Same Difference

By M J Rutter

Declan Andrews, super whizz is failing Math and Fords Academy is not standing for it. He has Thanksgiving to get back on track or lose his space at this prestigious prep school.

Dylan Andrews is failing Math, not because he wants to but because he can't do it. His football career is hanging in the balance because he can't maintain his grades, he will have to repeat his senior year.

Twin brothers, identical in looks but that's where it ends, they are as different as chalk and cheese. It's not until each of them get to walk in their brother's shoes, that they realize how hard the other brother has had it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M J Rutter
• Release date: Sep 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386162650

Book preview

Chapter

One

RIGHT THEN, MR. ANDREWS, I’ll cut to the chase. Mr. Johnson, with an elongated face and silver grey hair, peered at him over the top rim of his silver glasses. The dim lit room smelled of stale coffee and furniture polish. In the corner of the room, sat on top of an oak bureau, a clock ticked loudly. Basically, it seems you are falling behind. Fords is an academy for young, intelligent students and frankly young man, you are not making the grades which means we will have to call your parents in for a conference. He stated sitting back in his old, worn out, leather chair and pressing his fingertips together.

With all due respect, sir, one ‘B’ and one ‘C’ is hardly failing, Declan smiled slightly; his blue eyes sparkled as he pushed his dark hair anxiously from his damp forehead. Look, I’ll pull my grades back up to standard; I just have a lot on my mind. He swallowed nervously, his throat felt dry and coarse. Mr. Johnson thought for a moment, furrowing his thick, grey eyebrows together while contemplating whether Declan was serious about the school, he let out a sigh and stared into Declan’s eyes.

Okay, he said finally. You have until January end. I don’t have to remind you that next semester is your final at Fords, and how it would look to any prospective college should you be excluded from here for not maintaining the GPA expected of you.

Yes, sir, he stood wiping the sweat from his top lip with a quivering hand. Thank you, sir.

Andrews, are you going home this Thanksgiving?  

Yes, sir, I am, he nodded.

I suggest you take this week to re-evaluate your priorities. I am sure your father would be extremely disappointed if you continue down this path you have taken recently.

Yes, sir, I will certainly endeavour to put a tad more projection back into my life. He opened the old, oak door and breathed in a fresh breath of air. The musty, old study of his Principle had all but suffocated his lungs. He leaned against the wall sucking in deep, composing breaths. Mr. Johnson was old school, meaning, you didn’t disrespect him and you didn’t disappoint him. It seemed by dropping a few grades left a stain on his record and a bad taste in his Principle’s mouth.

Declan, a tall boy with bouncy, blond curls known as Eric, called out, wait up! He ran up to his friend. What did he say? he asked.

Get ‘A’s or get out.

No way, he smiled in disbelief.

I’m serious, Eric, my dad is going to kill me, you are looking at a dead man. Declan sighed as they walked the dark corridor back to their room. This is going to be a great Thanksgiving. He grimaced pushing their door open and glaring at his bag sat on the bed.

It won’t be that bad, Eric smiled sitting on his own bed across from Declan’s. Think of me snoozing on a beach in Miami, he gloated and laid back on his pillow, Declan shook his head, feeling sick and completely peeved.

I should have accepted your uncle’s offer when I had the chance, he said and removed his dark blue school blazer. My train leaves in an hour.

It’s not too late, he’ll wire you a ticket, Eric offered sitting up. It only takes one call. He smiled waving his brand new cell phone in the air.

Declan heaved yet another sigh, No, I’ll go home, can’t hide for the two weeks. Besides, it will be nice seeing my mom again. He missed her implicitly and her cookies and muffins were to die for. But then remembered that Eric didn’t have his mom, Sorry, Eric, guess as much as I am dreading going home, I am sorta looking forward to it too.

Don’t worry about it, Eric shrugged. I’ll have female company, except I’ll be able to make out with my female, he added raising his eyebrows. Declan cracked his first smile of the day.

