Cayllum was busy drawing a picture of Zoe at his desk when he heard a soft knock on his bedroom door. He immediately sensed something was wrong with Zoe the minute he opened his door. "Hey did someone hurt you?" he asked with a look of concern.
Zoe shook her head no as tears rolled down her face. "Cayllum can I come in please?" Zoe asked softly.
Cayllum swallowed hard and took a quick glance down the hall to see if Damon was coming before he took her hand. Inside his room Zoe walked to his bed and sat down sobbing softly. Aslan who was with her jumped on her lap and rested his head on his front paws.
Cayllum wanted so badly to go sit next to her and comfort her but he had to keep his distance. Damon's warning was still fresh in his mind.
"Aslan is leaving in two days. My dad found him a place in South Africa." Zoe said.
"And let me guess he just told you this now?" Cayllum asked with a hint of anger in his voice.
Zoe shook her head yes unable to speak as fresh tears rolled down her face.
"Damon is something else. What the hell was he thinking?" Cayllum said with a hard look on his face. He walked to Zoe and kneeled in front of her. He took her hands in his. "I know a place where we can take him its deep in the woods. We can let him free there."
"We can't do that Cayllum."
"Why not? Zoe you never bend the rules I think its time you do it now. Damon had no right to make plans for Aslan's future without consulting you first. You and me Zoe let's take Aslan to this place and show Damon that he can't always be in control of people's lives."
"And then what Cayllum? What if Aslan hurts someone out there? What if he comes running back to me? What if hunters find him up there? Cayllum I didn't come to you to hear about how wrong my dad was I already know that and it hurts. I'm here because right now I need your strength, Aslan and me but maybe I was wrong coming here." Zoe said.
Cayllum looked away from the sad emerald eyes. Zoe was right. His mind was not at the right place. "I'm sorry Zoe forgive me. Forgive me for how I treated you and what I said to you about not talking to Stewart I was being petty and mean."
Zoe touched his cheek softly. "I forgive you Cayllum."
Cayllum kissed her hands softly before walking to his door. He locked it and walked back to her. He lay down on the bed and pulled her gently down next to him. They both laughed when Aslan squeezed himself in the middle of them.
"There is one thing that no one can take away from you and Aslan." Cayllum said.
"And what is that Cayllum?"
"The beautiful memories you two have and its those memories that will be your light on days when you miss him so much. Do you still remember that night we took him from the zoo?" Cayllum said and smiled.
"Yeah I remember. I will never forget that night." Zoe said and stroke Aslan's neck. Aslan was thoroughly enjoying this. He sigh out loud and closed his eyes.
"You were such a bad ass and you looked the part all dressed up in black. It was that night that I found out the colour that's really meant for you and that is black not that you don't look beautiful in green and other colours but that night you were my princess in dark. My dark princess." Cayllum said and kissed her hand.
Zoe giggled. "If you think I look good in black then I will wear more black but don't expect me to wear it so soon its still summer and the days are hot." The two laughed. Cayllum could not help himself he leaned over Aslan and kissed her on her cheek.
...
Damon came out of his study and walked to the kitchen. He was surprised to see Sophie, Liz, Bailey and Amber. Kenzie and the twins was with them. The girls were each enjoying a bowl of fresh fruits. "Hey girls." Damon said and walked to the fridge.
"Hi Mr Salvatore." Liz greeted.
Sophi walked to him and gave him a hug. "Hey uncle Damon are you looking forward to go fishing?"
"I would be lying to you if I said yes." Damon said and made a face.
"I like fishing its a pity I can't go with you guys." Amber said.
"You can gladly take my place Ambie. What's the fun in sitting there for hours waiting for a fish to bite on a hook. Its torture and not only for the fish." Damon said. The girls all laughed when he said that.
"Dad do you know where Zoe is? Sophi can't find her in her room and we're all going out for ice cream. I'm going to take the twins with me." Kenzie said.
