The Tragedy of the Unique

Diluted Beauty

(There may be a part two later, but it would take a while.)

-:-:-

Abby was average. Average height, average weight, average hair color and length, average kisser, average lover. Nothing special, just...

Average.

So she supposed that's why she reacted that way, upon hearing the news.

"Charlie totally likes you!" Clarissa, miraculously, kept her voice down. Blue eyes lit up with the excitement that came with sharing such news.

Abby was about as interesting as a leaf in the wind; any curiosity about her was fleeting and bored. She'd dated, sure, but average people became predictable after average dates.

"Oh." A less than average response, but not many people expect to be confronted with such dull yet powerful news early in the morning.

Clarissa groaned, the sound not particularly appealing yet completely beautiful. A head turned. "Abby, that can't be your only reaction. Come on, didn't you say you had a crush on him?"

Truth or dare was a strange game. One had to choose between doing or saying something perpetually embarrassing. Abby wondered why it was always easier to tell an embarrassing lie.

"You've been out of the dating pool for almost a year. It's never too late to jump back in." Brown eyes were captured by blue, and Clarissa pouted.

"Give him a chance. Flirt back or something. Have a little fun!"

Long story short, Charlie was the newest addition to their relatively small lunch table.

~*~

Charlie was unique. Tall, lean, green eyed. His haircut was a style only he could pull off. He was completely...

Unique.

And unique people don't pay attention to the average.

There's a hierarchy in almost every place in life. Abby's lunch table had an unspoken direction. Jess and Clarissa spoke first. They always had fun stories and topics to share, and the other three people would throw in laughs and comments and their own ideas and stories, should they choose. The system was nice. It was safe.

Charlie shattered it.

Only a unique person would crash an average system, Abby mused. It had been Jess who waved Charlie over, probably at her girlfriend's command. Abby hadn't realized the two were close.

"You look lost, dude. Wanna sit with us?"

A unique smile. Unique dimple shape. Abby sincerely wished that Clarissa hadn't said anything that morning.

"If you don't mind." Unique, soft (so, so soft) voice. "The art room's closed during lunch until Mrs. Lapel gets back from maternity leave."

Girlfriends shared a glance before Clarissa subtly winked at Abby. The latter nearly mimicked the groan that the former had let out earlier.

"Why don't you sit next to Abby?"

Smile. Dimples. Voice. Hair. Eyes. Aura.

"Hey," he said kindly as Jess continued her story.

Bailey heard, and he spared them an uncomfortable glance.

Even at their lunch table, Abby was average. Jess had the story. Clarissa was the one dating a very excitable storyteller. A unique person listens to the unique. Everyone knows this.

"Hey," Abby whispered before promptly focusing on the couple. Charlie may not have known about hierarchy, but he knew when to start a conversation. Now was not the time.

A unique person doesn't pay attention to the average. A unique person pays attention to beauty. Being average isn't beautiful.

Abby couldn't figure out why unique green eyes never strayed from her.

~*~

"Do you ever eat lunch?"

If Clarissa heard, she'd ignored it. Charlie's constant ignorance of the table's talking patterns had become normal.

Abby would've been fine with it, truly, but his ignorance was aimed at her.

An average head shake. A unique head tilt.

"Do you do anything other than listen during lunch?"

Another shake of the head. Charlie sighed.

Charlie was unique.

Abby was not.

She wondered why they were always speaking.

~*~

Love is a strange road of discovery. Perhaps the biggest discovery of love is the fact that one is, in fact, in love with another.

Abby loved books. That discovery wasn't shocking.

A book is like a wild animal; unpredictable and easily able to sink its claws into you, to change you (for better or for worse, Abby didn't know).

To her, the library was a magical kingdom of love. Abby often lost track of time in there, occasionally skipping meals.

"Hey."

If his voice had been a whisper in the wind, she would've heard it anyway.

A unique smell permeated through the air, a pleasant smell. Her stomach growled.

A drink was placed in front of her, forcing Abby to acknowledge the green eyes and the beautiful hair.

Smile. Dimples.

Why does the unique smile at the average? Perhaps it is part of their uniqueness.

"I got some for you too." Unique hands gestured at a bag. "Figured you'd've skipped."

An average stomach growl. A unique, beautiful laugh.

"Seems like I assumed right."

Abby smiled an average smile, hesitant. Charlie's grin grew larger.

They ate together, quietly, in the back of that library. Everyone looks at unique people. Everyone is drawn to their beauty. Abby was caught mid-glance. They both laughed.

As it got closer to closing time, a soft (beautiful) voice asked, "Can I get you a drink?"

"You just did."

An average person shouldn't try to become unique. It ends bad for all parties. Yet the answer slipped from Abby's tongue, the complete opposite of average.

Unique eyes lit up with shades of green. "Sorry, not now. Unless you want... anyway. I meant Saturday or something. Short notice, but Jess backed out of going to a movie so that she could stay with Clarissa. Would you want to go? We can get something to eat or drink afterwards."

Clarissa's voice echoed in her head. Abby vaguely remembered hearing something about her parents being out of town.

"Sure." Her voice was soft, almost trying to mimic the beauty sitting with her.

Average people stay average. Unique people stay unique. They don't mix, they don't love, lest the beauty become diluted.

Yet, as they parted ways to go to their respective homes, Abby felt the beginnings of a story piece together.

~*~

Realizations can happen anywhere. As words bled onto paper (beautiful words, unique words, words about a smile, dimple shape, green eyes, a haircut no one else could own), she confirmed what she already knew.

Libraries truly were kingdoms of love.

She titled the page 'Diluted Beauty'.

-:-:-

So this got away from me. I may make a part two, since I have an ending in mind, but this is where I'm ending it for now.

Brownie points to those who actual finished this.

I don't know where this writing style came from. This just kinda flowed. Constructive feedback would be very appreciated.

Anyway, y'all are lovely and I hope you have a good day.