Aching Heart

Chapter Seven

Tuesday morning, Damon woke up at exactly 8am, the time his school started. He did not care that he was going to be late, that was the only perk of being the principal’s son and he had to admit, he took full advantage of it. He was always late for school. He went downstairs and as he walked down the stairs that led straight to their living room he noticed his mother was still there.

Patricia looked up at the sound of someone walking down the stairs. “You’re up early for someone not going to school.” She said grabbing her handbag, getting ready to leave. “That’s because I am going to school.” He said with a smile. His mother seemed really happy with that answer.

“That’s good, I am glad Kirsten finally convinced you to go to school.” All Damon could do was nod. “Oh and your father wanted you to go see him in his office. So do that before you leave.” Again Damon just nodded his head and Patricia left. Damon had not seen much of his father since he had been back. His father spends a lot of time at work or in his office, barely interacting with his family. David King was all about, working and taking care of his family but that was about it. To Damon it was like he only cared for them financially.

Damon went back up stairs to shower and get ready to go to school. Exactly 30 minutes later he was done. He walked to his father’s office that was downstairs. When he reached the office, he knocked softly. “Come in.” David’s voice was heard.

“You were looking for me, Father.” Damon said when he opened the door. “Oh yes. I wanted to let you know that I am taking you with me to court, either today when you come home from school or tomorrow. We can go to the law firm first, if you want so you can check out where you will be working one day.” His father said an expression of seriousness plastered on his face. When he spoke to them he spoke so formally. That loving, caring tone that a father should have when speaking to his children was just not there. Damon got annoyed by the fact that he did not even ask if Damon wanted to go to court with him, he just ordered him.

“Why?” Damon asked and that cause David to frown. “What do you mean, why? I am taking you so you could show some interest in law. I have been very lenient with you and it is time you start taking your career serious. You are in your last year of high school.” Damon bit his lip from saying anything disrespectful. His entire family knew he was not interested in law but more into arts, like music and also sports.

“Dad, I—so what am I going to do there, exactly?”

“Observe. I am helping a man prove his innocence and I think you should see because that’s going to be you one day.” Damon forced a smile out. Arguing with his father about his career was like arguing with a brick wall.

“I’m going to go to school now.” Was all Damon said and then he walked out of his father’s office. With his father it was always business and career talks and with his mother it was always Kirsten talks. Where is grandma when I need her?

Damon did not bother to think further about what his father had said. He needed to get to school. He reached Kingston High in fifteen minutes time and there were no students in sight as they were all in first period. He skipped first period and only went to class second period. He had French and during the class he kept looking around to see if Andrea was there but he saw no sign of her. Third period he had Business Studies and again he looked around to see any new faces and still no sight of her. He felt disappointed, he was sure after seeing her picture in his house that she was attending this school. Or maybe she is still coming, later in the week or something. Even though he tried to sooth himself with that thought he still felt disappointed. Damon really looked forward to seeing her again. The thought of her brought such an unfamiliar feeling within him.

It was lunch time and Damon felt like he came to school for nothing. He could have stayed at home, he thought in disappointment. He did not feel like going to the cafeteria, none of his friends knew he was back, not even Caleb. If he had to go back, he had to see Kirsten and he was not in the mood to. Damon, therefore took his time to go to the cafeteria. He went to visit his mother in her office and she smiled upon seeing him.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m bored. Can I just sit here until lunch is over? Do you have anything to eat, I did not eat breakfast this morning?” Patricia laughed as she stared at her son. She loved him dearly, both her sons. She only wanted what was best for them both.

“I have work Damon and I am sure Kirsten is looking forward to seeing you. She has not seen her fiancé in a whole month.” Damon groaned. “Can you please stop calling her my fiancé, Mom?”

“That’s what she is. Just go to her Damon. I’ll see you at home.”

“Fine.” Damon muttered. He left his mother’s office and slowly walked to the cafeteria. Damon strolled through the passage and when he reached the cafeteria, the chatter he had heard slowly started dying down until it was completely quiet. Everyone was staring at him. He ignored it. This was what always happened when he walked into cafeteria. He strolled to the table his friends were seated at. He flopped down on the open seat next to Caleb.

“You actually came to school? I thought we were not going to see you until next week, at least.” Caleb said as he greeted Damon with a handshake.

