It had happened a few minutes before they were to go on air. Just a few weeks before Kayla's sophomore record was to be released, all the major Safe Haven radio stations had been practically begging the girl to preview her lead singles on their show, and all had offered the singer amounts of money that would make E District stock brokers blush. Not like money was a huge issue with Kayla, it was always about sharing her music with others, if it was successful that was only icing on the cake. Which was why she went with SHM as the first, even though it hadn't offered the most, it was the most popular station in Safe Haven, which meant it would reach more of her fans than any other.
She and Damian had driven down to the station's studio by late morning, an hour ahead of schedule, and had been greeted and shown to the studio where they'd been left to set up. For Kayla, these live performances were a past issue, at first of course she'd been nervous, but after six dozen of them she was finally able to prepare without feeling the need to vomit.
Damian though?
He'd finished off a second bottle of water and still couldn't stop his head from spinning. Kayla patted his back soothingly as he coughed and rubbed his blurring eyes.
"Heh," Damian glanced up at her weakly, "Thought I'd only feel like this on the first day of school."
"It's normal, hun." Kayla smiled, "I've been like it a million times before. It's a lot easier than you think though, it's no more different than a regular recording session."
He narrowed his eyes slyly, "How about the thousands of people listening in? I'm pretty sure that's different."
"Oh, don't think about that." Kayla patted his chest with a beam. "You'll be just fine, just do what you do best." She picked up an acoustic guitar and gently held it out to him, Damian took the instrument and plucked a few strings, a sweet melody of notes filled the air, soothing the Demon with its natural sound.
"It's not that, I just," The Demon sighed and plugged an amplifier into the guitar. "I just want this to go well." Kayla could have swooned if she wanted to. If anything went wrong it would be Kayla that would face the wrath of the media, not Damian, but he still cared so much for her that he was getting worried over it. It was needless but incredibly sweet.
"It will." Kayla said with a quick peck on his cheek, making her boyfriend blush lightly. "We've practiced it over and over, and every time you did it beautifully."
"Yeah, well, it's a little different here, Kay." Damian smirked.
"You'd be surprised," Kayla started setting up the microphone, fiddling the cords into the right place. "It's just the thought of the audience, but in all honesty, they're not here." Kayla smiled, "There's no need to worry about the fans. I mean, it's not like they can see you."
Damian chuckled, "Shame for them. If they could, it'd be easier to win them over." He playfully ran his hand down his head and winked flirtatiously. "Just one look at this, they'd be all over us. No challenge!"
Kayla rolled her eyes and gave Damian a half-lidded gaze, "So true; then they could see your sweat stained shirt. I'm sure they'd just fall to the floor over you."
Damian's cheeks burned but he still displayed his childish confidence. "Hey, if it can work for those boy bands whose members haven't even hit puberty yet, it would definitely work for me!"
Kayla laughed out loud, "Damey, I love you, but you've got a lot to learn about the music industry."
"Maybe so, but I think that can wait for a while. Don't you?" The Demon said, wrapping an arm around his girlfriend tenderly.
Kayla responded with glee, wrapping her arms around his waist and kissing him softly on the lips. "Sure. I have all the time in the world to educate you." Damian smiles and pressed his cheek against hers, both indulging in the softness of their partners fur.
"Oh my…sorry I should have knocked."
The pair both turned to see a blushing production assistant at the doorway. Kayla giggled while Damian smirked. "Don't worry about it." The kangaroo beamed.
The assistant nodded and whistled awkwardly. "Uh, just letting you guys know, we go on air in twenty minutes. So if you want to do anymore rehearsals, this is probably your last chance."
"Thanks for letting us know," Kayla said, "Though I think we're pretty much ready."
"Oh, in that case then…"
"Wait!" Damian exclaimed suddenly. Kayla drew back in alarm, glancing worriedly at the Demon. For a moment he looked full of panic, his eyes wide, then he coughed awkwardly and uttered a small apology.
"Um, if it's all the same I'd like to run through it one last time." Damian said shyly, smiling weakly at the assistant.
The girl shrugged, "Certainly. It is just one song, right?"
Kayla pulled her glance away from Damian to answer, "Um, yes. It is." She looked back suspiciously ay the Demon.
"Then it's fine. Just be ready in twenty minutes, okay?"
"Of course." Damian grinned, "Thanks."
The assistant nodded then left the two alone. Kayla crossed her arms and raised a brow at her boyfriend. "I thought you said you were fine with the song?" She wasn't angry, of course, just confused. Damian was normally such a quick study when it came to the music.
Damian let out an embarrassed laugh, "Sorry Kay, I just thought it might be good to do it one last time." His expression fell slightly, "I really don't want to mess it up."
