Mirroring

Crystal

When Crystal woke up, she felt warm. Safe, even. There was something heavy on her head, but light at the same time.

Get up, Crystal.

Crystal moaned and flopped over onto her belly. Getting up at the moment sounded as if she would be expected to hike up Mount Everest.

You need to solve the mystery!

Crystal shuddered at the thought of the mystery. Even after sleeping, she can still remember it clearly. She silently crawled out of bed and stared into the mirror. It's doing strange things again! Crystal saw her clone in the mirror dropping something invisible, probably like the thing Crystal had held! She quickly scampered out of bed and stared into the mirror, gasping at her clone. The clone scampered to meet her movements, as if it had a conscious mind! Crystal was stunned. A mirror was supposed to be an abiotic object! She learnt that in science class, but it seems like the mirror figure is acting as a biotic person! Who might spread gossip about her and ruin her reputation! Whoever it was, she was violating Crystal's privacy. Crystal would've fainted from fear if she hadn't heard a simple knock on the door. Wanting to get away from the mirror, she rushed downstairs and saw her mother already opening the door, revealing a figure Crystal never wanted to see.

Ms Hawthorn.

Between Andromeda's strange actions, her mother's constant distancing, and the mirror, Crystal still worried about Ms Hawthorn's scolding.

"How nice of you to open the door for me, Crystal!" Ms Hawthorn smirked in a fake cheery tone. Crystal wanted to shrink again, even if it meant going back to the mirror.

"Well, Crystal. I need to talk with your mother. If you will excuse me." Crystal quickly stepped inside, and Ms Hawthorn turned her head and smirked at Crystal. "Give this to Andromeda, won't you. I'll find out if you don't." She handed her a small, glass-like transparent key. "Well, see you at school." She had a dangerous glint in her eyes.

Crystal meekly nodded, and decided not to think about it. Not wanting to be in Ms Hawthorn's presence for a moment longer, Crystal stumbled her way upstairs to her room. She placed the glass key on the desk beside the mirror, and made a mental note to give it as a thank-you to Andromeda rather than Ms Hawthorn's things. Still feeling uneasy about the mirror incident, Crystal gently poked the glass with her finger. She still felt the glass beneath her fingertips. She grimaced, thinking today just wasn't the day to solve mysteries.

A while later, there was another knock on the door. To Crystal's pleasant surprise, there were no mirror accidents until then.

When Crystal went to answer it, tip-toeing to avoid her mother and Ms Hawthorn's glares, she found it was a boy her age standing out the door. He had curly gold-brown hair, black-rimmed glasses and freckles. He was wearing an oversized t-shirt saying "Math Rules!" and had an awkward smile. Oh. The boy I saw with "Meda" today.

Crystal couldn't remember his name, so she asked, "Hi! My name is Crystal. What's yours?" somewhat shyly. From his appearance, Crystal decided he was smart and can be used to help with homework. So, she needed to come up with something to persuade him to do so, even if he wasn't someone Crystal enjoyed being with.

"H-h-hi, my name is Jeshan... from school..."

Crystal stepped aside, a silent greeting. Jeshan... Crystal never knew him, she didn't socialise with "nerds". Once inside, Jeshan stumbled up the stairs, making Crystal hurry along. She didn't need a boy in her house, especially with Ms Hawthorn and her mother around, the two people she had to impress at all times. Jeshan quickly trotted into Crystal's room, standing silently in front of the mirror. Crystal wanted to shout at him to explain why he forced his way into her room, but she didn't want her mom and Ms Hawthorn to hear.