Aching Heart

Chapter Four

Andrea started wiping the dirt off her dress and legs. She noticed her one leg had a few scratches but nothing too painful. It was her left elbow that was burning as she landed on it when she fell. Remembering that the guy was still standing there she turned her attention towards him, her eyes spitting fire.

“Are you crazy? Do you realize how reckless you were?” Just realizing what could have happened caused shivers to run down her spine. The guy ran his hand through his hair, evidently realizing what could have happened as well.

“I am so sorry. Things could have turned out so badly had you not been here.” Andrea looked at his pained expression and suddenly felt a little bad for him. If she had not been here and something had happened to that girl, the guilt would have eaten him up.

“Let this be a lesson to you to never drive over the speed limit ever again.”

“You can bet on it. Believe it or not, I never drive over the speed limit. Today was just one of those days and I was on a phone call that was not helping.” Andrea suddenly looked at this guy, really looked at him. She noticed that he looked about her age and he was extremely handsome. His curly brown hair were a bit riffled from constantly running his hand through it, no doubt something he did when he was upset or panicked. His eyes were a light brown, almost golden colour with green speckles in it.

He really was handsome.

When Andrea did not answer him, he spoke again. “I know you hurt your elbow. Let me help you.” Andrea stopped studying him and frowned at his words. “No it’s fine. It’s not even that sore.” Andrea lied through her teeth. It was burning.

“You’re literally bleeding. Please just let me help. I am to blame for this.” He moved closer to her and she moved a step back. “I said I am fine. Just go your own way and I’ll go mine.” She snapped this time.

“Look, I have a first aid kit in my car, you can come sit in my car and I’ll help you. If you’re scared to be alone with a stranger in a car, I give you permission to shout for help if you feel uncomfortable in anyway.” Andrea eyed him carefully for a few seconds before sighing. She was anyway stuck her for a good two hours, if not more.

“Fine, whatever. Oh and for your information, if you make me feel uncomfortable in anyway, I will scream with or without your permission. Matter of fact, I won’t just scream I will hit you where the sun don’t shine.” Andrea saw a smile forming on his face at her words.

“Noted.” He said and then moved to his car that was standing close to the side walk. Andrea could not help but noticed that he was driving the latest Audi model. Why was every teenager I bump into rich? She thought to herself as he opened the door of the passenger side for her to get in. He jogged to the driver’s side and got in. “Don’t panic but I am just going to park somewhere better, okay.” He said, Andrea just nodded her head. He finally parked somewhere and then turned his attention to her. “Would you give me the first aid kit in the glove compartment please? I would do it myself but then I’d be leaning too close to you and I wouldn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable. I am actually quite fond of the places where the sun don’t shine, you know.” Andrea fought the smile threatening to form at his last words and rolled her eyes at him as she opened the glove compartment, taking out the first aid kit and handing it to him.

“You’re going to have to turn and give me your left elbow.” Andrea could only turn her upper body and held up her elbow for him, now sitting in a very uncomfortable position. He ruffled in the first aid kit and took out the disinfectant. “Warning, this is going to sting.” Andrea closed her eyes at his words and a few seconds later she felt that sting on her elbow and winced loudly. “I’m sorry.” He muttered but she kept her eyes closed. After he put the disinfectant on with a cotton bud. She felt him wiping the blood off with a tissue of some sort. “You smell very nice.” He suddenly whispered and her eyes shot open.

“Oops, sorry. I guess that statement can come off as bit weird and might make you feel uncomfortable. Please don’t scream or hit me.” He said quickly but with a smile on his face. Andrea noticed that he had dimples when he smiled and that just made him ten times more attractive than what he already was.

“No more weird comments then.” Andrea finally said, not knowing what to really say. She actually did not feel that he gave off any weird vibes, thus she did not feel uncomfortable around him.

“Please just continue with what you are doing.” She closed her eyes again and heard him riffling through the first aid kit again. A few seconds later she felt him placing one band aid on and then another.

“All done. You can open your eyes now.”

“Thank you.” She said, giving him a small smile. He smiled back as he looked at her but this time his smile looked almost secretive. He did not say anything, just looked at her. Andrea found herself unable to look away from his golden brown eyes. He was easily one of the most attractive guys she had ever seen. Andrea was the first to break eye contact as she muttered: “Thank you for your help. I am going to go now.” She said as she turned away from him and placed her hand on the handle of the car door, ready to open it and get out.

“Wait,” he finally spoke, “I still feel really bad for what happened.” At the sound of his voice Andrea turned towards him again.

“Don’t. It happened and it’s over now. Luckily no one got hurt so let just avoid this ever happening again and move one. Bye.” She turned back around to the door.

“Wait,” this time he grabbed her hand. Annoyed, Andrea turned around. “What is it this time?”

“You said no one got hurt, but you did. Please let me buy you and ice cream here at Milky Way and then you can go.” Andrea noticed how he did not seem fazed by her attitude towards him at all. “It really is fi-”

“Don’t decline, please just let me do this for you. Or do you have somewhere else to be?” Andrea opened her mouth to answer him and then closed it again. She really did not have anywhere else to be. She was stuck here until her Dad could pick her up and she was planning on waiting at the ice cream shop, anyway.

