Pasts

Everyone jumps up and turns their attention toward the bed as Damien announces Ariel's name.

She lets out a small groan and gives a frail smile. 

"Thank god your awake." Damien says as he clutches onto Ariel's hand. 

The girls have tears swelling in their eyes as they watch their friend lay in bed barely able to give a smile. 

Veronica rushes over to her bedside on the opposite side of Damien and grabs hold of Ariel's hand, "Sis, *hic* I'm so g-glad your *hic* a-awake! I've been *hic* so w-worried!" Veronica has tears streaming down her face. She can barely get her words out as she goes in and gives Ariel a hug. 

Damien tries to give the girls some space with Ariel, but she has a tight grip on Damien's hand. 

A few moments later the doctor comes in, "Let me have a look at her." The doctor tries escorting everyone out, but Ariel doesn't let go of Damien. 

"Sorry, doc looks like she wants me here." He gives a smirk and a small nod toward Ariel.

"Alright, alright. We can do the physical exam once she's a bit more active. But right now, NURSE!" A young woman comes rushing in, she could be any older than Veronica. She has blonde hair tied into a little bun, and crimson-colored eyes. 

"Yes doctor. What do you need?" She says.

"I need you get this young woman some food and change her schedule checkups. I say every 5 hours will do."  The doctor instructs the nurse and then leaves the room.

The nurse hurries out of the room to go get the food for Ariel.

"Now that everyone's gone, I'm glad to see you're awake again." Damien brushes Ariel's hair away from her eyes and gives her a kiss on the forehead.

"T-th-tha-tha-thank y-y-yo-you." Ariel squeezes out two small barely audible words. 

Damien smiles at her with tears in his eyes. "No worries, I would do it all over again if you needed it. Get some rest and recover cause we have a lot to talk about. AND don't forget about all the fun games and places we have to go see." Damien goes back and tries to kiss her on the forehead, but Ariel uses all her effort to lift her chin up and Damien kisses her on the lips. 

"Sneaky. I'll remember that." Damien says as he pulls back, Ariel gives him a smile. "Now get some rest. I gotta go let the girls know, as I doubt, they'll stop pestering the doctor if I don't tell em."

Ariel releases Damien's hand and he marches out to meet the girls.

Immediately all four of them come rushing toward Damien. "Is she alright!" They all say in unison.

"Yes, yes. She even spoke to me." Damien says with a smile on his face. "She even gave me a little present." 

Veronica eyes Damien from his words little present. But nonetheless lets it go as she is more concerned about Ariel.

"I want to spend the night here." Veronica says.

"Yeah, we should probably do shifts or something. We each stay a night until she recovers. That way she doesn't get lonely." Damien says.

Jessica and Lauren nod their heads. "Sounds good to me." They both say.

"Will you need anything Veronica?" Damien asks. 

"No, they should have everything here." Veronica says as she opens the door to Ariel's room. "Well, I'm going to go in now, see you guys tomorrow."

"Good night, Veronica." They all say as they head for the exit of the building.

"Do you girls want me to escort you home?" 

"Yes please." Emmy says.

"Haha, alright let's go." Damien says as he grabs Emmy's hand and walks with the other two to their home.

"So, how are all you guys doing?" Damien asks as they are walking down the street.

Lauren is the first to speak up, "It's been somewhat crazy. You go into a coma of some sort, Ariel gets kidnapped. This has been a wild couple of weeks."

"I would have to agree. But I am glad we got to meet you." Emmy says.

"Yeah. I'm just glad Ariel's awake and you're fine, Damien." Jessica adds on.

Damien just chuckles, "That it has. Just a couple of months ago, I was workin on the farm, helping around town. Then I got this letter saying I'm accepted to Genesis Academy. With nothing holding me back at the farm I leave and meet all these wonderful, and not so wonderful people. Learn about magic, and even use it in a life-or-death situation. It's been a crazy ride." 

Emmy tightens her grip on Damien's hand as he reminisces about his past. 

"Have I ever told you girls about where I came from?"

They shake their heads.

Damien looks up into the sky as he watches the the clouds drift on by and he starts reminiscing, "Ha, well let me tell you, I came from a farm way outside this city. Like it took several hours just to get here. There I was raised by my uncle. He was a strong man. WAY stronger than I. But he got sick. And he couldn't get any better. The doctors around us weren't good enough or they lacked the facilities to help him but eventually my uncle passed away. But the old man taught me all he knew about enhancement magic. He helped me cultivate it and looks at me now, according to the system here I have almost a perfect score in control of it. Ha." 

"What about your parents?" Jessica asks.

"Oh, I don't really remember them, but from what my uncle said, they had died in an accident of some sort. I was just a lil baby. I never pressed the issue cause every time I did, I would see tears start swelling in my uncle's eye's and I wasn't about to see all that." Damien says with a melancholy look on his face. 

The girls look down as they walk in silence for a few seconds.

"Thank you, girls, for listening." Damien says as he gives a warm smile to each of them. "You've become pretty important to me."

The girls rush over to Damien and give him a group hug. Damien squeezes them tightly.

A few moments later they continued walking.

"What about you girls, what are your pasts like?" Damien asks.

Emmy speaks up first, "Well, I am somewhat like you Damien, I never quite knew my parents, they left me at my grandparents when I was around six years old. My grandparents took care of me quite well, but we struggled to get by. Constantly having to skip meals at least 3 or 4 times a week. It was a struggle. Whenever I tried to bring up my parents, they would just shake their head and say they were gone. I wouldn't get anything else out of my grandparents. But luckily once I got into Highschool I met Ariel, we became quite close, she would always watch out for me as I was the small fragile girl. She was like my guardian angel. Then you all know how college has been." 

Damien pats Emmy on the head, "Well, you're gonna have to introduce me to your grandparents." He says with a smile.

Emmy blushes. 

Jessica speaks up next, "Well, to be honest, I've had a pretty simple life so far. I had both parents who are still alive today. We didn't struggle but we weren't living in luxury either. I try to keep a positive attitude cause my mom always told me a smile can clear the darkest of days. I've had a few run ins with the people here, but Lauren here has always been there for me!"

Jessica gives Lauren a big hug.

"She's the big sister I always wanted! Uh- Well other than that everything been pretty smooth besides as of late." Everyone looks sad for a second before Jessica throws a big smile at everyone. "See clears it right away." 

Everyone laughs as they continue down the road.

"Well, I guess it's my turn." Lauren says. "I've been kinda rebellious ever since I was a kid. Which was a pain in the ass for my parents. They hated it, getting calls from teachers, other parents, cops. So, they kicked me out when I turned sixteen. It was rough for a few years, I had to bounce between places and jobs. I almost had to drop out of Highschool cause of it. But thankfully my magical ability helped me out. I was able to apply to Genesis Academy, and with power and experience I was able to get in. Sadly, I haven't heard from my parents at all yet. But it is what it is. I just keep moving forward and with Jessica and now you guys I feel life is finally coming together."

They all laugh as they come up to the girl's house.

"Well here you are ladies. Thanks for sharing!" Damien gives Emmy a kiss and gives both Jessica and Lauren a kiss on the forehead as they rush into their house stopping at the door waving goodbye, "Good night, Damien!" They all say as Damien heads back to his dorm room.