Thorns of her Reality

Questions and Curiosity.

Damien visibly relaxed and for a moment I couldn’t believe I agreed to his request. Oh! Isabella, what are you thinking? You can’t just go to dinner with him! Your mind is all over the place. Oh, but I was ever so hungry. I dreamt of the day I would receive a hot, fresh meal.

“Go take a shower and get some fresh clothes on and I will take you out now.” He softly demanded. Did he say now? I wish he knew how much I was unravelling inside. Nevertheless, I sucked it up and continued to walk towards the ranch house. He made it clear that he was going to follow closely behind me. When I walked into the house, the room fell silent. I gulped as Rhonda, Antonio and Emelia all sat on the couch staring at me. I froze, stood there in complete silence. Rhonda was shooting her most evil glare my way as she nursed her head with an ice pack. I couldn’t help but think what a drama queen she was. I was still standing after everything she put me through. I silently walked towards the bathroom to carry out Damien’s instructions, but when I took my first step, Rhonda immediately shouted at me.

“And where the f**k do you think you’re going?” I sighed loudly; will this eternal torment ever end?

“She is going to take a shower, and then I am going to take her out to dinner.” Damien quickly answered Rhonda’s question with an angered tone.

“Are you out of your God damn mind?” Antonio growled. His voice shook the room just like Damien’s had before. What power do they possess to do such a thing?

“I told you earlier. Enough. I do not answer to you anymore, father. I make my own choices.” Damien growled and, to my surprise, Antonio backed down. He turned his head away in disgust for sure, but he never argued back.

“Go on, Isabella.” Damien nudged me slightly and, for some reason, I had this compulsion to do as I was told, making my way towards the bathroom once more.

“I don’t care what you say, this is my house! She doesn’t get the liberty to shower here often, and she certainly isn’t welcome to now!” Rhonda screamed at Damien and I, once again, came to a resounding halt.

“Now you listen to me! You are lucky that I let you breathe the very air the Earth provides after all you have done to her. I suggest you keep that filthy mouth of yours shut before I cut your tongue out!” Damien roared, shaking the room. Rhonda stilled with her jaw hanging open. Once again, I relished watching him stand up for me and I found Rhonda’s reaction incredibly amusing. The entire day was becoming a fascination for me. I walked off to the bathroom, uninterrupted again after that. I proceeded to take a very shower, carefully washing myself and my hair. The water stung my stitches, and it was incredibly difficult not to wet my cast. I managed in the end.

I got out of the shower, quickly wrapping myself in towels. Oh, how embarrassing! I thought. I must do a walk of shame to my bedroom in nothing but towels. I sighed at the thought. Well, I have come this far, haven’t I? I braced myself before opening the bathroom door. Damien was standing right outside of the door. I jumped, as I wasn't expecting it. He startled me. His eyes looked darker again. What was the deal with that? I shook my head at him and made my way past him to my room, closing the door behind me. What was his deal? I shrugged off the thought and proceeded to get dressed in another outfit from the bag. My room was in a state and there was blood on the floor. I was careful not to tread in it. Once I was dressed, I tried my best to squeeze as much water out of my hair as I could with a towel and quickly brushed it through. I opened the bedroom door and once again Damien was standing there waiting for me again. Jeeze, I thought. I was not going to get used to that.

We left the ranch house in silence. No one dared to say another word to us and, to be honest, I was grateful for that. There is only so much hatred and insults a girl can take in one day. We climbed into Damien’s Mercedes ready to go. I hadn’t noticed the flash care before, but I have been in a bit of a daze since the hospital. I mean, of course, he would drive something so fancy. His family is loaded.

“Do you have anywhere specific that you want to go?” Damien asked, pulling me from my thoughts. My mind drew a blank. Other than college and the ranch, my geography was terrible. The trouble was, I hadn’t been anywhere before. I shrunk into my seat feeling a little stupid. I shook my head, hoping he wouldn’t pry any further. I could feel my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

“It’s alright, I have a place in mind.” He said softly, flashing me a devilish smile that had me melting inside. I was growing frustrated with myself now. Why was I so reactive to his voice or his smile? The smell of his car was also driving me insane. What was the deliciously beautiful scent of melted chocolate coming from?

“What cologne are you wearing?” I blurted out frustratedly, probing him with my question like I was wielding a knife. He looked at me blankly, dumbfounded by my question.

“I am not wearing any cologne.” He said with confusion clear in his voice.

“Of course, you aren’t.” I muttered under my breath with attitude. Damien eyed me carefully, raising his brow whilst all at the same time looking slightly amused. I shook my head and sighed.

“Then what’s with the melted chocolate smell?” I asked bluntly, more frustration clear in my voice. Damien’s face dropped and his brow quickly began to furrow. Once again, he seemed to have some kind of argument with himself as his face reeled through different expressions, but he never said a word. I rolled my eyes; guess I wasn’t going to get an answer. Just then, the phone Joseph gave me began to vibrate in my pocket, distracting me from Damien. I quickly pulled it from my pocket and unlocked the screen to see that I had a text from Joseph.

“Hey birthday girl! Have you thought about us running away together yet?”

Shit, I thought as I read the text. What the hell was I going to tell Joseph? That Rhonda took all my money? That Damien has some new, weird and profound protectiveness for me. Or that I was currently going on a date with Damien. No, to dinner. This is not a date! I told myself mentally.

“Who is that?” Damien asked, trying his best to keep his eyes on the road. I could see him desperately glancing over to sneak a peek at my phone screen. I locked it; I couldn’t even fathom a response to Joseph right now.

