Chapter 9: Another Day

The voices echoed throughout the household. Aria stirred and groaned as she buried herself further in the bed and her face into the comforts of her pillow. Screaming, shouting, yelling. Which ever word was appropriate for the situation. They were at it again. Her parents being the THEY. Aria was seriously considering moving out and finding her own place to live. She needed peace. NEEDED it. They were driving her to hell and back. Lately, sleep was like a stranger to her. Either the task at hand being work, school, homework or...listening to her troubled parents that were out to cause her misery. Being honest, she didn't know which was worse.

Forcing her eyelids open, her chocolate orbs sparkled as the sun rays flowed into the room. Squinting, she looked over to her left and smiled brightly as she seen a folded note with a black rose sitting on her nightstand. Wow, that boy really loved the colour black. Reaching over, she slowly took the rose and put it on her pillow as she opened up the folded note and began studying it. His handwriting always seemed to take her by surprise. It was always so elegant.

Pushing herself up, she placed the note on the side and tied her hair up into a messy bun as she got up and wandered into her en suite, still smiling. She forgot that Damon had promised to take her out on a day of fun. She had an hour to get ready, so she had to hurry and get a move on before he hurried her up himself. Turning the shower on, she began brushing her teeth and let out a sigh as aching pulsed through her body. Wow, did she feel like she had been hit by a bus or what?

Walking downstairs, she closed her eyes as she heard shattering from the kitchen. That's another glass broken. At this rate, she'd be drinking out of the tap. Getting to the bottom of the stairs, she slowly walked into the kitchen, knowing it was very daring with everything that was going on.

"Mom?" Aria spoke softly, seeing her mom sitting at the table and drinking orange juice, like nothing had happened.
"Good morning darling. Are you off to school?" Ella asked, reading the newspaper in front of her.
"Uhm, considering its Saturday. I think they would kick me out ma." Pushing at the glass on the floor with her foot, she frowned, "So...dad?"
"Alive somewhere." She answered quickly, taking another sip of her juice as she whistled softly.

"Right, that's good.. uhm," Looks at the glass and scratches her cheek softly as she looked at her mom, "I'm off. I'll see you later?"
"Yes. You will. Have fun at school." Ella looked at her and smiled, before looking back at the newspaper.
"Sure." Aria answered with a sigh as she waved her off and walked out. Her mom was seriously losing all the sense she had left.

Walking outside, she closed the door behind her and shook her head as she felt the sun blazing down. It seemed to be getting hotter and hotter as the summer was coming closer. Looking up, she smiled seeing the blue camaro sitting and Damon leaning against it with a lazy grin on his face. He was sure to of heard the conversation with her mom. Maybe he thought it was weird too.

"Good morning vamp." Aria greeted, walking over as she pushed her shades up and squinted as the sun shined into her eyes.
"Morning minx. Your mom weirding you out again?" He questioned as his blue eyes glazed over in amusement and he opened the door for her.
"Weirding out doesn't count. I think she killed my dad and hid his dead body in the closet." She smiled, kissing his cheek and got in as he shut the door over and walked around to his side and got in as he started the engine.

"What's the plan for tonight then?" Damon asked as he banged on the wheel gently and looked over at her.
"Mind staying around mine tonight? I just...feel like..being home." Aria murmured, looking over at him with a smile as he nodded.
"That's fine with me Aria. No worries. I like your room anyway. Its got a certain calm to it." He replied, leaning over and kissed her head as he pulled off and drove down the road.

Aria looked around and smiled big as she looked at the various amount of people passing by. Damon had brought her out of town to a nearby little village which was filled with shops, cafes and people. The best thing about it is that the sea was just a 10 minute walk away from the village.

"So, anywhere you want to go?" Damon questioned, sliding his shades on as he pulled his leather jacket off and threw it into the back of the car.
"Let's just have a wander." Aria answered with a smile and a small shrug and she pulled her coat off and threw it in with his as she fixed her dress.
"Good idea." Shutting the door, he locked it up and took her hand, tugging her forward as they moved through the crowd.

"Rush much?" She laughed, her fingers wrapped around his larger hand as she glanced around, taking in the scenery.
"Very much. " He replied with a wink as she rolled her eyes and elbowed him gently as she tugged him towards a shop and walked inside.
"Why this shop?" Damon asked, gazing around at all the antiques.
"I just...feel a pull to this shop." Kissing his arm, she moved away from him and walked down the end of the shop, looking around at everything.

