Battles In Life

27

Lochie

- hi dana are you still wanting to join me for lunch at my parents tomorrow?
Dana - okay.
Back to short messages, just great.
We had made so much progress over the past two and a bit months and now I feel like I am back to square one.

Finishing my day at work, I headed back to my apartment to freshen up. I'm not going to go see her today, she doesn't seem to want me around at the moment.

Hmm who can I talk to who can maybe help. Natalie? Corey? Maybe adam?, He will be out doing a shoot on the same day just doing the same collection and knew her maybe he will be able to help.
I will have a chat with him Monday.
I'm just curious to see how tomorrow will go.
Obviously she doesnt hate me too much, if she is still willing to meet my parents.
After having some dinner, I quickly I climbed into bed just staring at the ceiling until my eyes got heavy.

Waking up, i checked my phone hoping to hear from dana but nothing. I shouldn't have had my hopes up, I don't know why she would reach out to me after basically forcing her to step in.

-morning dana
Dana - morning
-are you sure you are okay to come today?
Dana - yes
- okay I will be leaving at 11:30
Dana - I will meet you in the corridor
-alright

Getting out of bed, I had a quick shower and got dressed. Sleeping in was a blessing as I didn't have to wait too long to see dana.
Grabbing my key and phone and I walked out of my apartment right on eleven thirty and so did dana.
"Hi" "hi, ready to go?" "Yeah".
Getting down to the car, I opened the door for dana and she gave me a slight nod "thanks" "that's alright dana".
I can already see the fifteen minute trip is going to feel like a life time. I hope she livens up a bit.
"How are you feeling dana?" "I'm good" "nervous?" "No" "good".
I just wanted her to have a conversation with me but she is only giving me short answers.
Pulling up at my parents. Dana and I both got out of the car and walked to the front door. Opening it up, I walked in first and dana followed.
"Lochie its so good to see you" "hi mom" I gave mom a hug "mom this is dana, dana this is my mom Marissa" "hi Marissa how are you?" "I am wonderful, I am so happy to meet you dear" "you too". "Come through, natalie and corey are already here I will introduce you" "I ahh already know them" "oh" "corey is my jiu jitsu instructor" "that's wonderful".
Walking through to the dining area natalie, corey and my father were already sitting at the dining table. "Hey everyone" "hey Lochie, hi dana" "hey everyone" natalie came up giving me a hug then looked at dana "can I?" "Yes that is fine" natalie gave dana a hug "let me introduce you to our father" dana nodded "dad this is dana, dana this our dad tony" "hi Tony, it's good to meet you" "you too dana" "how are you?" "I am well" dana nodded. Corey came up to us "how are you feeling today dana?" "I'm doing okay" "would you like to go have a chat?" "Umm okay. Excuse me please" I nodded.
Dana walked off with corey and I turned my attention to my dad. "She's a quiet one" "not always. it might be the nerves of meeting you and mom" "that's understandable, she seems like a very nice person though" "she is, she is incredible" "good".
"Where did corey and dana go?" I looked at natalie "to talk I'm guessing" "is everything okay?" "Yeah" natalie gave me a knowing look.

Dana

"What happened between yesterday and today?" "Well Lochie was adamant he can't do anything else besides MAKE me model for him. He said he can't say no to alexander drays and just continued to beg me to do it not considering how I felt about the whole situation. I asked him if he could just not put the collection into the magazine but he refused and now I'm stuck doing it. I said I'd do it out of anger but Im really struggling, I don't know if I can handle it I have already had one severe panic attack" "dana you need to relax and block it out." "Block what out exactly, the fact that I am going to expose myself or the anxiety because I can't do either of them" "you aren't handling this at all?" "No I'm not, I shouldn't have gone out for lunch with him and alexander then he wouldn't even know me but I did and I can't turn back time" "you wouldn't want too then Id have to teach you over again" I grinned "I enjoy our sessions. I don't think, I just concentrate on what I am doing in the session" "you are doing really well" "thankyou" "would you like to Go back in?" "Yeah okay" "just try stay positive" "I'm just keeping to myself" "what about Lochie?" I shrugged "I don't know corey. I like him but him pressuring me to do that has sort of pushed me back" corey nodded "come on let's go" "okay".
Heading back inside tony, Marissa, natalie and lochie were all sitting at the dining table. "Sorry mom and dad I needed to have a chat with dana" "that's alright, now you are back I will serve lunch" "would you ahh like a hand Marissa?" "No of course not, you are a guest please make yourself comfortable at the table" "thank you".
Taking a seat Lochie looked at me but natalie spoke up and I gave my attention to her "corey told me you have been doing jiu jitsu with him dana" "I have and I have been enjoying it" "is he being nice?" "Yes he's great and very patient" "good or might have to kick his butt" I grinned.
Marissa placed some plates in the middle of the table. Everything looked amazing. "Dig in" I waited until marissa sat down before joining the others grabbing some food.
"So dana what do you do?" "I'm a computer technician, I work from home" "that's wonderful, you sound like a very smart woman" "computers are easy to work on, I quite enjoy it" "that's great. Do you have any interests? I thought maybe you modelled for Lochie" I held in my anger on the subject and avoided the topic "I enjoy being out camping and hiking but I ahh haven't been in quite a few years". "Are your parents in the city?" "Yes my mother is high in the real estate sector and my father is an accountant, they are currently on holidays though" "good on them" "I agree".
As lunch finished up everyone continued to talk until Lochie spoke up. "We should get going" I nodded "thank you so much for having me" "you are more than welcome anytime dana. you are a lovely woman" "thank you marissa".
"I will see you Monday dana" "you will" "take care okay" I nodded "bye natalie" "bye dana take care" I nodded.
"Alright everyone, I will see you again soon" "bye Lochie".
Walking out of their house Lochie and I both walked to his car.
"Thanks for coming today" "it's fine" "do you want to go anywhere?" "Home" Lochie nodded as we got in the car. The drive back to the apartment was silent and seemed to take forever. Pulling up in the garage I got out of the car Lochie doing the same. Getting into the elevator Lochie spoke. "Dana I'm really sorry" "it's for your business I get it" Lochie just stayed silent. As we exited the elevator I walked to my door opening it. "Just send me the details I will meet you there" "dana" "bye Lochie".

Lochie

F*ck. She doesn't even want to be near me right now. I entered my apartment and closed the door. All this to please alexander.

Checking my phone heather had sent me a message to call her when I am free.
"Hi Heather" "hi Lochie sorry to bother you I just wanted to give you the details for tomorrow" "okay what are they?" "The shoot will start at two o'clock at the docks that's where dana and Adam will be going, have you got the exact digits?" "Yes I will give them to you in the morning" "okay we are just doing the urban style tomorrow as I know alexander has been on your case" "alright anything else?" "no that's it. Are you alright" "yes I am fine have a good day heather" "you too lochie".

I am not happy with this at all. I know dana is just pushing me away because of all this. I finally found the perfect woman and I now have a feeling I've lost her.

- hi dana. The shoot will be at the docks at two o'clock. I can take you there if you like
Dana- I will meet you there