(Monday morning.)
"Oh come on, it's really wasn't that bad." I told Mary. "It was actually kind of nice and I enjoyed it." I smiled remembering the night.
"Whatever you say Linds, but I don't trust him." she put her hands up in defense.
"And I don't blame you. But it's just really weird. We're friends but we bicker at each other. But we didn't really bicker that whole time and he kissed,"
"Holy shit, you guys kissed?!" she interrupted me.
"Uh yeah, maybe a little." I said scratching my head trying not to show the small smile.
"Just please don't get into deep, Lindsay. You're my best friend and I don't think I can deal with the 'I told you not to talk to him' talk."
"Oh shush. It was a nice night. I totally forgot he was a dirt bag who didn't know what being nice was."
"I don't know if I can believe that." she laughed.
"I know. Trust me."
"So what happened after that?"
"We exchanged numbers but we haven't really talked much after that. Maybe he just doesn't use his phone a lot."
"I hoping for you." she patted my shoulder.
"Don't be so dramatic." I laughed at her gestures and fake pity. "We're only friends. That's all we left it at." I said.
"I really hope that's what it is. I mean I would be happy for you, but I don't want you to let yourself down and have you get hurt."
"Just don't worry about that, I'll be fine." I am sure it won't get that serious. "I mean come one. I just want to get through high school and not worry about relationships and stuff. I just have to get through this year and senior year."
"Well that's a great way to look at it, but you can't just be single through the rest of high school. There's stuff like prom or homecoming, which is coming up real soon by the way!"
"Are you encouraging me to date him now?" I asked, obviously messing with her.
"No, I'm telling you to not just stay single because you don't want to get distracted. You'll get into your perfect college because you have amazing grades and an amazing voice and Lindsay, I am jealous of how perfect you can be."
"Well Mary, that's really flattering, but I just want a perfect slate. I don't know if I will date or not. I don't know if it will be Damian or not. All I know is right now I am focused on my future."
"Linds, are you a virgin?" the question came out so suddenly that I chocked on the air I was breathing causing a weird looking face back.
"Um why do you ask?"
"You are, aren't you!" she had yell whispered with a giant smile on her face.
"Why does it matter?" I replied in the same tone. "I'm only seventeen, I don't need to be having sex right now."
"You haven't even thought about it? Not even with damian?" she seemed so amused in the questions she was asking. But all they were doing to me were causing me to blush.
"No Mary, I haven't." I gritted my teeth.
"Hey it's alright Lindsay! There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, I heard guys prefer virgins. Are you saving yourself for marriage or something?"
"No, I just feel like sex is the best thing in the world and people talk about it way too much."
"Yeah, I hear you. Just tell me when you do! At least before you tell Shelby!"
"Oh I promise." I gave her a reassuring smile. "Just because he's gay, doesn't mean I would tell him about girly things."
Last class just got out and I haven't seen Damian all day. And he hasn't texted me at all. I wonder if he's okay. I'll probably see him tomorrow.
I walked out to the parking lot so I could walk home and it was surprisingly really nice out for being the end of September.
'HONK'
I've never been so scared out of my life before. I turn around and see the infamous black truck and the Irish jackass who startled me, smiling like he was the happiest boy in the world. I shot up my middle finger and scowled at me, but he just continued to smile and gestured me over to get in. fuck it. I walk over and hop in but the first thing I do is punch his arm.
"Ow! What the hell?" he said rubbing his arm.
"You deserved it, your jerk! You scared me!"
"I know, and it was funny!" he laughed. "I'm here to drive you home, so you don't have to walk."
"But I like walking. Not when you're scaring me, but I like it."
"Oh well, you got in, now you get a free ride with me."
"Oh joy, I'm screaming with happiness from the inside." I said sarcastically.
"That sounded depressing. Are you okay?" he raised his eyebrows.
"I'm perfectly fine actually. Where were you today? I expected you to come up behind and bother me today."
"I had certain stuff today." he just said. "It's nothing important, really."
"What was that?" I asked, being curious.
"I already said it wasn't important."
"Then why won't you tell me?"
"Because it's none of your business. You're not my mom." that whole time he didn't yell at me but you could tell he was irritated.
"Well maybe I just cared, okay." I crossed my arms and looked out the window. "Thank you for giving me a ride home." I said in a monotone.
"Hey, don't be like that." he said stopping the car a couple blocks from my street. "I know you care. and I really appreciate it, but when I tell you it's not any of your business, it's because its stuff you shouldn't know about and I wasn't even supposed to tell you about my situation. I could get into a lot of trouble for that." his voice was in the same level but was a softer tone.
"But why? What am I going to do?"
"Because Linds. It is very confidential and I would probably get thrown in prison for the rest of my life if cops even knew who I was or what I've done... you know my mom didn't know and my step dad doesn't even know. You, Cameron, and one other person are the only people that knows."
"But why did you tell me? You know Cameron better than me and you just told me after a few weeks of us hating each other." but then I remembered again, Shelby told me something. I want to bring it up but I don't know if I should.
"You ask a good question, but I will tell you someday." he said rubbing my arm. It was actually comforting.
