Surrender -Under Re-Write

41

Angelique's POV

I felt lighter today. Lighter than I have in a while. It was mid day. Daniel and I were hiking around the property, just the two of us. An easy silence had remained between us as we walked along the trail hand in hand, enjoying a particularly warm day.

"You okay over there?" Daniel asks me.

I smile up at him and nod. "I'm good." I smile. "Really good" I add.

I was over the moon for Maya. After Jason showed up early this morning no one has seen them since... Tyler and Toby weren't that happy about it, so they avoided the cabin all together. Lilith, Tara, Leah and I have all been snickering about it all morning.

I even sent Maya a text to "come up for air" in which I received many middle finger emojis in response.

"So, tell me about you and Seth." I finally say to Daniel on our walk back to the cabin. I could tell it was still bothering him. Toby called Kai, and Kai is clearing it with the rest of leadership if it's a good idea for him to go back.

"He's a lot like my dad used to be actually." He sighs.

"Really? How so?" I ask, and intertwine our fingers.

"Total fucking goof." Daniel says with a smile. "I don't remember too much from when I was a kid, but I remember my dad was very playful. Always cracking jokes and having playful banter with my mom. Seth is a lot like that." He smiles again.

"He never made it weird you know?" Daniel asks rhetorically. "After he offered to foster me till I turned 18 he didn't hover, didn't necessarily take on a strict dad role, he just remained who he always was with me. He didn't change. Not until the news came about my dads parole." He says in a sadder tone.

I squeeze his hand lightly and he smiles down at me as if to reassure me he's okay with talking about it.

"He was very protective of me. It was his idea for me to leave, get away from my dad all together. He didn't want me to go... but he knew I had to." Daniel sighs. "And now he's paying the price."

"And he'd do it again." I say. I could tell my response surprised him. "He loved you, took care of you. If it meant you'd be safe he'd do it all again I'm sure."

Daniel gives me a sad smile and nods.

"I'm trying not to put myself down and wonder why someone would work so hard for my safety" Daniel chuckles. "It's an adjustment." He finishes.

I smile at him and hug his arm tightly.

"You make it easy though. You loving me, your family taking care of me. I finally feel like less of a burden." He says.

I stop our walk, confusing Daniel, when I take his other hand and pull him to me. I grab his face in my hands and stand on my toes to place a kiss on his lips.

"You've never been one. You know that now right?" I ask.

Daniel rests his hands on my hips and his forehead on mine. He smiles and nods and kisses my nose.

"More and more every day. Some days when things go bad it's hard to remind myself of that but... it is getting a bit easier." He says.

I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him again. "Good"

He smiles against my lips and peppers my face with light kisses till I'm a giggling mess.

When we finally break apart and walk back to the cabin, the first thing I notice is my sister sitting on Jason's lap on the picnic table. With a bright purple mark on each of their necks.