Home for Declan was a small town called Ripley, in upstate New York. The town was relatively large, nestled on the edge of Lake Erie and had a few huge businesses, a country club, lots of stores in line with most American towns, a couple of schools and was a full thirty miles away from Fords Academy. Although, home wasn’t a home to Declan, at least it didn’t feel like a home and it hadn’t been since he turned twelve just before his parents sent him away to Fords Academy. The prestigious school on the edge of New York state for gifted children. The huge grey stone building had previously been a mansion owned by an old school master from England. It had been open since the thirties and had traditions and rules, that nobody in the real world would ever have thought possible. Declan didn’t feel he belonged at home, in fact he didn’t feel like he belonged anywhere anymore.

He said goodbye to Eric at the station after a ride, he waved him off and watched as he headed for the airport to join his rich uncle on a beach in Miami for the holidays. He lifted his bag from the ground and jammed his laptop under his arm, wondering what this visit home would bring as he boarded the train.

THE CORRIDORS OF RYDER High erupted as the bell rang out announcing home time, but this home time meant something, a full two weeks off school for the holidays. Locker doors slammed shut as the hustle and bustle of the excited students filled the corridors.

Dylan, a voice hollered over the sea of heads, What time are you meeting us tonight?

Sketch, is that you? A dark haired teen with crystal blue eyes frowned, trying to see where his friend was. Dressed in a black leather jacket, faded blue jeans and a black t-shirt he jumped up to see where the voice was coming from, Sketch? He yelled.

Yeah, Sketch screamed into his ear and then burped.

You are so disgusting, Dylan laughed wiping his now damp ear.

Why, thank you. He grinned proudly; Sketch stood a good foot taller than his friend. He had blond, wavy hair and wore surf shorts and Converse sneakers, all year round, even when it snowed. Guess what Tori’s been writing about me in the rest room again.

Dude, if they catch you in the girl’s rest room again, they will lock you up, I swear to God, Dylan smiled.

So, what time are we hooking up tonight? He began robot dancing, Dylan laughed at him.

Uh, seven, maybe...shit! I can’t, it’ll have to be later. Declan’s coming home.

Oh. great, the nerd returns, Sketch sighed pulling the same face he used when he had tasted something nasty, his disdain for his best friend’s brother was well known. Well, good luck, dude, see ya when you get there then.

He left chasing two cheerleaders down the hall making rooster noises behind them. Dylan laughed again at his friend when two tiny, cold hands were placed over his eyes. He turned and fell into a full embrace from a beautiful blonde with lashings of wavy curls almost to her waist.

Hello, my little ray of sunshine, he smiled when they parted lips.

Hey, she smiled sweetly and kissed him again. Are you taking me home? she linked her arm in his and they proceeded out of the school.

I can take you home, but I can’t stay, I have to pick my brother up from the station. He explained unlocking the car doors.

The brother you never talk about, the same brother I have never met, she stated as she climbed into his car.

Yes, that brother. Summer, you’ll meet him. He’s home for two weeks. He sighed and climbed in beside her. Two weeks of spending time around someone he hardly knew.

DECLAN SAT ON THE SEAT outside the station. The early winter sun shone brightly, but a cold and icy wind blew around his collar and ankles. It had been a good few months since he ventured out in the fresh air. He had spent the summer with his best friend Eric in Colorado, and then instead of weekend visits home, he stayed at school working hard on assignments and trying to maintain his grades. Obviously it was not working and now he would have to face his parents and a brother he barely knew anymore. All of this on top of dealing with the possibility of being kicked out of a school he detested. He wanted out of the school, but not to be kicked out for low grades, he did want to go to college after graduation.

