From Good, to Bad, to Worse
Michael woke up slowly, being sure to not make any sudden moves. Trying not to wake the two girls pressed against his arms. The TV had been on all night, now displaying, 'Are you still watching this?' Netflix is so considerate to ask. Sarah looked so peaceful sleeping next to him, for a second he thought maybe everything that happened was just a dream. Well for a second. Scowling at what he had to do he began nudging her with his shoulder.
"Sarah, It's time to get up. I don't think Crystal came back."
Sarah let out a loud yawn, rubbing the sleep from her eye's. "Well Lil did say she might not come back. I'm sure she's fine, but we should probably go out and look for her after breakfast."
"It's funny, you actually sound a little concerned."
"Not really. I mean what she did was pretty evil, but she's sick. I mean her story is kinda sad, really sad. I kinda feel sorry for her."
Michael looked out the sliding glass door, seeing the sunny day that was on the other side of it. "Ya. Well after breakfast we should,"
DING DONG! Sarah turned looking out to the front door. "I'll get it." Standing up from the couch and making her way to the door. Opening it slowly she could see the silver haired succubus. Crystal eyes were averted anywhere but at her, her face looked apprehension ,almost regretful. Standing next to her was a young man with a wide smile and a mess of dark hair.
"Hi, Sarah right?" The boy sounded genuinely happy and excited to meet her.
"Um, ya, Sarah Coldwell. You are?"
He let out a loud laugh. "Well, I'm Daryl Clark. Um," He paused looking at the succubus giving her a smile. "I'm a friend of Crystal's."
Sarah shifted from him to the succubus who moved closer to the boy, making him put his hand on her waist. She smiled at the two, opening the door wide. "Please come in."
Inside Michael and Lilith had gotten off the couch and were making quick work of a small breakfast. Eggs, toast, and some bacon. Sarah showed her guests to the table, taking her own seat facing them. Michael looked at Sarah, throwing two more eggs into the pan, noticing their additional guest.
"So, Daryl, how did you meet Crystal?" She was genuinely interested in hearing about what happened last night.
"Well it's kinda funny really. I was on my way home and just happened to see this soaking wet girl, hiding at a bus stop from the storm." Daryl moved in closer, putting his arm around Crystal's waist again, like he had outside. She could tell the girl was distressed. "I asked if she needed help, we went to my house to get dry. She had told me she was with friends but didn't know the area and got lost, well that's what she told me." His smirk made Crystal avert her eyes again.
"Well she's right." Crystal looked at Sarah confused. "Ya I told you not to go out on your own but you did anyway. We were worried sick about you. It's a wonder Lilith even slept."
"You say my name Sarah?" Lilith was stacking toast on a plate, while loading more into the toaster.
"Just how worried you were about your big sister, right?"
Lilith looked out to the table seeing the smiling boy with his arm around her sister's waist and the blush reddening her tan cheeks. She couldn't help but smile. "Ya sis, I was super worried, but I knew you'd be ok. Lucky you found someone to take care of you." Lilith and Crystal's eyes met. The little succubus giving her a smile before returning to her work.
She was so confused, it was like what had happened last night hadn't. She watched and listened as Sarah and Daryl exchanged small talk. They talked about the local college, his studies, his drawing and more details on the obvious relationship that seemed to be forming between him and Crystal.
"So Daryl what are you and Crystal, friends or something more?"
The forwardness of her question snapped Crystal into a defense. "Hey, Daryl, you don't have to answer that. You barely know her and beside,"
He cut her off almost more forward than Sarah had. "I'm in love with her."
The house went completely silent, Michael held the pan he was frying eggs in off the heat. Lilith watched Daryl and Crystal while the toaster sprang another done batch of toast. Sarah looked at the wide smile that went all the way to the young man's eyes. She couldn't help but smile back at him.
"Well that's all that matters isn't it." Crystal's eyes became wide as the girl she had tried so hard to ruin and destroy her love was celebrating her own happiness. She almost didn't even notice the tears running down her cheeks. Crystal's mind was a mess of thoughts and emotions. She had been ready for anger, being thrown out but not this, it was too much. She had always tried to ruin people's happiness and now someone was genuinely happy for her, that she had found happiness. Her body began to quake, unable to hold back the sobs flowing from her body.
"Crystal are you alright?" Daryl turned looking at the woman at his side.
She could barely speak, her sobs were growing in strength, but she eaked out what she needed to say through it. "I'm sorry Sarah, I'm sorry for," Another sob cut her off before she could finish but before her sob had loosened for her to speak she felt Sarah wrapping her arms around her neck, pulling her into an embrace. Stopping her from continuing.
Sarah held her head in an almost motherly embrace speaking softly to the crying girl. "It's ok, just forget about it. It was all a dream, just a dream."
Crystal's sobs grew as a new sensation of relief replaced the knot in her stomach. She wrapped her arms around Sarah's waist, hugging her tightly. Daryl was confused as though he had missed something but the only thing he could think to do was rub Crystal's back as she cried into the matronly figure comforting the girl he loved. Lilith stepped out from around the counter, approaching the scene not completely believing what she was seeing. Her sister looked at her, releasing Sarah from her hug and beckoned her closer.
"Hey sis." Crystal said wiping the tears from her eye's.