There were few things Krystal liked to talk about, school was never one of them.
"How was school?" Krystal's mother tailed her around the house.
"Great."
"Make any friends?"
"Loads, I'm the most popular kid in school now!" Sarcasm dripped from every word.

I'm popular but not because people want to know me....

Her mother sighed deeply.
"I wish you would be less sarcastic and more social." Krystal shook her head. Her hair whipping around her.
"Absolutely not. If they can't love me for me, they don't deserve me."
"And how do you know what they feel about you?" Krystal stopped short, almost causing her mother to plow into her. She turned on her heals and they met eyes.
"No one can look past the scar. That's all they ever care about. Once they know, they leave. Why try in the first place? I'm never good enough anyways." Mrs. Kamowski opened her mouth to protest, to give her daughter some type of insight or glimpse of hope, but Krystal turned away. "I'm going to my room. Call me when dinner is done."
"Yes dear." Her mother's shoulders slumped in defeat.

Krystals mom has been working from home for the past 6 years. It was nice when Krystal needed a ride somewhere or someone to talk to. Now she distances herself from everyone, even her parents. The only person she kept close was herself, that's why she wrote so religiously in her diary.

Dear Diary,
I wish my parents would leave me alone. I am never going to be popular. I'm never going to have a lot of friends, or any at all really. I'm not Nancy. I never will be. They say to celebrate differences, but I don't feel celebrated. I feel like a bearded lady at a circus of perfect lions. Maybe at the assembly tomorrow they can put me on a stand and give everyone tomatoes to throw at me. I think they'd still stare though. Sometimes I want to grab the microphone and scream at everyone. Tell them the truth, but I don't want pity. I don't want the be the girl who....
Xoxo
K. Kamowski

Krystal tucked away her diary and laid back on her bed and drown in the sea of pillows. Years ago she used to do this and cry, but the older she got the more her tears dried. Now she was out of tears to shed, she just lays motionless.

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Blake sat at the dinner table with his chin in his hand.
"Blake, please no elbows on the table." His mother scolded. She never really yelled at Blake, he was her only boy, her baby.
"Sorry mom." He gave her a sweet, sheepish smile.
"You're such a suck up." Hannah hissed in a low voice.
"Don't you have plans or something?" He snapped. She rolled her eyes.
"Enough!" Their dad thunder as he entered the room with the bowl of mashed potatoes.
"Sorry." The muttered together. Mr. Hardy sighed and sank into his chair.

Can someone remind me why I'm here again? Oh yeah, Ted flaked on me for some chick. She wasn't even that cute! Whatever. I can survive family night.

"Your elbow is on the table again!" Hannah whined.

I think.

Blake scooped some mashed potatoes on his plate.
"Do you always have to eat so much?" Hannah contuined food nag him. Blake rolled his eyes at his sister.

I can make it through the dinner, I can't promise the same for Hannah. She's lucky she's dad's favorite.

The family ate in a dull chatter. Plain topics went around like school, work, nothing of actual substance. That's normally how it was. Mr. Hardy was a police officer for the local bureo and Mrs. Hardy was a meteorologist, she only appeared on tv when the head meteorologist was gone. They made good money, enough to raise three kids and have money to spare. When they kids all turned 16, whether they wanted to or not, Mr. and Mrs. Hardy made them get part time jobs. Blake always chose to work in the summer, in school weekends were far too valuable.

"Blake, anything new and exciting today?" His mother lightly sawed her pork chop.
"Not really." He shrugged.

Oh you know, just found a new thing to investigate. It's a person this time. People call her Moon Girl. Her real name is Krystal Kamowski. Know her? Doubt it.

"Any new girls you're interested in?" His father smirked at him from across the table. Blake felt his cheeks grow warm.
"I'll let you know." He said casually.
"Oh, I'll bet good money there is." Hannah smiled sweetly at her brother.
"Go away." He said through gritted teeth.
"Come on, tell us." His mother coaxed.
"Listen, I don't know her. She's pretty, that's all." Blake finally gave in. His parents had always been nosey, that's where he got it from.