The only person who knew how he truly felt was Eric, he had been orphaned at the age of eleven, so he and Declan decided that they would be better off sticking together and had been friends ever since. Eric’s rich uncle,  Zeke Landers, a top, high flying business man was his sole carer now, but not having children of his own, a good boarding school and long expensive vacations would take care of his nephew and anyone else Eric wanted with him. At his parent’s funeral, his uncle simply informed him that he’d be looked after, whatever that meant. Declan missed him already.

A shiny, black Pontiac drove into the station car lot with loud rock music banging out of the windows and sides of the doors. It screeched to a stop and Dylan jumped out of the car, glared at his brother and rolled his eyes.

Dude, you need a new wardrobe. He smiled amused at his brother’s school uniform of beige chinos, white shirt with a dark blue tie and blazer.

You have a new car, Declan grimaced, again. Dylan lifted Declan’s bag.

Yeah, he opened the trunk and threw Declan’s bag into it. Well, come on then.

How are you, Declan? He mumbled, Oh good, thanks.

Look, I gotta go out tonight, so if you don’t mind. 

Must be nice, a new car and a social life, Declan scoffed.

Whatever, Dylan retorted.

That ended their conversation and it bothered Declan to see his brother have yet another new car, his second car and he hadn’t even had one. Ripley looked as it always did although a new plaza complex had opened up with a salad deli and a Subway store.

The trees were almost bare as the last of the rusty, brown leaves clung on desperately in the wind. The wintery sun had already begun to descend in an orange sky and as his brother sped the streets of the town, all Declan wanted now was to get home and see his mom.

Two-thirty-one Silver Birch Drive had been their house for the whole of their lives, but to Declan it never felt like home. The huge, four bedrooms, white painted house, with blue shutters and a water fountain in the center front lawn, had been more like a vacation home to Declan since starting at Fords. Still, at least here he had time to think about Fords and whether he should ask his parents if he could stay home and go to normal school, to be normal instead of the gifted one, the intelligent one, just to be Declan Andrews.

He lifted his bag from Dylan’s trunk and walked inside the warm, hallway. The walls had been painted cream since he was last here, but the oak stairway still looked dark. The thick rugs under his feet made him want to kick off his shoes.  

Hi, honey, Mom smiled meeting him at the foot of the stairs, throwing her arms around him, she smelled so good. Her blonde hair was pinned up and her light blue eyes sparkled with delight.

Mom, he sighed.

She frowned as he stiffened in her arms, he gave the best hugs, but today he felt rigid, Are you okay? Is school alright?

Yes. He rolled his eyes as they parted, It’s all fine. I’m going to put my bag in my room.

I’ll make us some hot chocolate.

I’d prefer a coffee actually, he smiled slightly and walked up the stairs.

Dylan was in his room talking on the phone. He had removed the adolescent ‘Keep Out’ signs he had covering his bedroom door, it was the first thing he noticed. Declan stopped to listen when he heard his name mentioned.

Yeah, Declan is as nerdy as ever... I think he’s gonna wear that stupid uniform all holiday. Then he stopped, Nah... I doubt the little virgin’s even sniffed at a Victoria Secret catalogue, let alone the real thing. Declan had heard enough, he stormed passed his brother’s door and slammed his shut. Shit, I’ll call you back later, Sketch, Dylan hung up the phone. It always seemed easier to join in on the ridiculing they put his brother through than defending him. He knocked at Declan’s door. Declan, are you in there?

Leave me alone, Declan snapped gazing around his room. The dark green walls he insisted his parents on having when he was nine needed updating. On his desk sat last year’s Christmas present from his parents, a computer. His bookshelf was full of plays and novels by his favourite authors and his solid pine bed had been made with sheets to match his walls. He flopped down on his bed.

It’s just a bit of fun, I didn’t mean it.

Dylan, just leave me alone, okay? He buried his face in his pillow. I am such a nerd. He growled.

DYLAN HUNG AROUND DOWNSTAIRS in the huge, white wood kitchen and it bothered his mom, she’d normally have to practically drag him from his room to eat dinner. Their father came in shortly after six as Mom set dinner on the dining table. She sent Dylan up to get Declan so they could have a family meal together.

