Naomi Williams
Two Years Since Epilogue.

My phone rang again for the millionth time in a row.

Huffing, I picked it up. "Matti—what?" I asked him as I heard the screaming in the back. "Babe, Stella can only help me so much. I'm losing my mind. If I finally get one to settle down, the other one takes off running." I chuckled.

The beauty of having twins.

"I'll be there in like an hour. I need to make a quick stop first." I heard him sigh. "Love you," I smiled. "Love you more," The line hung up.

Setting my phone in my back pocket, I gripped the crinkled paper in my hands. Slowly getting out of my SUV, I walked towards her. It still took m breath away no matter how many times I came.

Sitting down, I opened the paper and started to spew my words.

"Hi mom," I started.

I felt the tears coming on.

"I miss you so much and I can't believe it's been 16 years since you've passed away." I take in a deep breath. "I'm sorry it's been so long. I've been trying to settle down with my family. Stella is now ten, she's amazing. She's just like Matti in so many ways. She's scary athletic. She stopped taking dance and now she's into swimming lessons." I chuckled.

"And then there are the twins who just turned two. Slater Williams was born a big boy, the only boy. He's so cute mom—dark hair, blue eyes." I wished that I could show her a picture.

"And there is Sage Williams. She was a shock. I was almost done delivering when they said 'holy shit, there is another baby inside of you'. We had no idea—and mom she was so tiny. We had so many complications, we didn't think she was going to make it. She's still so tiny to this day. Dark brown hair, dark eyes. She's the only one with dark eyes. She had a feeding tube in her until last March. I just—god, it's been a rough life without you mom." I wipe my tears with my sleeve.

"It's been so rough and it sucks because I just wish I had a mother to tell me what to do at that moment. Matti and I didn't even think she would make it—" I set the note to the side.

"Dad's been gone for five years mom. Can you believe that he overdosed too?" I shouldn't have laughed, but I did. "I miss you so much and I hope that you, grandma, and grandpa are watching over me. Hopefully, instead of shooting heroin, you're shooting stars for me." I snort at my joke.

"I love you, mom. I appreciate everything you did for me. All of the sacrifices, everything. I wouldn't be the person I am today without you mom, thank you." I crinkled the paper back up, standing up.

I brushed my hands off and walked back to my car to start the semi-long journey back home.

I had lost family throughout the years but I had made up for it. Three kids, a husband, six cars, two cats, one dog, a beach house, a regular house, and then a condo in the city. Matti and I had come so far we didn't even have a chance to just breathe and think about how lucky we were that we made it.

We did make it.

Stella was a sweetheart, she grew out of her brat phase. She helped with anything and everything we could've ever asked her to. She was obsessed with Sage, and Sage was obsessed with her.

However, you could not split up Matti and Slater.

When Matti found out that Slater was a boy, I thought the stars had finally aligned for him—it was a dream come true. Matti and Slater were two peas in a pod. Matti took him everywhere.

Sage was usually with me. Blake usually took Stella, if he wasn't busy with other things.

Life had been crazy.

But we sure were lucky it was an Even Playing Field.

Years Later
Sage Williams
Age 12.

I was invisible to them.

I might be half and not a whole. I might not have the abilities that he did, but I'm invisible to them. After twelve years, you think they would be impressed with me like they were my brother. It was just hard to get their attention.

Mom cared.

Dad and I just didn't click.

He was focused on him and I think the fact that I was so different from him and Stella, that he just didn't want to create a bond with me. I think it's just because everyone started to have kids at the same time and I was the only girl—I think that I just got pushed aside.

They already had gone through the girl phase with Chandler and Stella.

But they didn't get to go through the boy stage yet. They had Cooper, but they hit the gold mine when everyone started to pop out boys.

But I was the oddball.

I had worked so hard on this, and I know it was a busy Friday. Maybe they forgot? But he would've reminded them, right? He would've been a good big brother? Right?

I was a twin.

Slater and Sage.

I was the only one that didn't get their J name, I was the only one that had huge glasses, I was the only short one, I was the only one without a penis. And looking around, I was the only one that didn't have anyone show up at her science fair.

I huffed and started to pack up the volcano that I had worked so long and hard on.

I guess Slater's football games came first. I mean, why come to your daughter's science fair when all of your college best friends were going to be in the same space? It was a party for my parents, but for me, it was another reminder that I wasn't as important to them as Stella and Slater were.

"You won! Congrats Sage!" Miss Faith approached me with the biggest smile on her face. My biggest supporter. I pulled the medal off my neck and flashed it towards her as she clapped. "Do you need help carrying that to your car?" She asked as I shook my head.

Car?

Nope.

I drove a bicycle, with a bell and a purple basket on the front of it.

"Okay. Well, I'm proud of you. I know how hard you worked on the measurements. Good for you, Sage." I offered her a smile, pushing my glasses back up to my face. "Well, have a good night," I spoke as she waved bye to me.

I slowly walked over to the bike stand. I heard the cheering from the bottom of the hill where the stadium was. I slumped, they were so close. They couldn't have come for a couple of minutes before?

I slowly placed my volcano inside of my basket along with my medal.

