How To Be Beautiful.

The One where she's never been beyond this world.

"Mom?" I called out as we stepped inside the house and into the living room, where I dropped my bag on the ground next to the coffee table, "Kitchen," She called back, as I walked up to the kitchen with Adam in tow, where she was drying her hand on a hand towel by the sink.

"Look what I got you," I said, stepping aside as Adam came into view, her mouth stretching into a wide smile that almost consumed her entire face. "Oh my, Adam!" She cried happily, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "How long have it been?" She enquired.

"He's been hanging out with pretty Euro girls." I teased, nudging his side lightly. "For real?" Asked mom.

"Wouldn't put it that way," He exclaimed, raising his eyebrows at me. "But I've been travelling across Europe all summer, yeah." He nodded at my mom.

"Really?" Exclaimed mom, getting a tray out of the oven, setting it on the table to cool down. "I was thinking we could go somewhere for the winter, but I bet Europe would be too cold for Air," She said using my family nickname, as she grabbed a few plates from the kitchen cabinet, placing them on the table. "You haven't had dinner yet, have you?" She asked Adam as she sat the table, motioning for me to help her with the rest.

He shook his head no, "Then sit, I made this new Alfredo recipe I found in the cookbook Air bought me." She said, motioning for him to take a seat as we took our seats on the table. "Dad's got a night shift?" I asked.

"Yeah, he won't be home till late tonight." She nodded before turning to Adam.

"That's why I was thinking of a more tropical location, like Egypt!" Said mom, jumping back to the previously abandoned topic. "Europe is pretty cold, yeah, and knowing Claire, it wouldn't be a fun trip," He smiled, sneaking a glance at me, as I shot him a glare.

"I'm not that bad!" I exclaimed. "Of course not," They both said in unison, making me groan. "Whatever," I mumbled.

"I think Egypt would be a nice choice," He nodded, agreeing with mom's suggestion. "It looks pretty good," I said, admiring the creamy pasta she sat in front of me.

"It does," She nodded. "Taste it, tell me what you think." She motioned for both of us to take a bite, and it did taste as good as it looked. I think buying that book was one of the best things I've made in this lifetime. "That tastes amazing, Mrs. Tay," Nodded Adam, tasting the creamy heaven I am tasting. "I think I might need a copy for my mom," He chuckled.

"I'll make Claire buy her one," She nodded, putting more into his plate.

We finished up quickly, excusing ourselves to go work on the project before it gets too late.

I sat the laptop on the bed in front of us, "So, no change of heart?" I asked, turning back to look at him, hopping he would have changed his mind, but he shook his head no. "Do you not like the topic?" He asked, and I shrugged, "Do you have any other ideas?" He added, and it was my turn to shake my head no.

And I couldn't help but ask, even though I pretty much knew the answer to that, "Is it because of me?"

He studied my face for a second before nodding, "You may be one of the causes I chose this, but I still think it's a much bigger problem than you and me." He said. "Have you got any idea how many people have to go through this on a daily basis or how many kids took their own lives because of people like Kalie?" He asked, and I didn't have an answer to that.