Hope

Chapter 2

His arm muscle would appear every time he hit the punching bag and always let out a breath when he did. I took a small sip of my tea as I made my observations on Damian trying to be by himself. I was so distracted that I didn't even realize he turned around and saw me.

"Are you just going to stand there?" He asked pulling me out of my thoughts. I looked away quickly embarrassed that he saw me eyeing him like a hawk and being the creepiest I have ever been. 

"I was waiting for the noise to stop so I could go back to meditating." I lied. He doesn't have to know that I had been distracting by him.

"You're lying." He said walking over to me just top right in front of me. To say he had a growth spurt would be an understatement. When Damian arrived a few years ago he was shorter than me especially being that he was a year younger, but now. Now he stands almost a foot taller than I do. I have to practically tilt my head all the way back just to look into his eyes when he's standing this close. He was standing pretty close wasn't he? Maybe I should back up just a little. I tried to back up just a little but almost fell over my own feet because I was thinking too much about Damian. 

My tea spilled a little burning my hand as I had lost my balance. Damian quickly reached out and grabbed my forearm tightly stopping from falling like it was nothing. I was distracting to say the least that I didn't know my hand was stinging until Damian said something.

"Are you okay?" He asked. He took my tea from my hand and placed on a bench the was next to us. Grabbing my from my stilled body he inspected. Now it was definitely stinging.

"It's okay it's my fault, just decided to be clumsy today." I tried to joke. It wasn't funny. Damian dropped my hand and turned around to walk back to the punching bag, but stopped to turn around and look at me. I was very confused. Was he waiting for me to leave him alone again? I did interrupt him and whatever he was doing. He surprised me by tilting his head as a way of saying to follow him.

"So, what are you doing up so early?" He asked. Do I complain about the nightmare that I've had for the third time this week or do I lie. Lie seems like the better option.

"I'm ready to start the day." I tried to sound enthusiastic. He studied my face, then nodded his head.

"Okay so then punch the bag." He demanded but in a soft tone. Could he see through my lie? Now I have to punch the bag. I don't have enough energy for that.

"No it's okay I prefer meditation, got to keep my mind strong, you know?" I said it like I was elbowing him, I was trying to get him off my trail.

"Punch the bag." This time he really demanded, his tone changed to be more dominant, which he is but still. I lost all of my fake enthusiasm and watched as he backed away from the bag so that I may have enough room. I got into a slight stance. Okay feet shoulder width apart, check. Arms at the ready, check. All that was left was to punch the bag. I could feel the bead of sweat roll down my forehead.

"Ugh I can't," I groaned, shifting into my regular stance. He smirked a little. I tilted my head down slightly avoiding all eye contact.

"I knew it. Wait let me guess? Another nightmare?" He asked. I looked up through my lashes at him. He knows me too well. "That's the third one this week."

"I know," I threw my hands in the air.

"Same time?" He asked.

"Mhmm." I hummed.