“What’s up, y’all.” Damon said, acknowledging the rest of the group. “And nah, I decided to come today. Got bored at home.” Damon replied to Caleb.

Kirsten was firing a glare at Damon. “Good to see you too, Kirsten.” He said, winking at her. “Oh, so that’s how you greet your girlfriend?”

“I was not aware that I had a girlfriend?” Kirsten glared but got up from her seat, opposite Damon.

“We are getting married one day, Damon. Might as well start dating.” Kirsten said as she went to go sit on Damon’s lap. “Not by choice.” Damon muttered, but Kirsten of course heard him. “So what? Does it matter?”

“Kinda does, Kirsten.” Damon replied back.

“Are you two going to start arguing again?” A bored voice asked. Damon looked up at the voice that was speaking. It was Austin’s. His face turned hard. Austin and Damon did not get along at all. They were not friends. Damon did not even know why they were not friends, but ever since he can remember, Austin always portrayed a dislike towards him.

“Shut up, Austin.” Kirsten said, annoyed and then turned her attention towards Damon. “I missed you so much. I can’t believe you did not even call me once.” Damon sighed and decided not to answer, instead he scanned the cafeteria, still hoping to see that face that has been on his mind a lot these past few days. Damon sighed inwardly, he was most probably mistaken.

“Damon, have you heard we have new scholarship kid.” Karla informed him. Damon’s head shot towards Karla’s direction, her words catching his attention. It had to be her.

“Oh really? Who is it? Is it another guy? We haven’t had female scholarships students in forever.” He said, trying to sound nonchalant.

“It’s a girl. Her name is Anna or something.” Kirsten said distastefully. Damon almost smiled, he was certain that it was her.

“Speaking of which, y’all did a number on her. What happened to her after that the incident in the caf?” Caleb asked. Damon frowned. What the hell did they do to her?

Then he realized she was a scholarship kid, he knew exactly what happens to them at this school. He clenched his jaw, had he been here yesterday he could have stopped it. He did not care whether she was here on scholarship. He had to see her again and now that she was so close, made him happy.

“She had English with us, after lunch. She came late, in normal school clothes again. She walked in like nothing had happened, almost like she belonged here. Karla, if we see her again we should totally teach her another lesson. Who does she think she is?” Damon felt like throwing Kirsten off him.

“Well, I haven’t seen her today. Maybe she got the message and did us all a favour of not returning. Students like her does not belong here.” Damon had to bit his lip from saying something. He usually never bothered to even interact or care about scholarship students. They will definitely find it weird if he starts defending her, especially when they don’t even know that there was a possibility that he knew this one.

Damon was so busy trying to contain himself he did notice Austin observing him. Austin could see Damon clenching his jaw and he looked very tense. Austin frowned at that. What was the matter with him?

“Damon, you okay there?” Damon turned his attention to Austin. “Fine” He said curtly.

Before anyone could say something they noticed students started whispering loudly amongst themselves. “What’s wrong with them?” Karla asked. And then they noticed two girls entering the cafeteria from the passage side. Damon’s eyes immediately shot to them. He noticed that one was shorter than the other. He could not quite see if one of them was Andrea but then as they walked through the students he noticed a black pony tail and the side of her face. He immediately knew it was her.

She was actually here. At this school.

“Kirsten, look at her laughing with her friend, thinking she belongs here.” Both she and her friend did not dare to look at their table as they walked to an empty table in the corner of the cafeteria.

“Who is that short girl with her, even?” An annoyed Kirsten ask. “That’s Jamie.” Caleb answered.

“Should we go over to them and give her another ‘welcoming’, this time teaching her little friend a lesson as well.”

“What did Jamie do? She just eats lunch with the girl, geez. Would you guys chill?” Both Kirsten and Karla frowned at Caleb. “What’s the matter with you?” Karla asked him.

“Nothing, just let them eat peacefully. You almost blinded her yesterday.”

“Fine whatever. Karla, we’ll leave her for today. I want to spend time with Damon, I missed him.” Kirsten said while placing her arm around his shoulder. Damon frowned. Why was Kirsten still sitting on him?

