Shine For Me

Chapter 9 - Visitors and News

"Go fish," Luna cooed as she rocked back and forth on her bum.

"Shit," Louis muttered. He tucked his bottom lip between his teeth and stared at his cards. Luna asked for a 5 of hearts, which he has. He frowned and tossed it to her. "How are you so good at this game?"

"I am one skillful Go Fish player, Lou." Luna sipped at her pink lemonade and smiled.

It's been a few days since Louis and Luna apologized to each other and they're finally back at their missed personalities.

"4 of spades?" Louis asked, reaching for the Go Fish pile. But to his dismay, Luna groaned and handed him a card. Lou cheered and paired the cards up. "3 of diamonds?"

"Go fish!" Luna laughed out. Louis pouted and grabbed another card.

There was a knock at the door. Luna called for them to come in. A nurse appeared with a clipboard in hand. "Luna, someone is here for you."

"They can come in here!" Luna's smile widened as the nurse nodded and walked off.

"Who do you think it is?" Louis asked.

"Not sure." Luna shrugged a shoulder and stared at her cards.

The nurse opened the door and in walked Luna's father, the person she least expected to see at this time of day. Or week.

"Dad? What're you-" Luna stopped, unable to produce words. "It's been weeks," Luna snarled.

"I know, Luna. Work has gotten me-" Her dad tried to explain but Luna shook her head and put her hand up.

"You're my father. Pick up a phone, for christ' sake!" Luna shouted. Silence filled the room, soon to be broken as Louis coughed and thumbed towards the door. "Stay, Louis."

"Well, I- Ok," Louis said quietly, unsure of what to do. Luna's dad looked between the two, eye brows knitted together.

"This is Louis. You would know if you showed up sometimes," Luna snarled. Her father just looked at her with disbelief.

Louis stepped forward with his hand out, "I'm Louis. Nice to meet you." Louis wanted so badly to break the tension and have it be a normal encounter, but nothing with Luna is normal. Luna's father looked at Louis' out stretched hand.

Luna's father shook his head annoyingly. "Sure," he grumbled. Luna's father has always been protective about Luna and boys. It has been a subject they tried to ignore, since Luna didn't go to school to associate with people. She went to education. Her classmates were only people filling in the empty seats. Louis slowly put his nonshaken hand behind his back and stepped next to Luna.

Luna's father hasn't showed up in weeks due to the fact his job has him sleeping during the day and working at night. They have no money, so the bill for her to be in here is through the roof and in order to stay out of a point of debt that would have them on the streets, he works double shifts; something Luna doesn't know. Luna's father does care deeply about her and pushes her to be successful in life. He just didn't know that he was pushing her so hard. He had a sense of dignity that he was fearful to lose if he told Luna about the money issue.

He didn't understand that Luna was so close to breaking, one tiny touch would have made her shatter.

"You're supposed to call and check with me," Luna grumbled, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"I know you wouldn't have approved me coming if I did."

"First thing you've gotten right," Luna said with an eye roll.

She knows that he loves her and cares about her, but a father is supposed to be supportive and help their daughter, not forget about her. Something he did weeks ago. He could have called, something. But instead, he just stayed at home and didn't do a thing about his daughter that was practically falling to pieces in a mental home in order for her to not be suicidal anymore.