A•N•D•R•O•P•H•O•B•I•A

Peculiarities • Part One

 "Amber, breakfast!" Dominique called. "Coming." I said, going down the stairs. I got into the dining room, and Cassidy and Kimberly were already seated. "Where's Uncle?" I asked. "Went to get our food supplies." Kimberly said. I sighed. We won't be able to eat together again. I made my way to the table and sat opposite Cassidy, who seemed to be incredibly busy looking at herself with a small mirror. "You must be in a relationship with that mirror." I said. Usually Cassidy would come up with a snappy retort, but instead she kept on combing her hair. "Me and the girls are actually going to the shop today." She said. I looked at her inquiringly. "The shop? But you don't have anything you need to buy." I said, matter-of-fact. "Yes there is!" Kimberly purred, brushing her shoulder against Cassidy. "The shopkeeper's son, who just started working there, is so handsome! And his heart is being sold in a limited time only!" Now All three of them started squealing. I momentarily shut off my mind until they stopped screaming. "Another handsome guy. That's probably your 56th handsome guy." I said. Cassidy and Kimberly now looked at me slyly.

 "There you are again, being a neurotic freak." Cassidy said. I knew she didn't mean that. But I'd be lying if I said that didn't hurt, even if a little bit. "I don't see that as a bad thing." I said impassively. "I hate it when she acts like that!" Kimberly protested. "You know, Amber." Dominique started, placing an omelette on the table. "Maybe you should come with us?" "No, thanks." I quickly said. "Oh, why not?" Dominique asked. Before I could answer, Cassidy piped in: "Save your breath, Dominique. Even if you point a gun to her head, she'll never set a foot out of this house." I looked down at the steaming omelette, Dominique had laid down. "It smells good, Dominique." I said, my voice a bit weak. "Stop sucking up, Amber. If you smelled the outside air, it'd be even better." Cassidy said harshly. "I'm hungry now." Cassidy added, getting a fork and slicing herself a piece of omelette. I eyed the fork consciously, noting its' shimmering points. The moment it made contact with the plate, I could practically feel a small scalpel, being slowly drawn across my skull.

 I looked down to my lap, balling my fists into the skirt of my dress. Screeeeaaa~aaaachhhh! Ikept my lips shut, making sure not to let out even the smallest gasp. "Hey. What is Amber doing?" Kimberly asked. "I don't know. Hey!" Cassidy called, throwing her napkin at me. I kept my head down. "Maybe she's praying or something." Cassidy said smuggly, then continued eating. Their forks struck against the porcelain plate, making small clanking sounds. But to me, it sounded like heavy steps of a hooved animal. When finally who-knows-how-long a time had passed, Cassidy and her sisters were finished eating. They settled down their forks, and I finally looked up, only to see that they ate all of the omelette. "Sorry. You were so busy praying, we decided to go ahead." Cassidy implied, reaching for something in her teeth using her bare hands. I didn't say a word. "Well, good luck finding breakfast. We're off to the shop." Cassidy said, as she and Kimberly walked out of the room and went outside.

 Dominique was looking at me, rather sympathetically. She took a few steps toward me and laid a hand on my shoulder. "It's okay, Amber. I've made an extra omelette, just for you. It's wrapped in foil in the cupboard." She whispered. I managed a small smile, and with a nod of my head, Dominique went out to catch up with her sisters. I let out a deep breath, then I practically hyperventilated until my breathing calmed down. I quickly took the plate Cassidy and her sisters had eaten from and nonchalantly placed it in the sink. I stayed there for a bit, before getting my own breakfast from the cupboard. I got a wooden spoon, and went to my room so I could eat in silence.

 It was quite dark in my room, since I didn't pull back the curtains, or even turn on the lights. But I was used to being in the dark. If I had to choose, I'd rather be in the dark. As I ate the last piece of my omelette, I suddenly remembered what Cassidy said earlier. "There you go again, being a neurotic freak." I sighed deeply. It's not like it's the first time Cassidy called me something horrible. Yeah sure. She's been calling me lots of things ever since I started living here. But I ignored all of those. Uncle Timothy always told me to ingore what other people say about you. And I do. But what Cassidy said earlier, described me in full perfection. Neurotic freak. I pursed my lips and went downstairs to clean my plate.