2

SOPHIA

"How can two people, look so much alike plus not be related, I don't still get it!" Harry exclaimed. His brows creased and he twisted his mouth whilst pacing up and down which drew the attention of the kids present.

I met his bewildered gaze, then he ceased pacing. His brows, nonetheless furrowed as he made a swipe at one curly lock going to the side of his forehead.

We were at East-Side Academy cafeteria, still, at the spot, Avasa had left us. I stepped away from where Harry and Taylor stood as I pondered what could be going on.

If she wasn't Sutton, then who was she?

Two people can't look so much alike except they were identical twins or related as Harry had implied, right?

Sighing, I twisted the black ring with a silver stone on my finger out of habit.

My phone went off signalling an incoming message. Unlocking, a picture of a smiling Zayn flashed my screen. A smile graced my lips as I clicked on his name to read the content of the message he had sent.

Zayn: Have you seen her yet?

I sighed, rolling my eyes as I assumed he referred to Sutton as the 'her'. Even though he couldn't see me, I shook my head before typing a reply.

Sophia: We haven't seen Sutton

Whilst waiting for his response, I seized the opportunity to observe my environment. The cafeteria looked like a gym for me. A huge door which connected it to the kitchen was opened and the smell of chips and baked beans wafted in.

I gagged, crinkling my nose for I disliked the food mentioned above.

The kids formed a straight line in front of the server stand with brown Formica trays in their hands.

Unlike ours that looked more like a café. Fancy foods were served and we have to eat with all etiquettes and manners being taught. I shook my head as the kids were having a food fight which could warrant detention in Hidden Academy.

I cast a glance to where Harry and Taylor stood, a burly kid with blond hair wearing East-Side Academy varsity was conversing with them. Harry scowled, then he let out an exasperated sigh as I stepped closer. He bobbed his head to whatever the had boy said.

The boy left after giving us a once over, with his eyes lingered on me. I wanted to ask Harry what was that all about, however, I kept quiet.

"I hate this school." He mumbled, rolling his eyes.

"The feeling is mutual, baby," Taylor affirmed, grinning.

My brows lifted as I glanced from Taylor to Harry, waiting for them to explain. Both shrugged their shoulders, glancing away.

Harry and Taylor did this most of the time. I would assume they have an inside joke both always agreed on if I never knew them. Both, seldom act like cat and dog ever since this our small group which comprised of four people was formed whilst sometimes they would glance at each other then agree to the other statement.

My phone buzzed, signalling another text.

Zayn: Not Sutton. Her dead ringer.

"Oh my God, Avasa is Sutton's double," I said half-aloud, putting two and two together. It all made sense now as to why they look so much alike.

Harry and Taylor sidled to my side asking if I was okay because of the way I had exclaimed.

"Avasa is the girl we have been looking for." I murmured, yet they still looked confused. "The doppelganger," I put in.

"We were so lost, searching for Sutton, that we forgot the reason we came here at first," Taylor muttered.

"I still don't understand what this doppelganger is all about and what Avasa got to do with this," Harry said, running a hand through his brown locks.

I didn't understand either and I was sure Taylor didn't either, seeing as she was doing her weird thinking and confused face- she tilted her head, her nose twitched, then her eyes sparkled. Tears formed in it perhaps from staring too long at nothing.

"Hey brats, what are you still doing here or do you want me to pummel your pretty faces?" The burly kid from before yammered, making weird faces with his hands close to his face.

"Come on, let's get out of here before things get nasty." I grabbed Harry and Taylor's hand urging them to move out. But then, they shrugged my hands off.

Harry sneered as the kid and his friends drew close to us. He took a stance with his hands clenched in a fist in front of him and Taylor followed suit. I knew a fight would ensue, it always does. Taylor doesn't really fight rather she was the 'cheer queen' that constantly encouraged them. Also, she mostly organizes the time and places for the fist combats making Harry arrive in bandage always.

I was perhaps the most level-headed in all of us. Zayn too since he was thoughtful, though he could be formidable when angry.

"Guys stop, we have better things doing. They are not even worth it." "I need Sutton back, don't you?" I added pointing at both of them. Harry and Taylor loosened up at the mention of Sutton.

"Another time then," Harry said to the burly kid.

"Yeah, listen to her pansy." The burly kid and his gang burst out laughing.

They booed as we sauntered out of the cafeteria.

********†††******†††********†††*********†††******

"How the hell are we going to find her now, we don't even have her address?" Harry questioned whilst clicking his fingers against the steering. Taylor glared at him warning him to be quiet for the umpteenth time.

Harry's mood had always been off since I knew him, however, today was worst. I don't know what had gotten into him that made him so infuriated. It was probably Sutton's disappearance.

Harry ignored her, as he continued tapping away.

Harry and his impatience.

We had gotten stuck in the roadblock, which was a stop-start. Cars hopped down the road like a hog-tied frogs.

I fanned my face with my hands as I began to feel hot. Also, my saliva became sticky reminding me I had gone without any liquid for several hours. I gripped the water in a plastic container beside me. Uncapping it, I drank directly from it to wet my parched throat.

My eyes caught a movement from afar and I squinted.

A familiar figure came down from her truck with her mouth hung open. I smiled for the second time today as the person whirled.

"I think we are lucky." I pointed a finger at where the person stood as she stared into space. Harry clapped his hands, chuckling.  Whilst Taylor's expression was as well, unreadable.

"Before we go, what are we going to say to her?" Taylor paused as she leaned back and looked up.

I knew she was thinking of something!

"We can't just say, hey Avasa, you look a lot like our missing friend, Sutton plus we seriously need you to replace her now because we miss her so much," Taylor said quirking an eyebrow.

"You are right Tay. Since you are the smart one here, it would be nice if you do the talking." I sassed back rolling my eyes.

"No way, am I saying such thing to that hardheaded girl." Taylor glowered.

"I'm not saying anything either," Harry said quickly looking back at the road.

"Ditto." I retorted. "If we aren't, then who would?" I inquired. We outstared each other, not saying anything for about thirty seconds.

Finally, Harry broke the silence.

Luckily for us, the cars at our front had surprisingly moved to another lane in the course of our argument. We were now closed to Avasa and I could hear the song that was playing out of her truck's radio.