Chapter One
School was already over and Damian gladly started to leave for home. He didn't get to talk to Angela during lunch break as Xavion started bombarding him with questions about his injuries. Xavion avoided Angela and Helena who were always together at school since Helena nurtured a crush on him and he didn't like her at all.
Damian hurried out to his bike. He wouldn't let this opportunity go. He wanted Angela to come over to his house and teach him.
However, he stopped short and stared at the scene before him. Freddie and his gang were standing with Angela and Helena. They seemed to be busy discussing something. Blood boiled in his veins with anger which reached a furious intensity and he strode towards them with purpose.
"Angel, come here," he yelled with anger as he strode furiously towards her. How could she talk to Freddie after warning him off Freddie just this morning? Freddie liked Angela and had just challenged him in the morning. What ensued was a big fight between the two of them. His friends had joined in to give him support and Damian had to fight four boys single-handedly.
Angela turned around and saw Damian's clenched fists and red face and she rushed over to him. She held his arm and started pulling him to the other side, away from Freddie. Damian followed her without a word. At the parking, he stopped her by holding her by the arm and turning her around to face him.
"What were you doing with Freddie, Angel?" He gritted out.
"You're hurting me, Damian. I didn't talk to any of them. Brian wanted to talk to Helena so she pulled me along," said Angela. Damian's grip loosened and he left her.
Angela inspected her arm. There was a bruise forming. She rolled her eyes and stomped off to her bike. Damian followed,"You're coming home with me now, " he stated as he mounted his bike to go home.
"Don't order me about. I'm not your girlfriend, " she said displeased with his growing possessiveness.
"Oh yes, you are," said Damian, pleased with the topic of discussion.
"No, I'm not. We're only friends. Get it? We are F.r.i.e.n.d.s," she spelled it out for him. She was pissed off with him these days. He seemed stubborn as a mule and kept harping on the same thing nearly every day. He was her childhood friend and she valued his friendship a lot.
He grinned at her,"You are a girl and you're my friend. So you're my girlfriend. Simple," he cheekily saved the situation. He purposely didn't press any further and stopped the arguments. He didn't want to upset her. He wanted her to spend time with him at his house. He rode beside her.
"Cheer up, Angel. Won't you teach me proverbs?" He pleaded.
"I'm going home. Come over in the evening, " she said, riding all the way to her own home. Damian felt frustrated. Why couldn't she teach him now when no ones at home? In the evening he would have to face her whole family and he didn't want to.
"Please teach me now. It won't take much time. In the evening, Xavion will come over to stay the night," he informed.
Angela sighed. "Alright, let's go," she agreed and Damian suppressed the happiness that was bubbling inside him. They went upto his house and parked their bikes in his garage. Damian unlocked his door and led her inside.
"You go up to my room. I'll get us something to eat," he said with a smile. Angela nodded and went up to his room. She'd been here since she was born. Damian was three months older than her and had they grown up together. She went to his room, freshened up in his ensuite and sat down on his loveseat in his room, waiting for him.
He came up with two bowls of delicious looking pasta carbonara that his cook, Cindy had cooked in his absence and left.
"This looks delicious. Thanks," she said, tucking into the awesome food. Damian sat down beside her to eat, his body touching hers.
"Damian, shift. You're crushing me, you elephant, " mumbled Angela but Damian just grinned and kept eating. He loved to be near her, he loved to tease her, he loved to touch her, he loved to watch her, in fact he loved everything to do with her. He didn't understand this crazy feeling but it gave him happiness, so why not?
Angela rolled her eyes and kept eating. He was impossible, he wouldn't listen. "Angel, who do you love in the whole world?" He asked, just like everyday he did whenever he met her.
Angela smiled,"You," she said truthfully. She didn't get bored of this question although he asked her everyday. The answer comes straight from her heart. She knew Damian was lonely and he didn't receive the love he deserved from his parents. She loved him unconditionally since the day she was born.
Damian smiled with satisfaction. This answer reminded him that there is one person in the whole world who loved him. He wanted to hear it everyday. It had become a necessity for him. Xavion was his best friend and they loved each other immensely but it was Angela who made him face everyday with a smile, a hope for a better tomorrow.
They finished their food and Angela taught him a little grammar so that he didn't face Miss Knightley's wrath the next day. Damian didn't want her to leave. He would be lonely after she left but he couldn't stop her and have her to himself 24/7. Maybe one day he will but not today. They were just thirteen.
Angela went home quickly before her dad returned from his university. Her brothers would also return home one by one. She quickly changed and completed her homework. She did the days laundry and checked the refrigerator for ingredients to cook dinner. They usually took turns with the cooking although mostly she helped everyone. Her dad was a clumsy cook and so was Arnold. Alex was very good although not as good as her. And Adam was a hopeless cook. Her mom always came late from hospital duty and hated cooking.
She found that there was nothing in the refrigerator. She had completely forgotten that they had to get the grocery from the neighbourhood mart.
Her dad walked into the house, "Hey princess, what are you doing in front of the fridge?" He asked taking out a pack of orange juice for himself.
"Checking dad. I need to go to get the groceries. There's nothing at home to cook, " she sighed.
"Alright, give me a minute, we'll go together, ok?" Said her dad, going to the washroom to freshen up. After five minutes they drove to the neighbourhood mart.
They started buying the stuff that they needed. Angela loved shopping with her dad. He never bickered about the bills. He let her splurge to her heart's content. They were almost done when she bumped into Damian. He had a pack of ready to eat meal box on his hand.
"Hello, son, what are you doing here?" Asked Angela's dad. He liked Damian a lot and always took an interest in him.
"Buying dinner uncle Gerry," answered Damian with a sigh.
"Why do you need to? Hasn't Cindy come to cook today?" Asked Angela's dad.
"She called to say that she wouldn't be able to come to cook dinner," answered Damian. "Dad's staying the night at his hospital. He has an emergency operation. Mom has a charity ball. She would return late too. Xavion cancelled our sleepover at the last minute," he sighed.
"Why can't you come home for dinner son? Princess and I are cooking tonight, " he informed Damian.
Damian grinned. "Uncle Gerry, let Angel cook please. Only then I'll come for dinner," he said and Angela's dad laughed.
"You really love your sister, don't you?" Said Angela's dad. Angela rolled her eyes. There he went again. She couldn't understand why he always insisted upon calling Damian her brother.
"She's my friend, not sister, uncle Gerry, " answered a bored Damian. He was tired of informing Angela's dad everytime they met.
"Yes dad. I already have three brothers. I don't need another. I just need a friend," stated Angela.
Her dad sighed and went off to the counter to pay. Angela and Damian shared a look and followed him. They all went home and Angela started preparing dinner.
Alex and Adam had returned home too. Alex helped her while they all chatted like a big family. Her mom never called to inform when she would be home. Angela left food for her which she warmed and ate whenever she returned home. They were used to this arrangement. On Sundays their mom slept till late and caught up with her pending paperwork and reports. It was as if she was never at home.
The boys played with cards as they waited for dinner. Damian too came to check what was cooking. "Dam, why don't you sleep with me, tonight? We can check out my new PlayStation," said Adam and Damian's eyes sparkled.
"Sure," he grinned. He loved staying over at Angela's house. It meant he could be near her more, he could see her more. He looked forward to tonight.