Janus Complex 01 (Patreon)

Asher sharpened his pencils and organized his notebooks, waiting for the start of class. This was his last semester and his mind was abuzz with thoughts of the future. “I need to get a scholarship if I want to get into a really good university,” he thought. “There’s no way I could swing it otherwise it’s way too expensive.”

His internal monologue was broken by his teacher’s morning announcements. “Good morning students,” he said in greeting. “I hope you are ready to give it your all this semester.” His energy clashed with the class whose faces already reflected the tedium of the last semester of school.

As Asher prepared to take notes with everyone else drudging through the school day, the door opened and a new face walked in. “Sorry I’m late,” said the girl who strangely walked sideways and was careful to always face the class.

“Oh yes,” said the teacher. “I know this is out of the ordinary, but we have a new student. Janice here will be joining us just for this semester to finish out her pre-university education.

“Hello!” the girls said. “My name is Janice Collins. Pleased to meet all of you.”

“HEY, I WANT TO SAY HELLO TOO!” a voice eerily similar to Janice's but much livelier, echoed through the room. Janice sighed heavily and with a gesture of annoyance, she turned around.. Everyone, including Asher, dropped their jaws to the floor. Behind Janice, was another Janice! It was as if she was a mirror reflection of herself, another face on the back of her head, another pair of breasts on her back which I suppose looked more like your standard ribcage. Two people stuck back to back but with two different minds.

“Hi guys, I'm Janine and I'm also very happy to be here. I hope we have a lot of fun,” she said in a tone so sweet it was saccharin. Once her greeting was over, Janice turned around again, her cheeks beet red.

“I hope my mutation won’t be a big deal. We are really just, fairly normal girls if you take away the whole, being stuck together thing,” she said, the weight of a first day’s embarrassment already weighing on her shoulders.

“Well Janice… er… girls, you can sit wherever you like,” the teacher said.

Janice looked around again and took the first free seat she found… which just so happened to be the seat right in front of Asher. Janine’s breasts were resting on the lip of the back of her chair.

“Gah careful!” Janine complained. “You are crushing my boobs over here.”

Asher was in a particularly awkward situation. He tried to mind his business, rearranging his pencils, thumbing through his notes but no matter what Janine was looking right at him. Every so often his eyes would meet hers and he would immediately turn them away. After about the third time they met each other’s glance, Janine decided to speak up.

“Hello,” she said in a quiet whisper.

“H-hello,” Asher answered, blushing a little, hoping the teacher didn’t hear.

“Looks like we’re neighbors,” Janine whispered. “And me without a tray of cookies to welcome you,” she joked with a smile.

“Cookies aren’t necessary, I’m watching my weight,” Asher joked back.

“Hey!” Janice said in a scolding tone. “Could you guys keep it down back there, I’m trying to focus on class!”

“Pfff buzzkill,” Janine muttered.

Asher returned his attention to the class. His teacher was asking for a one page essay about everyone’s plans for the future. It was fairly standard, boring, beginning of the semester stuff. The sounds of pencils scratching on paper echoed through the classroom until it was broken by Janine once again.

“Not like that,” Janine said quietly.

"Like what?” Asher asked.

"You wrote ‘conscious.’ You meant ‘conscientious.’”

"Oh, right,” Asher said, erasing and beginning to rewrite his sentence.

“No, no there’s an S in it… here let me show you.” Janice’s left leg left her shoe and bent unnaturally, causing her to almost lose balance on her chair.

“Don’t do that without telling me!” Janic scolded.

“It’s an emergency,” Janine hissed back. Janine used her sister’s leg as if it were her arm. Her toes were longer and more dexterous, looking slightly like a hand. “Here, see, C. O. N. S. C. I. E. N. T. I. O. U. S. Conscientious,” she said pointing at the paper.

“Is… that your sister's foot?” Asher asked.

“No, they are my hands,” Janine said, picking up one of Asher’s pencils and drawing a heart at the top of the page of his essay.

“Wow, impressive,” Asher exclaimed.

“Stop showing off,” her sister scolded, “Give me my foot back, I'm having a hard time keeping my balance.”

“Miss Collins,” the teacher interrupted the commotion, “Could you please read what you have so far,” he said, trying to make sure work was getting done. “You don't have to get up, just read it from your seat.”

Janice began to read slowly and confidently an essay about her duty to society, and about finding a career that would end up helping people. Meanwhile Janine was fooling around, opening her mouth to mock Janic as she talked. Asher could see light come through her lips when both of their mouths were open. If they didn’t swallow food would just come into one mouth and out of the other.

“Thank you, Miss Collins, that is enough,” said the teacher after he was confident, she had her first paragraph done.

Janice just cleared her throat a little and turned her head to look at Asher “stop flirting with my sister!” she said. “I’m trying to concentrate!”

“Party pooper,” Janine pouted.

The teacher was clearly watching them, so Janine decided to keep her mouth shut for much of the rest of the day. Asher too tried to focus on the task he was given, despite the obvious distractions. Unfortunately, he still didn’t quite know what he wanted to do in the future, so he mostly bullshitted his way through the essay as best he could.

When the bell rang Janice stood up, gathered her things and prepared to leave quickly.

“See you Asher!” Janine said before her sister dashed out of the room, “I hope to see you tomorrow!”

“Shut up,” Janice scolded as she very clearly wanted to keep the two from talking any further.

Asher watched her leave as he gathered up his own things.

“Damn asher,” said Joe, the boy who sat one desk over. “Looks like the twins like you!”

Asher shook his head. “Honestly, I think only one likes me, and even that’s a stretch.”