Chapter 30: XXVI

— RORI —

On the fifteenth of November, at two o' clock in the morning, i attempt to bake a cake.

I choose to bake a chocolate cake, because i know everyone will like it, and i follow a tutorial on YouTube.

"For this next part, you're going to want to insert a skewer into the centre of your cake in order to test if it is ready or not."

"A skewer?" i repeat, narrowing my eyes at the English women on my phone screen. "What the hell is a skewer?"

"As you can see...my skewer remains squeaky clean. And so now, all that's left to do is let the cake cool down before we start icing."

"I don't believe i own a skewer," i tell her, struggling to pronounce this word that is unknown to me. "But i suppose a knife will do."

Removing a butter knife from the drawer beside me, i gently insert it into the centre of my cake, frowning in disappointment when i find it coated in the chocolatey mixture.

Determined, i place the cake back into the oven and set a timer for ten minutes.

"Ten minutes should be fine." i once again turn to the woman on my screen. "Right?"

When i find that she has already moved on to icing her cake, i huff in frustration and close the app, choosing to open Spotify.

I put on some playlist consisting of music from the nineties, feeling rather inspired by my brother's birthday, even though it features artists he would never be caught dead listening to, such as Britney Spears and The Spice Girls. And i spend the majority of the next ten minutes sliding across the recently mopped kitchen floor in my pink, fuzzy, socks.

I drank three cups of coffee earlier on. And i never drink hot coffee for the sake of it.

I don't know what i was thinking. To be honest, i wasn't. I was just so exhausted and, well, now i'm not.

The timer has yet to go off, so, in the meantime, i prepare the frosting, not being shy when it comes to sneaking a little for myself.

Only, i get distracted by the music, singing and dancing in-between.

I'm actually rather care free today...perhaps it's because of all the coffee i drank, but, whatever the cause, i'm not complaining.

For the first time in seventeen days, everything has gone smoothly.

I aced my German test today and i also found out i got an A on my recent Chemistry test.

An A!

Little ol' me got an A in Chemistry. Who would've thought?

Christian would've thought. That's who.

He was so proud when i told him during our study session in the cafe. He even told me himself! And that meant way more than he would ever know.

Things have, surprisingly, not been awkward between the two of us ever since i found out that Seamus and Annalise kissed.

Christian didn't try to defend him, nor Annalise, which i greatly appreciated, and even let me vent to him for a whole hour.

In truth, the rest of my brothers have not yet been made aware of what happened. And they don't seem suspicious of anything either.

It might have something to do with the fact Seamus and i haven't been around at the same time as one another, or perhaps it is just their usual obliviousness due to the many other things on their plate.

But, regardless, i am fine with that. When we triplets fall out, we prefer to keep it between us. There is no use making situations like this one into some spectacle for our siblings to enjoy...

Still distracted by the music, it takes me a good few seconds to notice that the oven is beginning to fog up from within, and, when i do, i enable panic mode.

"No. No. No. No. No. No!" i screech. "I cannot do this today. I repeat, i cannot do this today!"

And there it is.

The downfall of what was, up until this very moment, my perfectly smooth day...

I hastily turn off the oven and wait a few seconds before opening the door.

When i look inside, my four tier chocolate cake is no more: the smooth surface replaced by a layer of burnt crust.

I take it out of the oven, hoping that it is not as inedible as it first appears, but it is in no way salvageable. The cake hasn't even properly risen, and that's after following the woman's instructions to a T.

I guess i'm just not cut out for this type of labour.

"Are you trying to set the house on fire!?"

At the sound of Seamus's voice, i shriek in fright. I hadn't heard him approaching, for i was too busy dwelling over the disaster that is Zephaniah's birthday cake. Not to mention, it is the early hours of the morning.

"No," i grumble. "I'm trying to make a birthday cake."

Like i said, Seamus and i haven't done a lot of talking in the past seventeen days.

He's tried. Believe me, he's tried.

He's apologised too, as soon as he found out i discovered his secret, and has tried to tell me on multiple occasions that he regrets what happened.

But, for some reason, i can't find it in myself to get over what happened. Whether he meant to or not, Seamus has caused a rupture in mine and Annalise's friendship.

I haven't allowed her to sit at our table since. I might be being immature, but, the truth is, i've begun to notice just how much of our friendship she spent lusting over my brothers.

