The morning woke him with the smell of something cooking upstairs. His body was well refreshed and he slowly opened his eyes. His nose caught the scent of bacon and he sat up easily, yawning and rubbing his eyes.

A little bit of light poured in through the window blinds and gave him some comfort. Turning his head and yawning again he picked up his phone and checked his messages, seeing three from his friends.

Where the hell are you man?

Are you okay?

You alright?

He smiled and replied to each one of them, closing his phone. He sighed and breathed the deep morning air, crisp with the sense of fresh beginnings. His feet were placed upon the ground and he stood up, messing with his hair a bit before tying the wild up with a ribbon he had in his pocket. Slowly, he made his way upstairs.

"Oh there you are!" her mother's voice rang through the brightly lit kitchen. Ray smiled politely at her and nodded, speaking.

"Thank you for letting me stay last night… I appreciate it."

"Absolutely dear. Please, don't feel the need to thank me. You shouldn't have been out there all by yourself. You're hardly into adulthood."

Ray chuckled a bit and sat down upon a stool that was near the kitchen counter. Light filtered in through the windows and as he gazed out into the snow he could see a few bluebirds peck at the ice.

"She's still sleeping, it's not like her to get up early and get work done." the mother sighed and beat her batter once again, having been working on more breakfast when Ray approached her.

Ray set his elbows down on the counter and tilted his head, his heart racing and his mind contemplating all sorts of thoughts.

I wonder if she read my text? That's the first time she text me…

He swallowed and breathed out, his fingers twitching at the thought of her soft touch upon his hand. His mind wandered to her eyes, how they shone and sparkled and how much he wanted to hold her and tell her things that would make her feel like a princess.

"Can you do me a favor?"

He looked up from his daydream as his ears perked. The spoon in the mother's hand had stopped and now she was staring at him from across the counter. Ray slid his elbows off the counter and he stared back at her, tilting his head and letting his bangs fall across his cheek.

"What is it?"

"Can you wake her up for me?"

The request was a strange one, and Ray felt rather uncertain about her mother's intentions. Had she seen something between him and her that she felt needed a push? Or maybe this was just the opportunity he needed to get closer to her… to make himself realize that she was out of his league and already with someone and that he should forget about her.

But whatever she did she always pulled him closer.

Her way of smiling, her way of laughing, her way of looking at him when he hit the right keys on the piano… she taught him the sense of patience… and a sense of being…

Loved.

"Alright."

Getting up from the counter he strode over to her door, where he hesitated. His hand hovered over the knob and he found himself questioning his decision to accept the mother's invite so easily.

What the hell am I doing? Am I just… what did I agree to? I seem to be doing a lot of things out of character lately…

His nerves began to fret and he could feel a small sweat beginning to form on his brow. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Ray managed to calm himself and nodded his head.

You can do this. All you have to do is just open the door and go in… that's all.

The doorknob slowly turned and he peeped in, his eyes gazing around the room in awe and surprise.

Her room was beige in color, having nothing but a few pieces of furniture along with a dresser lining the walls. He stepped in and left the door open, knowing her mother would not have been pleased if he had shut the two of them in together in her room.

The smell of lilacs filled his nostrils and as he made his way over to her bed he saw a plethora of small stuffed animals line his view. He blinked twice and tried to determine where to touch her to wake her up, for he had no idea where the dolls ended and she began.

Seeing a swivel chair out of the corner of his eye, Ray took a seat and swiveled over to her bed, where he managed to make out a tuff of hair peeking out from beneath the sheets. His hand began to reach towards her head when he spied a pink doll off to his left. He hesitated again and his heart began to melt slowly in his chest, leading him to pick up the doll.

With a small smile upon his face he fingered the used wool and fabric, thinking to himself and gingerly hugging the small rabbit doll.

"Psst… Psst…"

His fingers controlled the dolls movements and he lowered himself more to let the doll walk upon her, laying the doll down on Crystal's head and whispering to her.

"Time for food! Time for fun!"

With the doll's hands he rubbed her hair softly until he heard a little murmur coming from beneath the sheets. His eyes warmed and he soon sat next to her on her bed, playing more with the doll.

"Time to wake up! Time to start the day!"

The murmurs continued until a head finally appeared and a pair of eyes opened to gaze at him.

Ray's cheeks flushed when she looked at him, and he could see that Crystal was visibly surprised to see him playing with her doll.

A moment of silence passed between them and he immediately gave her doll back, turning away bashfully.

"Good morning…"

He could feel her moving beneath him and she sat up, Ray sneaking a peek over his shoulder. Her hair was a mess of course, and she yawned, taking the doll in her hands. Ray resisted looking at her, so he decided to focus on the makeup box she had sitting alone on her dresser.

