The Brightest Stars

Luna

It's the day before Thanksgiving and I happen to be in a good mood today.

I even wake up with a smile as I sit up and check the time on my phone.

7:30 am.

I hear voices downstairs and recognize my father talking on the phone. I do a small smile and start to get ready. Just as I hear his footsteps walk past my room, I step out and quietly walk downstairs.

Maybe today he's in a good mood to eat breakfast with me. I'll give him a reason to stay...

As I make breakfast, I think of next month's events. Apparently, Xander agreed to participate in the show. I'm not sure if I should. He suggested we sing a duet, but if I screw up it will give his mother an even bigger reason to hate me.

I set up the table and fill up two plates with scrambled eggs and bacon. I quickly start making the pancake batter and in less than ten minutes, a pile is filled up on a large plate. I make finishing touches on the table as I put two glasses of milk. As I admire my hard work, the sound of footsteps coming down makes my heart race. I look up to see my father observing the scene with anger and confusion.

"What is this?" he says in a scratchy voice. He has an opened-up buttoned shirt that shows off his broad chest. His hair is a mess and his eyes look like he did not have a good sleep last night.

I clear my throat and say, "This is breakfast." Carefully, I signal towards his plate on the other side and smile. "I just thought we could have breakfast together..."

My hands start to turn clammy as he comes towards the table. But I push down my fear and give him a respectful smile. I watch as he looks down at his plate and my heart shrinks when he does a disgusted look. He takes the newspaper I left for him beside his plate and says, "Why don't you make me some coffee and leave me alone for once?"

"But don't you want to eat?"

"No," he says without looking up at me.

"But I wanted to eat with you. I always eat breakfast alone and it's been--"

The sound of a loud pound on the table makes me jump. His eyes are fire as he looks back at me again. His hands turn into fists and I take a step back as I fight back tears. "Dammit! Don't you understand that I don't want to eat with you?! A-are you stupid or something?!"

My eyes stay on the ground as tears threaten to fall out. My muscles start to tense as he comes closer to me. The smell of alcohol makes my stomach jump and a strong wave of nausea goes through me.  He opens his mouth to continue yelling at me, but the sound of another set of footsteps brings us to look away from each other. 

A woman just about the age of my father comes down in wobbles. From all the way here, the smell of alcohol is so strong on her that her smile seems almost distant. She lifts up a bottle of beer from her side and seductively says, "I'm waiting for you, love...."

Another stab goes through my heart as my father looks back at her with the same smile he used to give my mother. I gasp as he gives her a passionate kiss in front of me. I can't help but give them a disgusted look. Just as I start to look away, my father does a devious chuckle and points toward me. "That's the girl I was telling you about, Kathy. As you can see, she tried making us some cheap breakfast."

"Mmm." Her eyes never land on me, but they stay on my father's chest as she runs a finger on it. "Maybe we should skip breakfast again."

Again? 

I quietly say, "I-if you want, I can make some breakfast for you..."

But they ignore me and walk out the house with flirtatious laughs and their arms around each other.