“Joseph,” was all I could mutter. Damien’s jaw clenched tightly, and his body stiffened slightly. His brow furrowed once more. Do I detect jealousy? After all the girls I have had to endure listening to through my bedroom wall, he has a right to be jealous over a text. I shook Damien from my thoughts and stared out of the car window. The drive was silent after that. After about forever of driving, we pulled up outside a beautiful, fancy restaurant. I shook my head to Damien.

“Have you seen me?” I asked bluntly, gesturing to all of myself. Damien’s lips curled into a devilish smile and his eyes began to darken again.

“Oh, I have seen you alright.” He said with a deeper voice than before. It sent shivers to my very core. I could feel his desire and, once more, I couldn’t understand it at all. I sucked up my nerves and got out of the car before he could flash me any more lustful looks. Alas, I froze outside of the door to the restaurant, unable to take another step towards it without Damien. He got out of the car flashing me a charming grin.

“What’re you waiting for?” He teased as he walked towards me. I rolled my eyes at him; he knew dame well I was waiting for him. I lacked any confidence to walk into a place like that looking like this. I stiffened as he gently wrapped his arm around my waist, resting his hand gently onto my hip. I was never going to get used to someone touching me, whether it was gently or not. He guided me into the restaurant and almost immediately we were greeted by the manager.

“Mister Lawson! Welcome back.” The manager said with joy. I rolled my eyes inwardly. Of course, he was well known here.

“Please, right this way!” He gestured to both of us to follow him to our table. It gave me a moment to take in my surroundings. It was breathtaking; beautiful modern mirror chandeliers, fancy décor. Even the tables were marble! I hadn’t seen so much luxury in one room before, even the floors glistened. The manager led us to the finest table they had, and it was way too big for the two of us, but Damien accepted it anyway. We took seats across from each other.

“Bring us a bottle of champagne whilst we scan the menu.” Damien ordered, and the manager bowed to his command. Taking his leave from the table.

“So, Joseph.” Damien grumbled across from me.

“Oh, no. I am asking the questions here! I need answers.” I said boldly, taking charge of the conversation. Damien raised his brow but gave me an amused smile at the same time. He was entertained by this. I scoffed, of course he was.

“You tell me who Joseph is, and I will gladly answer all of your questions.” He said with a cocky tone of voice. Damn, he is negotiating well.

“Fine. Joseph is my best friend. Happy?” I snipped with a quirky attitude. He furrowed his brow a little and I knew instantly this conversation wasn’t over.

“Best friend or boyfriend?” Damien grilled, pushing for a more clarified answer. I rolled my eyes.

“I do not see him that way, I can assure you.” I pressed reassuringly.

“But he sees you that way,” Damien stated, confidence clear in his voice. I shook my head slightly, puzzled by his statement. How did he know?

“You don’t agree?” He added as he watched my actions.

“On the contrary. I know he does, I am just trying to figure out how you knew that from a few sentences on the matter.” I responded. He smiled, letting out a small smirk.

“I could tell from your attitude on the matter. Right, I will answer your questions if you can assure me that Joseph will not be an issue.” He sat back in his chair with such authority. I felt crushed by his huge ego.

“An issue?” I questioned.

“For us,” Damien quickly added with a cunning smile.

“Us?” I questioned again, this time furrowing my brow in disgust. My reaction made Damien drop all his cockiness. Immediately he looked worried.

“I hope there will be an us.” He said softly, pulling me in with those beautiful brown eyes as he gazed at me. My heart skipped a beat and my breathing quickened. I didn’t know what to think or how to react to that. The waiter arrived with our champagne, and I would have been relieved from the distraction if the entire time the waiter poured the glasses, Damien hadn’t stopped staring deep into my eyes. He was fixated on me, and it made me nervous. It was as if he gazed at me like I was something to devour. I couldn’t help but feel a little aroused by it all. Stop it, Isabella! Pull yourself together! I took a deep breath, regaining my composure. Once the waiter was done, I finally answered him.

“I told you, I do not feel that way for Joseph.” Was all I could say on the matter.

“Alright, fire away, miss Renette.” He said with curiosity. Now what to ask first?

“Why do you smell like melted chocolate?” I pressed for an answer this time, unsatisfied by his response in the car earlier. He pursed his lips for a moment in thought.

“I do not have a specific answer for that. Only more questions, I am afraid.” I sighed, again unsatisfied with his response.

“What is a ‘mate’?” I asked. “I mean we aren’t even friends, so why did you call me that?” I added. He looked at me with amusement.

“A soul mate,” he said softly. I jumped back into my seat. Was he insane? How would he even know that? We don’t even know each other all that well.

“What is a pack?” I asked.

“A group of people we look after. Like a wolf pack.” He tried to explain. All these answers only filled my head with more questions.

“So, a group of people?” I repeated, searching for more clarity on the matter. He nodded his head to me, giving me no extra clarity at all. I began to grow frustrated; we were getting nowhere fast.

“How do you know I am your soul mate?” I pressed. The growing frustration within me has become apparent in my tone of voice now. He leant further towards me, as if I had piqued his interest or asked the right question.

“The answer to that will blow your mind, Isabella.” He groaned over the table, only leaving me wanting to know more.

“So, blow my mind then.” I said sarcastically, growing increasingly impatient. He took a deep breath before saying in the most serious tone I had heard him use.

“Because, I am a werewolf.”