Chapter 2: Opinions

Waking the next morning was beyond dreadful. My eyes were heavy from crying last night over the news of my impending engagement to a man I have no feelings for.

A knock sounded through my room, causing me to look at my door.

"Amelia darling are you awake?" my mother's sweet voice filtered in but muffled.

"Yes." I responded. "What is it mama."

"You have a visitor waiting outside for you when you are decent."

I ran to my door unlocking it to see my mother.

"Is it Stefan?" I asked quickly.

"Get changed." She looked at me with a smile. "Hurry now." She said heading down the hallway towards the staircase.

Rushing to my closet I pulled out my favorite light blue floral gown my father bought me because he knew I'd love it.

I sighed as I thought of my father and the arrangement he made with Mr. Salvatore.

Marrying a man I do not know for what? A social gain? To secure my future? What was it.

I shook my head of such thoughts as I fumbled around getting my dress on. Stefan is waiting on me and i shall not keep him waiting any longer.

After I finished getting dressed and had braided my hair so it hung over my shoulder, I made my way down the staircase to greet Stefan.

I opened the door to the porch, but who i saw was not Stefan. Damon Salvatore was leaning against the pillar looking out at the yard, wearing a dark blue tux style outfit, holding a hat in his hands.

"Mr. Salvatore what a surprise." I stepped out shutting the door. "To what pleasure have you graced me with your company?"

Damon turned facing me. "Ms. Amelia." He bowed his head. "I was wondering if you would care to join me for a stroll?"

"I'd be honored." I tipped my head down in gratitude.

Damon placed his hat on his head as he extended his arm out for me to take.

I wrapped my hand around his arm as he escorted me off the porch onto the road that leads to town.

The walk was slow and quiet between us. I watched Damon as he stared ahead, unaware of our surroundings. seeming lost in thought.

"Does this impromptu stroll have anything to do with our upcoming arrangement." I asked Damon looking up at him.

Damon side eyed me for a moment before nodding his head yes.

"I take that you agreed with your father where I have not with my own."

"I knew of his idea of setting up this arrangement before even have meeting you. After seeing you and the beauty you hold I had insisted to my father to push for it."

I stopped in my tracks, pulling my hand away from Damon.

"Did you not think to have talked to me first before insisting to your father and mine that I marry you?" I placed my hands on my hips, glaring at Damon as I wait for an awnser.

"I had planned to talk to you but my brother had spoken up before I had the chance." Damon removed his hat, gripping it tightly in his hands.

"Why me? It can not be for the fact that you love me since you know nothing of me."

"I do not believe in love. I believe in finding a bride settling down and having a family. Your beauty is a gracious plus to the mix."

I felt my jaw hit the ground at what he has said to me. He does not believe in love and all i would be used for is a birthing machine. A shiver ran up my spine at the thought of him on top of me, it nearly made me sick.

"I unlike you, believe in falling in love and want to marry for the sake of being in love. I will not be used for a personal gain Mr. Salvatore." I turned away from him, staring off into the woods next to us.

"You are acting like a child. This marriage will not be used for a personal gain." Damon snipped at me.

"My father gave me a year to know you. to find a love in you." I slowly turned my head, looking at damon. "I do not want to get to know you, to find a love in you or to marry you." I scoffed. "You call me a child, when I look at you, that's all I see."

I took off running into the woods, leaving the stunned Damon behind. I need to get away from him, to get away from everyone. My vision becomes blurry from my tears, slowing my run to a walk.

"Damn that Damon Salvatore." I gritted my teeth together.

Walking along the un leveled wood floor, my heal snapped on my shoe causing me to stumble against a tree. I reached down under my dress, pulling off my shoes.

I chuckled at my broken shoes before throwing them as hard as I could across the empty woods hearing them ricochet off the trees.

I stood there staring off into the silence, before turning around heading back the way I came into the woods.

After quite some time I made it back to the road I was on with Damon. It was now getting dark as the sun set behind the tree's as I headed in the direction of home.

Home. I stopped walking as I thought of what my father would say to me or the guilt ridden stare from my mother for taking off into the woods to get away from damon. Maybe he was right, I am acting like a child.