“Fine, but no funny business.” His eyes lit up. “Promise” He said, giving her another one of his heart warming smiles. She motioned to open door then got interrupted by him again. “Stay here, let me open the door for you.”

“No, thanks. I can open the door just fine.” She said as she quickly opened the door and got out before he could stop her again. He seemed to find her replies amusing as he smiled and shook his head once he joined her. He parked his car a few blocks away from Milky Lane so they walked there in silence.

He was the first one to break it by saying: “Oh, I am Damon by the way.” He stopped and held out his hand for her to shake it. She took it and said: “Good to know,” and then pulled her hand away from him. He chuckled at that.

“Why do you always seem to smile or laugh at what I do or say?” Andrea asked.

“You amuse me, that’s all.” Damon said with a smile. This dark haired beauty had something about her that made him want to stay around her. He realized how beautiful she was when had helped her up earlier and she somehow just got so much more attractive with every passing moment. The short moment in the car was not enough for him, he wanted to be in her presence more. Something about the fire in her eyes and her attitude towards him was so refreshing and that is what amused him. She walked in front of him and he noticed that her attire was not something he was used to seeing on girls but he liked how it looked, especially on her. Her hair was resting on her shoulders and she was not paying him any attention as they entered Milky Way.

“So you’re not telling me your name?” Damon asked her as they entered the shop. There were barely any people in there. “I was taught to never give my name out to strangers.” Damon chuckled at that again. He could tell she had a great personality and she was absolutely gorgeous. Her black hair framed her make-free face beautifully. The minute he jumped out of his car he could not help but notice her beauty, amidst the chaos that was happening.

Just thinking of the almost accident he got chills down his spine. All he wanted to do was go for a drive but then his mother called. He felt upset after that phone call and then decided to visit his grandma’s grave again but then Kirsten called him as well. Then they argued as well, while he was already upset. She added fuel to the fire and he got so frustrated and ended up driving past the speed limit.

"What would you guys like to order?" The waiter asked, interrupting Damon’s thoughts. "Vanilla ice cream." Both Andrea and Damon said in sync. Damon smile as he turned to look at her. Knowing that he had something so simple as liking the same flavoured ice cream as her, made him feel way more excited than what he should have felt.

“We’ll have two regular vanilla ice creams please.”

“And you guys don’t want any topping?”

“No. I love vanilla ice cream clean, without any toppings.” Andrea answered. She was aware that vanilla was probably the most boring flavour and few people actually prefer it just like that. It was weird that both she and Damon like the same flavoured ice cream. It was rare that she ever met someone who preferred the vanilla flavour.

“You heard the lady.” Damon answered. The waiter nodded and they walked to an empty table to take a seat.

“So you’re really not gonna tell me your name?” Damon asked her again, once they were seated. He gave her another dimpled smile.

“You should have been named smiley, looks like that’s all you can do. Is it because of your dimple? Do you like showing it off to girls?” Andrea asked, fighting a smile herself. Damon chuckled out loud. It was really refreshing to be around this girl. He enjoyed the banter.

“I don’t know, maybe. Is it working on you…Vanilla?”

“Vanilla?” It was Andrea’s turn to laugh. Damon smiled at that. Was it possible for someone to become more beautiful than what they already was? Damon thought to himself.

“Yes, Vanilla. You don’t want to tell me your name, so I’m calling you something I’ll remember you by.” Damon knew he would not need something to remember her by, after this he will not easily forget her.

“You don’t need to worry about remembering me. After this we won’t be seeing each other again.” Those words did not sit well with Damon. He wanted to see her again.

“That would just be very unfortunate.” Damon said meaning every word of it. Maybe he could ask her for her number but he had a feeling she would not be giving it to him. Andrea smiled, rolling her eyes at his answer. Knowing she might not see him again made her feel a little sad too. They might have met under weird circumstances but she could tell he was a good guy. She did start to enjoy his company and the fact that he was so handsome did not hurt.

“Where were you rushing too that you drove so recklessly? If I may ask.” Andrea asked, trying to change the subject. A guilt expression took over his face. “I really was reckless. I was on my way to the graveyard, after an argument with my mother on the phone. Shortly after that I received another one that made me more upset. I was so frustrated and annoyed and I started speeding, just wanting to reach the graveyard.” He knew speaking to his grandma would make him feel better.

“I guess there is no use feeling guilty about that anymore. Or thinking about what could have happened. It happened and luckily that little girl is in one piece safely with her mother.” Andrea said giving him a reassuring smile. She could tell it was eating at him. Damon found himself staring at her smiling face a little too long. Realizing that, he cleared his throat and replied to her.

“Yeah, thanks to you. What were you doing here that you were just at the right time and place.” Before she could answer the waiter came and placed down their ice creams. After the waiter left, Andrea looked at Damon to answer him.

“I was just coming back from the graveyard.” Andrea did not feel like going into detail about why she was there.

“Oh? Who were you visiting? If I may ask.” Damon replied, placing a spoonful of ice cream in his mouth. “I was visiting my mother? Who were you planning to visit?”

