The Damned

Leadup

Darian POV

Prom is three weeks away.  But right now, I have to talk to my mom about something.  I go downstairs and find Mom in the kitchen.  Looks like she is making fresh squeezed lemonade.  One of my favorites.

“Hey, sweetie.  What’s up?”  She asks looking up briefly to make eye contact.

“Mom, you know the lake between our house and Nix’s house?”

“Yes.  What about it?”

“I want to build a home there for me and Nix.  That way we are still close to our families.”  I reply.

“That sounds like a great idea.  Monday we’ll get in touch with the right people and begin construction right away.”  Mom smiles.

“Great!  I have some ideas for it.”

“Like?”

“I want it to look like a rustic log cabin.  I want two spare bedrooms with one spare bathroom.  A master suite with an elegant yet rustic look.  An open concept main area.  And a huge study with room enough for two desks.”  I say.

“That sounds beautiful.  As soon as Nix feels she is ready to move in after construction, we will get furniture that suits you both.”  Mom says.

“Thanks, Mom.”  I smile.  She nods and finishes the lemonade.  “Can I have a glass now?”  I ask.  Mom smiles and gets two glasses out of the cupboard.  I help her get some ice in the glasses then she pours the newly squeezed lemonade into each glass.  We sit at the bar for a while in silence.

“So, do you know what Nix’s wolf looks like?”

“No.  She always avoids the topic when it comes up.  It’s like she doesn’t want anyone to know.  Almost like she’s ashamed of her wolf.”  I reply.

“Well, that’s interesting.”  Mom says taking another sip of lemonade.  I nod.

“I have to go work on homework now.”  I say, grab my lemonade, and head upstairs to my study.  I work on my homework for a while before my cell phone rings.  It’s Nix.

“Hey, baby.  What’s up?”  I answer.

“My family would like to invite you and Luna Aslanta for dinner tonight.”

“We’ll be there.  What time?”

“Six thirty.”

“We’ll see you then.”  I smile.

“Great!  Until then.”  Nix says.

“Until then.”  Nix and I hang up and I go back to doing my homework.  After a couple minutes, I decide to go clue Mom into our plans for the night.  She is really excited to go to dinner at the Delaney house.  After letting her know, I go upstairs and take a shower so that I look my best for Nix.  As six thirty approaches, I get ready to go.  Mom and I get into her car and head for Nix’s house.  Nix opens the door when we get there and I am filled with the smell of something amazing—besides my mate’s scent.

“Hello, Luna.  Darian.”  Lycandrica welcomes us further into the home.

“How many times must I tell you?  It’s Aslanta.”  Mom says with a smile.

“Sorry.  Old habits are hard to break.”  Dexton comes into the room then.

“Luna.  Darian.”

“Aslanta, please.”  Mom corrects Dexton.

“Of course.  Forgive me, Aslanta.”  Dexton smiles.

“Forgiven.”  Lycandrica shows us to the dining room and on the table sits dinner.  Dinner for this evening is salmon, red skin potatoes, and veggie blend.  It smells amazing.  We all sit down and begin eating.  We talk throughout the meal.  After the meal is over, Mom and I say our goodnights and head home.  Tonight I fall soundly asleep with ideas for mine and Nix’s future home.  It will be amazing.

Darian POV

Today during Chemistry, I devise a plan.  After school, I have to go the architect’s office, but first I need to meet with the soccer team.  I plan to make a spectacle of asking Nix to prom even though she said yes three months ago when I confessed that we are mates.  But I want the whole school to see this.  During lunch, I meet with my team in the art studio.  We each make a sign.  Each member will hold up a letter while I will hold up a word.  So, the signs will read:  “W-I-L-L Y-O-U B-E M-Y D-A-T-E 2 prom?”  I hope she will like this.  Once the signs are done and drying, we move them to the boys’ locker room because Nix has a couple art classes this afternoon and I don’t want her to see them drying.  Lunch ends just as we finish putting the signs in the locker room.  I head to class and watch as time passes by so slowly.

‘I have to meet the soccer team after school.  So, please meet me on the field after class.’  I tell Nix through mind link.

‘Okay.’  She says back.  The last bell rings and I run from the classroom to the locker room.  The rest of the team shows up and we grab our signs.  Once out on the field, the guys get into position with me.  Just like I had hoped, most of the school stops to look at what we are doing.  Nix comes walking across the field.  Once she reaches us, I give the signal and we all flip our signs up so that she can read them.  Her cheeks turn red.

“Of course!”  Nix smiles and runs toward me.  I catch her midair and swing us around while giving her a kiss on the lips.

“Would you like a ride home?”  I ask.

“What vehicle today?”

“The Yamaha.”  I say knowing how much she likes riding on my motorcycle.  Nix nods vigorously.  I hand my sign to another team mate.  I grab Nix’s hand and lead us to the parking lot.

“Can you ask your team mate not to throw away your sign?”  Nix asks as we walk.

“Just my sign?”  I ask already knowing the answer.

“Yes.  Just yours.”  She says and I know if I turned to look at her right now, she’d be blushing.

“I will tell him.”  I say.  I get on my bike while telling Greg about the sign.  Once I am settled, I help Nix get on the bike.  Her arms instantly go around my waist.  I drive her home and give her a kiss.  “I’ll talk to you later.”  I say.

“Can’t wait!”  She smiles.  I give her another kiss and watch as she enters her house.  Now for the other thing I have planned.

After I drive Nix home, I head for Carl Burns’ office.  He is the architect on the island and he will be heading the project for mine and Nix’s future home.  I spent a good portion of yesterday drawing up my ideas on graph paper.  As I enter Carl’s office, his mate, Leia, greets me.

“He’s almost ready for you.”  She tells me.

“Thank you.”  I smile.  Five minutes later, Carl comes out of his office.

“Good afternoon, Darian.”  He says.

“Good afternoon, Carl.”

“Please come into my office.”  I walk back into his office with him.  “So, you have a project for me.”  He smiles.

“I do.  I’ve sketched out some ideas on graph paper.  I’m hoping you can accommodate.”

“Of course.  Let’s see the sketches.”  I take out the paper from my book bag and show them to him.  “This looks very doable.  What were you thinking for the walls?”

“Well, I’m hoping to do a rustic log cabin look on the exterior with plaster walls on the interior.  Nix is very artistic, so, I think she’d want some color inside the house.”

“Sounds wonderful.  I’ll get the crew together and add their cost into my estimate.  I should have an estimate by Wednesday.”  Carl says.

“Sounds like a good plan.  Cost is no issue.”  I say.

“I will get plans drawn up for you and have them in a week.  Is that suitable for you?”

“Of course.”

“Great.  Well then, Wednesday I’ll call you with an estimate and then as soon as I have plans drawn up, I’ll be in touch for you to see them.”

“Perfect.  Thank you so much, Carl.”

“My pleasure, Darian.”  We say our goodbyes and I head home.  I work on homework then go for a run.  While running, I can’t help but wonder what Nix’s wolf looks like.  She’s always so shy about that subject.  After my run, I take a shower and lay down in bed.  I fall into a dreamless sleep.