Medals only mattered to my family if they were from sports.

I huffed before hopping on the bike, trying not to fall off. I slowly pedaled on the pavement to the bottom of the hill, stopping at the stadium. If he couldn't be a supportive brother, I could at least be a supportive sister.

I found the group of cars, SUVs, and trucks lined up side by side.

Yep.

That was my crew.

I slowly parked my bike near them before climbing off. I double-checked that my volcano was secure before walking over as fast as my little legs could take me. I was tiny for my age. It was okay though, I had hoped I would get taller.

Dad said that he hoped I would get taller too.

I mean—Slater was twelve and he was pushing 5'8 already. Stella had a late growth spurt too, but she was tall. Stella was six foot and she was a swimmer at Penn State. I was twelve and 4'9. "Hey squirt," I jumped out of my skin as the only person who always knew when I entered a room spoke to me.

"Hi grandpa," I smiled at him.

He was pushing seventy-five, but he was still screaming at football players. He bent down, wrapping me in his arms as I took in the comforting squeeze that he gave me. I deserved it, I deserved someone hugging me.

I didn't hate my parents. How could I hate them after everything I was given? It wasn't like I was no better than the other kids that I was surrounded by. We were all filthy rich. Too bad I couldn't buy the attention of my parents, aunts, and uncles though.

"Where have you been?" He asked as I chuckled. Before I could answer, everyone started cheering.

So so many boys, too many boys.

"I was at—" Grandpa wasn't near me anymore, he was walking towards my parents who were dancing with Slater. "Six touchdown passes! Way to go buddy!" My dad ruffled with my twin's hair. I bit my lip, sighing.

I walked back over to my bike, sitting on it. I stared at the medal, watching as the sunset hit the shine in different spots. Finally a medal of mine, something to be proud of. "Sage! Watch out!" I heard Slater call out to me, before I could stop whatever I was on the lookout for it crashed.

On my volcano.

It was a stupid football.

I squeezed my fists tightly in my palms. My breathing was sporadic and I wanted to scream and cry.

I worked so hard on that— I just wanted something of my own. I unclenched my fists, hearing the footsteps approach me.

I felt my lower lip tremble with every piece of the model I spent hours slaving over that I was picking up. "Holy hell, what is that thing?" I heard mom slap Dad's chest. "Sage, honey! Where have you been? Are you hungry? We have burgers, pizza, chips?" I didn't look up from the mess in my basket.

I'm vegetarian, mom.

"Sage?" That's when I dropped the pieces of the volcano back into the basket. I had multiple tears streaming down my face, I gripped the medal in my fingers. I looked back up to my parent and they gasped looking at the tears falling down my face.

My dad reached for me but I took a step back.

Instead, I chucked the medal in my hands at their feet. Hoping it would give them the sign, the wake-up call they needed. They had another kid that deserved the same chance, the same opportunity that they had given her older two siblings.

Mom bent down and grabbed the medal as I got on my bike, and rode off. I was riding home, I didn't want to deal with this. I deserved better.

The sunset only lasted for a few moments, and by the time it became dark, I was only halfway done with my ride. That was also the time that a black truck pulled in front of me, slamming on their breaks.

Dad.

"Sage!" His voice boomed. I suddenly wished I had pedaled faster. He jogged out of the truck, making his way towards me. I fasten my feet on the pedals ready to make a run for it. "Sage Veda, if you don't get off the bike..." What is he going to do?

Ground me?

I don't even have a life for him to ground me from.

I sighed, stepping off the bike. He approached my tiny figure, crouching down. My tears were stained to my cheeks and it was getting chilly out. He looked me in the eyes, almost apologetically. His blue eyes met my brown ones and I nearly cried again.

Another reminder that I was nothing like my siblings.

He gripped my tiny hands, walking me to the truck, opening the passenger door. After I settled in the seat, he walked to my bike, putting it in the bed of the truck. He walked back to the truck, sitting in it before restarting it.

It was a disappointingly silent car ride home, but then mom was better at parenting me than he was.

Pulling into our gated, long driveway I tried to disappear into the house, however—I didn't get past the garage doors because mom was blocking the doorway. She crouched down, squeezing me in a hug. "I'm so sorry I wasn't at your science fair, Sage. I truly am." I shrugged off her apology, storming past her and walking up a set of stairs to my bedroom.

At twelve years old, I had been struggling. School wasn't fun unless I was in Miss Faith's agricultural science class. I didn't do sports because I sucked at it. At twelve years old I concluded that I will always live in my twin and older sister's shadows.

A knock on my door was heard, but I ignored it. "Sage, please." Mom cried as I groaned. "Come in," I was too forgiving—what was new?

She walked over to my bed where I sat. The alarm clock right next to my bed read 8:54 P.M.

"Well, I assume he won his game," I comment to her as she reaches for me, wiping the tears from under my eyes and then running her fingers through my hair. "He did but you also won your science fair. That's amazing, Sage." I laid my head down on the pillow.

"You're just saying that because you feel bad for me," I frowned. She gasped, "No I am not. You're amazing Sage. I am so lucky to call you my own, we're all lucky." I chuckled.