Oh, that wasn't fair. He knew Kayla was such a soft heart when it came to him. She sighed and offered a loving smile to the boy. "Well, it's not like one more practice will hurt. Best to be prepared, after all!" She grinned.
Damian's gaze brightened. "Thanks Kay!" He gave her a quick peck on the cheek before rushing to his guitar. Kayla placed a hand over the spot he had kissed and felt her heart flutter. It was incredible how much of a sucker she was for the Demon. But, he was right. It was better that they go through it one more time. Just in case. Though Kayla doubted there would be any issues.
She set up her microphone, patiently waiting as Damian adjusted his guitar. He strummed a few notes, the noise smoothly coming out of the speakers, and grinned at Kayla. She too made a few coughs into her microphone to check her own speakers, which also augmented her voice clearly. Satisfied, the two smiled at each other. All set.
"You ready?" Kayla asked.
Damian gazed at her for a moment, taking in a small breath of air. He nodded softly and looked to his guitar. "Yeah." He began to strum, a sweet melody lifting into the room as his fingers plucked forward a harmony. The music made Kayla settle and she anticipated the sweet voice that started the verse.
"Walking up to you
is the hardest thing to do"
Damian glanced up at Kayla. The girl swooned at the voice she had grown to love so dearly.
"And every time I look into your eyes
I forget just what to do"
Kayla leant closer to the Demon. She too joined in, matching a melody with the guitar.
"Deciding what to say
Trying to chase my fears away
But every time I look into your eyes
Nerves begin to fray"
The pairs gaze was locked; Kayla's wonderful tone was a lullaby to Damian, who leant his head against Kayla's awaiting neck. He breathed her in, Kayla softly kissing his cheek, before the chorus rose with a fantastic duo.
"All this time spent down, for my life to turn around
I know I'll find a way, to be with you someday"
Their gaze never broke as every single breath of harmony was shared between the two. Damian's fingers plucked each string with an emotional intensity, drawing Kayla's passionate vocals out, fuelled by memories only accessible to them.
"And someday you'll see, you'll notice me"
Tears could have come to their eyes. For Damian, the song was a reminder of past pain that had transformed into his wildest dreams in a matter of minutes. For Kayla, it was a reflection to praise the one man who had loved her unconditionally since he met her, and the happiness she had now found with him. They shared a smile as Damian continued to strum, his head drifting with the song.
"And all the times I've tried
To be right by your side
But the hardest thing of all to do
Is to try and talk with you"
That verse hurt to perform the first time. It had almost made Kayla cry when she heard it, reminding her of every time she had caused the boy pain with her irrational fear. It had made her want to apologise again and again, but now all it took was one look from Damian, the forgiving amour, and Kayla found she could easily slip into the tune without the threat of tears.
"Wishing from afar
Trying to find the right star
But the hardest thing of all to do
Is to try and talk with you"
And it was. Once she could barely find the courage to look at him! It made Kayla scoff, now she could barely stop looking. She closed the space between them, leaning her head on his shoulder as they passionately performed the chorus again. Not a breath was off key, every syllable was a masterful expression of tune. Their tones softened as they reached the bridge, Damian tucking his face closer to hers as they sought upon the climax of the track. Kayla heard a shaky breath escape Damian, but he easily brought forth the needed words.
"How am I gonna act?"
Kayla buried her cheek in his shoulder.
"What will I do?"
A twist came to Damian's stomach.
"When I'm finally with you
How will time pass us by?"
Kayla heard his heart begin to thump.
"Stay by my side."
Their voices linked as one.
"I don't know what to do"
This was it for Damian. No more looking back. He fingers strummed with the same heaviness as his voice.
"I hope that you feel the same way I do
I hope you do"
Every single hope of his heart came down to this. He shared a final vocal expression with her before the time he had been waiting for all day was upon him. One last breath for luck. He looked at Kayla with a gulp, took in her eyes, the radiance that they shared. Kayla almost looked worried, as she saw a unknown weight in Damian's gaze. But she carried on and did the only thing she could do to appease a sadness she didn't understand.
She smiled at him.
And for Damian, that was enough. He smiled back at her, nothing but love in his gaze and went all in.
"Standing at your door
Not knowing what to do
"I must be crazy for even saying this"
What Damian did next, was not expected by Kayla at all.
He set down the guitar, making the girl brace in confusion. There was another line left! She had just begun to open her mouth when Damian opened up his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box.
Kayla paused, she could almost swear the next few seconds had physically slowed time; she looked up at her boyfriend, who stared back at her with a small smile, his beautiful red iris' flickering like embers. Damian laughed slightly, setting himself down on one knee before the girl and pulled the box back; inside a golden ring was encased, the glimmer of a ruby fragment bound to the metal.
Kayla's mouth hung, her palm soon covering it as tears glistened in the corner of her eyes. Damian took a final deep breath, and then stuck his courage to the sticking place.
