Free Kill Marguerite and Other Stories by Megan Milks

you’re the mirror, you’re me, because you are except you’re not. And sometimes when I creep into your room and rub my face in your sweaters which are scratchy but soft like you, I know we have more than just twin sense, that special feeling and who am I kidding, I hate myself I’m boring I read too much I wish I were you. But I’m notyou. I’m only ever the opposite of you. Even dressing bad is like loving you. There’s nothing love can’t do.
    What was that? I have been imprisoned all my life by an evil double of myself and all you can say is you are who you are? You are who you fucking are. Well. You must not understand relationships because in relationships who you are depends on the other person . For instance see what happens when I rip off your purple miniskirt and wear it myself. Do you see how fun I am when you’re not around? How I’m carefree and spontaneous. How I wear tighter clothes, I don’t have to individuate. What. I’m communicating. What. I’m sick of being Elizabeth all the time, the Elizabeth to your Jessica when I’m the older twin, you duplicate me.
    So do it—duplicate me. Now. Move your leg when I move mine. Cross your legs when I cross mine. Stop. You’re not doing it right. You’re not—you never. Jessica. I’m warning you. Jessica. Jessica. Jessica. Jessica. Jessica. Do I have to kill you. Jessica. Good. We are breaking down the wall between our bedrooms, Jessica. We are breaking down the wall between our bodies. Like O like H in your gut. Our gut. Ours. Are you all right. We can stand up straight. Because no matter what happens between us, I collapse. No matter what happens, you can’t escape me, can’t untangle. Because I felt you in my life before I ever—collapse.

SWEET VALLEY TWINS #119: ABDUCTED!
    Some language has been appropriated from Sweet Valley Twins , numbers 5, 9, 12, 14, and 34, created by Francine Pascal; Choose Your Own Adventure #3: Space and Beyond by R.A. Montgomery; My Teacher Is an Alien by Bruce Coville; and The Baby-Sitters Club #35 by Ann M. Martin.
    â€œLizzie!” You look up to see your twin sister standing on the back porch. “There you are!” she exclaims, spotting you on the lowest branch of the huge pine tree in your backyard. This is your ‘thinking seat,’ the spot you come to whenever you need to be by yourself and do some serious thinking.
    â€œTime for dinner,” she informs you, tossing back her long blond hair. She grins sheepishly. “Will you help me with math after?”
    You smile. Looking at Jessica is just like looking into a mirror. You have the same long, blond hair, the same blue-green eyes, even the same dimple in the left cheek. But though you look identical, the two of you are very different.
    Lots of people think of you as the serious one. That isn’t exactly true—you like having fun with your friends. But you also like having time alone, by yourself, to read, or write, or just think. You hope to become a professional writer some day.
    Jessica, on the other hand, never likes being alone. She wants lots of friends around her all the time, and she isn’t very interested in anything serious, especially school. Mainly she likes having fun—though her idea of fun sometimes gets her into trouble. And she always counts on you to get her out of it.
    The two of you have different friends, different interests, and different personalities. But you are still the best of friends.
    â€œSure, Jess,” you agree. “I’d be happy to.”
    â€œLizzie, you’re the best,” Jessica beams. “Your turn to set the table!” She vanishes inside.
    You get up and follow her, grateful for the distraction. You’ve been sitting in your ‘thinking seat’ for quite a while, replaying in your mind the strange encounter you had with your favorite teacher, Mr. Bowman, after school. You can’t seem to