Chapter 7 – I Want To Run Away

"ALICIA LORETTA DIGRAZIO! WHERE IN GOD'S NAME HAVE YOU BEEN?" I never knew that Mother's voice could get so shrill. Oh here we go I thought, sighing, but nothing could put a damper on my ecstasy. Her large figure stomped down the staircase, fury radiating out of her like a bonfire. As she approached me, I purposefully averted my eyes and gazed at the portraits that decorated the walls.

"Well?" she demanded, hands on hips, scowl in place. Bracing myself, I met her angry stare and said evenly, "I went out for a ride."

"For this long? And why didn't you tell me?"

"I thought that Castagno's absence, along with mine, would be pretty self-explanatory. And I'm sixteen – do I honestly need to tell you when and where I am for every minute of the day?" I replied, albeit apathetically

"Don't you take that tone with me, young lady!" Mother's face had started turning an unflattering shade of red.

"I wasn't aware that there was any emotion in my voice. Forgive me if I expressed myself a little." I knew that I was on dangerous territory here, but I couldn't help myself – I wouldn't let her ruin my mood.

"I see that Finishing School was wasted on you – I knew you were a lost cause." Thanks. But Damon seems to disagree. Maybe I should run away with him... "And what's that all over your skirt?" she asked furiously, jabbing her finger at my mud-caked dress.

"I fell..." I replied hesitantly, hoping she wouldn't probe further as I didn't think she'd be too pleased at what Damon and I had been doing earlier – especially not with the whole 'youngest daughter, eldest son' etiquette rule she'd mentioned.

"Why did you fall?"

"I got...er...distracted." Yes, 'distracted' covered it perfectly.

"By what, exactly?" Hells teeth! This was like the Spanish Inquisition!

"Um... a bird." Please don't ask any more questions.

"You've seen a bird before. Why did it make you fall off your horse?" I think she knew something was up – she'd never been on my case this badly before. But what was I worrying about – I had fallen off Castagno – I wasn't lying.

"Well it um... flew out of nowhere... it startled me... But I'm fine now," I added hastily, praying that Mother dearest would leave me alone to dream about Damon. Did I really just think that? Oh God, I need to get a grip!

She was glaring at me expectantly.

"Sorry, um...could you say that again? Please?"

My mother suddenly grabbed my arm and yanked me towards her. "You need to learn to listen to and respect your elders," she hissed in my face, "I will not tolerate this behaviour anymore, do you hear me?"

I nodded shakily, surprised at her outburst. Maybe I'd gone too far this time. I loved winding her up, but I've never, ever seen her this irate. Not even when she slapped me yesterday.

"At this rate Alicia, you will never find a husband – I don't know of any man that would want anything to do with a girl like you. You're a disgrace! I had hoped this...this impertinence was something that school would stamp out of you, but it seems I was wrong. Now get out of my sight – I can't bear to look at you," she spat venomously, eyes flaming with rage.

I was speechless. But she had no right to say that. She may be my mother but there had to limits.

"Fine. I have no problem with that. But school 'stamping out my impertinence' is not the only thing you're wrong about. I am not a lost cause, I will find a husband – I already have a suitor – and I am not a disgrace. You are." And with that, I yanked my arm out of her vice-like grasp and stormed out.

Tears of anger and hurt threatened to spill down my cheeks, but I gritted my teeth and refused to let them escape. Grabbing my skirts, I sprinted to the stables for the second time today.

I shoved open the door, startling a mouse nesting in a corner, and hurried to Castagno's stall. Not bothering with a saddle, I swung myself onto him, having no problems with riding bareback. He trotted out and I eased him into a canter, knotting my fingers into his chestnut mane. Once we reached the edge of my family's land, I pushed him into a gallop, loving the feeling of the wind whipping my hair. Immersing myself in the soaring sensation, I slowly began to let go of the emotions I'd pent up.

When I reached the Salvatore mansion, I rode to their stables and wordlessly jumped off Castagno, leaving the stable hand bewildered. "I'll take care of him, miss," he called to my back. I mentally thanked him and rushed up the steps to the front door. I knocked impatiently until the guard who'd been at the party opened the door and said, "Yes? Miss..." He looked me up and down as if trying to work out whether I deserved that status and, in my current state – muddy dress, windswept hair – I was in no position to object.

"Damon... Need Damon..." I told him breathlessly. He looked extremely unsure about letting me into his master's grand house. I could only pray he'd take pity on me.