"I wish my mother would've told me she was sorry for not showing up to my science fair. However, she was dead. I just had a bad mom moment today, and I'm sorry about that." That's when another body entered the room.

I gasped as I saw what was in his hands.

Strawberry Ice Cream.

"Is that mine?" I pointed towards it as dad chuckled. "Yes, I'm sorry kiddo. I promise we'll do better." I offered him a smile as he handed me a spoon and the tub of ice cream. Stella was all grown up so all they had left was Slater and me.

Dad laid on my barbie bed next to mom, somehow we all squeezed.

"Where's Slater?" I handed mom the container to open. Dad squeezed my tiny kneecap. "We booted him to Uncle Griff's house. We're having a sleepover tonight me, you, and daddy!" Mom shook my body.

I offered them a lazy smile.

This was what I deserved.

"Can we watch Tangled?" Dad groaned at my question as mom cheered—mom and I loved that movie. "I guess..." Dad leads off as I giggled.

This was gonna be a fun night.

Years Later.
Slater Williams
Age 18.

"Congrats my man!" I felt various pats all around my back. I winked at the cheerleaders as they walked by me, a little more sway in their hips than usual. "Penn State baby! Taking after your sister?" Mr. Laughlin, my statistics teacher pulled me aside in the hallway.

I had just signed my letter of intent.

"Not taking after Stella. She's a swimmer—I'm taking after my father." He chuckled at my words. "The whole gang is going?" He asks for confirmation as I nod.

"All four of you?" He asks as I continued to nod. People were so nosy because they were jealous, they always wanted more information than what we could give them. They always came up with little scenarios too.

"Well, five—including my sister." He gives me a confused look.

"You have a younger sister?" I nod. "Twin? You've never heard of her? She's super short? Wears glasses? Extremely into science? Math too..." He had to be messing with me. He was a math teacher—he should know who Sage was.

"If I saw a picture of her I'm sure I would know her!" I patted him on the back.

"Well, I don't have time to! I have to go meet my family. I'll catch you later Mr. L!" He nods, stepping aside letting me exit.

I stood out from the crowd. I was tall, I was muscular, I was hotter than most. And I wasn't saying this because I had a big head—I was saying this because if I were a girl I would bone me. Or fight to bone me since I had girls throwing more pussy at me than a street of stray cats.

Stella and I took after my dad's side of the family. I mean, yes—my mother's side of the family was very athletic too, but I was my dad's son. Stella was a tank at swimming, and from what I heard in the high school hallways—she was a slut for the backstroke.

Not the swimming kind.

Dad nearly shit his pants when the offer for her to swim at Penn State came about. I mean, nobody thought we would be automatically able to have athletic scholarships just because we were William's kids.

Webber's grandkids.

However, it was sad though.

I had a little sister, a twin sister—Sage.

She didn't play any sports. She had no friends, I don't think she's ever even made it out to a school dance or party. She would rather keep her nose in her books. She was my mom's favorite and my dad's weakness.

I think they felt guilty because everyone called her the 'faulty' one.

Dad and mom had to pay for her college, just a small amount though because they were alumni. She couldn't get the academic scholarships because she wasn't outside enough to get community service hours.

Therefore—Sage Veda Williams was the only Williams' to not play a sport or receive a scholarship at Penn State.

She was a loser and she did get made fun of a lot, and as much as it broke my heart because she was half of me—it wasn't that damn hard to play a sport or join a musical. She would make a great mime in the talent show, she was used to not talking.

"Aye! SJ!" I heard my dad yelling at me from the parking lot. It was warm outside as the Pennsylvania weather hit my skin. He stood outside his truck with mom, Stella, and Sage. Sage, of course, fit in being next to mom. She was mom's size.

I jogged down to my family and my dad embraced me in a hug. "Penn State baby, I can't wait!" His smile was beaming at me as Stella gagged, reaching for a hug from me. "Congrats fuckface! Now, don't ruin the reputation that I left for you there!" She was now 26.

"Oh, I bet you already ruined it!" I teased her as she pinched my arm. She studied to be a neuroscientist. She was leaving soon for Barcelona, where she could get a deeper understanding of the hippocampus.

And then a tiny shove was felt.

I looked down, grinning at my tiny twin.

"Congrats for getting into the same college as me." Mom scoffed.

Here we go.

"Not everything is a competition, Sage." I mocked her as she glared at me. "Yes it is when you always get praised and I don't." She fired at me.

"When you can reach my eardrums, then you can talk to me—freakshow." She frowned at my words as mom stepped in between us. "Enough," She looked at Sage. "We're going to go out to dinner like a normal family would and we're going to celebrate Slater." Sage let out a huge groan.

"But I got into Penn State too! Where is my celebration?" Dad shook his head at her.

"Sage, not everything has to be about you." I teased her as Stella laughed.

"I'm tired of listening to the bitching! Get in the damn truck, I'm hungry and I will beat the shit out of one of you if I hear another complaint." Sage huffed at dad's words as he hopped into the driver's side of the truck.

I didn't blame him though.

I would want to listen to Sage's outrageous behavior either.

Here's to me playing football at