Thank you very much for the reviews :) Mere: Yay! No more sadness! Lol, and you're welcome! Pancake: That's a great compliment in my opinion, so thank you! I'm glad you guys are liking Damian too :D Doesn't he sound like a handsome devil? ;) OK, here's the next chapter! (The last chapter was extra long so this one may seem short). Oh, and disclaimer: "When You're Young" is property of 3 Doors Down, I take no credit for the lyrics and they are used for entertainment purposes only. I make no profit off this story!
Chapter Five – What They Make You
(Levina's POV)
I'm sitting on the hard ground with my head resting against the trunk of a gnarly tree. A few minutes pass where I hear nothing but the sounds of birds whistling in the branches of surrounding trees. My body is calm now, the anger flushed out of it. Yet my mind continues to race on in swirling thoughts.
I start to think that maybe Damian was just kidding around, that he isn't actually coming back. Shortly after this idea arises, I see him coming towards me. I can see that he's carrying something by the grey strap that crosses over his broad chest. It's a guitar case I think.
As he draws closer, the birds are accompanied by the rhythmic crunch of earth underneath his feet. When he's in front of me, he stops and swings the strap over his head and lowers the case to the ground. I watch him unzip it and reveal the instrument that it has been protecting. Sure enough, it's an acoustic guitar with the kind of classic colouring you always imagine guitars to have. The sun reflects off its shiny surface and winks brightly at me a few times. I squint my eyes in reaction but I keep quiet while I wait for him to tune the guitar.
Damian clears his throat and kicks at the ground nervously. "I thought I could play you something. I used to sing it all the time after, you know…"
I do know. He means those stupid fights that only racer kids like us have to go through with our parents. Then I get to thinking, how old is Damian?
I shake the thought from my head and give him a nod of reassurance, a nod that signals I'm listening.
He nods back, so subtly that I don't know whether he actually nodded or if I'm just overanalyzing his face. I figure he took my nod as a cue though, because his eyes drop to the instrument and he begins to pluck away at the strings.
He plays for a few seconds, easing his way into the intro of the song. Then comes that moment when I hear his singing voice snap into the silence of the air.
"So far away from knowing where I'm going
And trying hard to find out who I am
They all say that I don't know what I'm doing
I say they don't hardly understand."
His voice is deep with a hint of that scratchiness to it that only male singers seem to be able to achieve. I'm so stunned by this sudden change that I don't even register the next few lyrics riding past my ears.
Then he hits the chorus and it's like the complete opposite. All I can do is focus on is the words leaving his mouth and nothing else.
"You give what you give, 'cause they make you
Trapped inside a place that won't take you
They want you to be what they make you
It's already over and done…
When you're young."
I stare at Damian with disbelief as he continues to drift through the song. I feel this strange understanding between us, a connection I've never been able to feel. He's not looking at me while he sings. Maybe he's too nervous, or maybe he's just lost in the music like I'm lost in awe of him.
I let my eyes close and enjoy the sound of his raspy tone. I want to know what it sounds like when he says my name in that same voice. I want to know what that expanse of his chest would feel like with head pressed against it. I want to know what it feels like to be tangled up in his arms, not having to say a word because he already knows how I feel.
I blink my eyes back open just as Damian is finishing up the song. His eyes are open now, and they're piercing directly into mine. I hold his gaze and I can't help but wonder, is this how she felt? Is this how my mother felt some seventeen years ago when she met a racecar driver by the name of 'Lightning McQueen'?
The next morning I wake up disappointed. I can't remember what I dreamt of and worry that it might have been about Damian. That is one of the few dreams I'd like to remember.
I crawl out of bed and start to get dressed for the day. I reach for a t-shirt with my father's name and number displayed across the front but I think better of it. Mystery, I remind myself firmly. He's still on the chase, and if I give myself away too soon then I won't be as desirable.
I drop the t-shirt and as it lands in a lump on the floor I realize how foolishly I've been thinking. The only reason I shouldn't be wearing that shirt is because my father is a personal aspect of my life that I shouldn't be sharing with a near stranger. I sit on the bed, still staring at the article of clothing lying so miserably on the floor. Then I lift my head and study my appearance in the mirror. My hair looks as untamed and natural as always and I pull it back into a ponytail.
The next seven minutes I spend trying to make my hair look more appealing. Side ponytail, braided down my back, French braid- nothing looks any better than normal. My mother always has nice hair; I'm starting to regret not letting her teach me all that girly stuff. I sigh in irritation and continue to gaze into the mirror. How is it that this happens? One day you're the same as you've always been and the next you're infatuated over a guy you hardly know. I guess this might be what they call a 'crush'. And it's such a powerful feeling, I can't decide if I like it or not.
I rarely use lyrics in my work, simply because of the copyright and because I always want to be sure that the song is exactly fitted to the story. While this song isn't hugely popular, I think it is a good song and works great for the chapter. Hopefully you guys found that the lyrics worked with the writing and if you've never heard of the song I do urge you to check it out on Youtube :) Thank you for reading and please review if you'd like to see more and/or have constructive feedback!