The Light House Girl.

Chapter 19

I reached the landing and I heard sniffling noises. What? Just like the first day I met her. But why is she crying now? Oh no! I hope she did not cut herself. I am here. I need to hurry, but I do not want the coffee to spill. I peek my head in to see Krystal crying and holding a thing in her right hand. Shit! Is that blade of some sort? Oh shit! I am an idiot I left here alone without even a single note or text to get food. She must have thought I left her. Shit I am an idiot!

"Krystal. I brought breakfast. And I brought coffee. Do you even drink coffee?"

"You...y-you c-came-e b-ba-back." She sobbed her reply.

"Of course, I did. Why would I go away or even leave you? That too suddenly without even telling you?" I put down the coffee and hugged her. She sobbed into my shoulder while I carefully removed the scary looking blade from her hand. And I unwrapped her from me and brought her left wrist to my mouth to kiss the scars there. She looked dumbfounded before giving me a sweet smile. Just like the smile she gave me this morning while sleeping when I kissed her forehead before going out. I have no idea why I did that. But I knew that somewhere inside me wanted me to ease her and take away all her pain. Even a simple gesture of kissing her marks felt like a very intimate caring gesture to me, which suddenly made me think. 'Am I making her uncomfortable?' I mean she hugged me only yesterday and yet I am kissing her forehead and her wrist. Shit! But she is smiling. And now she is taking my hand putting it on her wrist. What is she doing?

I looked down and saw that she covered her scars with my arm. Okay! What does this mean? I tilted my head in a suggestive quizzical way to look at her. she just smiled and shrugged. Okay. Guess I am not getting an answer to whatever that was. She is not hiding it from me. So, is she hiding it from seeing it herself? Or is something that I am helping her with...no there is no chance. We haven't known each other for that long but then again, we did become close very soon. Come to think of it. I became close to many people here pretty soon. Whoa!

"Let's eat. Here Krystal." I handed her the coffee cup.

She looked at me weirdly. Oh no she is a kid. Maybe she does not drink coffee and I am giving her coffee.

"Do you not drink coffee?"

"I do. Sometimes. You?"

"Of course, I do. I used to drink it all the time back in California. Now not so much."

"California?"

"Oh yeah that's where I used to live before I came here. It was not a good time for me there. Anyways, let's eat first I brought donuts and sandwiches and then we can go the balcony to see the area. Okay?"

"Okay. But the balcony is scary."

"No problem I will be by you side all the time." She just beamed at my statement. Gosh I love her smile. I would love to see her smile more.

We ate silently and then climbed the stairs to the balcony and sure enough she held onto my arm super tightly. Like was clinging to my arm with her whole body. When we reached a spot, I just stood to look at the ocean below us and take in the beautiful natural scenery in front of me. In a few seconds, I realized I was staring at Krystal instead of the water body or the scenery around. It seemed like I was seeing her for the first time. might as well be. We always see each other in flashlights. Even during daytime, the room does not get much light, so flashlights are always on. She is beautiful. She has red hair, which is a bit dirty now understandable. Her face is like a color palette because of the fading bruises. Her features are really sharp, she has high cheek bones, her nose is slim and oh her lips. They are perfect pink lips. Whose corners are now turned upside. Oh, she is smiling. And I look up to her eyes and find her watching me staring at her. My face must be so red right now. Yet I did not take my eyes away from this beauty. And then I noticed something. She is so thin, like alarmingly thin. And she looks pale as well. Huh! Does she not get much food at her foster house? I am going to feed her as much as I can and give her food to take back. She...she is so beautiful, and I cannot stop staring at her. Now her whole face is red, and the redness is creeping down her neck. I am sure my face is just as red as her is. She looked down and I lifted up her face with my finger under her chin.

"You are so beautiful you know that Krystal. And you are so sweet, kind and I have never met anyone like you."

"I have not either. And y-you are t-too." She stuttered blushing; she is so cute.

If only I did not have to leave her here. I do not want to force her to come to Ade's house yet. Maybe later on I will ask her. Not today. I do not want to scare her. She barely started talking to me yesterday.

We went back in after a while and chatted about well.... we just made up stories about the light house. Then I went out to bring some lunch for the both of us. But this time I told her I am going to get lunch. We ate and made up some more stories, I played music we just listened to them and the waves crashing below us. Then suddenly I remembered Riley is coming over today.

"You have to go, don't you?"

"Yes, I am so sorry Krystal. I will be back at night."

"Okay. You promise?"

"Yes, I promise. I have a friend coming over. The same friend who I saved two nights ago. I have to go back for a bit. I will be back okay. Don't worry."

"Okay. Take care of that friend. And ....you too." Krystal said softly just before I rushed out. And realizing I might be late and Riley, well... surely Ryan can keep her company, right?