"I'm not sure I can allow you entrance...miss," the butler sneered. I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could, a melodious voice drawled, "Oh don't be such spoil sport. Now, to whom do I owe the pleas-" He was cut off by me running full pelt past Mr Snooty Face and crashing into him.

"Allie? I know I'm irresistible, but it's only been a little while since..." Furrowing his brow, he took in my tearstained face and less-than-immaculate appearance. His comforting warm hand found mine and he led me to an empty parlour. Sitting me down on a cream sofa, he grasped both my hands and gazed at me intently. "What happened, Princess?" he asked solemnly – I didn't think I'd seen him as serious as this since...well, earlier today when I'd fallen off Castagno, but I certainly don't remember him ever being like this when we were younger. But that wasn't the point. I needed to tell him what happened – or just tell him I wanted to run away now.

"Damon, I want to do it."

"It...?" His face brightened as realisation struck, "Not that I'm saying no, but don't you think the atmosphere would be better in the evening, it would be more romantic, but I'm definitely not saying no."

"I don't really care when, but I'd rather do it now, if you don't mind."

"'If I don't mind', Princess, of course I don't mind! Now come on." He helped me up and tugged me towards the grand marble staircase. Our path was blocked by Mr Snooty Face who impolitely asked, "Mr Salvatore, what should I tell your father?"

"Don't bother, but if you must, tell him that I'm keeping company with a beautiful young lady," Damon replied with his signature eye roll, but grinned at me. I blushed, but wondered what Giuseppe was going to do when he found out his eldest son had run away. With me. He probably wouldn't care that much – other than the fact it would shame the family. Damon and Giuseppe had never got on well – that was something I definitely recall from our childhood.

Damon almost ran up the steps, and as usual, I was trailing along behind him. When we reached the top, he took an unexpectedly sharp left and I nearly fell over. Again. But I had barely been able to stand half an hour ago as I had just fallen off a horse, so I could always use that as an excuse.

Pristine colourful corridors flew past as Damon strode purposefully to God knows where and I hurried along almost beside him, his pace making me a little breathless. "Where are we going?" I wondered aloud. Damon actually stopped in his tracks and turned to stare at me incredulously, raising his eyebrows. "Where do you think we're going?"

"I don't know. The pantry?"

"You're really not picky are you? And the pantry's on the ground floor," he laughed, music to my ears.

"I knew that," I mumbled sullenly. He chuckled and a smile crept onto my face.

After seeing portraits of almost all the Salvatores since the beginning of time, I was glad when we came to a stop outside a closed door. Pushing the door open, he smirked at me then pulled me inside to what I assume was his bedroom – the four poster bed being the major give away. But before I had any time whatsoever to take in my surroundings, he was kissing me passionately and although I wasn't sure what this would achieve in Operation Let's Run Away, I had no objections so I kissed him back eagerly. I could feel him moving somewhere, but I was so intoxicated by the kiss that I didn't care where he took me as long as I could stay in his arms. Before I knew where I was, I was lying on Damon's bed and he was on top of me, one hand cupping my face, the other undoing the laces of my bodice. Then it hit me. He thought I meant... oh merda!

My eyes snapped open and I turned my head as much as I could, but that only encouraged him to trail kisses down my neck and I shivered with pleasure. A little voice inside my head said "Well this is nice, and despite the fact it's not what you were thinking of, it's still great so why not just go with it?" but then the more rational part of me argued, "It's not what you want so stop and tell him, and besides, this moment was supposed to be romantic, and one o'clock in the afternoon is not romantic." Mustering all the strength I had, I pushed him off me and shuffled backwards, sitting cross legged on the bed. I felt horrible. I'd led him on – unwittingly – and he was bewildered. And hurt too, I'm pretty sure. But, being the coward I was, I couldn't bring myself to look at him, so I just stared at the royal blue bedspread, waiting for him to say something, anything.

Talk to him, you idiot, tell him it was a mistake, tell him what you really meant. Damon, I... You need to open your mouth, stupido! Maledizione! And as this was whirling through my head, I found myself clambering off his bed and standing up, causing him to look at me. When our eyes met, the hurt and confusion was evident in the midnight orbs I got lost in so often. And that saddened me more than Mother's harsh words had. Because the truth is, I could happily live without my mother criticising my every move, but when it comes to it, I'd have a pretty damn hard life without being able to lose myself in Damon's eyes. And the guilt I felt for pushing him away drove me to running around the bed (no way was I getting back on it and giving him false hope) and embracing him tightly, murmuring "I'm sorry," softly into his ear. He turned to look at me; a long calculating stare that had me more nervous than I think I've ever been. I just thought: che diavolo and began my grovelling speech.

