No Name | Completed

Chapter 59 - Dessen Siblings

When I woke up, I could smell fresh coffee and a faint hint of cinnamon. Lissa and Demi were asleep next to me on the floor and I smiled. I pushed off of the large couch and carefully tip toed around them and into the kitchen. 

Adam was standing over the stove, stirring something. 

"Thanks for letting us crash."

He turned. "Good morning." 

I reflected his warm smile and took a seat on the stool. 

"You guys barely made it back to the house without falling asleep in the street."

"What a sight that must have been," I leaned my head against my hand. 

His shoulders bounced with his deep laugh. "Oh it was."

He turned the stove off, moving a pan off of a burner and turned around. He leaned back against the edge of the counter and eyed me carefully. 

"Don't look at me like that," I whispered. I was embarrassed by last night. I was also feeling a lot of emotions about visiting my dad's grave and they were moments away from bursting out. His sympathetic 'poor girl' look was not helping. 

He glanced away for a second and when his gaze returned, he wore a goofy expression.

Bubbles of laughter escaped my lips and I placed my hands over my face. With a sigh, I sat back up.

"Did you have work today?"

"Yeah," I grimaced. "He's probably pissed."

He nodded, struggling not to laugh. "Probably."

"Jeez and don't tell him I was with you."

Adam's eyes narrowed for a second before he wiped his mouth and turned back around to continue his cooking. 

"Did you want anything?"

I shook my head and looked outside. It was raining. "No thanks, I should go."

He glanced outside and to me. "Want a ride?"

"Oh no," I slid off of the stool and grabbed my now dead cell phone. "I need a walk."

I stopped at the back door and glanced back at him. He watched me with understanding. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but he shut it. He dipped his head once and with that, I walked outside into the light drizzle.

Sucking in a deep breath, I tipped my head back.

After the rain soaked my skin, I wiped my eyes and set out for the place I always went. The lighthouse. 

The beach was understandably empty and for once, I wish it was packed. I welcomed any distraction from the flood inside of me threatening to escape. Wrapping my arms around myself to stay warm, I walked faster and kept my head down.

I'm sure the lesson was canceled this morning anyway, Jesse wouldn't have needed me. 

A light roll of thunder sounded, echoing across the rough waves to my left. What was I thinking last night? How could I have stepped foot in there? It was the last thing I needed right now. I wiped at my eyes was surprised to see that it wasn't the rain on my cheeks. 

"No," I whispered and moved faster. "No, please," I begged. 

The lighthouse was coming into view and I began running after it. Stumbling through the thick sand, I shoved my soak hair out of my face and clumsily climbed up the wooden platform. This time I didn't stop, instead I climbed up the stairs that led to a barely known second level. When I reached the second level, I collapsed against the railing.