Life after High School. Is it scary? You bet

By Risty Maskell and Silver15

Disclaimer: Nope, not ours

Summary: What you asking me for? I don't know

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While we were all gathering around the table, I saw Damon slip out with Sol-leks and Laddie at his heel. I turned and started to go after him, but Billee shook his head.

"He'll be back later" he said. "He knows that he has no place with our friends. He told me that himself"

I could understand that. I wouldn't particularly like being around a group of people who I didn't really know. And Damon has always been known as a loner who isn't great with many people. I knew that he would go for a ride or something, probably coming back late in the evening when he could be sure that everyone was gone.

"That's great" I said, maybe just a bit to enthusiastically. Billee gave me a strange look and I turned away as I saw Boromir approaching. "I meant that it's great that he can do his own thing" I continued quickly. I was relived that I wouldn't have to see Damon for a few hours. I could just concentrate on being with Boromir. At least, I hoped I could.

"Don't worry about him, Emma" Billee told me as we walked over to Jamie, Frodo and Legolas. "Damon can take care of himself"

I smiled to myself. Billee obviously thought that I was just worried in case Damon ran into trouble. If only he knew what I was really thinking...

We had fun that day, all of us together again, and for a while, I completely forgot about Damon. When it started to get dark, Tracey, Stacey and the others left and Billee took Colan upstairs to bed. Aragorn and Arwen disappeared too, no prizes for guessing where to. The rest of us; me, Jaime, Frodo, Elrond, Legolas, Boromir and Billee, when he finally came down, sat around the table going over the wedding plans again. Although Jaime didn't say anything I knew she was worried that either her dad or my dad would turn up and cause trouble. I was worried about that too, my dad always picks the worse times to give me grief.

"Well look whose back" Boromir said nastily. Me and Billee looked around and saw Damon standing by the back gate. Laddie barked and came running over to me.

"So just because you are a spoilt, rich brat, that makes you better than everyone else, does it?" Damon asked calmly, looking Boromir straight in the eyes. They stayed like that for a second, their eyes locked and their bodies tense. I really thought that they were going to hit each other and I could see that Jamie was thinking the same thing. Boromir was the first to lower his eyes.

"You aren't worth it" he muttered, and we all gave a sigh of relief. Damon looked at him carefully and shook his head, before turning and walking away. I scowled at Boromir and ran after him. I heard Boromir mutter something, but I didn't look back.

Damon is good at hiding when he wants to be left alone and although I looked everywhere I could think of, I couldn't find him. I was hurt that he would hide from me, after all I was one of his only friends. I looked in the stables but Blackie was still there so I knew he hadn't gone far.

Without telling the others where I was going, I slipped out through the back way and found myself on a deserted back path. It was badly lit and I felt slightly afraid. Suddenly I heard footsteps behind me and I froze.

"Damon" I called softly. "Is that you?"

In reply someone grabbed my hair and forced my head back. I struggled but I couldn't do anything.

"Finally" said a voice I knew all to well. My father. "I've found you. You're coming back with me, you little whore"

I kicked out and caught him in the shin. He yelled and loosened his grip slightly. By struggling I managed to get out of his hold, but he struck again, back handing me in the face. His blow knocked me off balance and I tasted blood as my head slammed violently into the wall. My father raised his hand to strike me again, but he didn't get the chance because suddenly Damon was there in front of me.

"Leave her alone, you pervert" he spat angrily. "You aren't wanted around here, so get lost"

"When are you going to learn to keep your nose out of other peoples business?" my father shot back. "She's my daughter and I can do what I want with her"

"Like hell you can" Damon told him, his fists raised. "Well you'll have to get through me first. Want to try?"

"I'll be back" my dad warned. "I'll be back and you'll all be sorry. I can promise you that"

He turned away and hurried off. Damon helped me to my feet and put his arms around me.

"It's alright" he whispered. You are going to be fine. Just fine"

"He'll get me" I whispered, beginning to cry. "I know he will. How did he find me?"

"I don't know" Gently Damon steered me to a tree and sat me down. Then he sat next to me, still holding me tight and whispering rude things about my dad under his breath.

"My head hurts" I said slowly, after I had finished crying. "What's he done to my face?"

"Your bottom lip is swollen up" Damon said softly. "And you have a bruise on your cheek"

"But Damon. It's...It's the wedding tomorrow. I can't be in the photographs looking like this"

"I think you look beautiful" he told me quietly. I looked up at him and our eyes locked. Slowly he leant forward and our lips touched just for a second. Then Damon pulled away, looking ashamed.

"I'm sorry" he whispered. "I shouldn't have done that"

"It's okay" I told him softly, gently stroking his cheek. "It's fine"

"Emma, I can't. You're engaged to be married..." he shut up when I pulled him to me again. "Don't worry" I whispered between kisses. "No one will find out"

By the time we got back, it was late and everyone had gone to bed. Quietly, I went up to my bedroom and peered around the door. Boromir was lying on the bed, fully clothed, fast asleep. For a moment I felt disgusted at myself. I had betrayed his trust.

I couldn't face sleeping by his side that night so I started to go back downstairs. On my way passed the bathroom, I noticed Boromir's razor. It had been weeks since I had cut myself, but now I needed to. More than anything. I pulled up my sleeve and made three deep cuts in my arm, before continuing downstairs.

I sat down at the kitchen table and looked at my engagement ring. I was deeply confused and I wasn't sure what I wanted. I thought I loved Boromir, but now I wasn't so sure. I had absolutely no regrets about sleeping with Damon apart from the fact that Boromir would be devastated if he found out and I didn't want to hurt him. I liked Boromir a lot, but I wasn't sure that I was ready to marry him.

Finally as the sun began to rise, I made my decision...