"I have no idea try and call her, now if you ladies will excuse me." Damon said quickly and walked out. He had an idea where Zoe might be that's why he walked straight to Cayllum's room. He opened the door without knocking. His eyes briefly surprised to find Cayllum alone in his room sitting by his desk. Cayllum turned around in his chair and smirked. "What's the matter Damon are you looking for someone?"
Damon's eyes scanned the room before he looked back at Cayllum. "Sophi was looking for Zoe and she's not in her room."
"This is a very big house Damon she could be anywhere but she's not in here you can even take a look under my bed if you don't believe me." Cayllum said and smirked wider.
Damon was very tempted to do that but he knew that's exactly what Cayllum wanted. "I don't think that will be necessary Cayllum, look I'm going out. Bonnie is with Stella and the girls are going out for ice cream."
"Okay cool I think I should go with the girls just to keep an eye on them and besides Zoe will need me to hold her hand and a shoulder to cry on seeing that she only have Aslan for two more days. I'm sure you won't have a problem with that Damon. You know Zoe's wellbeing is important to the both of us." Cayllum said.
Damon looked at Cayllum for a few seconds before he laughed softly. "You do that Cayllum."
"Checkmate." Cayllum said when Damon closed the door behind him.
Ice Cream Parlour
Sophi was her bubbly self making jokes about her acting in drama class and impersonating famous Hollywood actresses.
"You will make a great actress Sophi." Kenzie said.
"I'm looking in that direction but dad said that acting is not really a career and not everyone can make a living out of it." Sophi said.
"Your dad is wrong. You have a natural talent to bring characters alive." Kenzie said and squeezed her hand.
"So true. You guys should see how easy it is for her to make a sad puppy face whenever she wants to stay out an hour late with Chad and my dad wouldn't let her. Dad immediately change is mind when he see that adorable sad big blue eyes." Amber said. Sophi blushed beet red when everyone laughed.
"I have a bit of acting in me too." Cayllum said and smirked when he saw how surprised the girls looked.
"Don't look so surprised. I played a tree in fifth grade and my drama teacher said I was the best damn tree that ever graced her stage standing perfectly still for hours is a natural born talent." Cayllum said. The girls doubled over with laughter.
A laughing Zoe spontaneously kissed him on his cheek. "I would have loved to see that." She said to him.
Cayllum poked her nose playfully. "I can always dress up as a tree for you. I don't mind." He whispered in her ear.
Kenzie saw Page coming in to the ice cream parlour and immediately waved at her to join them. Page stood there confused. She looked back because she thought maybe Kenzie was calling someone behind her. "Page come join us." Kenzie called out to her this time.
Page came over to their table with a shy look but when she saw Cayllum and Bailey she relaxed.
"Hi sorry I thought you were talking to someone else." Page said shyly. She looked at Bailey who was sitting there with a cute smile and red cheeks.
"No probs Page please sit down and have ice cream with us." Kenzie said.
Cayllum stood up and shake Page's hand and patted her on the shoulder. "My man how you been?" Cayllum said causing Zoe, Sophi and Liz to make wide eyes at each other. The three girls were confused why would Cayllum greet Page as if she was a guy friend of him.
"Great thanks. How have you been?" Page said to him.
"Can't complain now that I have my little river flower back in my arms. Page I want you to meet Zoe, my girlfriend." Cayllum said.
Sophi and Liz giggled softly. Zoe blushed and smiled shyly. "How did someone so ugly score a beautiful girl like her." Page said jokingly to Cayllum.
"It was my charm and not my looks." Cayllum said and smirked.
"Zoe its nice to meet you Cayllum here is really a cool dude." Page said and shake Zoe's hand.
"He is super cool Page and its a pleasure to meet you too." Zoe said with an adorable smile.
"Allow me to introduce you to the rest of the table." Cayllum said with a charming smile.
Page chuckled and said. "Okay prince charming."
"These two young ladies sitting next to my river flower are Sophia and Liz." Cayllum said. "Next to them are Kenzie and my two little soldiers Aiden and Caden my brothers in arms. If I want to get a job done I send them. Okay, this young lady over here is Amber our school newspaper editor and on Amber's lap is the cute little angel baby Anna but watch out for her she can break a glass with her little scream and next to them is the girl that works at aunt May's flower shop I don't really know her that well maybe she can introduce her to you." Cayllum said and smiled mischievously at Bailey.
