Moon Girl

Twenty Eight - Final Secret

At lunch time, Krystal and Blake sat on their normal bench. The sun was warm and the cement pad was filled with students.
"Got any plans for the weekend?"
"Oh yes, loads. Sleeping, eating, and hanging out with my family." Krystal joked.
"Well damn, don't even have room to squeeze me in."

I like that he wants to be apart of my life just as much as I want to be apart of his. Not a lot of people have the same vibes back and forth. It's a give and take. A 50/50 split. It was a good relationship, friend wise I mean. He even reminded me of Nancy sometimes. It was nice.

"You want to come over tonight?" Blake started at her for a moment.

Wow, did she just invite me over?

"I think I can squeeze you in between bugging Hannah and vegging out." He beamed at her. Krystal bumped his shoulder playfully.
"Whatever." She giggled.

🌙 🌙 🌙 🌙 🌙 🌙

Krystal's house was not nearly as impressive as Blake's. It was homey and quant. It reminded Blake of the house on Full House but one story instead of two.

Krystal was sitting outside on the trunk of her car waiting for Blake. Nervously, she picked at the skin around her nails. After he parked his Jeep, Blake got out.
"Hey." He smiled.
"Hi." Krystal slid from her car and joined his side. "Welcome to my house. Please excuse my parents, this is your only warming." Blake chuckled.

You have no idea what you're getting yourself into....fool.

As Krystal closed the door, her parents zoomed in from their already close by hiding spot.
"Mom, dad," she got cut off.
"And you must be Blake Hardy." Mr. Kamowski smiled. Krystals jaw laid on the floor in shock.
"How do you know?" She asked before Blake could properly introduce himself.
"We go through your diary." Her mom said sheepishly.
"You what?!" Krystal thundered.
"Now honey, after what happened two years ago, we have to check. You have to understand that." Her mother explained. Krystal gave both her parents death glares, grabbed Blake's wrist and pulled him with her from the room.

They walked in loud, heeding silence until the reached her room.
"What happened two years ago?" Blake finally asked.
"Nothing." She said through gritted teeth.

I can't believe they go through my diary! I know they are just concerned parents but that is an invasion of privacy and quite rude!

What is she hiding from me? What happened two years ago? I thought I knew all her secrets....

I refuse to tell Blake what happened two years ago. The past is the past and they say not to dwell on the past. That's what I'm doing.

"Do you want to watch a movie or something?" Krystal offered, trying to change the subject and cool down. Blake followed.
"Sure, what movies do you have?" Krystal opened her closet and points to the stack of DVD cases on the floor. "That's a lot of movies." Krystal shrugged.
"I like movies." They both sat down and sifted through them.

As the guest, Blake got to pick out the movie. He picked How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Krystal smiled a little at his choice. Nancy liked this movie a lot.

I don't think this is his style, but I appreciate the gesture. Of all movies, I'm glad he choose this one.

I hope she thinks I'm picking this out for her. I really like this movie actually. But that's a secret.

A knock came at the door. Mr. Kamowski popped his head in.
"Hi kiddos, Blake can I borrow you for a moment." Krystal opened her mouth to protest.
"Sure." Blake volunteered.

They walked through the house to the garage. Blake looked around and the perfectly organized room.
"I didn't need your help, I'm sorry. I need to talk to you, son." Her fathers voice was low and had an edge of concern. "You have to understand my daughter has been through a lot. Losing her sister then he grandfather. Two years ago she tried to kill herself. We nearly lost her, we had to pump her stomach." He shook head head and tears brimmed his eyes. "She's a very broken girl, she can shatter so easily."
"Sir, I'm so sorry for the loss of your other daughter and your father, I can't imagine. Krystal is strong. I know she will be just fine." Mr. Kamowski gave him a sad smile.
"I thought that too once. That was until," he trailed off.
"I care very much for your daughter and for some reason, she decided to let me in. I will do my best to protect her, doing whatever it takes." Taking Blake by surprise, her father engulfed him in a strong hug.
"Thank you." He whispered.

She tried to kill herself. She took pills, just trying to end the pain.... The thought of a world without Krystal Kamowski, even the closed off, sarcastic version, would be a very empty world.

