The Most Peculiar Sort of Person (Hiatus)

A New Fishy Friend

"Okay, so what about the scar? That's not something you get from protecting an old lady." I said, trying to figure out what she could come up with next.

Karli frowned, "That was an accident, which intensifies your awkward side. You were probably helping your mom cook or-"

"Mom's dead, actually." I cut in, and Karli frowned, patting my cheek as if I were a dog.

"It adds to your odd side, though." Harley said, finally turning to look at us just long enough for Karli to shoot her a glare.

"Somebody dying isn't something weird, it happens all the time, Harley." Karli snapped, and Harley waved her hand around, brushing Karli's words to the side, her back already turned away from us. Karli stuck her tongue out at the back of Harley's head, slumping slightly in her seat.

It was moments like this where the whole creepy twin act (I assumed that it was an act. Nobody really did that naturally, did they?) seemed utterly impossible. They were two completely different people. I prided myself on my ability to read people. You get a lot of practice sitting around in the mall all day. And, in a way, it seemed that Karli was much more human than Harley.

Not to say that Harley was some sort of mutant. It just became blatantly obvious that Harley cared very little for everybody around her. Karli cared too much.

If there was a kitten on the side of the road, Karli would definitely stop for it; probably insisting on getting all of its shots up to date. And maybe one of those little sweaters that looks positively ridiculous. Harley would glance at it, feel a bit of sympathy, and move on with her day. A lover and a fighter.

 After that, it was mostly quiet in the room, aside from the sounds of Link spinning around from his frantic attempts to cut grass, or whatever was happening on the TV. Every 30 seconds or so, Karli would glance down at her Ghostbusters watch, then perk up slightly. This went on for about five minutes before I finally caved in and asked what she was doing.

She grinned, and I got the feeling she had been hoping I would ask. "You see, in exactly..." She looked down at the watch again, before returning her attention to me, "Three minutes, we have a guest coming in. Another Peculiar Person."

"I don't think he's going to come in exactly three minutes. I don't see why you expect people to be on time for everything, you never are." Harley sighed, and Karli stuck out her tongue in response. Many of their conversations seemed to end like that.

"So, is this guy, like, my competition?" I asked, looking from Karli to Harley then back.

"Yes." Was Harley's response, her voice a perfect level of monotone. She could pass herself off as a robot if she really wanted.

Maybe Karli saw the look of panic that overcame my usual expression- I really, really suck at competitions- because she gave my arm a little pat of assurance, rolling her eyes. "She's kidding, don't worry." Then moved a bit closer, looking like she had a secret. "And you're definitely stranger than him." She whispered, smirking as she pulled away. I really wasn't quite sure whether to take this as a compliment or not.

That's the problem with "uniqueness" isn't it? Is it a good thing to be weird, or are you just an outsider?

"Isn't it interesting that-" Harley started, and when she stopped herself Karli smiled a little.

"Being a strange person could easily be a good or a bad thing?" Karli continued.

"There's a fine line between an insult and a compliment, hm?" They finished together, and all the while neither of them even bothered to turn to the other. Harley's eyes stayed glued to the screen, Karli continued to look at me.