I'm not the only one in my reflection.

Part twenty-five

Katherine, carrying a set in the form of a pillow and a blanket, approached Anika and, smiling, gave them to her. - Here, this is for you, everyone else already has sleeping sets.

Mindy's girlfriend smiled gratefully and patted the couch next to her, inviting her friend to sit next to you. She saw that her smile was a little strained, and her gaze did not linger on one thing.

- Are you okay? - Anika asked in a quiet voice, while Chad and Tara's embarrassed voices could be heard in the background, along with Mindy's mocking remarks.

- Yeah, I'm just a little... I don't really know how to describe this feeling. It's because of my mother's mask, which, you know, they've already found. I feel weird about it, and I can't even explain how.

- It's okay, I can't say I fully understand you or your feelings, so I'll just be here if you want to talk to someone. One thing I know for sure is that sometimes it's easier to talk to a stranger than to a loved one.

- You're not a stranger, you're my friend. - Macher retorted with a pout, her smile no longer so fake, appreciating Kayoko's genuine effort to be nice, despite the fact that the two girls weren't particularly close.

- Family relationships are complicated. - Anika nodded with a slightly forced smile, turning her head towards her new friend and focusing all her attention on her. - I understand your feelings about your mother, at least to some extent. I have problems with my own mother. Well, to be more precise, I don't know much about her, as she abandoned me shortly after my birth, and I was raised by my father. Although my father did tell me her name a year ago, it didn't really help me, you know? I just want to look her in the eye and ask her, "Why did you leave me?"

- Relationships with parents are complicated. - Samantha's girlfriend sighed heavily, hugging her legs to her chest and resting her chin on her knees. - We all have problems with our parents. Well, maybe except for Chad and Mindy, who have a cool mom. - When the girl noticed that Kayoko was lost in thought and unable to continue the conversation, she cleared her throat softly and stood up from the couch. - Well, I'm going to help Sammy in the kitchen, so make yourself comfortable. Dinner will be ready soon.

A butterfly knife accidentally fell out of Stu's niece's pocket when she was getting up, and Mindy's girlfriend was the first to reach for it, climbing a little under the table to reach the knife.

Acting on instinct, Samantha's lover extended her hand, pressing the back of her palm against the tabletop. Anika, hurrying to hand her friend her thing, abruptly raised her head and she hit the soft palm, not the hard surface of the table.

- Oh, wow. - The girl gasped, straightening up and rubbing the top of her head. She smiled at the brunette again. - Thank you for saving my head.

- It's nothing. - Leslie's daughter replied quietly and walked into the kitchen, leaving Kayoko to finish the book she had put aside when she arrived.

- Oh, here comes our fifth. - Chad exclaimed as Katherine entered the doorway and took the already opened glass bottle of beer from Samantha.

- The fifth?

- It's a silly nickname this idiot has given us. - Mindy rolled her eyes. - He didn't even come up with it, just stole it. The Fantastic Five.

- The Fantastic Five? - Macher repeated, smacking her lips, as if savoring, and raised the beer bottle up, quickly clinking the neck of the neck of the bottle of brother Meeks-Martin. - It's corny, but I like it.

- This is the person who appreciates me! - Shouted a joyful Chad, holding out his open palm to Roman's daughter so that she would give him a high five, which she gladly did.