"She says good morning."

His head turned a slight bit, allowing him to see over his shoulder. Crystal was holding out her doll with both hands to him, smiling brightly.

"Good morning!"

Ray turned to her fully now, surprised. He gazed at the doll and then back at her and then back at the doll.

Does she want me to take it?

He could feel his heart warming and melting again, his hand reaching out to take the doll away from her. He cradled the rabbit doll in his arms and smiled softly.

"What's the name?"

"Pinky."

"So it's a girl huh?" taking the doll and hugging the rabbit to his chest, Ray nodded.

"She's got a good Mama."

At his words he could see Crystal's cheeks flush with red.

"Her mama… is just doing her best."

He could feel warm overcome his body, his very being engulfed in a sense of warm love and want. Ray leaned in towards her, dropping the doll into her lap.

"I-"

At that moment he felt something strange drape across his arm and Ray stopped. Looking downwards he could see his hair had come undone from its ribbon.

"My hair…"

Clumsily and rather nervously he tried to gather up all of his hair again into his hands, trying to put everything back together. He waved his head back and forth trying to get his hair to cooperate, but he knew very well that on certain days he could make his hair work.

A pair of soft hands embraced his fingers and he stopped, Ray frozen to his spot; his cheeks growing hot.

"Let me."

Ray let down his hands and felt his hair being softly pulled together. The hairs from his back were taken as well as his shoulders. Everything was up and out of his face, Ray feeling free from the heavy weight. He swallowed as he felt her come closer to him, his heart beginning to beat faster and harder.

"Your hair is so soft… do you use conditioner?"

"Y-Yeah… I have to…"

"Mmm… why the long hair?"

"I just… I never thought about it. I guess it's cultural?"

He frowned now, looking up at the dreamcatcher that hung from the ceiling over her bed. The feathers floated back and forth lazily in the winter sun light.

"Well… don't cut it… I like it."

She…

He curled his fingers and felt his heart pulsating with something that he had felt before, but could not properly describe. Ray gripped at the bed sheets and turned around to her, feeling her let go of his hair.

"Crystal I-"

Time seemed to slow down as she fell into him, Ray managing to catch her in his arms. Her head lay upon his shoulder and her arms were around him, her nose pressed into his neck. He could feel her against him, her soft body curves perfect in his arms. His eyes dimmed as he allowed his emotions to run rampant through his system, taking him into a world of pure ecstasy and color he could never describe.

His hands found their way to her hips and he felt along her sides, outlining her hourglass figure. Ray found feel himself getting hard, but did not let on how he felt at the time. She was against him, and that was all he needed.

He wanted to tell her so bad how he felt, how much he wanted to hold her forever and never let go, how he wanted to be with her forever, even in sickness and death.

He embraced her hard against him, speaking softly.

"You okay?"

Crystal pushed off him lightly, nodding her head. She held her eyes to the ground and sat upright, her hands to her knees.

"Sorry I did that… that must have been awkward for you…" she murmured, turning her face to the window outside.

The snow flickered in the warm winter sun and he leaned back into her, his hand brushing up against her cheek. She froze to his touch and he could feel her soft skin against his fingertips. He moved forward, and she did not stop him, Ray's body getting closer to her face until they sat no more than an inch from one another.

"It wasn't awkward at all…" he mused, his eyes dimming and his lips parting. His fingers brushed against her cheekbone and down her neck, rotating to the point of her chin. He gazed into her eyes now, letting his piercing gold eyes bore into her.

"You have gold eyes…"

"I was born with them."

"That's amazing…"

Her breath was upon him and he could nearly feel her up against him again. Taking a deep breath and swallowing, Ray closed his mouth, letting his hand fall from her chin and onto the bed.

He let his gaze drop as well, feeling his heart sink with the falling of the only romantic moment he had had with her thus far.

"Your mom said to come wake you up, so that's all I came here to do."

Ray lifted his eyes towards her again and he found that she was already staring at him. Slowly, she tilted her head a little and smiled at him softly, Ray feeling his heart pulsate tremendously.

A pair of soft fingers intertwined with his and he looked down, their hands locked together in what seemed to be a perfect fit for him.

It's so natural.

"I braided your hair. I hope you don't mind."

Ray flinched, getting back into reality. With his other hand he felt along his head and found that his hair had been braided into one long strand, held together by a bow at the end. He smiled gratefully.

"Oh thanks! That will help me keep everything together."

His ears picked up sounds that were not his and his smile immediately faded, his eyes widening. He stared at her for a second, pausing.