Not to mention the fact she has become closer with Lindsay ever since she began sitting at her table. Bare in mind, this is the same Lindsay who i caught talking badly about her in the ladies' room.

So, for the past few weeks, it has just been Mikey and i sitting at our little table in the corner of the cafeteria.

The good news is, Annalise's absence has brought the two of us closer. However, the bad news is, i only have one friend to speak of at the moment.

It's not like i want my friendship with Annalise to end after seven years, over something as insignificant as her kissing my brother, but i honestly don't know what to do at this point.

She seems to fit in better with Lindsay's clique than she does with Mikey and i. And that's a hard pill to swallow.

The time to confront her, i'm sure, will come around soon. But in the meantime, i have more important things to deal with.

Firstly, i need to forgive Seamus.

He is my twin, after all, and our relationship is far more important than any friendship i will ever make.

As well as that, i have Zephaniah's birthday to get through. And, finally, after thirty five days, reuniting with Teddy.

Teddy is still in rehab, of course, but we will be spending part of Zephaniah's birthday there with him, later on in the day.

As it turns out, i am not allowed to bring cake into the centre. But i thought i could sneak a slice in with me to make up for it.

"Well, i hate to say it but that cake is about as edible as the oven itself," my brother comments.

I glare at him through narrowed eyes.

"Thank you for pointing that out, Captain Obvious," i sass.

"Do you want me to help you bake another one?" he asks, ignoring my remark.

"What?"

"Do you want me to help you bake another cake?" he repeats.

"What, so you can get all the credit for what is supposed to be my gift to Zephaniah?" i ask him. "Yeah, i don't think so."

My brother lingers in the kitchen for a few moments, sighing as i turn away from him and begin to remove the cake from the tin it is encased in, and then he turns on his heels.

"Suit yourself then," he says, defeatedly.

"I will," i retort.

"You don't need me," he adds.

"Damn right," i agree.

For the next few minutes, i am still struggling to remove the cake from its tin, given that it is so compact, and i groan in frustration when, after travelling around the circumference with a butter knife, i find that it doesn't budge once.

I need to do this by myself. I can't always rely on my brothers. Not to mention, i don't want to.

Least of all Seamus.

Only, it is nearing three am now and all i have done is baked a cake that is as edible as the oven. I'll be lucky if i manage to bake another one before sun rise, at this rate.

By the time the clock hits three, i defeatedly leave the cake behind and head in the direction of the staircase, telling myself i will continue in the morning. Only, when i reach the first step, i find that my brother is waiting for me.

"Why are you still here?" i snarl. "Move. I'm going back to bed."

"What about the cake?" he asks.

"Screw the goddamn cake. I'll buy him one instead," i decide.

He raises his eyebrows, bemused.

"So you're giving up, just like that?" he wonders. "That's not the Rori i know."

"You don't know anything," i grumble.

"I know how to bake a cake," he argues. "A pretty good one, at that."

"Okay...? Good for you," i say. "Did you seriously just wait here so you could rub it in?"

"No," he insists, before an involuntarily smirk creeps its way onto his face. "Well, a little bit."

I scoff and attempt to walk past him, but he stands up now and directs me back to the kitchen.

"Look, Ri, i'm going to help you bake this cake whether you like it or not. But i promise i won't take any of the credit."

I huff, folding my arms across my torso in defiance, and Seamus finds it in himself to hold back any amusement he clearly feels.

"It's the least i can do. Really."

"Fine," i relent. "But i'm not letting you boss me around like you always do."

— SEAMUS —

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"You said you wouldn't boss me around!"

"I didn't say that. You did."

"Fuck you."

I have been assisting Rori for approximately twelve minutes and it is clear she is already sick of my presence.

It's not that i want to be baking a cake at three in the morning, but i could hardly leave her alone. Besides, i need to make use of every chance i get to talk to her.

I don't know how to get through to her these days.

I wish i had a way with words, like Quentin does, but, unfortunately, i picked up on my eldest brother's habit of insulting people when i should be making things right.

In my humble opinion, i do think i have improved at the latter. I have already felt like snapping at my sister several times tonight, as well as insulting her, but have refrained from doing so each time.

As much as i love messing with my siblings, i know there is a time and place. And right now is not suitable.

I fucked up big time by kissing Annalise. I know i did. And, as a result, i disrespected both her and my sister.