"The thing is, I had a fight with my mother because she said I was a disgrace and no man would ever love me and just about everything a daughter doesn't want to hear, so I decided I wanted to run away...with you. That's what I meant by 'it'. Because it was the last thing you said to me earlier, so I presumed you'd know that's what I was talking about, but now I see that I was giving you the wrong impression and leading you on and I really didn't mean to. And I've realised that I was really unclear, as I'm pretty sure if someone had said that to me, I would have thought along the same lines as you so... I'm really sorry, Damon. And the right thing for me to do now would be to leave, but I don't particularly want to have to see my mother any time soon and I really don't want to leave you and your eyes but I wi-" I was cut off from my monologue by him sweeping me into his arms and kissing me briefly on the lips.

"One thing you should know about me, Princess, is that Damon Salvatore does not apologise – it's a sign of weakness – but for you... I just might make an exception. I'm sorry, Alicia. You should never jump to conclusions and I did. But I'm definitely up for running away if you're still willing..." he drawled and kissed me again. Then I had another hunger pang and Damon heard it and laughed loudly. "Still no lunch, Princess? I'm sure if we go to the pantry-"

"Which is downstairs, I know!" I interrupted, at which he laughed harder.

"As I was saying: if we go downstairs to the pantry, I'm sure I can sneak you some ginger Snow Cream – you still wolf that down like there's no tomorrow, don't you?" he teased, and I scowled at him before saying, "Every time we seem to meet this happens, doesn't it? You're really good to me – like saving my life – then I do or say something stupid, then you forgive me, then I'm hungry. It's like we live in a cycle!"

"You're just hungry for me, tesora" Damon wiggled his eyebrows flirtatiously.

Down the hall I heard Stefan ask Mr Snooty Face, "Where's Damon?" to which the butler replied, "Entertaining a girl."

"Oh. I won't bother him then – I don't think he'd thank me for that!" Stefan said, attempting a laugh.

"He could be a while – she was one of those types, the ones he seems to favour so much."

"Damon's not like that!" Stefan insisted, ready to defend his brother.

"I apologise – it was not my place to say that, sir." Big fat suck up!

"Oh. Oh Dio! Alicia. Allie!" Damon moaned salaciously. I think I actually heard Stefan faint. Horror struck, I elbowed him in the ribs which made him yell "OW!"

"Shut up!" I hissed, mortified, "Why the hell did you do that?"

"Stefan's so good and pure and innocent and all of that crap, I just had to. If only I could've seen his face – it would be priceless.

Furious, but amused all the same, I grabbed his hand and stormed out the room. "Stefan. Damon was not entertaining me – I promise you – and he just said all of that to piss you off," I said almost apologetically. I turned to the butler, "And I am not 'one of those girls' I'll have you know. I am Alicia DiGrazio and I have the power to complain to Giuseppe Salvatore and you will lose your job for addressing a lady in such a manner."

"But will he not wonder what you and Mr Damon were doing alone in his room?"

"For your information, Damon is escorting me to Stefan's wedding, and we were privately discussing attire and gifts." And with that, I stalked off in the best imitation of Mother that I could achieve.

"What was that for?" Damon mocked me when we were out of earshot, "Now I have to get him a gift! But at least I get to escort a beautiful lady." I ignored him and wandered to where I hoped that pantry would be.

"The pantry's that way, Princess."

Author's Note: I'm sorry it's been a while since the last update but I went on holiday and lost almost all of my creative juice :P For all of you Italian speakers out there, I'd like to apologise if it's incorrect, but I had to make do with Google Translate. For all of you none Italian speakers, here's a little glossary:

merda – shit
stupido - idiot
maledizione – damn
che diavolo – what the hell
tesora – sweetheart
Dio – God
Snow Cream – now 'snow cream' isn't Italian, but it's a 16th century dessert I found on Wikipedia – 'made of cream, rosewater and sugar, whipped until stiff'

I hope that helped, and most of all, I hope you enjoyed reading it!

Please review and let me know what you think :)

Love Beth xxx