I sighed as I continued on walking, hoping my parents will not be home. or on the hope chance, i could sneak past them without them knowing.

As I approached my house a dark figure paced across my front lawn.

"Excuse me, who are you?"

The figure stopped quickly apon hearing my voice.

"Ms. Amelia thank god." The figure ran up to me.

I frowned as I saw who this stranger was. "Mr. Salvatore, what are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you." Damon took a step closer to me. "When you took off into the woods I had ran after you but had slipped away from me."

"I am sorry I ran. I was upset and I needed to get away." I lifted my hands rubbing them on my arms, feeling chilled.

Damon walked closer to me, slipping off his jacket. "Do not apologize. I am the one that should apologize." He wrapped his jacket around my shoulders. "I am sorry for my behavior earlier, that was not my intention when I asked you to go on the stroll with me."

Damon adjusted the jacket on me, making sure it will stay in place before removing his hands.

"What was your intentions?" I pulled on the coat, holding it close to me.

"To meet and know the woman I will be married too." Damon said, smiling.

I could not help but return his smile as he gazed down at me. I took a small step forward and Immediately winced in pain. I grabbed Damon's arm to catch my balance as i bent down to look at my bare feet.

"Ms. Amelia are you alright?" Damon asked, his voice dripping with worry and panic.

"I think so, my feet are a little sore." I stood up straight again, removing my hand from his arm.

"Come lets sit than you can take off your shoes and let your feet relax." Damon wrapped his arm around my waist, helping me up on to my porch.

I dropped down into the chair sighing as the pressure on my feet lifted. Damon knelled down at my feet, holding my hand in his as he watched me.

"Let me help you take off your shoes off." Damon bent down reaching under my gown for my foot.

"No Damon-" But it was to late. Damon pulled out my foot seeing that it was bare, swollen and covered with little cuts.

"Amelia your feet." Damon looked up at me, shock and concern in his eyes. "where are your shoes?"

"One of the heals broke and I was still very upset." I looked at my hands in my lap. "I took them off and threw them at a tree."

"I am very sorry Ms. Amelia." Damon whispered.

I lifted my head to see his face torn with guilt.

"This is not your fault Damon." I placed my hand on his cheek, seeing his eyes peak up at me.

"It is though. If I was not rude to you and had hurt you so, you wouldn't have run off and broke your shoe."

Damon rubbed my ankle in soothing circle's as he gazed at me. His blue eyes seemed to sparkle under the pale moonlight as he held my foot hostage.

"Amelia, Please forgive me? I would like to start over with you, if you will let me."

I leaned smiled a small smile as a rubbed my thumb on his cheek. "You are forgiven." I slipped my hand down, resting it on my lap.

Damon smiled at me, happy I had forgave his actions from earlier.

He quickly looked around us before standing to his feet. "It is late Ms. Amelia, I should be heading home now." He held out his hand for me.

I placed my hand in his, watching as he leaned forward leaving a single kiss to my knuckles.

He lifted his gaze to me, knocking the breath out of me. "Goodnight Amelia."

"Goodnight Damon." I whispered back to him.

Damon stood to full height, tipping his head to me as he headed off my porch into the darkness of the night.

I sat back against the chair, placing my hand over my heart as I felt it beat wildly, after that small intimate gesture from Damon.

"Amelia dear, what are you doing sitting out here? come inside honey."

I looked over seeing my mother standing in the doorway to the house. I stood up walking over to her, entering the house heading for the staircase.

"Amelia."

I stopped on the stairs, looking over and down at my mother. "Yes mama?"

"Did you have a nice time with Damon tonight?" She rubbed her hands on her apron, seeming nervous.

"I did. He was a perfect gentleman."

"I am happy to hear that." she sighed. "Sweet dreams darling."

"Good night." I turned back, heading up the stairs, to my room.

I entered my room, leaning back against the door sighing. Today did not go well as planned but Damon Salvatore had made it better with how kind he was tonight.

Maybe loving him wont be a bad thing, maybe he too will believe in love as I do. Maybe we will fall in love together.

Only time will tell.