In all honesty, it meant nothing to me. Annalise, besides being my sister's friend, means nothing to me. Not to mention, i was so drunk that night that i can barely recall anything that happened.

Of course, my sister won't want to hear this from me, any more than she will want to hear me profess my love for her best friend, but it is true.

And i'm sure she knows it is true, deep down.

"I know i sound like a broken record here, and i know you don't want to talk about it, but me kissing Annalise will never happen again," i reassure her. "And i know that she likes me, or whatever, but i don't feel the same way. I never have and i never will."

"Don't say never," she says, before she mutters something unintelligible under her breath.

"Seriously, Rori. I would never date a friend of yours. Not now and not in a million years. Not to mention, i won't be ready to date someone for at least another ten years," i add, with a slight laugh. "You know i'm not like that."

She glances at me with a distant look in her eyes, as if she can't quite come to terms with what i am saying.

"Why her? Why my best friend?" she asks, and then, almost hestinantly, adds, "I mean...could you imagine if i kissed Chris?"

I almost shiver at the mere thought of that happening.

Not that i would ever let that happen.

Rori will be lucky if she can get a boyfriend in the next ten years, without us scaring him off.

No one is good enough for my sister; least of all one of my own friends.

"Don't even put such thoughts in my head," i tell her. "Besides, you're too little to be thinking about kissing boys."

I'm not dumb. I know she has.

And with each boy i find out she has kissed, that's one more threat i have to deliver.

But i can't help myself. It's just too fun to annoy her.

"I am your junior by seven minutes!" she exclaims.

"And in those seven minutes, i experienced a lot," i insist.

"Yeah." she scoffs. "Like being dropped on the head several times."

I roll my eyes, suppressing a grin at her predictable retort.

"If anyone was dropped on the head after birth, it was Zeph," i say, and she laughs despite herself.

"No. Zeph was the first baby; the crown jewel. They probably cared about him for a hot minute," she jokes.

I wish i could say that Rori remains in a good mood for the rest of the morning, but i know that is impossible.

As, as soon as there is a lingering silence, she returns to the previous topic.

"How long were you planning on keeping it a secret from me?"

I hesitate.

"I thought it would be better if you didn't know," i admit.

"In what world?" she points out, rather harshly.

"I know that was wrong now," i say. "But i just didn't want to hurt you, and i didn't want to ruin your friendship with Anna."

My sister sighs at the mention of her friend, averting her gaze to the cake which is now baking in the oven.

"She did that all by herself," she mutters. "Not just by kissing you," she adds. "I just don't know what to do at this point."

"Just, please, don't let me be the reason you guys stop hanging out. You deserve a friend, Rori. And i'm not going to stand here and defend her, because i think you could do better in that department, but don't make any rash decisions you'll regret...and, yes, i'm aware of how hypocritical that sounds. Have i told you how sorry i am?"

She cracks a small smile at the end of my speech, but the somber look on her face tells me how she really feels...

We take out the cake and let it cool for a while, and, after approximately ten minutes, triplet number three enters the kitchen, rubbing his eyes as if he has just woken up.

He glances around the kitchen, which has practically been turned inside out, no thanks to Rori, and then his eyes land on the two of us, sitting at the kitchen island.

He exchanges a look with me while Rori is on her phone, as if to say "You guys made up?", and i shrug my shoulders, unsure where i stand with her at this moment.

Quentin nods his head in understanding and takes a seat beside me, and only then does Rori glance up from her phone screen.

"What's going on?" she asks. "Why are you here now?"

Quentin huffs in amusement at the sound of her displeased greeting.

"I don't know. I just woke up and felt like going to the kitchen," he explains.

"Okay..." she trails off. "Weirdo."

"Why are you here?" he asks both of us.

We respond at the same time.

"I'm baking a cake."

"I'm making sure she doesn't fuck up."

Quentin eyes us both with a knowing glance.

"I see," he says. "I can help."

"I don't need two people to help me bake a cake," Rori insists. "Not to mention, it is supposed to be my gift."

Quentin turns to face me for a translation.

"She doesn't want anyone taking credit for the cake. It's for Zephaniah's birthday."

He nods in understanding.

"Welp. I forgot about his birthday." he shrugs.

"You did not just fucking say welp," i say, in a tone of disbelief and disgust.