Dinner’s ready, he called through the door.

I’m not hungry, Declan sat up. Dylan opened the door and let it bang against the wall. I said I’m not hungry. He barked.

That woman has busted her ass over that meal just so that you can have a decent home cooked dinner, so, I suggest you stop acting like a stupid, spoiled kid and get downstairs now. Dylan snarled.

I’ll be down in a minute, Declan grumbled.

Right, he turned and began to leave the room, Dad’s home, by the way.

Great, Declan smiled sarcastically.

Declan finally emerged from his room and smiled at his mom when she placed the mouth-watering and juicy looking roast beef on the table. His father asked the same two questions he always did. How was school and how was the school team playing this season?

I told you before, I don’t have time for sports, Dad. He replied swallowing his mouthful. His dad had shaved off his moustache and his dark brown hair was all but grey now. 

Are you still in the band? he then asked.

You’re in a band? Dylan asked keenly, had he something in common with his twin? What kind of music do you play?  He sat forward. Is it Rock or pop, I mean, do you play concerts and stuff? Declan looked at his brother and smiled smugly, if only he knew the truth.

It’s uh, classical music, actually he replied smartly, Bach, Beethoven and...

Okay, I get the point, Dylan frowned deflated.

Hey, why don’t you take your brother out with you tonight? He could meet your friends. Mom suggested.

I have my own friends, Declan snapped.

He wouldn’t like my friends, Dylan added. Their mother sighed and slammed her napkin down on the table so that the glasses clinked as they touched.

Well, I just thought it would be nice to see my two sons go out together for a change. She sighed. Declan could feel his ears burn, Dylan raised his eyebrows arrogantly at him from across the table.

I said, I have my own friends, he insisted and stood from the table. Excuse me, he grumbled and left the table not looking back as he ran up to his room.

As much as he wanted to spend time with Dylan, he also hated the fact that he never got to be at home like a normal kid. So, for that alone he resented Dylan and he didn’t want to go where he wouldn’t be welcome. He loosened his tie from around his neck and kicked off his shoes. Still shaking with temper, he grabbed either side of his dresser and glared at his reflection. Dylan was right, he looked like a nerd. Someone knocked on his door. He didn’t answer.

I know you’re in there, Dylan called through the closed door. Look, it’s just a few guys goin’ to play pool; you can come if you want.

You go play with your little friends, I’m better off on my own. Declan replied and sat on his chair. The door opened again, Declan stood from his dresser.

If it was up to me, I’d have nothing to do with you, okay? I don’t even think we come from the same planet, let alone the same egg. He snapped So, fine, you can sit here all night feeling sorry for yourself. I really don’t care, but when they get on my back I offer until you accept.

I don’t need Mom to choose my friends, I do that myself, he retorted. Family, well, that’s another thing. He added.

Whatever! Dylan sighed and turned towards the door. If you prefer to sit here playing with yourself all night, than hanging with us, it’s cool with me, he smirked.

I don’t play with myself, Declan frowned.

No, I can tell, you’re too uptight. He smiled and opened the door. Is that a yes?

Declan thought for a few moments, his brother stared at him from across the room. He nodded his head slightly and replied, I’ll go, just for a little while.

Cool, we leave in five and take off that damn tie; you’re not in school anymore.

Declan pulled on a pair of jeans and a pale, blue shirt; he splashed water over his face and a bit of aftershave left over from his birthday almost a year ago now. He gazed at his reflection in the mirror. How could he look like his brother and yet be so different? Why did he get the brains and Dylan get a personality? Even when they were younger Dylan was the leader of a gang. He had followers, kids looked up to him and Declan always knew the only reason he didn’t get beaten up on was because Dylan is his brother. His door opened again.

Are you ready? Dylan asked him. Declan nodded. Dylan frowned at his shirt. Is that what you are wearing?