“People like her do not belong here,” Damon’s eyes shot towards Austin’s voice, “so she should not be allowed to eat peacefully when she should not even be here in the first place. Allow me to disturb her today.” Damon froze at Austin’s words. He knew Austin had no mercy with scholarship students.

Damon will not allow Austin to do anything to Andrea, over his dead body. She was literally such a kind girl and definitely did not deserve this.

Austin stood up from his seat and Damon tensed up.

"Baby, what's wrong?" Kirsten asked, noticing how tensed het got.  "Nothing." Damon was not looking at Kirsten. His eyes followed Austin who was now slowly strolling towards Andrea’s table. When Austin was in front of Andrea, Damon noticed how she tensed up.

“Why are you paying attention to them, Damon?” Kirsten whined. Damon ignored Kirsten as he moved her off him and stood up. All his friends looked at him. Caleb gave him a questioning look.

“Where are you going?” Kirsten asked. Damon ignored them as he also made his way over to where Austin was now smirking down at Andrea while grabbing her plate of food that was in front of her. Damon’s jaw clenched. He ignored the rest of the student’s stares and whispers.

“Leave her alone, Williams.” Damon said the second he reached them. He said it loud enough that everyone heard him. Gasps erupted throughout the cafeteria. Andrea, turning her attention towards that all too familiar voice, gasped as well.

“Damon just move along, this has nothing to do with you.” Damon’s face was hard as he glared at Austin.

“No, you move along and leave her alone.” Damon took Andrea’s plate of food out of Austin’s hand and placed it in front of her.

“Damon this does not concern you. This is between me and Andrea.” Damon's eyes narrowed. Why did Austin say her name like he actually knew her?

Damon turned towards Andrea, grabbed her wrist and pulled her up. Andrea still in shock that Damon was actually in front of her, allowed him to do so, wordlessly.

“We are not done.” Austin said as he eyed Andrea. “Yeah, buddy I think you are.” Damon said and then turned to Jamie, who was also in shock at the incident that was taking place in front of her. “I will be steeling your friend real quick.” With that, Damon pulled Andrea with him as he exited the cafeteria through the doors that lead outside with her. When they were outside and free from prying eyes Andrea pulled her arm free from his grip.

“Okay, what the hell just happened? Where did you just come from? What are you doing here? Okay that was a stupid question, obviously you go to school here. Gosh what the hell is wrong with me, bumping into everyone that attends this school? Wait…why did you even do that?” Damon chuckled.

“Breathe, Vanilla. I know it’s your excitement because of seeing me again, but you’re gonna have to contain it.” Andrea rolled her eyes but fought a smile at his nickname for her. Damon smiled at her standing in front of him, her short figure looking up at him. It really was her.

“So I will be answering all that question, if you follow me. I wanna take you to my spot.”

“No, wait. I’m not going anywhere. Why did you just do what you did?”

“What? Save you. You should thank me, Vanilla.”

“Stop calling me vanilla, my name is Andrea.”

“Oh look who is so eager to tell me her name now.” Damon said teasingly and Andrea could not help but smile at that. “Damon, you should not have done that. You’re obviously one of them and you just brought unwanted attention to me.”

“Andrea, you are the new student and a scholarship student. You already had the attention. All I did was show them that I would help you if they dare do anything to you.”

“Honestly, I think that’s worse.”

“How is that worse? Do you know Austin was going to throw the pasta you had in your plate all over you? What could possibly be worse than that?”

“I did not mean worse for me…for you.” Andrea said softly. Damon features softened and he gave her an intimate look. Goodness. How was this girl able to make my heart flutter like this, with just a few words?

“Don’t worry about me, love. I’m the principal’s son. Nothing will happen to me.” Andrea’s eyes widened as she gasped. “Wait, what? You’re the principal’s son! Okay now that is even worse.”

“What is it this time?”

“You’re the principal’s son, Damon. You’re interacting with the scholarship kid. You saved me…in front of everyone.” Damon laughed, she was cute when she was stressed. “Thank you for stating the obvious, love.” She glared at him.

“You’re thinking too much, Andrea. Follow me.” He did not wait for her as he grabbed her wrist and pulled her with him.

“Where are you taking me?” He didn’t answer and just pulled her along with him as they walked outside. It was completely empty here as all the students were all having lunch inside. He walked her to the back side of the school, until they reached a field.

