Battles In Life

18

Dana sat down beside me and handed me a yellow envelope.
"That's ahh, all of the photos my mom took and ahh, the reports from the hospital" hesitantly taking the envelope from dana, I then opened it.
Grabbing out the photos dana sat beside me quietly.
"Dana who did this?" "Ahh, four girls I thought were my friends and ahh ,my ex" i nodded continuing to look through the photos. Why would they do this? Danas whole body was black, blue and purple.
The cuts on her arms, side, thigh and head were all stitched meaning they definitely weren't small. I can understand why she is the way she is, she has been through hell. I'm surprised she is still alive.
"Dana how long were you awake?" "I ahh... Umm for some of the beating and the ahh, cut to my head but I was knocked out when they had ahh, done the rest" "do you know why they did this?" Dana shook her head "no I ahh, have no idea as I said, I thought they were my friends then ahh, that day they had cornered me. My ex was the ahh, first to hit me then the ahh, girls started" "did they get charged for this?" "No" "why not?" "When I ahh, woke up from the coma my parents and I moved straight away" "but why didnt you report them and show the police the reports?" "I ahh, didn't speak for ahh, two and a half years and ahh, I couldn't handle facing them" I nodded.
"So your ex he was your first?" "Boyfriend or sexual partner?" "Both?" "First boyfriend I ahh, haven't been with anyone sexually" "really?" Dana nodded "he ahh, wanted me too but I ahh, wasn't ready and well after what happened I have been really scared to ahh, get close to someone" "I can understand that" I put the photos back in the envelope placing them on the coffee table in front of the couch and gave my attention to dana. "I know you have been through hell, I don't know why but I can already tell you didn't deserve what they did to you. As much as I like you I promise to take my time, I would never force you to do anything you don't want to do and I hope you can trust me" "some how I ahh, already do, there's just something that makes me believe you would ahh, never hurt me nor disrespect me" I grinned placing my hand on the side of her face running my thumb across her soft cheek never breaking eye contact. "I am thrilled you trust me dana because from the moment my eyes met yours, I have wanted nothing more than you" "I ahh, don't know what to say" "you don't need to say anything" leaning in dana met me half way pressing her lips on mine slowly parting giving me access and I gladly took the opportunity to swirl my tongue with hers.
"You are beautiful" danas piercing green eyes never broke from mine but they softened. I could tell by her eyes how she was feeling and I know this is all new to her, so I won't push her. Yes I was being cheeky earlier and I didn't expect her to give me an answer but she did.
I have always been someone who is open, I don't like to hide how I feel nor show what I am feeling. I like to be forward and honest. Some people might not like it but I don't care especially when it comes to the work side of things. The only person who can get away with speaking to me inappropriately would be heather but that's only because I know how she is, I trust her to do her job and she has also become a friend.
"Would you ahh, like to have some dinner here?" "Yeah that sounds good, what do you feel like?" "I am ahh, making apricot chicken, do you eat it?" "Yes I do" dana nodded "I will give you a hand" "oh that's not ahh, necessary I can do it" "please let me help" dana nodded "okay, the chicken will take a while so you can ahh, just rest while I organise that" "you make it from scratch?" "Yes ahh chicken, flour, french onion soup and ahh, apricot nectar. The ahh, prepared apricot mixture isn't that great" "I will come watch you prepare it, I've never cooked it for myself" dana nodded.
Watching how dana prepared it, I could already smell the delicious flavours and it wasn't even cooking yet. "What do you want to cook with it?" "Ahh I usually have mash potatoes and green beans but if you ahh, want something else I can do it" "no that sounds great" "okay".
Looking in her pantry, I found some potatoes putting them in the sink. Turning to grab the peeler out of the drawer, dana was already holding it over her shoulder as she faced away from me. I grinned and walked over grabbing it from her but not without putting my hand around her waist resting it on her stomach and kissing her shoulder "thanks" "you're welcome" getting back to the sink I peeled the potatoes and rinsed them in the sink. "The ahh, chopping boards are in the big bottom drawer and the knives are in the block near the stove" "you pay attention to your surroundings" "ahh yeah I do" "thank you" "you need to stop thanking me. if I ahh, can't thank you" "that's fair" "although I ahh, still think it's the right thing to do" "it is but you like to thank too much" "but there's a reason for it".
Dana put the chicken in the oven while I finished doing the potatoes and put them in a pot sitting them on the stove.
"Well that's all done" "I ahh appreciate it" "is this your way of getting around not actually thanking me?" "Yes" "you are unbelievable" dana looked at me with a dazzling smile, another one that shows her dimples. "You should smile like that more often" "why?" "Because it shows your gorgeous dimples" dana immediately turned her head "oh okay" "don't hide them from me, I love them" "oh I am not hiding them" walking up behind dana, I wrapped my arms around her placing my hands on her stomach and my chin over her shoulder "you sure about that?" "Yes" "I'm not believing that" hearing a cute laugh come from dana, it was something I have been wanting, making me smile. I'm sure if I could see her face she'd be blushing but she won't face me and I won't force her too.

Eating dinner I looked around her apartment realising dana didn't even have a television up on the wall.
"Do you not own a television at all?" "Ahh, yeah I do but it's in the second bedroom" "oh" "I do not ahh, watch it so I just placed it in there" "not even for movies?" "No I don't watch them, if you would like to watch television you can ahh, put it up if you like" "no it's fine I was just curious, I don't really get the time to watch television or movies unless late at night and usually I am too tired to even stay awake. Did you always steer clear of the television and magazines?" "Ahh, no I watched it and read them when I was younger but I just avoid it all now" "that's fair enough".

"That was absolutely delicious thanks dana" "you are welcome". I wasn't lying that is the best apricot chicken I have ever tasted.
"What kind of ahh shoots have you got coming up?" "I haven't decided it all depends on what locations" dana nodded "have you ahh, checked out the docks?" "No do you think there is a place there I can do a shoot?" Dana nodded "well I personally like that place and it ahh looks spectacular at sunset" "how did you find it?" "My ahh, dad took me there about nine years ago and we ahh, decided to go exploring. There is also a nice old bridge just on the outskirts of the city have you seen it?" "No but I am interested to see both spots" dana nodded "maybe we can ahh, go tomorrow afternoon if you want to. Go to the ahh, bridge first and then the ahh, docks?" "That sounds really good".
"What made you think of my work?" "I don't know but I was hoping I could help you in some way" "model for me?" Dana looked at me wide eyed "I was joking. I would never force you to do anything you are not comfortable with" "I know and I don't think I could never do that, im ahh, definitely not keen on wearing anything showing my body or being in front of a camera" "dana you have a beautiful body and not all my shoots are of models in beach wear or similar. Maybe I can show you one of my magazines, if you want to have a look one day" "yes I would actually like to have a look" "I do have my recent one in my apartment the one with alexander drays collection in it if you want me to go grab it" "ahh okay, I will ahh, rinse these dishes and put them in the dishwasher while you go grab it" "I will be back in a minute".