It’s all I have.

Right, uh, do you still wear a t-shirt? Declan nodded again. Take off that shirt and tie it around your waste, you look so uptight like that and you really need to learn to relax.

Easy for you to say, Declan scoffed tying his pressed shirt around his waist as he approached Dylan, he smiled. Do you still hang around with Robert?

You mean Sketch? Yeah, he hasn’t gone by Robert now for years.

Oh, I’ll have to remember that. Declan said following his brother down the stairs.

The Pool Palace neon lights reflected off the wet car lot as they drove in. Declan had never been there before, so, with a stomach filled with both nerves and excitement, he followed his brother through the crowds over towards Sketch and a few others.

Dylan, my man, Sketch smiled and quickly frowned. Oh, you brought Declan with you, how nice?

Sketch, just get off his back, okay? Dylan warned.

Whatever!  Sketch sighed.

Is Summer here yet? Dylan asked gazing around the room.

Nope, she’s on her way, according to Tori, Sketch glared at Declan. So, how is school? he asked Declan sarcastically,

He frowned uncomfortably. It’s uh, school. He replied. Dylan could feel their tension.

Declan, this is Billy and Jeff and that guy by the juke box is Gregg. Declan nodded in acknowledgement. I’m going to the bar, wanna coke?

Yeah, thanks, Declan smiled. Gregg turned around and Declan remembered him from junior high. Gregg smiled as he approached, his dark blond hair was shorter than he used to wear it, but his brown eyes were as dark.

You have not changed a bit. He said shaking Declan’s hand.

You neither, Declan replied. I thought you’d have gone by now?

Well, uh, I have a kid now, it sorta changes everything. He explained.

A kid, Declan’s eyes widened with shock. Wow!

Yeah, she’s almost two, that’ll teach me to keep it in my pants. He smiled and took out his wallet. He then showed him a picture of a pretty baby girl with blonde curls and blue eyes.

She’s cute, Declan smiled, Are you still with her mom?

No, her parents all but lynched my ass for getting their precious little fifteen year old pregnant. He replied glumly.

I’ll bet. Declan agreed.

I get to have her Saturdays, which is cool, ‘cos I still get to hang with the guys on a Friday and go to school as well as work. He added. Child payments take all of my pay-check so, I have no car, no money and no chick will come near me. Trust me, man, sex is great until you screw up. Then you are always gonna be paying for it. He looked over Declan’s shoulder and smiled, Declan turned and before he could say anything a beautiful blonde with bright blue eyes pushed her tongue into his mouth. She tasted so sweet and for a few moments, he thought he was in heaven,

Summer, Dylan shouted. What the hell are you doing? She pulled back from Declan, he smiled slightly as his cheeks flushed red. She then looked over at Dylan and snapped,

You are an asshole; you never said you were identical twins.

We’re not, Dylan frowned; she looked at each of them. Okay, so we are, I thought I did tell you.

No, she glared back at Declan, his lips still smeared in her cherry flavour lip gloss. No you didn’t. Embarrassed and red faced, Declan ran to the rest room.

His hands were still sweaty and shaking as he splashed cold water over his face. His first kiss ever and it came from his brother’s girlfriend. He managed to calm himself down, wiped his face with a paper towel and returned to the others. His brother now saw the funny side of it, which did relieve this nervous wreck, Declan felt Dylan hated him already and he didn’t need any added aggravation.

Summer came over to him as he came across towards the group. She smiled and held out her hand. I’m Summer, Dylan’s girlfriend, she said sweetly.

Declan, Dylan’s uh, twin, he smiled slightly. Look, I’m uh, sorry...

I’m not, she smiled. You guys are the absolute double of each other.

I know, he sighed. You really thought I was him?

Yes I did, she beamed. Declan smiled as she walked away closely followed by her friend Tori, a skinny brunette. A slight hint of confidence filtered into his body now, brother’s girl or not, a kiss from a beautiful blonde would do that to anyone.

