Page 5 of Falling Double: The Mating Grounds

5 Days After The Choosing

Reid

I’ve spent the last two days sitting back and observing, mostly. Leo and I develop a deep rapport once we figure out that we are both kin to the governors of our home zones. His dad is the governor for Afraad—which explains a lot—and he’s intrigued to hear more about my sister becoming the youngest governor in a century.

We also did some bad parent trauma bonding, and I decided we were going to be real friends. He’s a bit of a loner, like me, and just wants the chance for a fresh start, which I can definitely relate to.

He’s also besotted with the tattooed chick already, and I can’t help but be curious as to how that’s going to go. I didn’t expect people calling dibs so early, and now I’m unsure of my strategy to lie low and take my time choosing where to invest my time.

No rest for the horny, I guess.

This afternoon, as Leo and I lounge outside on the steps of the compound, we see a large dust cloud form in the distance.

“Must be more Chosen. You wanna stay and be the welcome party or hide out for a while?” I ask, smirking at him.

“Let’s stay. I’ve already got my eye on Quinn, but maybe your dream girl is arriving,” he teases.

I scoff and settle back onto my elbows, stretching my long legs out in front of me for a moment, not terribly opposed to that idea. As the new group gets closer, I count four people heading our way.

“You think it’s Kedua?” I ask.

“Must be.”

We both perk up a bit since they are the ruling zone this cycle. My sister has been talking my ear off about their weird circumstance of only having two females of age during their year to send double the Chosen, so I’m curious who we will end up with.

Time seems to slow down, and I can’t decide if I’m excited or anxious to meet this group.

We both rise to greet them at the same time as they approach. Now that they are closer, I realize that the two girls are identical twins. Very attractive identical twins. They are tall and willowy, with dark skin and short, natural hair styles. One is very smiley, rocking from side to side, while the other is rooted in place, almost staring us down.

It feels like that stare can see straight into my soul.

Leo notices me staring and jumps in. “Welcome to Cria! I’m Leo Afraad, and this is Reid Derde. I assume you’re the Kedua Chosen?”

The tall, burly mixed race guy answers. “That’s us, just a motley crew of supposedly important singles.” He bumps shoulders with the jacked redhead guy and gazes affectionately at the twins. “I’m Parker. This is Sean and those two are Dominique and Imani. You may have trouble telling them apart for now, but fear not. It’ll become clear quickly.” He chuckles as the one with braids glares at him while the other just laughs.

Leo glances over at me, giving me a meaningful look before continuing. “Let us show you around. First, do you all need anything? Bathroom, water, food?” he asks quickly as we turn to lead the group inside.

“I think we’re all good. We stopped just a ways back for all the necessities,” Sean answers, following him up the stairs.

“Okay, great. I’ll show you the Kedua room first so you can drop your bags, and then we’ll do the whole tour.”

I hold the door open like a dumbstruck idiot and try not to trip on the threshold as I follow them all inside. We lead them down the right-hand hallway and to the Kedua room.

The smiley twin looks around the room, obviously confused, and I offer, “Hate to be the bearer of bad news folks, but this is just your ‘stuff’ room. We all have beds down the hall in a bunk room. Super sexy, I know.”

“Super,” the serious twin deadpans, her face impassive.

Parker turns to us. “Do you all mind giving us a few minutes to get settled before we do the rest of the tour?”

“Sure, sure, take your time. We’ll be in the Afraad room across the hall when you’re ready.” Leo throws his arm over my shoulder as he steers me out of the room, and we leave.

“So?! What did you think?” Leo immediately presses.

“What do you mean? What did I think?” I reply, distracted. “We barely got to talk to them.”

“No shit, but you got a vibe check right? I mean, we are only getting two more girls after this… Either of the twins pique your fancy?”

“Imani? Maybe? The other one was not my vibe at all, but Imani seemed like she would be fun,” I muse, pacing around the room and trying to ignore sounds from the hall. “Or maybe, was it Dominique? When Parker introduced them, he didn’t say which was which! Either way, the more serious of the two. She looks like she’d give me a proper dressing down, and I don’t know why, but I kind of like that.” I feel my body tense in anticipation at the thought.

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