The Elite: Remission

Chapter 19-First Dates and Impressions

Donevan was getting ready in his room when Kaden came over. He was really nervous, he couldn't even believe or start to wonder what would happen. He looked at the clothes on the bed. Not sure to go with the long sleeve button up or just a nice polo. Groaning he sat on the floor looking as helpless and hopeless.
"This is hopeless, I am going to call and cancel. I can't even right now." Donevan muttered while pacing he looked at his watch he had less than an hour to get ready. Groaning again he just looked at the clothes like they offended him.
"Donevan, you good?" Kaden asked.
"Nope, I can't do it. I thought I could but...honestly I can't." Donevan said deflated.
"Oh hun. I don't think he would get mad at you if you canceled. Are you even ready to date?" Kaden asked. Donevan gave him a drol stare.
"No, I haven't dated since god I can't remember. I think high school. Or something like that." Donevan said.
"Got it. Well I can tell you are obviously nervous. But its ok to be nervous and like you are wanting to cancel. It is a major big step for you. You are only twenty-six." Kaden pointed out.
"I know, but I don't think I have the confidence to do anything. Bro, I only had sex once ok? That is not something I want to bring up and be like 'oh hey I only had sex once I am inexperienced'." Donevan sighed, "its hopeless. I am not ready. He is going to hate me and not want me then find someone else and boom. I will be pushed to the back of his mind not ever going to think about me."
"You are stressing yourself out, literally. Calm down. Get ready and just see how it goes ok? If you don't like it then just tell him you aren't ready." Kaden suggested.
"Ok, sounds fair." Donevan said and started getting ready.
Thirty minutes later he was at the place that Dimitri told him to meet at. It was a nice little restaurant. A quiet place for some couples. He was already seated waiting for Dimitri when his eye caught someone or rather someone's. He could tell one was Kaden and the other might have been someone he knew or knows. He couldn't tell until the guy looked up and it was Marcus. He hasn't really seen any of him at all.
"Hey, sorry I am a little late. Had a very unruly patient. What you looking at?" Dimitri asked.
"Kaden and Marcus. I thought I wouldn't see Marcus. He moved out of the apartment complex before it got shut down." Donevan said.
"Hmm, that looks like one of Ashford's patients. He had some vascular problems." Dimitri said.
"Oh well lets enjoy our date." Donevan said. Still feeling really uneasy about everything but he told Kaden he would give it a shot. They talked while their food was being made. Dimitri talked about going on vacation soon and Donevan just sat there listened to his plight. When their food arrived they ate in comfortable silence and had some wine with their meal.
Kaden watched as Donevan was looking a little uninterested in the date. He knew he has never dated but he could tell something was off.
"Do you know him?" Kaden asked Marcus.
"Oh, yeah he was my friends roommate from across the way at the apartment complex. But those two never got along. Neither did he with all of us. I guess it was just the way he was. But this is a very different side of him. He seems nervous." Marcus pointed out.
"Yeah, he does. He hasn't dated in forever and he was literally about ready to bail." Kaden explained.
"Hey, you ok?" Dimitri asked.
"No, I am not. I have never dated and I am really nervous and I just can't seem to focus. Sorry, I am trying to have a good time. But in reality, in my mind this is all a dream and I can't wake up." Donevan said.
"It isn't a dream. But if you feel uncomfortable you can go." Dimitri said.
"What?" Donevan asked confused.
"You can leave if you feel uncomfortable. I thought that I could do this too. But in all reality when I saw you fight in Sweden and with that excuse of a doctor. I am terrified. I don't want to think that if you lose your temper it will deflect on me." Dimitri said sadly.
"So, you are saying that we shouldn't go further based on my intelligence to fight?" Donevan asked.
"When you put it that way, yes in a sense. Look my brain works with helping patients and yours works with fighting. If I were to upset you would you hit me?" Dimitri asked.
"No, I was competing. That is different that what I was doing to that doctor. Kaden was undercover and still had to put up with a rouse. When he went in for that hit I did it to protect a friend. I would never hit someone who I was with. I would protect them from the danger. But if that is all you see then might as well just end it no need to drag it out." Donevan said then got up and left. Dimitri just sat there and stared blankly in front of him.
"Really? That was a really low blow my guy. He would have never ever done that to you ever." Kaden sighed and walked out to see if his friend was ok. Marcus just looked at Dimitri and shook his head and walked out. Dimitri was shocked he never really knew the conflict of what just happened until he got home. He was laying in bed and remembered the night he slept with Donevan and the way his face looked when he asked him out. The shocked looked and the excitement in the way his body relaxed. Donevan has been chasing him since the beginning but Dimitri was the only one holding back. Donevan has been in this from the beginning and Dimitri just didn't want to risk the possibility of getting hurt.
D- I fucked up
A- What?
D- Donevan beat up someone in front of me and it terrified me then we went on a date and I basically said that I didn't want to be with him since he was a fighter.
A- Wow, you are horrible! I don't know why we are friends. I saw the fights in Sweden too. He is really good and skilled. And instead of talking you just said what you felt and not what he would actually do?
D- You didn't see him when he did that to the doctor.
A- I don't have too. But you have to understand...you are the one hurting him, not him hurting you.
D- I know. I don't want too, it's like all those others before me. Again.
A- You better figure it out. I am your friend but as of right now I can't imagine my friend being this big of a dick.
Dimitri read the message over and over again. Ashford was right he was being a dick about it but he was really looking out for his own safety. He sighed and went into the living room to watch the videos again. Maybe it would shed some light onto the whole situation.
Donevan got home and threw the clothes on the ground and went to the bathroom, he looked in the mirror and he saw what Dimitri was scared of. The skilled fighter, the protector, and the monster. He was well aware of what happened at the hospital. He wasn't the kind to stand that kind of abuse, so he couldn't understand why Dimitri was terrified when all he was doing was protecting him.
Ashford came back the next week and Dimitri was in his office when they decided to look at the cameras, the officers already had a copy but Dimitri couldn't look at it without Ashford. They saw on camera the scene unfold in front of them. They saw Dr. Maine going to hit Kaden, Donevan getting in between and punching him, then Dimitri saw that after he ran off the look on Donevan's face. The look of shock but also worry as he couldn't find him.
"That doesn't look like the face of someone who would hit you." Ashford said and walked away so Dimitri could sit there and watch it unfold.
Donevan went out for a walk. Usually he walks all the time. He spotted Marcus, he hasn't seen him in forever.
"Donevan hey how goes it?" Marcus asked.
"Good, I think. I don't know. The date was horrible and I don't even think he wants to date me at all. I am just a lost cause. Maybe I am dreaming. Maybe I am in a coma." Donevan said. "I haven't seen you in a while and you and Kaden pop up out of the blue. Yup, must be a dream."
"Nah, its real. I just came back from being over seas." Marcus said.
"Hmm, ok." Donevan hummed and continued walking. He didn't want to walk were his mind and body wanted him to go so he passed the hospital on the way back didn't even stop. But, Dimitri saw him walk by. Granted, he couldn't see the look on Donevan's face but he was surprised he didn't stop by like he always did. Maybe to Donevan it was all a dream. But it wasn't a dream it was reality and Dimitri had a choice too. He could be protected by Donevan and loved or live in fear of him possibly hurting him. A decision that will not come easily because what happened next will make Dimitri hope it was a dream.