chapter three

KIM AND HUNTER FIRST MEET!

                                                        KIM

Last night. The smell of the ocean had been enough to draw me out to the deck with my guitar. It was like an invisible tug . Singing had always been something I could turn to in my toughest times. I didn’t think I was a singer as good enough as my father, but it was my one window to freedom. I felt like I wasn’t in my body when I sang. I was so lost in myself I didn’t realize the man standing there listening to me. I’d never sung in front of anyone and it unsettled me he was the first to hear me sing. The only thing I saw were his eyes which were a shocking green. I couldn’t face the fact that he’d heard me at my most vulnerable ,so I did the first thing I always do. I ran. I ran away. It’s the one thing I’m good at.

“Good morning Kim” my dad walked into the kitchen breaking me out of my daze.

“I was just helping myself to some tea”

“You drink tea?”

“Yes. The taste of coffee disgusts me “

My dad suddenly burst into a booming laughter.

“I hate coffee too! Never understood why people like it” he said as he looked as if he’d just discovered fire.

“I got to go. I’ll be in my room” I turned to leave the kitchen. I was not ready to have a hearty or any kind of conversation with my dad

“Hold on honey, I actually thought you and me could you know...maybe hang out today.maybe talk a little?” he asked  as he scratched the back of his neck and looked down.

“Sorry DAD. I can’t just go back to normal. Like the last 12 years never happened. I need time. I don’t know why you want me here but i know this. I know my father left me at the age of SIX. I know my father left me when I used to WORSHIP him! He was never there for the times when I needed him the most. So forgive me if I don’t want to TALK right now !’’ i looked at him before running into my room and slamming the door shut.

I stood there with my back to the door. Trying to calm my breath. Did I see tears in his eyes? I suddenly felt my cheeks were wet. I ran to the closet and took the guitar out. I walked out to the deck and looked around for any person before sitting down on the warm sand and opening the doors of my soul to music

 

                                            HUNTER

At 7 in the morning I was washing the dishes in my kitchen waiting for the blonde in my bedroom to wake up and leave, when I heard her again! She was there! I quickly dropped the dishes and ran out onto the beach. There she was.  From my deck I could see her back. She was wearing a white sundress. Her long dark hair lapping in the wind. I slowly walked up behind her and sat on the sand a little distance behind her. She was so lost in her song she didn't even hear me come.

And suddenly she stopped. She looked behind. All the hair on my arms and neck stood to attention. She was beautiful. Her eyes made my knees feel weak. She had the most perfect face id ever known.

“It was you last night wasn't it?” she asked looking me straight in the eyes.

I suddenly felt a constriction in my throat. I just gulped and nodded. She just looked at me.

“I’m Kim”

“I’m hunter”

“You live here”

“Yeah, the house next to Mr. burns”

“I’m his daughter”

I was blown. I never know Mr. Burns had a daughter.

“You’re Kim Burns?”

“Yeah. I've never really known my father”

She looks almost sad when she said the last part. I smiled at her not knowing what to say.

“I’m new to la jolla”

“I’d love to show you around”

She suddenly looked defensive. I could feel her eyes go back to the distant faraway place. She looked withdrawn and I knew I’d lost her. I realized she was deeply connected to her music. That made her even more beautiful in my eyes.

“I’m sorry. I've got to go” she said before getting up to leave.

I couldn't lose a chance again “hey there’s this beach side barbecue party today. My friend from work runs a restaurant. I’d love to take you there, maybe introduce you to a few people here. It would only make your stay less boring.” I said to her smiling my best hoping shed say yes.

“I’d love to but I’m not sure I...” she trailed her sentence. I suddenly grabbed her hand and smiled at her.

“It’ll be great. I promise my friends are good people. One of them is a bit of an animal. But I can assure you he comes from a good place”

She suddenly laughed a laugh so beautiful I wish I could bottle it up to listen to it later.

“Okay “she nodded and smiled before turning to walk into her room.

 And I walked back to my deck thinking about the amazing start to my day.