"How did you forget?" Rori asks him. "It's the same day every year. I mean, i expected this from Seamus but not you." she laughs.

I place my hand on my heart and send her a look of mock offence.

"I dunno." Quentin shrugs once more, unbothered. "S'not not like he's been here the past five years. It's not like we really celebrate birthdays, either."

"Well, i suppose the cake can be from the three of us. Though it remains my idea," she says.

"How generous of you," i mock once more, popping a strawberry into my mouth.

"Don't you dare eat the decorations!" she exclaims.

"Oh, i dare," i say, eating one more just to annoy her.

Quentin snorts but Rori greets me with a pointed look, as if to say "You're already walking on thin ice,"and i immediately place the bowl of fruit back onto the table.

"I think the cake's just about ready to ice now," Rori concludes. "I'm going to put the chocolate frosting on, then Quentin can do the writing with the white chocolate, since he's good at calligraphy, and Seamus gets to remove the stems from the strawberries and neatly place them around it."

"Wow." i feign excitement. "I get the fun job!"

"It's the only one i trust you to do," Rori fires back, a smug look on her face. "Just don't eat any more of the strawberries."

"I won't," i say, through a tight lipped smile.

Surprisingly, we actually cooperate with each other.

Rori uses a fuck tonne of chocolate frosting — not that i'm complaining — and, thanks to Quentin's steady hand and grammar skills, the words 'happy birthday z-dawg!' are spelled correctly in a calligraphy style font on the centre of the cake (the nickname was not approved beforehand).

I do a great job at removing the stems from the strawberries and neatly placing them around the cake, if i do say so myself, and, by the time we are finished, we've got the picture perfect cake.

"Look at us, baking a cake for Zephaniah. Who are we?" Quentin jokes.

"You think he'll like it?" Rori asks him, a glimmer of hopefulness in her eyes.

"He better fucking love every inch of this, here, glorious cake," i say. "It's fucking four in the morning and i haven't so much as slept a wink."

"I'm starting to think we should've laced it with some chilli powder," Quentin muses. "Zephaniah doesn't deserve a cake as beautiful as this."

Rori heads to the fridge and pulls out a bottle of beer that has already been opened.

"It's not scotch but it's the best i can do," she says, and then raises the bottle into the air, the three of us surrounding the cake. "I propose a toast," she begins. "To Zephaniah, of course. For without him, there would be no us."

"You are so cheesy," i tell her. "But, yes, you are right."

"To Z-Dawg," Quentin says, taking a sip of the beer and then passing it to me.

"To the birthday boy; may he enjoy his birthday cake," i say, taking a sip, before Rori takes the drink into her hand once more.

"To Zephy," she concludes, taking a sip, and then grimacing at the taste of it.

"And, on behalf of Rori..."

I stare at my brother in confusion, but he says nothing.

Only when i feel the yolk of an egg dripping from my newly washed hair do i react.

"Did you just...crack an egg on my head?" i ask him, in a dangerously calm tone of voice.

Quentin's eyes remain on the top of my head and his lips tremble in amusement that he doesn't bother to hide.

My left eye twitches.

"It's what you deserve after kissing her best friend," he decides, with a nonchalant shrug.

"Stronzo!" i exclaim, shoving him.

Instinctively, i reach for an egg and throw it in his direction.

Quentin barely dodges it, and i fear that it has landed on the furniture. Only, my fear soon dissipates when i glance behind him.

Xavi stands in the entrance of the kitchen, wearing nothing but his plaid pyjama pants, and he stares at his chest, on which the egg i just threw at him landed.

He then glances at us, his mouth displaying a line to show just how pissed off he is, and his gaze narrows in on me, Rori giggling in the background.

"Hey Xav," my sister cheerily greets him. "We're out of eggs, in case you were wondering."

A/N: I know that it was Rori and Christian who kissed in the original version, but, in the rewrite, all they have done so far is flirt so you CANNOT call my girl a hypocrite😭. She's only a slight hypocrite...Anyways, once again, thank you to Mels for looking over this chapter! Following this, we celebrate a certain someone's twenty-eighth birthday and visit Teddy in rehab. Rori and Seamus seem to have worked things out for now, as he has promised her the kiss was never meant to happen, but who knows what Annalise will have to say? Will all be forgiven, or will the girls' friendship come to an end? And, more importantly, will things remain amicable between the twins?