"What did you say?"

She shook her head quickly, getting up from the seated position and letting go of his hand. Ray watched a she stretched and put on her slippers, heading for the door.

"C'mon, mom has pancakes."

The sunlight began to shine more bright as she exited her room, leaving him on the bed with only her warmth to fill his touch. His hand floated to the front of his face and he stared at his limbs, wondering and pondering.

Carefully he touched his hair and took a piece, examining the tenderly wrapped strands of purple weaving in and out of one another. His heart warmed him over, screaming that he should have made his move right then and there but his mind screaming back that she was not his.

Not by a long shot.

As he ate he realized that the feelings he had for her were growing more and more intense. He had not known this girl for very long, but everything about her made him both hard and soft at the same time.

If that was even possible.

He ate quietly, merely listening to Crystal talk to her mother about school and the days past. She was going back to class today, as this marked the end of her winter break.

If this is the end of winter break… then it's already been a month since I've been here? Have I been seeing her for… three weeks? Doesn't feel like it…

Well given I spent the first week wasted and fucked out of my mind.

"So today I'm going back to class… it'll be interesting to see who comes back for the spring semester."

"It sure will be!" her mother turned off the faucet and removed her gloves, taking a breather from her work in the kitchen. The dishes were clean and the snow was glimmering in through the windows in icicles.

Ray set his fork down and got up, handing his plate to Crystal's mother.

"Thank you for the food… and for letting me stay last night. I really didn't want to intrude… but thank you anyways."

"Oh no problem!" Crystal's mother laughed, flicking her hair back.

"Any man who helps out my daughter is a man worth keeping around!" Crystal's mother suddenly turned serious and turned to her daughter, who was still in a bathrobe eating her pancakes.

"Speaking of which, are you still going to that night club?"

"Pacha? Yeah. I'm still going." Crystal replied nonchalantly. Ray's eyes darted from her mother to her and then back again.

"Pacha? What's that?" he asked, sitting down next to Crystal again.

"It's a night club that my friend invited me to. It's a little ways away, but I wanna go cause I think it'd be fun!"

"I told you how I feel about that…" Crystal's mother shook her head and sat down, drinking her tea out of her cup. "You know I don't approve of that."

I wonder if Crystal really understands how nightclubs work…

"So, when are you going?" he asked casually, not meaning to stir anything up between the two women. The kitchen was warm and Ray was beginning to feel like he had overstayed his welcome a little. He wanted to get his answers and possibly follow Crystal to school.

Possibly.

"I'm going later on this week, seeing as today is Wednesday." She answered, taking a sip of her milk.

"Saturday?"

"Friday night actually, going into Saturday."

"So… you're prepared for it?"

"Yeah, bought the tickets and everything."

"Who's going with you?"

"Just me and a few friends."

"Any guys?"

"Well yeah my boyfriend of course."

"I see." Ray fingered his glass and stared into the white milk, thinking to himself. he pursed his lips as his mind filled with all the horrid things that could potentially happen. Ray shivered but shook his head and let his emotions ride out.

"I don't think it's a good idea for you to go… I mean you've never been to one right?"

"Yeah… but I think it's a good time to try at least once."

"You're still young."

"I'm nineteen, I'm not a child."

"Technically you are." He retorted, his eyes narrowing. "Furthermore I really don't think they allow women under the age of twenty one in clubs."

"It's a nineteen and older club." She snapped back, shaking her head. "You sound like my mother now."

"I just don't think it's a good idea." Ray stated, holding up his hands. "Look, I understand you want to go but people… people get really messed up in places like that."

Through his peripheral vision he saw Crystal's mother staring at him intently. His heart knew that he was doing the right thing, and that her mother was backing him up on his words. He wanted the same thing she did. For Crystal not to get hurt.

Crystal groaned and massaged her temples with her fingers.

"Look if I wanted your opinion I'd ask for it okay?"

"I just don't think it's a good idea!" Ray began to get agitated now, not wanting harm to come to her more than anything. "I don't think you should do it. And what about that boyfriend of yours? Isn't he interested in your well being?"

"Of course he is!" Crystal snapped back angrily. "He's the one who suggested that we go!"

"Oh so you'll be fine if he ends up drunk and hitting on other girls?"

"That's not what's going to happen! He's not like that!"

"From what you tell me he doesn't really see you like the proper girlfriend right? And you don't seem like the party type anyways!"

Crystal silenced and looked away, her eyes angry and her fists clenched beneath the table. Ray breathed out in the silence as Crystal's mother gazed at them both. Slowly, he began to speak again.

"If I can't stop you from going… then I'm going too."