I guide him into my makeshift atelier where the portrait of us is still drying. I wait until Kade joins me, then flip on the light switch. Our mirror images on the canvas stare back at us, so similar yet so vastly different.
The eyes... The eyes came out perfectly this time. Kade's gaze is serious, holding back on the viewer as though he doesn't want his secrets revealed. Mine is open, mischievous, and dark at the same time. So very alike yet like two completely different people.
"What do you think?" I ask after a long silence.
"Looks great." Kade claps me on the back. "Great job, kid."
I hate it when he calls me that. Forever fucking reminding me that I'm younger than him, as if I could ever forget.
"Tell me honestly." I know I'm digging a grave for my own confidence, but I need this. "Please, man. I worked really hard on it."
"Well..." Kade inspects the painting up close. "It's a great work of art... I just don't think we look like ourselves at all."
"You don't?"
He shakes his head. "Something's off for me. Maybe the eyes. You don't look like that in real life."
"Like what?"
"That... serious." He chuckles. "I'm the serious one, remember?"
It's interesting that he can differentiate us even in the portrait. I hide the smile from my face and nod. "Thanks for the honesty. See you tomorrow."
He waves and heads back downstairs, closing the door behind him as he leaves the apartment. I start mixing a vibrant, dark, and rich shade of red and carefully dip my biggest paintbrush in the bloody color. Then I splatter the paint over the portrait.
Red splotches bloom across the painting. I'm not careful. I decorate the canvas with those red stains until the eyes are all that remain, staring accusingly at me. Happy with my accomplishment, I leave the studio and pour myself a generous glass of cheap wine from the deli down the street.
The buzzer sounds minutes later, and I pick myself up with a groan to answer the bell.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's Kara." The voice is nervous, young. A girl.
"Who?"
"Um, Kara." I can practically see her fidgeting. "I was here a few days ago... We met at the club?"
I remember the redhead then. Grinning, I buzz her through, and a moment later, she appears on the doorstep of our apartment, holding a wet umbrella and hiding her mascara-smudged face from me.
"I'm so sorry I just dropped by," she mutters, kicking off her ankle boots and heading straight for the couch. I groan inwardly. I had no intention of entertaining one of my brother's ex-conquests, but it looks as if I have no choice. I join the redhead on our couch, and she smiles weakly at me. "I should have called first."
"Probably." I shrug. "So, what's up?"
"My boyfriend just broke up with me," she whispers. "I'm sorry. I know I should've told you I was with someone when we met, but... yeah." Her eyes are as big as saucers as they meet mine, begging for forgiveness. "I'm really sorry, Kade."
Oh, she thinks I'm my brother.
I'm about to set her straight, but something keeps my mouth shut. I'm wondering how I can play this to my advantage. How I can manipulate Kara into doing something for me.
"What are you doing here, Kara?" I finally ask, my eyes scanning her face for a sign of weakness I can exploit. "How do I fit into all of this?"
"I... I didn't know where else to go." She starts crying, quiet little sobs wracking her body. I pick myself up from the couch and bring her a glass of water. She gulps it down gratefully before speaking again. "I'm so sorry. I know I shouldn't have come here, but I didn't know where else to go."
"It's okay."
"No, it's not." She puts the glass down, and some water sloshes over the rim. I watch the ring forming on the coffee table as she sobs softly. "I'll go. I'm sorry."
"It's okay," I repeat. "You can stay for a while. What would make you feel better?"
The sobs stop as if on cue. She wipes her eyes with the sleeve of her black sweater and raises them to meet mine. There's not a hint of sadness in her gaze now. No, she stares at me with pure, unfiltered lust. So that's why she came here. Guess Kade's dick worked its magic on her. And my thoughts are confirmed when the redhead speaks up again.
"Fuck me." The words are loud in the quiet room, the only other sound the hum of the TV I left on. "Fuck me like you did last time, Kade."
I smirk, laughing at her. "I thought you liked my brother better."
"No way." She laughs out loud, and my hands form fists in my lap. I want to fucking hurt her. "He's a kid. Nothing like you."