"I hate to ask, but can we do something? I don't want to go home just yet."
"Of course. What would you like to do sweetheart?" I thought for a minute wondering, but I asked to do something that I didn't have a plan for. Maybe we can hang out at his house.
"Can we go to your house? I mean we could go to my house, but my parents would kill me if I had a boy over without them home."
"Eh why not." he said after he looked like he was contemplating something. "I'm sure you've met Cameron but you can meet my step dad. And I know I didn't tell you this, but Cameron's two cousins are staying with us too. So don't be surprised. It is a very long story." he started up the car again.
"Any long story can be explained." I pointed out.
"I won't have to when we get there."
"It's not that big." he said as we approached it. It was a cute looking house, in fact. "it's only got couple rooms, so I offered to take the basement as a room, but we all just hang out there during the day. I'm warning you, you will be surrounded by all boys except Amy, who is about six years old."
"Should I be scared?" I asked almost back away from the door.
"Why are you guys standing out here?" Cameron asked just as he was opening the door. "Damian, where were you today? I saw you get up this morning? And why is she here, did you kidnap her?"
"No, cam I did not kidnap her. I will talk to you later. Come on Lindsay." he said ushering me inside the house. As soon as we got in, I saw some stairs going down to a door right next to the entrance we just came though. I'm guessing that's the basement. "It's a bit dark, so try not to fall."
"Yeah, I'll try." I said as I walked down and he was right, it could barely see the last few steps in front of me. But he was in front of me so if I fall, he's going down too.
"Damian!" a brunette little girl jumped out in front of the door as soon as he opened.
"Hello Amy." he said picking her up and carrying her back into the room. "Amy, this is Lindsay. She will be hanging out with us."
"Yay another girl!" her sale was wide and I could tell how ecstatic she was. "I don't know if he told you, but I'm the only girl here."
"I feel so bad for you." I smiled lightly back. I noticed Damian looking at me and he had a small smile on face. I feel like this little girl is part of his world and she means a lot to him.
"It's fine, really. Since I'm the only girl, I get spoiled." she had a 'matter of fact' look on her face.
"That's because you're the only princess in this house." Damian said, setting her down. "Come on in." he said and I followed him in. it was a nice sized basement and he had a pretty good-sized bed on one side. The other had a TV, and a couch. But I looked at the couch and recognized some one very familiar sitting there.
"Shelby?"
"Oh. Hey Linds." he said awkwardly. I was staring at one of my best friends sitting on the couch playing video games.
"What are you doing here?"
"Well Lindsay, he is the other cousin that is staying here." Damian interjected as awkward as Shelby did.
"You guys talk and know each other? Why didn't I know this?"
"You didn't ask?" Shelby said.
"Well that would make sense." I muttered, remembering what Shelby told me, and Damian telling me he was gay. "I hate you guys."
"Oh you do not." Damian said putting his arm around me.
"Yep I hate you all except for Amy here." I looked at her and she smiled to brightly.
"Hey what did I do?" Camron shouted from the outside of the room, making me remember he was still here.
"Your just there!" I shouted back.
"Rude." I heard him say.
"Well, girl that hates me." Damian said while taking my hand, and he started walking to the couch. This was the first time I felt his hands on mine and they were a lot softer than I would imagine them to be. We sat down and I continued to watch Shelby play the game.
Damian slowly placed his arm around my shoulders and I found myself getting closer to him. And I honestly didn't mind it at all.
"Are you any good at video games?" he asked.
"No, not at all." I laughed. "I think the only good I get at games is the apps on your phone."
"That's lame. Will teach you one day." I just sat there. This totally goes against the talk I had with Mary. I don't expect to be in a relationship, but I wouldn't mind hanging out and being with Damian more when he is like this.
"Are you his girlfriend?" Amy came over and looked at both of us.
"No he's just my friend." I smiled back at her.
"Well why do you guys look like it?" she asked an again. She seemed to ask a lot of questions.
"Well, she is a very beautiful girl, and beautiful girls should go for guys better." he leaned forward, smiling at the girl. What he said shouldn't have thrown me off, but it was the way he said it.
"But why? She looks nicer than the last one. And she is a lot prettier." the words she and Damian were making me blush.
"And that is exactly why she deserves better." he turned and quietly said towards me. I smiled a little and looked down in nervousness.
"Gross!" Shelby yelled out.
"No kidding." Cameron spoke. "I've never seen Damian all mushy before, it's weird."
"Oh shut it." you can always tell he is Irish but sometimes you can hear it thicker than other times.
"You know what you should do, Damo?" Cameron said but his eyes got wide and I gave him a wicked look. I now have a nickname to give him. "You should show her your American accent."
"nook." he said dragging the word out.
"But damian." Amy whined and pouting her lip.
"Sorry sweetie, I'll do it some other time." he smiled and rubbed her head. He was so good with her and it made me smile.
"Well maybe I want to hear it?" I finally spoke.
"Mm no." he said and kissed my head.
"See you just kissed her, you guys have to be dating!"
"Amy, leave me alone." Shelby said nicely.
