Born an Angel

Chapter 11 - Try Again

Crystalline's POV:
I woke up in a strange room with white walls and tiled floors. There was a cabinet in the far corner and a door on the right corner. Beside me was a vase of blue and white roses, which are my favourite. On my left was my mother, fast asleep in a chair. Beside her was Abby, either playing a game or looking through social media on her phone. It was then that I realized I was in hospital.
"Abby," I asked in a hoarse voice. She looked up at me and her face immediately lit up.
"Crystalline!"
She practically jumped out of her seat, running the few paces there were between us in no time at all. Her joy woke up my mother who's drowsy eyes saw me and also lit up with the same, maybe more, excitement. Abby pulled me into a hug, but as soon as she touched my skin, a searing pain shot through my body. I winced in pain, groaning as she noticed my agony.
"Oh! I'm so sorry," she apologized.
"No need," I replied sending a reassuring smile to her. She sent one right back. My attention then turned to my mother who had tears in her eyes but a smile on her face. She was laughing lightly, obviously glad to see I wasn't dead or in a coma of some kind. I looked down at my arms, seeing many bruises, cuts and grazes. My smile turned to worry as looked over my torn up features. I couldn't see the rest of my body, since it was covered up by a hospital gown and bed sheets, but just by moving slightly could I feel that I had been injured badly. I looked back up at them, my face confused.
"How did I get here," I asked. "I was outside of town! I was..." Flying. Then it all came back to me. Xander. Jake. The rain. The kiss. The storm. The pain. Who found me?
"You're a lucky one, Crystalline," Abby chimed. "I'm not gonna take all the credit, but I am part of the reason that you're safe and sound... Well, safe. I told Jake to go after you after... you left, and he did. There was a road block and then he saw you! He brought you here as quick as possible! And I mean quick. He got a $650.45 fine! I should know. I saw it myself! He was so worried about you!"
I didn't hear what she said after. Her words had me stunned. Jake? Jake brought me here? He came after me? I was baffled beyond explanation. I didn't dare close my mouth that was open in shock, I just sat there more confused than before. I didn't want to interrupt Abby's story but I had to know where Jake was.
"I-I'm sorry... Where is Jake?"
"Oh, he left. He said you probably wouldn't want to see him, even though he like saved you and everything. He went home."
I felt kind of sad that Jake wasn't here, but I could understand why he left. I wanted to tell him thank you, but when I looked around for my phone, it wasn't present in the room.
"What are you looking for," Abby asked, gaining my attention.
"Oh, my uh... my phone."
"Here! Use mine."
"Oh, thanks but I-"
"Call Jake? No worries! I have his contact."
"Okay..."
I took the phone from her hands, clicking the on button as to open her phone. Luckily, no password. I went into contacts and scrolled until I found Jake's contact. I was about to call him until I stopped my finger halfway to the call button. I looked up to see Abby and my mother had left the room. I wasn't sure if I was nervous or glad, but either way, I had to say thank you. I looked back at the bright screen, eyeing the call button cautiously.
"1... 2... 3."
I hit call and it started to ring him. I shakily brought the phone to my ear, having no idea how I was going to even say one word to him. I'll manage... somehow. I heard the noises stop and his husky voice speak into the phone.
"Hi Abby. How's she doing?"
"Um... Jake?"
There was a silent pause before he spoke again. "Crystalline?"
"Yeah," I mumbled, almost in a whisper.
"I-... A-Are you okay? I-I thought you were gone!"
"Thanks to you, I'm still here..."
"So, Abby told you, huh?"
"Everything. You taking me here, calling her, the fine-"
"Fine?"
"You got a fine for taking me to the hospital over the speed limit."
"Ho-... How'd she know about that?"
"She may or may not have taken it from your pocket."
"Oh... Well, yeah. I'm just glad you're okay."
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why? Why do you care about me? I'm another girl... I might not be as normal as everyone else bu-"
"Exactly. You're so amazing and different. You intrigue me! You're... so fucking perfect. You're a real angel. Literally!"
I laughed a bit since I did have wings, but that didn't mean I was an angel.
"Wings don't make you an angel, Jake."
"Who said I was referring to your wings?"
My heart skipped a beat and I could feel myself getting sucked in again. I didn't wanna get played. I didn't wanna be anyone's toy. I wanted to stay in the shadows. Like always.
"Jake... I called to say thank you... not to fall for you again."
"I know... I was just wondering... any chance I could... try again? Start out as friends?"
"I guess. But friends only! Until the term finishes at least."
"Okay... I can still call you Kitty though, right?"
"Haha... yes you can. Hey, um... Can I make a name for you, too?"
"And what might you have in mind?"
"Well... what about... Dante?"
"Dante?"
"Yeah... I guess."
"Would that by any chance be the name of one of your favourite book characters?"
"I guess you could say that."
We talked for a while, just chatting away. I found it relaxing, considering that everything is just hectic at the moment. Nothing but his voice seemed to matter. Not the occasional pain making me wince slightly, not the rain still pouring down, not even Abby walking in after an hour bothered our talking. When she had to leave, so Jake and I had to stop talking on her phone, I promised I'd call him on my mobile when I got it back. Then it took forever for one of us to hang up. It eventually ended with Abby hanging up instead.
"Hey," I cried. "I was talking to him!"
"You know that you complaining is making me ship you guys so much?"
"Wha-... Abby!"
