Chapter Eight
Angela walked with her head down staring at the road. She didn't want Damian to acknowledge her and talk to her in front of that girl he probably was making out with. It was obvious that he was very popular among girls. His stunningly good looks and tall muscular physique suited the fashion ramp more than their neighborhood roads. Such men were not to be trusted. She suddenly felt that she didn't know this new Damian anymore.
She neared them and walked on towards her house. She could feel Damian's gaze upon her but she didn't look up at him even once.
"Hey neighbor, how have you been?" He yelled when she approached her gate.
She looked up to see his smirking face staring at her. The girl beside him chuckled and whispered something into his ear. He turned his attention to her and they started talking. Angela walked into her house, without a second glance towards them. Her heart pained at their nearness but she refused to acknowledge it.
She had to get away from this neighborhood. It was her only option if she wanted to live in Austin and study hard here. She saw that her dad had returned from the university.
"Hey princess, how have you been?" He hugged her close.
Angela melted and hugged him back. "I'm fine dad, you've become thinner," she concluded.
"You weren't there to look after me. Now that you're back, I'll regain my health, " said her dad with a lopsided smile.
"Then why did you sent me away, dad?" She asked. She had thought he didn't love her.
"Ronald Anderson and I had a bitter fight. He didn't want Damian and you to associate with each other in any way. So I had to send you away," informed her dad.
"But why?" She asked in confusion. This was news to her. Why would Damian's dad want that?
"I will tell you someday princess, now tell me where had you been?" Asked her dad curiously.
She told her about her study plans at the University of Austin. Her dad approved immensely and they chatted more about the courses being offered.
She made some mini zucchini bites and bread and corn cups with coffee. Adam, Alex and Arnold had arrived by then and they all hungrily tucked in.
"This is the best food we've had in three years," exclaimed Adam with his mouth full.
"Oh, gee, thanks. So who cooked in my absence?" She asked curiously.
"Dad and Alex. Yucky food ever," said Adam, sticking out his tongue.
"Shut up, you can't even make a toast for yourself to save your ass," said Alex, glaring at him.
"Ok chill guys. Happy days are back. So let's celebrate?" Said Arnold. "Angie order anything you want. My treat, " offered Arnold and everyone started a happy dance. Angela grinned happily seeing everyone's reaction to her homecoming. She didn't have the heart to tell them that she was planning to stay with Steffi.
So they celebrated with a special dinner and Angela didn't say anything to her family. The next day, she arranged her clothes in her closet, rearranged her room, discarded her childhood stuff to be given away to charity. Her dad and brothers were away and she decided to visit the orphanage close by to give away her unwanted stuff.
She really needed a car. She already had learnt driving and already had a license. She took a cab to the orphanage since she couldn't carry so many things and walk.
After spending her morning there, she walked home. "So you can't recognise me now, little neighbour?" Said a raspy voice in her ear. She looked up and saw a smirking Damian right in front of her face. His voice had totally changed in three years, beyond recognition.
"Why shouldn't I?" She retorted and walked on. He was not worth stopping and chatting with.
"It doesn't look that way to me," he drawled in a lazy tone, taking her in from head to toe.
Someone called him from behind and he looked back to see Xavion walking upto him with a frown. Angela walked faster and reached home before Damian could catch up with her again. She didn't want to talk to him anymore.
She went inside and thought of baking some brownies to kill her time and making two sandwiches for herself as lunch. She was just done when she received an email from her university informing her that her application had been accepted and she could complete all admission formalities within the next ten days. Classes would start in a fortnight.
She was satisfied that she wouldn't have to go anywhere else. It had always been her dream to study where her brothers had studied. She carried her lunch and went upto her room and to the balcony for a breath of fresh air. Stretching her tired arms and body she decided to attack her lunch.
Her eyes locked with Damian's as he stared at her through the windows of the room opposite her balcony. It was an entertaining room when they were children. Did he shift into it now? She discreetly saw where his gaze was directed at. Her body. God, such a man whore.
She stopped mid stretch and went back to her room and closed her balcony door to shut him out. Starting a news channel on her TV, she sat down to enjoy her lunch.
She received a call from Steffi to join her and her roomie for a movie at their apartment and she didn't decline. She wanted to check out the place before shifting. So she trotted off to the address that Steffi provided.
She reached the building which was within walking distance to her university. The building wasn't that big, only ten storeyed tall and looked decent enough. There were no security though in the building. She took the elevator to the fifth floor. Each floor had three apartments each. She went to flat 5C and rang the doorbell excitedly.
Steffi opened the door and ushered her into her apartment. Angela immediately liked the warm white and yellow decor welcoming her inside.
"I can't believe you're here," said Steffi. "It's nice, isn't it?"
"Yes, I like it already," admitted Angela. Another girl, a year or two older with a mop of curly black hair on her head, came out of a room.
"Hey Whitney, meet Angela," introduced Steffi.
"Hi, Whitney," Angela greeted her with a smile.
"Hi, you like our apartment?" Whitney asked, holding her breath.
"Yes, I love it. Show me the rooms," asked Angela and they went to the three rooms to check out. Angela liked the room that she would occupy.
"Did you get permission to move in?" Asked Steffi, expectantly.
"No, I couldn't ask. My family was so happy to have me back," Angela sighed.
"Why do you need permission? You're eighteen, aren't you?" Asked a puzzled Whitney.
"She's very close to her family and her brothers are very possessive of her," explained Steffi.
"Oh, I don't give a shit about my family and same with them. I'm glad to be away from them," confessed Whitney.
"I'm angry with my parents. So I'm staying here for a few months till they bend and accept me and Harry's relationship, " said Steffi.
"You're serious about him, aren't you?" Asked Angela. Why couldn't Damian be as focussed as Harry?
"Yes very. We will get married in two years," confessed Steffi.
"I'm glad, Steff. He's a very good guy," admitted Angela.
They went ahead and selected a movie to watch. They ate popcorn and pizza that they all contributed and ordered. It was a fun afternoon. By the time the movie was over, it was evening already.
"This was fun. We should do it again, " said Steffi.
"Yes, agree," said Whitney. "Talk to your folks tonight and move in by the coming week, " she suggested.
"Sure, I will," promised Angela. She went home thinking how she could introduce the topic to her family and ask for their permission to shift out. She knew all hell would break lose and they would never agree. Deep in thought, she walked home from the bus stop.
"Hey little neighbour, what's got your panties in a twist?" Asked Damian's raspy voice. She rolled her eyes at his filthy talk.
"Mind your own business," she said and went towards her gate.
"You are my business," he drawled with a smirk.
"High hopes. What? No whores to fu*k today? Poor as*hole, " she muttered, without stopping.
"Are you jealous, baby?" He asked, his smirk changing into a wide grin.
"Never, why should I? Who the f*ck are you to me? Die of STD, for all I care," she shrugged, opening her gate and going inside, discreetly catching a glimpse of him before entering her house and closing the door shut on his face. The grin and smirk had vanished from Damian's face and he looked hurt as he gaped at her retreating figure wordlessly.
Served him right, thought Angela. She would surely talk to her family tonight and escape this house and Damian. He was getting on her nerves!