Abstract Shadows and Painted Stars

How the hell was I going to explain why I was in this hallway? He would never believe it if I said I was working out at the gym.

Clyde was older than me. Ten years older to be exact. And anywhere he went, people could just tell he was one of our high-ranking Agents. It's the way he carried himself that gave him away; his demeanor was the definition of confidence and success. Even people who hardly knew him, found him intimidating.

He was clean shaven, with sleeked-back medium-length black hair, and always wore a black suit that seemed to hug his soldier-like frame perfectly. It was so unfair how fortunate he'd gotten with his looks. He had been gifted with his mother's high cheek bones and striking blue eyes. While I walked around with our father's boring brown eyes and big forehead. And of course, he found the time to go to the gym on the daily! Honestly, it shouldn't surprise me, that freaking over-achiever made the rest of us mere mortals look bad.

At least, despite growing up in the shadow of my perfect sibling, I was still dad's favorite. So, hah! Take that, Clyde.

"Clyde! Hey." I played the part of a lost puppy, as my brother drew closer, looking around with a confused look on my face. "Can you point me in the direction of the main entrance?" I said, carefully sneaking the walkie-talkie inside my work bag as I spoke. "I don't where I am anymore."

His eyes narrowed curiously as he closed the distance between us. "How in the world did you end up here in the first place?"

"I was working late and, in the midst of transcribing a bunch of reports, I started feeling pins and needles in my feet. So, I decided to walk it off... and I guess, I must have wondered too far?" He looked at me with added suspicion as he stopped in front of me. "I must have taken one too many turns."

"I see," he sang. "And why are you working so late on a Wednesday?" He asked, crossing his arms the way our father always did when we were in trouble as kids. "I didn't think the investigation department were allowed any big assignments this month. Do you really have that many reports to go through?"

"Not really, but, um..." I pointed at him and his incredulous disposition. "But, Percy and I have this little competition going on." These lies were melting out of me like butter. "Whoever converts the most reports into digital copies by the end of the week, gets the other as an assistant for a whole month! So, I've been working overtime. I really want to win." I punch him in the shoulder and snickered. "Do you imagine how horrible it would be to be Percy's assistant for a month? I'd probably live at the dry cleaner! What with all those fancy clothes he loves to wear."

He looked at the spot I hit, and glanced down at me with a dubious smirk. "Paperwork competition, huh?" His top lip lifted into an Elvis-type grimace. "It's amazing that you two found a way to keep that boring stuff interesting. I got to admit, I really don't miss having your job, Peanut. I'm glad I'm way past that."

"Oh, please. Do rub it in, Clyde," I said, rolling my eyes. My lies had a hook on him. All I needed to do now, was reel him in. "So, where exactly is this place I happened to stagger upon?" I motioned to my surroundings whilst playing dumb like the good actress I was. "I've never seen this place before."

"Not surprising. This place is called a gym." He leaned in. "A gym is a place where people work out," he teased.

My eyes bugged out. "Oh, so that's what they call a gym!" I joshed back.

He narrowed his eyes as if he were seeing something on my face...something that troubled him. I tried to keep my face neutral. For all he knew, I was as innocent as a baby fawn, and nothing I'd done was cause for concern.

"Alright. Come on," he said, obviously deciding that there was nothing to worry about. Taking me under his arm, he steered me away from the long corridor. "I'll walk you to your car, Peanut."