He spent the rest of the evening with Gregg; at least he wasn’t cracking nerd jokes every five seconds or making him feel like a cheat. They both stood watching Sketch as he scored higher and higher on the pinball machine. Dylan and Summer sat on a seat in the corner by the bar, they had made out for most of the night. She stood from his lap where she had nestled herself, he stood with her and she put her arms around Dylan’s waist pulling his body against hers.

I have an early start, so I should get home, She kissed his cheek.

Oh great, first you turn up late, then you make out with my brother and now you’re leaving early. Dylan snapped.

Don’t start, she smiled. You snooze, you lose. She pressed her lips to his and whispered into his ear; he smiled and followed her out. Tori sighed and leaned against the pinball machine while Sketch played on.

He could be a starting quarter back, ya know, instead he just plays defence, he could get a scholarship, Sketch said suddenly. He won’t do it because of you, Declan.

Me, he stiffened. Why?

You are so damn good at everything; he feels nothing he does is ever going to be good enough. His final ball took a dive so he grabbed his coke and spun around. It’s not your fault, but he thinks he’ll never be as good as you at anything, so why try?

That’s enough, man, Dylan growled from behind. Come on, I have work tomorrow, we should go too. Declan said nothing except a quick goodbye to Gregg.

Back in his brother’s car he couldn’t stop thinking about what Sketch had just said. How could he? If Dylan’s life was so cool, why would he hold back on achievements and use his brother for an excuse?  Two blocks from their house Declan could hold it in no longer.

Is it true what he said?

Look, Declan, I won’t ask you anything about your life, you don’t ask me about mine. He barked. The only reason I put up with you is because you are my brother, okay?

I only asked, he sighed as Dylan stopped the car at a red light.

Yeah, well, mind your own business? Dylan snapped. It’s not that you have any problems, is it? You are so damn perfect. He scoffed.

Is that what you think?

Well, you are. God damn Math genius, freaking classical pianist, you have a perfect life.

You are so wrong, Declan opened the car door.

What are you doing?

I’d rather walk. He snarled climbing out and slammed the door shut.

Dec, get back in the car, it’s freezing out there, this is stupid, he barked.

Up yours, Declan snapped again and stormed across the road. Dylan rolled his eyes and roared up the street. How dare he? Asshole, Declan cussed walking up the street. Dylan knew nothing about Declan’s life, he was not perfect and if he had bothered to speak to him once in a while Dylan would know that.

His temper raged as he stormed the streets towards his house. He didn’t have too far to walk, but far enough on a cold, wet and windy November night. By the time he got home his clothes were soaked through and his skin felt as cold as stone. He took a hot shower before climbing in to bed.

My life officially sucks, he moaned before closing his eyes.   

Chapter

two

DECLAN WOKE TO THE sound of a roaring engine, from his window he could see his brother drive away followed by their parents. Dad always played golf on a Saturday and Mom headed for the malls to meet up with her country club friends for Cappuccinos and crepes. So as always when he came home to visit, he had the house to himself. He put MTV on as loud as he could, found a pile of old comics and made himself his favourite snack ever. Ice cream topped with Cheerio’s and whipped cream. This is the life, he thought to himself diving into his second bowl. He channel hopped, watching the latest pop videos and sit coms he had missed. At Fords, there was a senior common room, where there was a television, but he never went there, he didn’t have time for TV, but the best thing about coming home was the fact that he could just sit around and veg all day if he wanted to.

He had dozed off to sleep on the sofa after his lunch, he’d cooked himself grilled cheese sandwiches and left the kitchen in an awful state. With every intention of cleaning up, his eyes gave way and he drifted off.

His mother dropped her Macy’s bags on the floor, when she saw him dozing on the couch, dressed in red and yellow Bermuda shorts and a white t-shirt, with bowls and plates all over the floor and music blaring from the TV.