The shop was beautiful. Filled with antique vases, glasses, culinary dishes, frames and jewelery. Moving over to the glass cabinet, holding all the jewelery, she frowned softly as she felt a weird tugging in her stomach towards a certain piece of gold. It was a beautiful necklace with an amulet. The amulet was a deep crystal blue. Big, bright and breathtaking. Tilting her head, she studied it and lifted her hand to her necklace that she was wearing and frowned. Why was she feeling a weird tug towards this specific piece of antique?

"Found something?" She heard Damon's voice in her ears, but she wasn't THERE enough to answer him, "Aria?"

Opening the cabinet, she slowly lifted the golden piece of jewelery and held it at eye view, studying it closely as if it were holding some sort of secret. Damon looked at her confused and then to the necklace as his eyes widened slightly, seeing what it was. He recognized that. Kissing the top of Aria's head, he pulled her gently, hoping to distract her and take her attention away from it.

"Come on Aria. Let's go mmhm?" He questioned, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand as he tugged her hand, attempting to drag her away again.
"I'm getting this." She spoke softly as she walked over to the counter, almost zombie like as she placed it down and pulled her purse out of her bag.
"Aria." He murmured, watching her and bit his lip, seeing the kind of state she was in. He was going to have to tell her sooner or later why she was so attached to the necklace. I think he would prefer later.

Walking up the path slowly, she fingered the necklace and shivered softly, thankful that Damon had decided to give her his jacket earlier on in the evening. They had a wonderful day. Eating dinner at a fancy restauraunt with candles and wine. The littlest bit of compulsion involved. Then they went down to the cliffs, the wind catching them surprise as they nearly fell off. It had been an adventure.

"Anyone awake?" Damon questioned quietly as he followed Aria up the path and listened out, not knowing.
"If you don't wanna chance it. We can go around to the back and...with all your vampire hotness, you can get us up to the window."
"Vampire hotness huh?" He questioned, his blue eyes sparkling as he took her hand and lead her around the back until they were standing under the window of her bedroom. Biting her lip, she looked at him as he wrapped his arms around waist tightly and moved so quickly, that Aria didn't have time to realise that he had got them through her window and into her bedroom within a matter of seconds.

"Wow. Just...wow." Aria muttered with a smile, still amazed by his vampire tactics.
"I could show you what else I'm wow out." Damon suggested with a smirk as he kissed her and led her back towards her bed.
"Damon!" Aria laughed into the kiss as her legs hit the bed and she fell back onto it, smiling up at him, "You're unbelievable."
"And...wow?" He questioned, grinning as he hovered over her and began kissing her again and down her neck, pressing soft kisses to her skin.

"Very...wow." She let out a breath that she didn't know she was holding and ran her fingers through his hair with a happy sigh.
"Aria?" Damon spoke softly, pressing a light kiss to her lips as he looked into her eyes.
"Yeah?" Aria asked, keeping her hand on his neck as she looked up at him.
"I need to tell you something." He admitted with a hint of guilt behind his voice.

"O...kay? What is it?" Biting her lip in confusion, she watched the emotions run on his face.
"Well, here it is. I-" He began slowly as she looked up at him, waiting patiently.
"Aria, we need to t-" Byron froze, seeing Damon and Aria as anger began to build up inside of him, "Who the hell are you!"

"Dad, get out!" Aria told him as Damon got off her, a small blush covering his face as he rubbed his neck.
"No! Aria, tell your friend goodbye!" He shouted at her as Aria got up slowly and sighed, slipping his jacket off slowly.
"Here. I'll talk to you later okay?" Leaning up, she kissed his jaw softly as he grinned down at her and slipped his jacket on as he walked out past Byron.

"Who was that young lady?" Byron questioned, glaring at her.
"No one of your concern. Goodnight Byron." Aria told him, slamming the bedroom door in his face as she fell onto the bed and stared at the ceiling.

Damon was about to tell her something and he seemed...guilty. Playing with the necklace, she sighed. Tomorrow is another day.

A/N: Hope it's okay :)

Shauna
xx