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"Krystal? Krystal, honey?" Her mother patted her leg, trying to wake her.
"Mhm?" She groggily hummed.
"Dinner." Krystal clawed her way from her pillows.
"Dad home?" Krystal loved her parents but she was closer to her dad.
"No, not yet."

Great. A quiet and awkward dinner again. I wish he wouldn't work so hard.

The table was already set, just two placings. Krystal grabbed her drink from the fridge and sat with her mother.
"How was your day?" She asked her mother without meeting her eyes. It was idol talk, but it was something.
"Oh good. I finished another chapter." Krystal's mom always had a dream of being a writer but gave up that dream when she got married. Now that she was stay at home mom, she had all the free time to write.
"That's good." Krystal said with food in her mouth.

Krystals mom continued to babble on while she daydreamed. She daydreamed about getting out of this town. She daydreamed of a prettier reflection. She daydreamed about a lot of things, none that would be happening, not to her at least.

I know my mom means well by why do we always have to eat at the table? Can't she see I'm dying to get out of her. My dad would have seen that, noticed that, but he's working. I love my mom, I really do. But we are just two different people. Her and Nancy understood each other. That reminds me, I should go see her again. It's been awhile.

The front door swung opened and swiftly clicked shut.
"Hello girls. Smells good in here." Her dad charmed his way in the house. That was also another thing Nancy got that Krystal didn't.
"Hi dad." Krystal called. In one quick motion, he grabbed a plate and kissed Krystal on the head.
"Hello." His wife smile. They gave each other a brief peck.

After all these years and all that they've been through, I'm glad they are still together. They are always there for each other when they need it most. I know having someone to love in life is important, they are there to lean on and carry you through tough times. I just can't imagine wanting someone in my life or finding someone wanting to be apart of it.

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Blake 'offered' to help clean up dinner. Really his mother dropped hints until he finally agreed to help her clean up dinner.

They stood shoulder to shoulder at the sink, washing and drying the dishes. She believed washing by hand was better than any dishwasher. Everyone but Mrs. Hardy used the dishwasher when she wasn't home. No one told her that. She had an idea though.
"Where's Gabriel?" Blake asked.
"Out." Was all his mother responded with.

Doesn't the phrase go "ask and you shall receive"? I asked and....?

Hannah skipping into the room and sat on the counter next to Blake.
"So, I have an idea." She swung her feet.
"Yes?" Their mother looked up at her.
"Oh, it's not for you actually. It's for Blake."
"For me?" He questioned.
"Yes, to get your lady friend." He set the plate back into the sink.
"And what makes you think I'm having trouble with her?" She looked at him, deadpanned.
"Are you dating her? No. Has she ever been to the house? No. Have you mentioned her before? No. For Blake Hardy, thats spells trouble." His cheeks went pink as he grabbed the plate again.
"It's not trouble." He grumbled, more to him. Hannah laughed.
"Right." Blake signed and looked up at his sister.
"Listen, I don't know how I feel about the girl, I just want to get to know her. She's a shy girl, I've seen her around. Okay? Can you please stay out of my dating life now?" Hannah studied her brother. She hopped off the counter without as much as another word.

Why was Hannah always so nosey? She seemed to think I needed her help. I, Blake Hardy, needed help getting a girl. That's a laugh. I know that sounds shallow, and it is, but it's true. I am 18 years old and have a lot of "friends" and girls flirt with me constantly. They sometimes act like I'm meat, but I guess it's fair considering that's how most men treat women.

"Do you want to talk about her?" Blake's mom broke the silence between them.
"No, mom."
"I'm just say-"
"Mom," He moaned a complaint. "Please?"
"Fine, fine." She held up her hands in surrendering, holding the white towel in one. "I won't ask, I can't promise anything with your father." Mrs. Hardy dropped like it was a threat. Blake got along with his dad and they were actually pretty close. In a few days he might even go to his dad for advice on Krystal, but until then, Krystal was a secret held by lock and key.