I really like to stare at the annoyed face of the girl who currently sits in front of me, probably wondering about what I could have to say. After a few minutes, I notice her biting her fingernails, it means she's starting to get nervous.

After a while, I notice her throwing dirty glances at me. It's usual for her to do that when I get her to listen to me. Honestly I had many things to talk about but looking at her, I forget everything. It's always been that way. Can't help it.

I stare at her face, when I suddenly realise that she's staring blankly. Maybe something's on her mind. I literally creep out when I see a small hidden smile on her lips. She's smiling.
It's rare that she smiles. I can't help but think of the thing which made her smile, it gotta be something really worth while. Making her smile? One of the toughest jobs on this Earth.
Curiosity gets the better of me.

-"Hey" I say.

-" Yeah" she replies after one minute.
-"What's on your mind?" I ask.
-"N-nothing...uh, so you finally remembered what you had to say?" she asks. Her face gives off a blushing look.
-"Hey" I say, " How's it going in school?"
-"Nothin' out of the ordinary".
-"Any friend?"

She gives me a sharp look.
Dang it, I shouldn't have said it. Talking bout friends is the last thing she prefers.

-"Are you done? I could seriously do with some rest you know. I'm tired"
-"Well, maybe?" I ask.
-"Get out then" she replied.
-" Tell me, are you really okay Kat?"
As expected she hesitated for a second before she replied, "Of course I am. Can't be any better."
-"You really need to practice lieing."
-" 'Kay, now get out"

I get up.

I need to give her some space.

I make my way to the window. But something stops me. I turn back and embrace her in my arms.

But I now realise I can't. She's always been there when I put up an expressionless face. She knew what I felt. Unlike other people who ended up falling for my fake smiles.

She saw through me. And coincidentally even I have that ability.
So I don't happen to fall for her lies.

At first I took her to be more expressionless than I am. But after I saw her crying for me after she heard my 'story', I realised she is quite the contrary.

I've known her much before our encounter at the graveyard. Obviously she doesn't know that. Nor will I ever tell her this. We happened to go the same school. Rather, we were in the same class. I silently observed her every movement. She getting bullied by the other girls, she not protesting- not fighting back, her silent cries when the other students averted their gaze, she getting up and resuming her expressionless face.

I've known all this all along.
I've seen all this all along.

And yet I was nothing more than a silent observer. Just like one of those miserable people in the crowd who watched it all without extending a helping hand.

And there she was, crying for me hearing my story. She cared for me.

'And I have to pay her back for that. I don't like owing people anything.' That's what I thought at the beginning.

But now it's different.
I've used the word 'friend' when I first met her. I'd used it out of courtesy. Out of the feeling to pay her back.
But now, I realise....

I've always thought of her as more than a friend atleast.

And my feelings for her are never gonna change. Never.

I'll protect her.
As long as I'm alive, from the shadows.

I'll never let her go.

"U-uh, c-can you let ...let me ....go n-now Sky?" she says with a trembling voice.

I've gone too far this time, I realise.

"Yes,here you go" I release her.

Great. Now I've gone ahead and done something really embarrassing.

Without wanting to meet her eyes, I avert my gaze and walk up to her window.

"Bye" I say before I take a leap and land on her garden.

'She's cute'.
I punch myself at very thought of me thinking all this nonsense, as I make my way back to that dungeon like place I call my 'home'.