"Kayla, I-I really…love you." He blushed furiously, laughing as the weight of the situation crashed upon him. "Ever since I met you, I always have. Even w-when you hated me, I couldn't help myself. Guess I-I'm just a sucker, heh." He coughed and spluttered out, "When we became friends, i-it was the happiest day of my life, just to know the girl I loved actually wanted to…know me. And when we got together, well…" Kayla saw a small tear awake in his eyelid, "That was…something else entirely. I-I guess you know why I was so nervous before this right!" He attempted to joke, quickly cursing himself in the process.
"I'm missing the point, l-look I-I've never been good with these things, but," He inhaled intensely, "I just love you so much! And I-I'd like to know…W-w-would you…W-will you…"
He felt a hand touch his cheek, he jolted and looked upward.
His heart melted,
Even despite the tears flowing down her cheeks, Damian could swear he'd never seen Kayla look so happy. The soft smile on her face, mixed with the gentle gleam of the tears in her fur, communicated a joy that both had never experienced before. Kayla ran her fingers down Damian's face, a happy breath escaping her throat.
"Go on. I'm here."
Damian knew he was crying, but he shared the joy radiating in Kayla. She gave him the courage to say the final phrase.
"Kayla, will you marry me?"
That was it. Kayla cupped Damian's face in her hands and smiled through the tears that would not run dry. When she was a girl, she'd always imagined this moment to be by moonlight, her staring down the balcony while her prince expressed a Shakespearian sonnet to her. But this was real life. Well, she still had the prince, but he was the Prince of Hell, and that was not expected at all! And yet.
This was so much better.
"Of course!"
She pulled Damian forward before he could scream for joy. They kissed each other with a passion unknown to them, every emotion they'd felt, and would feel in their future, pouring into them as it was locked in place. The decision was major, and yet felt so small when they realised how obvious it was that this would occur. But the comedy could wait, this was a time for something new. Dreams had come true for them both, one Damian had always wished for, and one Kayla hadn't realised she'd needed. It was like a never-ending tune that refused to fade out, and neither of them complained.
They finally broke for breath, Damian grinning from ear to ear and Kayla glowing like a star. They both kept a strong gaze on the ring as Damian pulled it out of the box and, gently taking his fiancée's hand in his own, slid the ring onto Kayla's finger. It almost seemed like it was meant for the girl as they admired how perfectly it encompassed the finger, the ruby glinting in their joyous tears. They wiped each other's tears and fell into another embrace. Kayla broke away for a moment, a small frown on her face.
"Were you originally going to do that on air?"
Damian's eyes widened, he rubbed his neck with a stifled snigger. "Um, maybe."
"Damian! Do you realise that the papers would have had a field day with that? We wouldn't have been able to go out for a minute without them buzzing onto us!"
Damian held a strained smile, "Well, I guess it's lucky I chickened out at the last second, huh?"
Kayla rolled her eyes, "More than you could believe."
"Um, may I interrupt?"
The assistant had come back, still looking as awkward as ever. The pair blushed and took a moment to regain focus.
"How much of that did you hear?" Damian asked, his cheeks burning. Kayla gulped, she wanted at least a day without being paraded by reporters.
Luckily the assistant shrugged, "Not much, just something about papers, nothing important." The pair sighed with relief, at least they could take a few days to themselves before the news became public.
"We go live in ten. You guys ready to roll? Did the rehearsal help?"
Damian paused, and glanced over at Kayla. His fiancée was giggling lightly into her hand, but she soon returned a soft, loving smile to the Demon. A smile that he would see so many times in the future, but one that he would never get used to.
Damian smiled back, his arm wrapping around Kayla's shoulder, before giving the assistant a toothy grin.
"Yeah, it helped a lot."
…
The End.
…
If you've been following this story since it began last year, putting up with all the long periods it took me to release a chapter, I thank you. I feel I have nothing essential to add to this story and I can only hope you are as pleased with this story as I am.
Now…we move on. What will I write in the future, who knows? All I can hope is that you guys support it as much as you supported this story. I know many may have hoped for a wedding chapter, but honestly, I see no need for it. Damian and Kayla are bonded now by proposal, and that is as good as an actual wedding in terms of emotion to me. This story has run its course, and I do not wish to ruin the tone by writing stuff I have no emotional interest in. I hope you guys understand.
For all those that read this, thank you. Thank you for letting me tell the story I wanted to see ever since I discovered Zoophobia. Thank you for encouraging me throughout this tale of love. Thank you for putting up with a ship no one asked for XD
Until next time guys. This was 'Unexpected', and I am Kalum16.
See you later.
Zoophobia belongs to Vivziepop.
"The Hardest Thing" Belongs to JoafTheLoaf