DING!DING!DING! Athena fell off of her bed at the pounding sound of her alarm.  She lazily got up and threw herself back on the bed.  It was 6:26 a.m and her mother would soon come in to wake her up for school.

“UGH! I'll just wake up before she comes in here yelling like it’s the end of the world," mumbled Tee.
Athena really despised her name.  She described it as being too sophisticated for her liking. So instead, she called herself Tee and has been called that since the second grade.  Tee is now thirteen and is in the eighth grade.  Everyone around her call her Tee, especially since they knew that she hated being called Athena.
“Athena! Wake..."
“I’m awake! I’m awake! There is no need for yelling," Tee interrupted in an aggravating voice.
“Okay. Hurry up before Dan finishes up all of the french toast sticks!”
“MOM! Tell him to save me some too!” yelled Tee rushing to get her pants on. “He always finishes them!”
“You're too late twerp. Guess you're gonna have to eat oatmeal!” replied Dan with a mischievous laugh.
Dan was Tee’s annoying older brother. He was eighteen and like a third parent but more like the man of the house. Their father had died when Tee was only seven years old. That was six years ago. Tee still remembers her father as if it was only yesterday the tragic day of his death.
It all happened on a cold New York winter morning. The kitchen phone rang and Dan answered the phone. It was the town’s police station and they were asking for Aristotle Battleheart (Tee’s mom). Dan passed the phone to his mom and went to go sit with his sisters Tee and Julie, who was only two years old. They sat on the couch drinking hot chocolate. Their father had gone out to buy eggs for that morning’s breakfast. When Aristotle got on the phone, she froze and didn’t speak until the police came. They had came to the front door to take her to see if it was the right dead body. The look on her face was one that Athena, Dan nor little Julie could forget despite her age.
As Aristotle walks back into the house, the children see her with a long face as she walks straight into her room without even whispering a single word.
“I guess New York’s roads were just too icy this morning," mumbled Dan. Dan was twelve at the time and the death of his father hit him hard.
“What happened?” asked Tee holding two year old Julie in her hands.
“Something that you wouldn’t understand," answered Dan, “I will let mom explain it to you when she gets out of her room… that is if she does."
“Wait, what do you mean ‘if she does’?! Dan tell me what is going on right now! Why is mommy acting like that?!”
Dan burst into tears and buried his face in his hands. Tee was only seven and really didn't understand what was going on, but Dan had a clear image of all of it in his head.
Everyone tried to forget that day, but nobody could. Poor Tee was the most affected by the tragic incident. She was extremely close to her father. They did everything together. One week before the car accident, he had given her an ankle bracelet from his trip to Hawaii, a beautiful one too. It had dazzling purple rimstones all around it and a gorgeous mermaid dangling on the side. She wore the most stunning shade of green on her tail and a purple, flower patterned bra. Tee loved it and never took it off except when she went to bed.
As Tee was putting on the ankle bracelet in a rush she heard Dan yell, “Hurry up and eat your oatmeal! I don’t want to be late!”
“Ugh! You always do this!” angrily yelled Tee, “Watch, next time I will finish them and not give you any!”
“HA! I would like to see that happen. You are always too freaking slow!”
“Oh you just wait.”
Tee flew down the stairs and went into the pantry. She reached for the Cocoa Pebbles, which was her favorite cereal, and poured herself a nice, big bowl of it. She quickly ate it and went into the car where Aristotle, Dan, and Julie were impatiently waiting for her. She got in the back seat and they started their way towards school.
“Mom, I don’t understand why we are not allowed to leave the house if it’s not for school,” claimed Tee, “and poor Julie can’t even go to play dates or anything.”
“Yeah,” Dan replied, “I never get to go out with my friends or even get my driver’s license.”
“You don't even need it. I have this car and a driver's license.”
“Yeah but mom, you never know when an emergency is going to happen.”
Aristotle sighed with a brief giggle. The children did not know that their mother’s worst nightmare ever since their father died, was losing them too. She loved her children more than anything in the world.
“Oh. Before I forget, Julie has a dentist appointment today so you two are going to walk home together today.”
“I can’t. I have football practice today,” said Dan.
“Okay then, Tee, you are going to have to wait until your brother gets out of practice.”
“Ugh, but mom, I want to go straight home today,” complained Tee, “I have a huge French report due and I haven’t even started it.”
“Yeah mom, I don’t want her to stay at my practice.”
“Oh she won’t. She can just walk around campus. Right Tee?”
“Mom! I just want to go home!”
“Okay, okay. But  please promise me that you will be careful walking home.”
“I will mom.”
“Thank you. Now get out of the car. I don’t want you to be late for class.”
“BYE MOM!” yelled Dan who was already long ahead of Tee. He was running towards his girlfriend Asia.
“Bye mom. I love you.” Tee went over to her mom and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She quickly got out of the car and caught up with her best friend Zion. They were best friends ever since the third grade.
