Chapter 55

                        ~ Lan's POV~

For two days everything has been going from bad to worse. Nate has been giving me the disgusted eyes and cold shoulders . I am still waiting for when he will blow up.

Mark hasn't been to school and Damon hasn't been talking to me in school making our project on hold and now we have only two days left.

I would have been happy if it was guilt tearing him apart but now wasn't the time.

I held my backpack tightly wearing my hoodie. If I have to sneak out to make sure I don't fail this project then I will.

It dark outside,the moon rising up. I sneaked downstairs slowly opening the front door to sneak out.

"Where are you going?"

My brother's voice rang behind me making me jump in fright. I turned around to stare at him with wide eyes.

He raised a brow crossing his arms.

"No where" I replied afraid.

"So you are just dressed with your bag, sneaking out to go nowhere?" He asked not buying my story.

I sighed and stared at my feet embarrassed at my lame excuse.

His eyes sparkled "Ahh.. going to meet your man whore? Tell me how does the whole thing work? " Nate asked a smirk on his lips.

Their it is. The criticism I have been waiting for two days.

"If you have anything to say to me, just say it Nate" I said tired of the snide comments he keeps shoving my way.

He stepped in front of me fury in his eyes.

"I am embarrassed to call you my brother. You're a filthy creature" He gritted out, his nose flaring up.

If his words didn't hurt me before they did now.

"Then don't!" I said hurt.

"Don't what?" He asked confused.

"Don't call me your brother!! If I am that filthy to you then stay away!!" I yelled walking out not forgetting to slam the door on his face.

Tears escaped my eyes rolling down my cheeks. I wiped them off roughly not wanting to cry. That's all I have been doing, it's time to stop.

The night was young as bars were open and people walking around, cars moving on the street.

I have been walking for five minutes when the sky thundered and droplets of rain started falling increasing with force. People were running trying to take cover but I didn't. Where do I run to.

Anywhere I go I am sure it will always follow me. My life sucks. I walked under the rain letting it wet my clothes and roll down my face.

Few minutes of walking I arrived in front of Damon's house, the cold seeping into my skin making me shiver.

I rang the doorbell and wait till the door opened up. A bare haired lady who looked frail and weak opened the door, concern in her eyes as she stared at me.

Did I go to the wrong house? I asked myself.

"Come in dear. It's raining" She said pulling me in.

I stepped into the house standing by the door so as not to wet her entire house.

The house was warm, far better than the outside.

"I-I came to see Damon" I said my teeth clanking due to the cold.

"Oh okay dear. Damon! Someone is here to see you!" She called out to Damon. I heard the sound of a door slamming shut and later a pair of feet ran down the stairs.

He stopped on his tracks when he saw me. His eyes roamed over my body as he assessed me. I felt uncomfortable with his piercing stare. My eyes dropped to my feet.

"Mom why are you still awake? Come on go sleep I will take care of this" He said ushering the woman I now know to be his mother away. She smiled at him and patted his cheeks before she walked off. Her steps slow.

"What are you doing here?" He asked getting straight to the point once she was out of view.

"I came....I came so we could continue our project. You have been ignoring me in school" I replied my voice raspy. I was dripping wet and cold in my clothes.

"You walked? Under the rain? Are you insane!!" He yelled at me. I bite my lips tongue tied staring at the floor.

He sighed and turned around walking away.

"Follow me"

I followed him into his room, memories seeping back in as I stepped through the door. Memories I forced myself to forget. From how quiet he stood I was certain I wasn't the only one recalling that moment.

His eyes connected with mine immediately I looked up making me look away embarrassed. My cheeks reddened and I pinched my fingers in the awkward silence.

He cleared his throat and walked away later coming back with clean folded clothes in his hands.

He stretched them in front of me "Go change, you're wetting my floor" He said rudely pointing at the bathroom.

'Rude jerk!' I cussed him in my head.

I dropped my bag on the floor taking the clothes from his hands.

"Sorry" I apologized meekly walking into the bathroom.

I wore his clothes, his scent drifting off into my nose.He smelled like coffee on a hot day and wood. His clothes were big, far bigger than me, that they swallowed me up.

I looked tiny in them. The hands longer than mine and his shorts falling low on my waist with me dragging it up every minute.

I wasn't a sucker for wearing people's clothes but his smelled nice.

I walked out of the bathroom fiddling with the hem of the cloth.

"Now why are you standing their like some shy kid. Come sit and let's begin" He said arrogantly.

I puffed my cheeks trying to contain my anger and walked towards him sitting beside him on the bed.

My books were all laid out on his bed looking to be in a good condition.

'Where is my bag?' I asked myself

"Your bag was wet, I took it out to drip out" He said answering my lingering question.

I nodded flipping the project book.

"I can't believe you walked under the rain. You're stupid you know that right?" He said once again insulting me. I glared at him offended.

"Says the person who has been avoiding me and our project. You're the reason I am here in the first place" I replied.

