many people this evening, darling,” she replied in the most nonchalant tone she could muster. “You’re going to have to be more specific.”

Her husband let out a small snicker under his breath, not intending for her to hear, even though she did.

“Cybill,” he replied, his lips turning into a smile, saying her name.

“Cybill?” She asked, not daring to give her husband the satisfaction of knowing that she knew exactly who he was referring to. “I don’t recall meeting a Cybill,” she said, allowing her voice to trail off into a yawn, hoping her husband would interpret it as her being bored with their conversation about the woman.

From the closet, her husband smiled broadly, curious as to whether his wife was playing a mind game with him.

“Cybill, darling. My new secretary. Don’t you recall meeting her? I introduced the two of you. She was the blonde, wearing the black dress, drinking a martini.” He added the details, wanting his wife to become combative, aware of the fact that he had paid close attention to another woman.

“Was that the woman wearing the inappropriately short black dress?” She asked her husband in her most gossiping tone, knowing that by doing so, he would either have to respond by insulting his new mistress or be quick enough to channel the conversation in a new direction, and she smiled to herself, still sitting on the bed, anticipating his response.

“She’s young,” he replied, wanting his defense of his secretary to get a rise out of his wife.

“I think what you meant to say was that she’s naive,” she responded, taking advantage of her second opportunity to insult his new secretary and mistress, even though, of course, she knew he was unaware of the fact that she knew they were sleeping together.

Intrigued, he considered his wife’s words and stepped into their bedroom, where she now stood, looking him in the eye, and he wondered if she knew about his affair.

Calmly, she turned around, and without even speaking, he unzipped her little black dress, as he had done so many times before, letting the garment slide to the floor.

“Thank you,” she replied in an even tone, now turning around to meet his gaze, knowing that she had won their little communicative spar. Her husband was now looking at her, though, half lovingly, half inquisitively, still trying to mentally reconcile what had just transpired between the two of them.

“Oi, you!” Adam screamed.

“Yes?” Anne replied innocently.

“Can I just say, that shirt of yours looks like someone was sick on it. I love it!”

Anne gasped.

“And your scarf looks about as torn as a broken fishing net.” Adam exclaimed proudly.

“Sorry? You mean you like it?! Uh…..th…thanks I guess..” Anne burbled. “Can I say something about you?”

“Sure! Offend away…”

“That…those shoes of yours look like your take good care of them….uh..” Anne mumbled.

“I don’t think you’ve quite got the touch…” Adam replied.

His sword nearly pierced my side, but I was quick to turn and deflect his next swing. With each attempted strike and block my arms grew heavier and heavier. Sweat became slick on my neck. “You are quite experienced,” I said to him, using the brief pause to take a breath. “I’ve been trained by the best… as you are,” he replied, tossing his weapon between hands. I lunged forward bringing my sword down upon him, but he was swift to counter, knocking me backwards, almost to my backside. I scowled, spitting on the ground near his feet before our blades met once again. “Do you ever tire?” I managed out between focused and laboured pants. “Why? You seem to be doing well.” Not all well as I would like. My master would reprimand me if he were here. But he is not here, so I am left to fight this man until he tires or I am killed. Maybe he will have mercy and let me go. Swing, block, strike, parry. A horrible cycle. After attempting a rather impossible hit, I skidded backwards towards the edge of the clearing we’d been sparring in. “Do not run away. You’re a decent competitor! Equals are hard to find nowadays.” He said, glaring. He overestimates my skill, that is clear. I guess my acting skills prevailed. Thanks to my mother I’m sure. I sprinted into the evergreen forest, unsure of my destination. When I get back to the temple I will be ridiculed terribly for fleeing, but mortification is better than death in any place… I think. “Until another day!” I called out before disappearing further into the brush.

The ticket keeper bent backwards, glaring down Andrew. “That beautiful smile of yours can be forever now.” Silence “You can join us, the rest of us. Eternal happiness, isn’t that great? Today will be wonderful, so will every other one!” He sat limply on the ground, his hands up right like stiff branches, the rope around them like snakes. The empty wholes in his face showed no emotion on there own, but the thread pulled around the cheeks gave them a soft look. His mouth being pulled into a blood, all to wide smile— finally. Eternal happiness can be his. “Do you not want to be happy? So many people beg on there knees for the gift of forever glee. Don’t worry, we won’t judge, we will love you. Oh look at your cheery smiling face!” His mouth had to pull against the wiry threading, warping painfully. “Yes- living my life as a happy little pet. Finally,’freedom’.” He tried to attack the taller, smiling man, but the ropes pulled him up and he hang like a flimsy puppet. The ticket keeper grabbed a rope and dragged him out to the fair. “This ticket you purchased promised to cure you sadness, all your anxiety and depression, all you responsibilities and worries. You don’t have to do anything, sit, smile, and we will all love you.” Silence. “Will you walk? A bit slow eh- ah…” Andrew laid silently, dragged around in the dirt with his arms being outstretched a bit to far. “Another one I see- 125, would you mind?”

“Of course she’d like you more than me. Just look at you- out of the two of us you are clearly the better looking one”

“Georgio, we’re twins- we look identical. Well, aside from our hair of course. Yours was always so much more thick and luscious, unlike mine. I’m sure Daphne loves that”

“Hector, you and I both know my hair is no match for your incredible sense of humour. I see the way she is with you; she’s always laughing and smiling and completely lovesick”

“My social skills are only good because that’s all I’ve got to show after years of not amounting to anything. I’d kill for your brain, Georgio. You’re smart and incredibly talented at that computer coding thing you do. Trust me, in 5 years when you become some rich tech CEO, all the girls will be fawning over you”

“5 years?! I can’t wait 5 years. Daphne and I were suppose to end up together now. Do you know how long I spent pinning over her? 2 months, Hector, that’s how long. But you, with all your charm and wit, spend 5 minutes talking to her at the punch bowl and suddenly you’re the twin she desires. This is so unfair”

“I can’t help it if I’m charming!”

“Well maybe try a little harder to be less charming then!”

“Would it make you feel better if I stopped talking to her then?”

“You know I wouldn’t ask you to do that, Hector”

“Fine then, I won’t-“

“I wouldn’t ASK you, but as my brother you should know that it is implied”

“Okay, so you want me stop talking to her then?”

“Only if you really want to. Of your own accord”

“I don’t really want to, in all honesty. She seems really nic-“

“Oh my god Hector, of course I want you to stop talking to her”

“Well maybe if you just flat out said it the first time I wouldn’t be so confused. How is anyone suppose to understand your roundabout way of talking?”

“……”

“…..”

“You know what, You’re right Hector. It’s a good thing you have good social skills. One of us had to be the smart twin”