Tee and Dan went to a special school named Del Rio. It was a private school for grades 6th-12th. They both loved it there because it didn’t seem like a school, but more like a second home. They had friends there and Dan even had a girlfriend.
“So how was your night last night?” curiously asked Zion.
“Well good I guess,” replied Tee, “ We had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. Dan made his special garlic and cheese bread too.”
“Wow! I am so smuckers. That sounds really…”
“Wait, smuckers?”
“Yea, smuckers.” There was a pause and Tee had a puzzled look on her face. They stopped as a student on a skateboard flew past in front of them and then continued walking.
“Haven't you ever heard the term ‘smuckers’ before?” questioned Zion.
“No, I haven’t,” replied Tee, “but isn’t Smuckers a brand of jam?”
“Exactly!” Zion looked at Tee as if she would have figured it out by now, “When someone is jealous, you can say that they are jelly. Jelly is another word for jam, therefore Smuckers is a brand of jam. And that is why I say that I am smuckers.”
“Wow,” Tee replied with a slight giggle, “sometimes you surprise me so much that I can’t even believe it.”
They kept walking until they got to the school’s courtyard. Suddenly the bell rung.
“Well, I guess i’ll see you after school,” said Zion.
“Okay! Bye!” yelled Tee who was already across the courtyard.
Tee went into her first period class and sat to her other friend Rosa. Rosa had her own little group. It was Tee, Zion, Rosa, and Dax. Their little group had been together since they all moved to Del Rio but Tee new Zion from their old school.
The rest of the day was normal. The group sat together at lunch and met each other during passing periods. At the end of the day, they all gathered back at the courtyard.
“Okay. Zion and I are going to my house to finish that French poster. Do guys want to come?” asked Tee.
“We can’t,” replied Rosa, “Dax and I are lab partners and Mr. Peterson is making us do a model of an atom.”
“Okay then,” said Zion, “we’ll catch you guys later.”
Tee and Zion started making their way to Tee’s house. She lived a few blocks away from the school. Zion lived right across the Tee and they grew up together. They went to the same schools including head start. Their parents are also  really good friends.
As they were walking home, Zion heard Tee’s stomach growl with hunger.
“TEE! Did you eat lunch today?!”
“No. I had no lunch money.”
“You should had told me. I had five extra dollars.”
“I know, but i wasn’t even that hungry. Anyways, that cafeteria food is super disgusting.”
“It is not healthy for you to not be eating lunch i already told you this,” replied Zion with a sad but also angry tone.
“OKAY MOM!” Tee replied sarcastically, “I won't do it again. I promise.”
“Hmm. Well why don’t we quickly go the the store and buy something to munch on while we are doing our project?”
“Um.. I’m not so sure about that. My mom said to go straight home,” said Tee hesitating.
“I know it will be quick. I promise. You just need to get something to eat. I’ll even buy it for you.”
“Okay, but it needs to be quick.” Tee replied intonating her voice.
They continued walking and took a detour through the alley behind Tee’s house. Suddenly, Tee started seeing a shadow coming out from behind a pile of garbage. She jerked backwards and took ahold of Zion’s hend.
“Do you see that?” Tee whispered.
“See what? What is it?!” Zion responded with confused look on his face.
“That shadow over there!”
The shadow’s owner stepped out from behind the trash pile. It was an elderly woman. She looked lost and hungry.
“Look!” yelled Zion. He and Tee ran to the woman and helped sustain herself.
“Are you ok?” Tee asked the lady.
“Where am I?” the woman asked.
“You are in New York ma’am.” The woman had a puzzled look on her face. Tee and Zion helped the lady sit down on a box by her.
“Ugh.. ma’am, are you lost?” asked Zion.
“Well, I think I am. Last time I remember, I was on a trip to find my long lost- uum I mean, I was on a trip to see my sister. Yea, that sounds right.”
“Well then how did you end up here?” asket Tee.
“You see, that’s the part I don't remember.”
It was the way that the lady said that sentence that made Tee start questioning the lady’s testimony. She had said it with confidence, but her facials and body language said a whole different story. It was if the woman was there on purpose. Almost as she was particularly looking for Tee….. just for Tee.
“What's your name?” asked the woman looking at Tee.
“Me?” asked Tee.
“Well yeah. I am pointing at you.”
“Oh. My name is Athena but everybody calls me Tee.”
“Yeah, and my name is Zion,” said Zion interrupting.
“Oh, I was just asking because you look really familiar,” said the old lady, “and by the way my is Gertrude.”
At this point, Tee knew there was something going on.
“Okay lady, why are you really here?!” yelled Tee.
“Tee what is wrong with you?!?” said Zion surprised.
“No, no, no. Athena is correct,” replied Gertrude, “I am here to inform you something very important. You have a secret twin which from you were seperated at birth.”
Tee couldn’t take it all in at once. It was all too overwhelming.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. This isn’t really happening. Look if this is a prank, I swear that it’s not funny.” Tee’s eyes were starting to tear up.