“Why are you taking me to such a secluded spot? Are you gonna kidnap me?” Damon laughed out loud. “Stop asking questions, Vanilla.” They walked across the field until Andrea noticed they were on the rugby field, because she could see the rugby poles on opposite ends of the field. Damon walked with her to the poles and then he plopped down on the grass, leaning his back against the front side of the pole. Andrea stayed standing with a raised eyebrow.

“You may sit down.”

“I’m not sitting down. Lunch period is almost over and this is quite a distance from the school’s entrance.”

“Lunch started like 20 minutes ago. We have a good 40 minutes left. Sit down, please.” Andrea thought about it for a second and then she finally went to go sit down opposite Damon, stretching her legs out. “That’s more like it.” Damon said and gave her one of those dimpled smile she had seen every so often in her mind.

“Who would have ever imagined we’d see each other so soon, right? I thought I was going to have to move mountains to see you again.” Andrea chuckled. “Oh stop exaggerating.”

“I’ll admit. It is nice seeing you again, but I think its best that we don’t ever interact again.” Andrea spoke again. She had to admit, she felt a little too happy on seeing him again but what she had experience so far at her new school did not sit well with her. She did not think spending more time with Damon would be good for her or for him.

Damon sat up straight and frowned at her words. “Of course we should.” Andrea sighed. “Look, I get it. We had a nice time Sunday. You’re a much better guy than what I initially thought, upon my first impression of you. But it’s different now. You really don’t have to feel obligated to hang out with me just because we met before. I know you have your friends and well I…I’m here on scholarship. That’s should be more than enough reason for us not to interact anymore.” Damon ran his fingers through his hair. He did not like what she was saying and he did not want to stop talking to her. Damon was not sure what these unfamiliar feelings was he felt around her but he knew he did not want to stop hanging out with her, especially now that she actually attended the same school as his.

“What do you mean, obligated? I’m hanging out with you because I think you’re cool. Not because we met before. And what does you having a scholarship have anything to do with us building a friendship.”

“Oh come on now. You know the unwritten social rules of this school. You’re the principal’s son which makes you a member…gosh I don’t even want to call it that…it makes you one of the rich kids. And based on the rumors I heard thus far I honestly don’t want to associate myself with any of you guys.”

“And I’m sorry I am including you in it, but I don’t actually know you and the things I heard about you and your friends…not even just you guys, but the rich kids at this school, I mean who looks down on someone and bullies them simply because they are not as rich as you are. Does that make sense to you?” Damon stayed silent. He could not even argue with her because what she said made sense.

“Look, I’m not going to sit here and make excuses for myself. What you’re saying is completely correct. I might have never participated in the bullying but I never stopped them and that makes me just as bad. But I made a change this morning and stood up for you, that should earn me some brownie points.” He added a sheepish smile and Andrea could not help but smile.

She realized something, he can never stay serious for too long.

“Yeah, only cause you knew me.”

“Andrea, I believe the two of us have the potential to share a really great friendship and I think you should give me a chance to show you that. Like you said, you don’t know me and that’s why you should get to know me.” He added a wink. Andrea sighed and placed her face in her hands. She did not know whether to laugh or scream at him.

“Did anyone ever tell you how persistent you are?” She mumbled in her hands. Damon chuckled and pulled her hands away from her face. He did not let go of her hands though, he liked how small and soft it felt in his big hands. Andrea looked at him and sighed. Then she tried pulling her hands free from him. He did not let go.

“I think persistence is the most compatible trait to your stubbornness.” Andrea finally managed to free her hands from his grip but then instantly found herself missing the warmth of his hands. This is exactly why I need to stop interacting with you Damon.

“Damon, I’m sure you are a good guy—no, I know you are good guy. And you’re right we get along well and we’d totally have a great friendship but,” Andrea slowly stood up, hoping Damon did not stop her, “we really don’t need to have any compatible traits because we will not be hanging out anymore. It was really nice to see you again though and I hope you have a good school year. I’ll see you around.” Without waiting for him she started walking away.

“Why are you doing this?” He asked after her. She turned around: “because I’m stubborn.” And then she turned back around and started walking faster into the direction of the school building.

“And I’m persistent remember!” He shouted after her causing Andrea to smile, shaking her head while walking faster.