"Casey, just stop being so…Casey!" No response. "You're selfish, stubborn, self righteous, and you expect perfection from everyone!" Still silence. "Must everyone be exactly like you? The world isn't like that, Casey! Stop trying to change people! The only person who needs to change is you!"

"Is that what you really think of me?" I asked coldly. There needn't be a word said. The reflection simply nodded. I completely agreed.

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"First thing's first," I said to myself. To the emptiness around me. Everyone else had gone to a hockey game. I'd stayed home for a date with Max to find a rude awakening. Being dumped for some cheerleader who'd thrown herself all over him while we were dating. Escaping the bitter memories, I took all the things Max had given me and took them to the backyard. I even did so much as to get the wilting flowers he'd given me for my birthday. Grabbing some stones, I began my ritual. I lit a fire, taking the jacket he'd given me for Christmas and throwing it in. it slowly became devoured by the consuming flames. His varsity jacket. I supposed it might be cruel (and he might've wanted me to pay for a new one), so I let it live. Then, all the love notes he'd written. Never again would I take the word "love" so lightly. Finally, I set the dying, red roses within the fire to watch the petals turn black, then disappear. This was my goodbye to Max. I wouldn't spend time dwelling on the breakup like I had with Sam.

"Hm…" I pondered. "Maybe I could call him up." I laughed at my rashness. The new Casey could deal with being alone. I'd make sure of it. After putting out the fire, I rushed up to the bathroom and turned on the faucet.

That's where you came in, with my breakdown about the thing I hate about me. So, instead of making you read all of that again, I'll continue.

I took a washcloth to my face, scrubbing it gently. When I removed it, I saw a blend of colors upon it. I was afraid to look in the mirror. I'd seen myself before as…beautiful. However, looking into the cloth, I felt ashamed that I might need the blur to be such. Taking a deep breath, I looked up.

"You look better than ever," I told myself. I wasn't completely sure that it was true, but the majority of me believed it. I actually had features underneath the mask that I'd never seen before. My imperfections. I'd always thought that I had to be perfect, so I had never dreamed of embracing it. These imperfections were actually refreshing. A reminder that I was human. I took in my entire after that. My hair perfectly done, my necklace no a millimeter out of place. Even my clothes were the image of perfection. I took my hair out of its bun, but it did no good. The hair just lay perfectly upon my shoulders. Frustrated, I moved on to my wardrobe, exchanging the elegant dress for some stained pajama pants and an old t-shirt twice my size. It actually felt better to dress like I wasn't trying to impress someone. Still, something bothered me. From the moment I chose to do it, I knew it could be risky. However, I knew if anything went wrong, my perfectionism would take over and everything would be alright. I began. A few minutes later, I looked in the mirror and was satisfied. My hair was just above my shoulders with a choppy, layered look. When you put the hair, the clothes, and the lack of makeup together; it looked like I'd just gotten out of bed. I liked it.

"Casey McDonald, what the heck did you do!?" The shouting followed with a chorus of gasps and a laughter solo.

"Casey, you looked like you died," Derek chirped. I chose to ignore it.

"Could you all just leave us alone?" Mom asked with all the calmness she could muster.

"Can I videotape it?" Edwin asked quickly.

"Now!" They all scurried out of the room, surprised at, and afraid of, that lashing. Mom closed the door, taking care to lock it.

"Now, Casey," she began, taking a deep breath. "Tell me what happened." I, in turn, took my deep breath.

"Max broke up with me.:

"Casey, don't tell me you did this-"

"Mom," I interrupted. "That's what the fire out back was for," She stood up. "I put it out." She sat back down. "I did this because it's what I wanted. I wanted to change."

"But, Casey, we love you just the way you are," she offered, hoping to satisfy me with that answer.

"I know," I replied. "But I don't."