Bailey blushed beet red in the face. "Hi Page I'm Bailey and its nice to meet you again." Bailey said.
"And it is nice to meet you again too Bailey." Page said and smiled.
Cayllum took Zoe's hand in his when he sat down next to her and kissed it. For Zoe seeing this side of Cayllum being so care free, teasing and making jokes with everyone really surprised her but it made her heart happy and she found herself enjoying the company and ice cream. It was the same for Cayllum seeing Zoe laugh and smile. He knew he had to step out of his comfort zone to make her feel some what better. He looked at her chatting and laughing with Sophi and Liz. Across the table Kenzie and Amber were discussing Amber's new gossip column. Bailey and Page were listening to the two of them but Cayllum saw the smiles and shy glances they gave each other.
The Salvatore Home
Damon was about to get into Dr Hendy's jeep with Stephen and Jack when Dylan and Walter came running to him with their contracts in their hands.
"Dad wait up! We signed it. We just want to give it back before you go." Dylan said when he stopped in front of his dad.
"What up Mister D!" Walter greeted Damon with a big smile. "I just want to say thanks for helping us you are the main man."
"So you guys read it through and you're happy with it?" Damon asked with a sceptical look.
"Yeah! We are ecstatic dad!" Dylan said excited.
"Signed sealed delivered. When can we open our comic book store Mister D?" Walter said and grin from ear to ear.
Damon sigh out loud. "You idiots. You just signed your business over to me. You made me the majority partner. The idea is yours but the business will belong to me."
The smiles from their faces quickly disappeared. "The what now? Dad this is our business. You cant just take it" Dylan said with wide eyes.
"Now I know why my Mama said never to trust a politician." Walter mumbled.
"Dad you can't do this we will sue you and take you to court." Dylan said in a high panicky voice.
"Oh really? I have the signed documents in my hand as prove. Who do you think the court is going to believe. If you looked carefully you would have read where I asked to be the majority partner because I have the business skills having owned a major successful business of my own and that's on page 24 and that I will pay you handsomely for using the name of your business. Technically you will end up working for me. Your idea but my business. Do you two see where I'm going with this?" Damon said.
"But dad I trusted you." Dylan said with sad eyes.
"Damon have a heart his your son." Dr Hendy said from the drivers seat.
"I'm just teaching him and his friend a valuable lesson Hendy." Damon said to Dr Hendy.
"Dad I'm sorry we did read the first few pages and everything looked fine and in order so we just went ahead and signed everything."
Damon put his hand on Dylan's shoulder and said. "That's the number one most important rule in business Buddy. You don't sign anything unless you and your partner have read it. Starting your own business is hard work and you got to keep your head in the game from the start. This is your business so go the extra mile. Your sister is making a success out of aunt May's flower shop that's because she's willing to go the extra mile for what she loves doing. There are no shortcuts in life or in business. You will find your original contracts on my desk and this time read it through son and that goes for you too Walter. If you're satisfied with it then we can take it from there because there must be two witnesses and a lawyer present seeing that the two of you are not eighteen."
Dylan sigh relieved. "That was a close one." Walter said.
"Now I get it dad you tested me and I failed. I let you down." Dylan said with a sad smile.
"We all fail at some point in our lives but the beauty of it all is that we get up and try again. Try until you succeed and you can never ever let me down Buddy. I will back you to the end."
"Thanks dad."
"You and Walt can use my study to read through your contracts and please hands of my booze I know every amount in every bottle. Its memorized in my head. You got that Walt?"
"Mister D my mother said my body is my temple." Water said and smirked.
"That's what your mother said not you." Damon said.
"You handled that well brother." Stephen said when Damon got in the jeep.
"Well I try to do my best by my kids. Thanks brother." Damon said.
"Okay boys here we go. This is going to be fun" Dr Hendy said jolly as he reversed out of the drive way.
...