“Im serious,” said gertrude with a stern face, “look I have to get going but here is the address and my phone number just in case.”
Gertrude handed Zion the note and left running towards a car with the license plate from New Jersey. As she started driving away, Zion turned to Tee and handed her the note. As he did so, he asked, “Well….. are you going to go look for her?”
“ZION…..do you really believe that crazy woman?!?”
“Well you never know Tee. What if she is telling the truth?”
“Oh please Zion. Let’s just ge home. I’m net even hungry anymore.”
“Are you sure? It’s just like one more block.”
“I’m sure Zion. I just want to go home and finish that project.”
“Okay.”
They started walking home and Tee was silent the whole way there. Zion didn’t want to say anything by fear of Tee getting upset with him. She looked so thoughtful. When they got home, they went straight into Tee’s room to look for supplies for the poster.
The rest of the afternoon was boring and Tees only spoke to Zion for supplies or to ask him what to write on certain parts. Then after they were finished, Tee walked Zion to his front door.
“Will you be okay?” asked Zion.
“Yea. I guess but I still need to take it all in.”
“Okay then. I’ll see you on Monday.” Zion leaned in and gave Tee a hug. Tee hugged him back but Zion felt her hug tight. He then knew that Tee was scared and overwhelmed.
“It’ll be ok. You’ll know what to do.” Zion whispered in her ear.
“Thank you.” Tee then let  go and turned to walk back to her house. That night, Tee layed in bed and thought about the words that the woman said. What if the lady was right? Could there be another me? What if i’m the other her? Does she know? I must find her.
The next day, Tee went over to Zion’s house to tell him that she had to go look for her twin. Zion was at first surprised that Tee was actually going to do it but then he knew that she was serious. Tee even looked up the address: 1738 Hill Ave. Paterson, New Jersey. Since it was the weekend, they agreed to leave the house that very same evening. They would take their bicycles since on a bike it was just a two hour journey. It came time. It was after dinner and they both snuck out of their houses and me around the corner from the houses. Tee was there first and when she saw Zion coming around the corner, she ran toward him with all her might.
“You’re here!” said Tee in a reliving voice, “I was beginning to think that you were not going to come.”
“And let you go to another state on your own? Do you you think i’m crazy? I would die if anything ever happened to you.”
“Aww. Thank you Zion, for always being there for me. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
They stared into eachothers eyes for a while and both got a tingly feeling running up their spines.
“Well umm..we..we should really get going uh.. I mean if we want to got there on time.” said Zion.
“Oh, oh yeah. Let’s get going.” replied Tee.
The kids started making their way towards Paterson New Jersey. Half an hour into the trip, Tee’s bicycle tire popped.
“Oh no! Now what are we going to do!” Tee said as her eyes started to get watery.
Since it was not far from home, she was about to give up and just turn around. Then Zion told her, “Let’s keep on going. We will find her.”
  They left the bicycle stranded and Tee rode on the back of the Zion’s bicycle for the rest of the way. When they got there, Zion has forgotten his phone at home so they couldn't find the street. They went to a local corner store and asked for the street’s directions. The man said that it was all the way across town and will take them at least 15 minutes to get there.
Tee and Zion got to the front of the house. They stood in the front and stared at it. It was barely 8:30 pm on a Saturday night and the living room light was on. The house was pretty big, in fact it was huge. Tee kept quiet.
“Well. Here’s your chance. Go knock on the front door.” Zion gave Tee as little tug. Tee slowly walked up the steps and stood in front of the door for a minute or so. Knock! Knock! Knock! The door opened and standing there was almost a mirror image of Tee. She stood still in shock as her twin looked back at her with the same expression on her face. Zion was just as surprised as both of them.
  “Who are you?” asked the twin.
“ I don't know who YOU are.” replied Tee.
“Well apparently, you’re like my twin or something…”
“Wait so you knew about this?!” ask Tee.
“Yeah grandma told me all about you and how father was-”
“Wait what? You know my father?
“Yeah but-”
“ANASTASIA! COME IN FOR DINNER!” yelled Anastasia’s mother.
“Would you guys like to join us?” Anastasia asked Tee and Zion.
“Well I don’t see why not.” said Zion. The kids stepped into the house.
“Mom, this is-”
“Well hello there Ahena. We have been waiting a long time for you,” said Anastasia's mom with an odd smile on her face.
“This does not look good.” Zion told Tee as he grabbed her hand and held it tight.
“How do you know my name?” asked Tee.
“Oh darling, that's not important. What is is that you have made it to have b
dinner with us.”
“Please don’t call me that,” exclaimed Tee, “you don’t have that privilege.”
“Sorry. I was just trying to accommodate my long anxiously waited guest, that’s all.”
Something didn’t feel. Zion and Tee could feel as if something was going on that they should know about but what could it be. The next thing that happened was unexplainable. It was just like the lights went out and Tee and Zion fell into a deep sleep.