"Hey is pa upstairs?" Damian asked Cameron obviously because he was looking straight at him,
"Yeah he's on the laptop in the living room. I think he is looking up something." Cameron was eating a sandwich he obviously made while he was upstairs and he had a mouthful.
"Come on. You can meet him." he said taking my hand again and we waked back up the stairs. "Hey pa. I have someone for you to meet." I looked over and an older guy sitting on the couch had turned around. He had blonde and gray streaks through his hair. He looked like he was in his late forties and you could tell where Cameron got his looks.
"Well hello dear. Come over, I don't bite," he gesture over and Damian walked over with me. "I'm Daniel. It's nice to meet you dear." he shook my hand. "Are you Dami's new girlfriend?" I looked up at him with a giant smile. Bingo, another nickname.
"No, we're just friends." I smiled back. "Oh and I'm Lindsay. It's nice to meet you."
"She is a very good friend of mine." Damian said
"Uh huh. Well it is very nice to meet you Lindsay. I know you will be a good friend to Damian, he doesn't have a lot."
"Thanks pa." Damian said sarcastically. "Come on, I'll show you outside." he said dragging me out thought out the house until we came to what looks like the back door.
"You seem to drag me all over the place."
"Well I like to show you around." he opened the door and I saw the small back year. It was small but it looked nice, and was mostly consumed buy a giant willow tree in the middle. "My mom kept it up most of the time, and we used to have a garden. And you know, we just kind of," he paused. "Didn't take care of it. I wish we did though, I know we would always remember her, but it would just be something nice to do for her. She would love for us to keep going even while she is gone."
"I'm really sorry, Damian." I looked up and rubbed his arm.
"here." he said and ushered me out the back door and shut it. "You should look under the tree. It's pretty nice underneath." we walked underneath it and he was right. You could still see the sun but it had the green tint, and going though it was like opening a curtain.
"Wow." I said breathlessly.
"You act like you've never been in one before." he was leaning against the trunk of the tree, watching my admiration.
"Not one like this. It hangs so low to the ground, it's so beautiful how the lighting is."
"This is the one thing we kept alive for my mom. She didn't grow it of course, but she loved this tree and this was her safe haven when all of us boys drove her crazy. I now I find it one of mine when I need to escape from the world. Amy also loves it here, she likes to read underneath it. We all adore it but they don't really come out as much as I do."
"It's absolutely breath taking. I'm glad you're showing me this."
"hey." he whispered. "Come here." he took my hand and pulled me closer to him and we were chest to chest. "I've never been so comfortable around someone so fast. What did you do to me?"
"I don't know, Dami." I smiled using a new nickname against him but it only made him smile back.
"I guess I can say we're even." he has his arms around my waste, and even I wondered how we got like this so fast. I mean it's been a month and a half or so.
"I mint what I said in there." he rested his chin in top of my head and I laid mine near his shoulder. "You are a beautiful person. And I like you, I would like to have a relationship with you when we get to know each other more. But you deserve someone who isn't me."
"I don't care who you are. To me, you are a pain in my ass. But you are also very sweet."
"I could say the same thing about you." I swear I could see the smile in his face, even if he wasn't looking.
"You make me have these weird feelings I don't even know about." I said. "I like you and I like being around you. I thought I would ever be able to stand you and now I'm finding myself wanting to be with you whether it is hanging out or just being stubborn. And no matter what, I will be here to help you."
"You know, I would love to stick a sock in your mouth when I first met you. Now I rather shut you up another way."
"You've made that clear." I smiled. "And I'm okay with then." he moved his hand up towards my chin and lifted it up so I could look at him.
"Lindsay, if I asked you to be my girlfriend, would you say yes?"
I stood there for what seemed like a long moment, wondering what to say. I already knew what to say, I guess I could only reply as a yes or no answer. "Yes."
"I will ask you. Not yet, but I will. And Cameron was right. I'm never mushy. I didn't even know that's how I was acting. I feel like you might make me a better person." his hand was still on my chin but I stood on my toes so I could kiss him. It was small but I wanted to show that he wasn't the only person to make a first move. I paused and kissed him again, but I intended to make it deeper than the first one. He wasn't the first person I ever kissed, but he was the best. His lips were soft, he used his tongue but he wasn't sloppy, he wasn't awkward and put himself into it. Even when it was rough, it wasn't bad.
His arms were still around me and his hands stayed at my lower back. I never knew he would know what boundaries are, but then again he told me about his mom telling him to always respect women. At this point, I don't care what he has done and what is in his past. I am focused on him and feeling his lips on mine.
"You are just amazing." he said, breaking the kiss.
"Thanks I guess." I said awkwardly. "You know, I should probably get home before my parents get home. They don't care that I leave and hang out, but I didn't tell them and I should still probably get home."
"Yeah, of course." he said, but I knew he didn't want me to go. "I'm glad you suggested on coming over, you should come over more often."
"Just call me and I'll be there. I promise." I looked in his eyes, trying to make him feel better. "Would you like to meet my parents tomorrow? I mean as friends of course."
"Of course, I would love too." he smiled. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
I really love this chapter and again, I don't want to make it seem like their relationship is going too fast. I hope you guys like this and I want to know how you guys feel on it so far!