“My grandmother.” He said with a sad smile. Andrea suddenly realized something by his sad smile. “Wait, you never got to visit your grandmother and you’re sitting here with me. Please don’t let your guilt about what happened keep you from visiting your grandmother. I really don’t hold anything against you anymore, I promise.” Andrea had a feeling he was probably very close to his grandmother and she would never forgive herself if he felt like he owed her and did not visit his grandmother today. Damon’s heart warmed at her words. She was not only beautiful from the outside, but she evidently had a beautiful heart as well. If he only she knew sitting her with her was already making him feel better.

“No, it’s fine. I was not initially planning on visiting her today. I visited her yesterday already but after my argument with my mother I felt upset. I then just found myself driving to the graveyard just to talk to her again, to feel a little better.” If she was still alive he would go straight to her room after an argument with either one of his parents and he would instantly feel better. Andrea realized that the same effect, visiting her mother had on her, was the effect it had on Damon when he visits his grandmother.

“I am guessing, talking to her just makes you feel better whenever you feel upset.” Andrea said while eating a few spoons of her ice cream. Damon smiled at her words. “Exactly. Just how it was when she was alive and after losing her, I came every time I felt upset and just…you know, vent…or whatever.” Andrea knew exactly what he was talking about.

"I know how you feel. It is the same with my mother. You must have been very close with your grandmother."

"Super close. She gave the best advice even though it was sometimes really old fashioned," He chuckled at that, "I always listened and took it to heart." To Andrea, Damon suddenly looked like he was faraway and she stayed quiet, waiting if he wanted to continue.

"I lost her a few months after my seventeenth birthday. It was not a surprise when she died, we had somewhat expected it but we...or at least me...I, was not nearly prepared for losing her." Damon gave another sad smile. He still remembered that day when she fainted and they had to rush her to the hospital.

Andrea realized he was possibly her age, eighteen, so he recently lost his grandmother. It was still fresh to him. "You lost her recently?"

"Yes, 6 months ago. To tell you, I was heartbroken would be an understatement." Damon had no idea why he was telling this girl all this, when he barely knew her. There was just something about her that he was drawn too and she was easy to talk to.

"I can imagine how it must have been to lose someone you're so close to." Andrea might have only been ten when she lost her mother but she was very close to her and she was heartbroken as well.

"The first few weeks after her death had been the worst for me because whenever I felt sad I would go talk to her so it absolutely sucked, being so sad and not being able to go to her room and talk to her." Damon said and after a short pause, he continued: "Everyone told us at the funeral, it will get easier. It has been six months and it still does not feel like it's been getting easier." Andrea knew that saying all too well. Their family members told them that constantly.

"It does not get easier. I lost my mother when I was ten years old and it is still not easier knowing when I go home or just had a bad day my mother won't be there or I won't be able to tell her what is going on in my life. I love my dad, but sometimes I needed my mother. Not having her around only became bearable.”

"Wow. You lost your mother at a very young age."

"I was very young yes. Let me you tell you, I did not take it well too. I was so young and it was weird to not have your mom waking you up when she has been doing it ever since you remembered. As a kid I did not react too well." A few weeks after her mother's death, ten year old Andrea was, mentally, in a bad shape. Damon could feel himself connecting with this girl more and more with every word they exchanged and it lead to weird and unknown feelings to erupt inside of him.

"I can tell you're a strong person." Damon heard himself suddenly say while staring intently at her. Andrea, noticing his gaze could not look away. It was like he was pulling her with his golden brown eyes and it was impossible not to stare back. Damon gulped as he looked at her innocent big round eyes.

She really was gorgeous.

Andrea, realizing what was happening cleared her throat and immediately diverted her eyes, looking at anything but him. Andrea looked down and noticed that the ice cream melted. She was so engulfed in their conversation, she barely ate the ice cream.

Andrea was now avoiding his gaze and Damon smiled at her innocence. She was really refreshing from the girls he was used to.

Andrea looked at her watch and realized the time. "Oh snap!" She muttered as she jumped up. Two hours had almost passed and she still needed to walk back to the graveyard where her car was standing, so her father could pick her up there and figure out what was wrong with her car.

Damon frowned. "What? Is something wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. I just have to go. Gosh, I did not realize it was this time already." The mentioning of her having to leave, Damon felt disappointment surge through him. He wanted to continue talking like this with her, especially with the uncertainty of whether he will see her again after this.

"Before you leave can I get your number at least?" Damon asked giving her another one of his dimpled smiles. Andrea laughed. "That smile is not working on me and I don't have a phone, sorry." Andrea said as she pushed her chair in. Another wave of disappointment hit Damon. "So, your name at least?" Andrea gave him a teasing smile. "Thank you for the ice cream, maybe we will see each other again. Bye and drive safely please." She gave him a wink and she was gone. Damon stared at the door she just exited.

Let's hope your right, Vanilla. He thought, knowing that he really needed to see her again. He never thought that almost hitting a little girl would lead him to meet someone like her.

With Andrea still on his mind, he left the ice cream shop.