Tangled Web
1085 Words
✴ Scarlett ✴
"He kissed me!" Emily whispered excitedly as soon as I joined her. My cheeks were flushed as Damien’s words replayed in my mind. I could never forget you. His voice had been so earnest, his gaze piercing as if he had seen straight into my soul. "Scarlett!" Emily snapped to get my attention, and I smiled at her apologetically.
"I hear you," I said as I tried to concentrate. "Wait...who kissed you?"
"Josh kissed me!" she repeated, and I smiled. "You and Damien were talking, so Josh basically dragged me along as he went to say hello to people, and then...and then he stopped and pointed upward...it was a mistletoe, Scarlett, and then...he kissed me!" Emily was so excited, and I couldn't help but be happy for her. She deserved for this night to be magical. However, Josh apparently didn't want his date to be so far from him when he appeared next to Emily.
"Would you care to dance?" he asked her. She glanced over at me, but I quickly nodded. And as I stood near the grand archway, I watched as Josh led Emily out onto the dance floor. The music had changed to a slower tempo and couples swayed gracefully across the polished floor, Josh and Emily included. I took a deep breath as I replayed Damien's words in my mind. I could never forget you. I wasn’t sure how to process the confession he had just dropped on me like an unexpected snowstorm. But before I could truly sort through the tangled web of thoughts Damien had ignited, my brother, Oliver, joined me.
"What the hell?" he asked curiously, and I frowned as I looked at him. Oliver's expression was a mixture of protective concern and frustration. I was just about to answer when he gently cupped my elbow and steered me toward a quieter corner near the towering trees. The scent of fresh pine and cinnamon hung heavy in the air.
"What's going on?" I questioned him as I pulled away. Oliver rarely looked this serious unless something was truly bothering him.
“You tell me,” he said, as he crossed his arms over his chest. His tailored suit and perfectly knotted tie only made his scowl look sharper. “Since when do you cozy up to Damien Gale?” I blinked, confused.
“Cozy up?” I felt my annoyance rise. “I danced with him, Oliver. That’s all,” his brow furrowed as he stared at me.
“That’s not all, and you know it. Everyone saw you two out there. You looked…” Oliver hesitated, as he searched for the right word. “Close,” he finished, and I sighed softly as I brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
“Why does it matter? He is just…a friend,” I said. I wasn't even sure that was the right word to use, since we weren't friends. Technically, we were strangers. After all, it had been ten years since we had even seen each other. Oliver shot me a pointed look. Clearly, my brother didn't like the word 'friend' either.
“Damien Gale is not the type of guy you just befriend, Scarlett. He is trouble,”
“Trouble?” I scoffed.
"Trouble with a capital T,"
“What are you talking about? He has been nothing but kind to me,” I remarked rather fiercely, and that wasn't a lie. And it wasn't as if I had much to go on. We had just begun to spend time together, but I wasn't about to tell my brother that.
“Just because he is being kind, doesn't mean he is a nice guy,” Oliver argued as he lowered his voice. “Have you forgotten all about him? He was reckless, rebellious, and...well, dangerous. Plus, he left Wintervale right after...you know. Right after his mother died," my chest tightened. Oliver wasn't wrong. Damien had been reckless, rebellious, and dangerous. He had left Wintervale after his mother's funeral. Just after his quick departure, the people of Wintervale had whispered about the Gale family. The drama. Mary Gale's sudden death. But then Damien had gone out into the world and made a name for himself. He had become the CEO of one of the most prestigious enterprises in the world. He was rich. He was handsome. And he was here in Wintervale. And his attention was on me. Did I like that his attention was on me? Yes, I admitted to myself. I did like it. In fact, I probably liked it more than I should. But again, that wasn't something I was going to tell my brother.
"Who he was then doesn't say anything about who he is now," I said firmly. "People can change, Oliver. I am not some naive girl who needs to be saved," Oliver's expression softened for a moment, but his protective streak remained evident.
“I know you don't need to be saved, Scarlett. But I am your brother...and I hate to break it to you, but it is my job to look out for you," he pointed out.
"Well, you should just trust me, Oliver," I hissed out as I looked around to make sure that no one was paying us any attention. "I know what I am doing," I added. Oliver hesitated, his jaw locked tight as he considered his next words. Finally, he visibly relaxed as he sighed and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Just...be careful, ok?"
"Of course," I said with a nod. Oliver leaned in and kissed my cheek before he hurried off to enjoy the festivities. I looked around and I finally spotted Damien. He stood near the edge of the dance floor, deep in conversation with Josh. Emily was with them, but it was clear she wasn't interested in whatever they were discussing. But then, Damien suddenly looked my way - almost as if he had sensed that he was being watched. Our eyes met and he smiled. My heart fluttered in response. However, Oliver's warning echoed in my mind, but I hurriedly pushed it aside. There was something about Damien that pulled at me. Something I couldn't just ignore. Trouble or not, I was determined to find out what lay beneath his polished exterior. And who knew, maybe I would even uncover the secrets of why he had truly left Wintervale. With a deep breath, I stepped forward, ready to rejoin the whirlwind of the evening.
- Writer
