Flaws

Chapter 1: Family Dinners Are Hell

Chapter 1:

I could see myself in the reflection from the ice on the pond. I was looking decent today. My normally messy hair was in a loose braid, falling over my left shoulder. There was a red blush in my cheeks and nose from the cold, winter air. My blue eyes looked wide and wondering as I stared at my own reflection.

Turning around, I took in my surroundings once more. It was my favorite place to be. I was at a small pond, barely bigger than a puddle, outside behind my house. As far as I knew nobody else knew about, or came to this place, and for this I was glad. It was my place to think, the only place I felt any comfort anymore. It was comforting itself, even its appearance looked beginning. It was just a small pond with a ring of trees around the very edge. Frost covered the trees this time of year.

Seeing that the sun was setting, I walked back up the path I came. After only a minute of walking my house was already in view. I could see the candles shining in the frosted windows. If I looked closely I could see Dilan and Sarah preparing dinner. Well Sarah insisted on cooking most of it, just letting Dilan stir the pots while she did everything else. Just the thought of that greasy fat made my stomach churn.

I swiftly ran through the backyard to the front door. I opened it up and hopped in, quickly shutting it behind me as to not let the cold in. I set my baggy coat, which hadn’t always been baggy on me, on the rack and kicked off my boots before heading through the kitchen, to the upstairs, to escape to my bedroom. Before I could though, Dilan caught my eye.

"Kendall, can I talk to you for a moment?" Dilan asked. Not looking away from some bubbling, fat-filled sauce.

Knowing that she wouldn't take no for an answer, only asking for courtesy, I simply answered with a 'sure' and waited at the table for her to come over.

I tried to ignore the smells of the nasty sauce roosting on the stove. I could practically feel myself gaining weight from the odor of it. The worst part is that my stomach actually wanted it. I could feel the pangs of hunger running through my body. How could my stomach want something so... fattening?

After what seemed like an eternity Dilan finally put down the wooden spoon covered in filth and motioned for me to follow her into the hallway. When we were out of the room she closed the door behind us.

"Kendall... How has school been?" She asked, almost tentatively. To anyone else it make seem like an honest question, but I knew the actually meaning behind it. She wanted to know about the bullies.

"It's been fine. I think it has started to die down a little bit." I lied. Even I could hear the dishonesty in my voice.

"Okay, if you are sure. You do know you can talk to me about anything, right?" Dilan replied.

I nodded. This is what I loved about her. She didn't push, she knew when I was ready I would come to her and spill everything. I wasn't the mood right now and she could tell. I just wanted to go up to my bedroom and be alone.

"Okay. Well, I gotta get back to cooking dinner. I expect it will be done in an hour or so. Okay, Kenny?" She asked.

"Okay Dilly. I'll be ready." I responded to her. I started to plod up the stairs, going deliberately slow because I was suddenly exhausted.

"Love ya!" She pretty much shouted up the stairs to me.

"Love you too." I called back, not even bothering to turn around to face her.

I kept plodding along to my bedroom feeling like I was gonna faint any second. After walking the mile it took to get to my bedroom door I tore my door open and collapsed on my bed, not even bothering to shut my door, before falling into an exhausted sleep.