She giggled as she put her phone away in her leather bag, zipping the zipper and slinging the handle over her shoulder. She looked at me, stopping her mischievous giggling.
"Also, your mum went to get your bag from school," Abby said. "She won't be back in a while."
"Okay," I replied.
As she walked out I started noticing how quickly I was healing. My bruises had disappeared and my grazes have almost gone! The cuts were smaller, too. I called out to a nurse who came in.
"My injuries. They're almost better," I cried out happily. She looked shocked and called for a doctor. As she called out, I marveled at my quickly healing wounds. A doctor came in, asking me to stand up as to inspect them all. She was a female, so it wasn't entirely embarrassing when I had to strip so she could see the healing damage.
"Well... I think that you should be able to go home," Dr Leah proposed.
"Really?!"
"Yes. Your wounds are in healthy condition. As long as they are treated everyday until healed... but with your healing rate, that shouldn't be a problem!"
Dr Leah turned to the nurse and asked her to get something, but I didn't hear what. The nurse returned with my clothes from earlier today, handing them to Dr Leah who gave them to me.
"You may go home," she spoke, smiling sweetly.
I smiled all the while I got dressed into my now dry clothing. I ran out to the lobby, people watching me curiously. I ran outside into the shelter. My house was only a couple streets from the hospital, so with all my speed, I dashed to Abby's house.
It took me a few minutes, but when I reached there, I knocked on her door. A middle-aged woman answered the door, her hair was silky and blonde like Abby's. She had slight wrinkles, but they made her look kind and wise, not old. She was wearing a nice gold singlet with a white lace design over it. She also wore white leather pants and gold flats.
"Hello," she greeted. "How may I help you?"
"Is Abby home?"
"Yes, she is! Come inside. You'll get a cold in that rain."
She stepped aside giving me free access to their home. I walked into a lobby that was wide and open. Its decor was mainly white and gold with related colours like yellow. It felt warm and welcoming with a modern theme. There was a television set with a gold rug and a comfy-looking lounge. Art hung all across the walls, some I recognized as Abby's. A white fur rug laid in the middle of the room. To the left was a rectangular door with cursive black font reading, "Abby's Room". It made me chuckle a little.
"I'll get Abby. You just stay here, or take a seat, but please, do remove your shoes," she spoke, breaking me from my trance. "I'm Sierra, by the way."
"Crystalline," I said shaking hands with her. "Nice to meet you."
As she knocked on Abby's door and told her who was here, I took off my shoes and explored the lounge room. I was beautiful! There were three other doors. One read, "Damien's Lair" in a black block-like font, whilst another read, "Tyler's Terrain" in a black danger font. The last one read "Chambers of the King and Queen".
I heard Abby cry out my name in shock and joy, making me turn around with a slight jolt. A warm smile was spread across my face as she practically leaped over to me. She was about to pull me into a hug until she stopped.
"Wait... no hugs," she pouted. Her eyes looked me up and down, suddenly confused and shocked. "Wait... where are your sores?! And scars?! And...!"
"I know," I mumbled, also excited. "They healed so fast!"
"That's not fast... that's lightning speed!"
"I know, right!"
"Anyways... I think I should tell you something..."
"What?"
"Not now! Later! Anyways, I believe you've met my mother?"
"I have."
"But you haven't met the rest of the family!"
"Nope!"
"Well, let's see the prankster first. Damien! Get out here!"
The white door that read "Damien's Lair" opened, and dry ice started coming out, creating a smokey effected. Dramatic and heroic music started playing from speakers in the lounge room. Then, out stepped a boy, no older than twelve or thirteen. He wore a cape and a black t-shirt with some jeans. He clicked a button on a small remote in his hand, and some nearby fans, obviously set like that, turned on, sending wind over to him, blowing back his cape. I had to restrain myself from laughing, but I wasn't only humored, I was impressed! He then undid his cape which flew back into the room by the wind. Right on time, the music stopped and he posed like a hero. The fans had turned off and the dry ice was gone. I started clapping as he bowed.
"Thank you! Thank you," he cried, as he kept bowing.
"You don't need all this equipment, Danny."
"Yes, but the first impression is always key," he dramatically announced. "Now who is this fine damsel?"
"She is my friend, Crystalline," Abby introduced me, glaring lightly with a fake smile. "And you are not to hit on her, or prank her!"
"Oh, both of those options seem very amusing," Daniel mocked, walking over to me. Once he reached me, he grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips, placing a sensual kiss on it. "A pleasure it is to meet you, milady."
"A pleasure to meet a guy who isn't a jerk, but I did hear the word 'prank'. Twice."
'Yes, I'm sure you did; but, fair Juliet, that was a prank given to you by my sister."
I saw Abby roll her eyes, in my peripheral vision. They made me laugh a little. Daniel looked at me with a boyish grin, as though he were plotting a simple, funny prank. Then he somehow, whipped out a cape and backed into his room. Dracula-style! He had the cape covering his features, except for his eyes and above. The cape was held by his arm, as he walked backwards. Little did he know, he was walking towards the door frame. He hit his back and yelped in pain, causing Abby and I to burst out laughing. He recovered and walked into his room, sulking because of his epic fail. I wasn't until he was gone that we stopped laughing.
"Now, it's time to meet the grump; if I can get him out of his room," Abby giggled, still trying to settle from the show before. As she walked over to the next door, I couldn't help but notice how the master's room was labelled "Chambers of the King and Queen."
Didn't Abby's father die?