Blake slowly made his way back to Krystals room, processing all this new information. Krystal sat patiently, waiting for him to get back.
"I hope he wasn't too hard on you." She said the second he entered the room. He smiled at her.
"No, of course not." She smiled back.

How can a world not have her in it? How can the smile not exist? I didn't know a world with Nancy, but I knew it with Krystal. What I said to her dad, I meant. I will do anything to protect her. I cared too much to let her slip down the path again.

Blake jumped up on the bed next to Krystal, he scooted closer than before. Electricity pulsed between them, but no one moved.

They watched the movie until Mrs. Kamowski called them for dinner. Krystal wanted to finish it, during the movie they had slowly inched together. She hoped that he wanted that too.

For dinner her parents made her favorite, chicken parmesan. The palms of Krystal's hands continuously filled with sweat so she kept wiping them on her jeans.

This is the most nerve wracking thing ever. Oma just talked her head off and found Blake ever so charming. This is different. These are my PARENTS! Is this what Nancy felt like when she'd bring a boyfriend home? Is she laughing at me in Heaven? I sure as hell would be.

"This smells so good Mrs. Kamowski." Blake smiled at the older version of Krystal.
"Why thank you Blake. It's Krystal's favorite." Krystal blushed at the mention of her name.
"So Blake," Mr. Kamowski started more conversation.

Please kill me now.

"Krystal said you two are doing a project together."
"Well, yes. I'd say she's doing more of the heavy lifting, she's a lot better at this stuff than me."
"Some would say she's a control freak." Her mother joked.
"Mom!" She hissed as her face lit up scarlet.
"That's okay. I have to older sisters, I'm used to it." Blake glanced at Krystal. Her heart fluttered but she pushed the feeling aside. "Plus, she's cute when she's bossy." Her face grew warm again and she rolled her eyes.
"Boys, can't take them anywhere, right Krystal?" Her mom squeezed her hand.
"You have no idea. It's like babysitting."
"Babysitting you get paid, you just have the pleasure of my company." Krystal laughed.
"Right, so much worse than babysitting." The table laughed.

After that ice breaker, the conversation flowed like it did at Blake's house when they were there. Krystal bubbled with laughter due to Blake's stories. That was her favorite thing about him, his stories.
"That's why my sisters will never go camping again."
"It was you, wasn't it?"
"I told you it was a bear!"
"I don't remember a bear carefully ripping off food wrappers." Blake and Krystal stared at each other down.
"After all this time, the people who were there couldn't figure it out, but you did." His eyes glazed over as he smiled at her. Krystal bit her lip as a laugh bubbled up. Before long, she threw her head back in laughter, unable to contain it anymore.
"No, your mom told me when we were doing the dishes." Blake's jaw laxed and his eyes grew puppy like.
"You got me so good, I'm going to have to get her for that. I'll bring it up when I get home!" Blake pretended to slam his fist on the table. Mr. and Mrs. Kamowski watch the pair interact. They smiled at their child's liveliness.

After dinner the kids volunteered to do the dishes, the adults refused. They stood uncomfortably around the table. Krystal rocked awkwardly on her feet.
"Well, I'll walk you out." She put her head down with a smile and headed towards the door.
"Thank you for everything." Blake smiled at them. Mrs. Kamowski grabbed Blake's arm before he left, pulling him into a hug.
"Thank you." She spoke softly so Krystal couldn't hear. "I haven't heard my daughter laugh in years." She gave him a smile.
"She has a beautiful laugh." He told her. Her mother's eyes sparkled with tears.

Krystal walked Blake out to his Jeep. It was a slow and silent walk. Their silence was a comfortable one.
"Can I tell you something, but you have to promise me not to do anything about it." Blake finally said as the reached his driver side door. She gave him a weary look.
"I suppose."
"Say it." She sighed.
"I promise." Blake stared at her.
"Your dad told me what happened two years ago." He said quickly. Krystals face contorted in anger. "You promised not to do anything!" He brought up her promise from a few seconds ago, as if she forgot.
"But-"
"But nothing." He cur her off. "A promise is a promise. Krystal, they just want to make sure you're okay. They are doing the best they can." She sighed and nodded her head.
"I know."

I was mad at my parents for snooping in my diary and telling Blake what happened two years ago, but I understood. They were just doing the best they can. They love me, I'm their only daughter now.