The Hitting Zone

We didn't go back to sleep in fear of the twins waking up before us. Noah played video games as I reviewed my essay for English. At 5:30am, Zeke made a surprise appearance, opening our door slowly, and scaring us half to death.

Noah sighed in relief at the sight of his big brother. "Oh, it's just you."

Zeke showed a small smile. "You guys are already done?"

We nodded.

Noah grinned. "Did you see their hair?"

Zeke nodded. "Kyle's is pink. Dave is just a light pastel pink. Kyle must have left his in longer. Did you paint Kyle's nails then?"

"Even better, I applied those fake nails. Mom had some for me to use so technically it was with her consent." Noah turned off his video game and stood up. "Do you need help with your prank?"

Zeke shook his head. "I just finished. I wanted us to leave early before they wake up. You guys get dressed and meet me in the car."

"What about Mom and Dad? ...and breakfast?" Noah asked.

Zeke rolled his eyes. "I'll treat you to breakfast. Hurry up. We can't be here when they wake." He left, hardly making noise even though he had shoes on.

We didn't need any more encouragement from Zeke. We both got moving, tiptoeing around the room, and slowly closing drawers so they wouldn't make noise. After getting dressed, we grabbed our backpacks and went to join Zeke at the car.

"How are they going to get to school if we take the car..?" I asked from the backseat while Noah sat up front with Zeke.

Zeke put the car in reverse and started to drive. "Pobably Mom or Dad. They won't leave them in a lurch. Nor will they let them skip school."

"Err...do you think Mom is going to flip at the sight of their hair..?" Noah asked.

Zeke shrugged. "It's not like it's permanent. Plus, it'll fade away after a few days."

Noah was relieved. He glanced back at me to say something, but stopped. "What's that?"

I looked at the boxes next to me and shrugged. The whole backseat had boxes too. The trunk had to be filled too.

"Part of my prank." Zeke answered.

"What are you going to do..?" Noah asked.

"It's already done." Zeke smirked.

I looked in one of the boxes on the floor. "Clothes..?"

"I took all their clothes and mine." Zeke explained. "They'll either wear their pajamas to school or try to fit in Noah's clothes."

Thinking about how the twins were a few inches taller and were more muscular than Noah, I really couldn't see them squeezing in his clothes. Mine were even more unlikely.

Noah laughed. "That goes well with their pink hair." He stopped. "Oh. Unless Dad lets them borrow his clothes."

Zeke grinned. "Choices, choices, choices. Will they ask for clothes that fit or will they ask for a ride to school?"

"Can't they just ask someone they know?" I asked, thinking back to Zeke's birthday where Kyle called Marie. He probably wouldn't this time around, but there's still the guys on the team or his other friends.

"If they wake up in time." Zeke nodded. "But we won't be there. And I turned off their alarms."

"Dangggg." Noah stared around Zeke in amazement. "You're getting mean."

"Mom won't let them be late." Zeke told us. He drove us in a familiar direction...to the beach. For a few minutes I thought we were going to Mr. Atkins's bench, but he drove right by the ice cream shop and the hill where the bench was. He found an open diner and parked. "Breakfast. My treat."

We three got out and went into the diner.

A waitress gave us a skeptical look. "It's a bit early for you kids, ain't it?"

I shrunk behind Zeke and Noah.

"Have to be at school early this morning." Zeke stated simply. "Thought I would treat them to breakfast."

She grabbed some menus, took us to a booth, and placed the menus down. "What can I get you three to drink?"

"Water." Zeke sat on one side.

"Chocolate milk." Noah sat across from him.

I sat down next to Noah. "I'll also take a chocolate milk."

"I'll be back." She left.

"Do you have anymore pranks planned for the twins?" Noah asked Zeke.

"You'll see." He replied.

So vague.

The waitress came back with our drinks and took our food order. Under pressure, I ordered the same as Noah. Big mistake. He had ordered chocolate chip pancakes and had it drizzled with chocolate syrup. It was too sweet. I've never had so much chocolate for breakfast.

I was only abled to eat half, but Noah had no problem taking over and eating my other half after he had finished his. Zeke could only shake his head at the black hole. By the time we were done, the sun was up. Zeke made a pit stop at some kind of party store. He ran in and came out with wrapping paper and balloons.

We went to school with a fully loaded car. We followed Zeke to the twins lockers and watched as he was able to unlock them and started to wrap the doors. He then tied the balloons through the vent. We thought he was done, but then Mahki showed up with a bucket.

He set it down, revealing a bunch of small balloons filled with water. He helped Zeke lay out a towel on top of the books in the first locker and then they started to pile up the water balloons until the locker was filled. They skillfully closed that locker and moved onto the next.

"This is going to be good." Noah grinned evilly. He found a good spot for us to sit, with a view of the lockers. Zeke and Mahki left, not bothering to stick around.

Slowly students started to arrive on campus and it got a little crowded in the quad. The closer we moved to the start of school, the more anxious Noah became. He whipped out his phone and hit the camera button. "I definitely will have to record this."

A weird murmur came over the students in the area as they all began whispering. Soon, two familiar faces made their appearance. Dave and Kyle were in ill-fitting clothes that showed off their pecs and abs. And their ankles. I laughed outright. They must have put on Noah's sweats and shirts like Zeke had hoped. To top off their look for the day, they were also wearing the baseball hats we wore to represent the school. It honestly covered most of the pink in Dave's hair, but Kyle's color was just too bright.

"Looking good!" Noah laughed, hitting the record button. He zoomed in on his brothers. "A very special happy birthday to Dave and Kyle. To celebrate turning 17, they had dressed up in my clothing and are now sporting a very colorful pink hairstyle."

The twins got to their lockers and frowned at the styling. They opened their lockers near the same time, with Kyle just being a second faster. Water balloons started to spill out and splash at his feet, no doubt soaking his socks and shoes. Dave saw what had happened next to him and jumped back to avoid the water balloons. More fell out of his locker causing a puddle at their feet.

Noah laughed wholeheartedly while recording. We weren't the only ones. Nearby students and classmates all laughed and started to holler.