He scoffed not retorting.

We worked on the project together writing down on our project books. The atmosphere was calm. I felt his lingering stare at some point but didn't bother questioning him till it got me feeling uncomfortable.

His stare was hard and piercing. Like he was burning a hole on my head.

"Do you have anything to say?" I asked uncomfortable with his stare.

"You know for someone who lost his boyfriend because of me, you're quiet comfortable in my presence. I have been expecting you to blow up for days now even that night I came to your room but you haven't.  Why?" He asked

I stopped what I was doing and stared at him.

"You did what I couldn't find the courage to do. And if you hadn't told him maybe I probably would have never told him.

Don't mistake what I'm saying like I support you or I'm not angry, I am but it's all my fault in the first place" I explained a sad smile on my lips. My heart tightened in my chest.

I picked up my pen ready to continue when it was pulled out roughly from my hand.

"Hey what are you doing?!!" I asked glaring at him.

He picked up the books on the bed and dumped them on the floor. I fruwed my brows in confusion.

I watched him as he walked around the room. He picked up a frame and came to sit beside me.

"What are you doing?" I asked again.

"We are almost done. Their is nothing much left to work on in the project. Just listen to me. Okay?"

I nodded.

We sat down on the bed facing each other. I watched him as he caressed the frame in his hand, different emotions passing through his eyes.

At this moment he didn't look like the Damon I was used to seeing. No arrogance or rudeness, just sadness.

"I did what I did because I was upset. Once he punched me all I wanted to do was break him and the only way I could do that was saying something I knew would hurt him and destroy your relationship...." He started still staring at the frame.

I stared at him confused at why he was telling me all this.

"But when I saw that look in your eyes when you stared at me, I felt like I was the betrayer. Like I hurt you deeply and that didn't sit right with me" He continued, his eyes connecting with mine for a brief moment.

"I hated myself after that moment for what I did to you and I was unfair to Mark as well. Nate and the others doesn't speak to me anymore and I didn't really care.

I was expecting the same treatment from you but when you let me in your bed without a word and even tried engaging in a conversation with me in class and not reacting rudely like you are supposed to, I felt worse and bad that's why I ignored you" He explained.

"Damon---"

"Wait please let me finish" He said staring at me.

I nodded allowing him.

He dropped the frame and held my hands together in his. I stared at our hands my heart drumming in my chest. I shouldn't be allowing this but It seems like I have a knack for making bad choices lately.

"I am honestly sorry Lan. I took the right from you to tell your boyfriend what happened. I hurt you and I am sorry.

My apology might not be able to solve anything but I want you to know I deeply regret what I did and I would love to have you back, beside me as friend. A genuine one now..." He said.

I hate it. I hate what his words are doing to me. I hate the honesty and truth I see in his eyes. I hate how my heart melts in my chest.

I hate how my heart isn't angry with him when I am supposed to be furious at him.

"Will you be my friend?" He asked hesitantly like he was scared of my reply.

I bite my lips, fighting my tears from falling.

I pulled my hands from his, a resounding slap on his cheek. His eyes widened in shock as he stared at me.

"Yes I will be your friend. Last chance for you Damon." I said a smile on my lips.

He looked at me confused "Why.....why did you slap me?" He asked.

I shurgged making myself comfortable on his bed "For outing me out to Mark and everyone and destroying my relationship" I replied.

He grinned and laid beside me.

"One would think you don't care about your relationship. That slap was like a pat on the cheek" He said grinning.

"Oh really? Want another taste?" I threatened.

"Nope I will pass" He replied making me chuckle.

I stared at the frame on the bed and picked it up staring at it. In the picture was a younger looking Damon and the same lady I saw downstairs with a little girl. He looked happy and carefree.

"Your sister?" I asked admiring the photo.

He hummed.

"Where is--"

"Dead" He replied before I could complete my question. My eyes dulled as I turned to stare at him.

"Oh..I am so sorry" I said.

"How about her? Your mom. She looks different from the photo." I said staring back at the photo.

He took the frame from my hand placing it on the night stand.

"She is sick" He said firmly.

"Sick? With what?"

"Cancer" He replied. His eyes looked blank like he had no care in the world but his little words conveyed more than his eyes did.

I felt his pain. The pain he was burying deep inside of him and from the looks of it he had no father.

He will be all alone soon. I felt sad for him.

"How long?" I asked quietly.

He cleared his throat trying to prevent his voice from breaking up.

"She has a few weeks left to live" He replied.

My heart panged inside of me. He was a douchebag,an arrogant human and a horrible person but no one deserves to be alone. He must be going through alot.

I hugged him trying to give him warmth.

"I am so...sorry Damon." I tried comforting him even though he acts like he doesn't need it. His hands wrapped around me slowly accepting my hug. A smile bloomed on my face.

I made it my life mission at this moment to make this terrible human smile for as long as his mom lives and even after that.  I won't let him feel alone even though he tires to push me away. He looks like he needs a friend most.