The Other Side

Chapter 3. Greek- God.

"I'm really not okay with Neil having snuck in the house like that, Yaz. For starters, I thought he was the never-seeking-trouble, academy/community rep, and marriage-before-sex type. And I thought you were too," Damien grumbles as he navigates the road.

"I mean it's good to see you being your normal self again but shit, it took that? That of all things to get you smiling again?" Disappointment is clear in his voice and I wince at his words.

I roll my neck out before answering, still feeling that slight soreness on the side of it.

"We are... the wait-until-marriage type," I start, my voice trailing off uncertainly. "I don't know. We just..."

"He is my first and last anyways," I add defensively, crossing my arms over my chest. The radio plays softly in the background, filling the awkward pauses between our conversations.

Damien sighs heavily. "A, I really don't wanna hear about it, you're twenty-one now, a legal adult. And B, I've only smaked the ou for the past year because he has had your back since day one. Plus he has a good GPA and respects the shit out of you as his girl. But sneaking around like that and pulling the stunt you guys did last night? Do you know how big brothers end up in jail for murder? Because had I even gotten a finger on him..." he trails off with a harsh exhale, his grip on the steering tightening.

"Couldn't even leave your ass in decency or at least under the covers. I swear, the black eye I'm ready to give that little shit right now."

Damien is pretty scary when he gets like this, all South African slang and swearing-like. Just like Mom, you really do not want to keep goading him when he is in this type of mood. I feel a pang of guilt at his words. He's right; Neil and I are not your typical hormone-driven citizens, let alone indulge in anything close to what we did last night.

"I'm sorry, Daem," I mutter, feeling the weight of his disappointment.

"Just never again, please. He needs to man the fuck up and enter through the front door. I'll make him start stating his intentions before he comes in while I'm around."

I giggle. That would be super funny. I start to picture Neil wearing a soldier's uniform and Damien wearing an army general's suit, shouting in Neil's face to state his intentions.

"State your intentions, private!"

"To intercept your sister who is also my girlfriend, sir!" Then he'd salute Damien. I giggle again at the thought.

"That would be hilarious," I admit, trying to lighten the mood. "He didn't sneak into my room though Daem. Like what? He cat climbed up onto my balcony? That's just ridiculous."

"Then how'd he get in? I was in the lounge most of the night, Yaz."

Furrowing my brows, I try to recall. Oh wow. I really don't remember much. The only vivid memories I have are of everything feeling so perfect and fuzzy. His touch, his voice, his lips... and those mesmerizing exotic eyes looking at me. But beyond that, it's all a blur.

I furrow my brows even further, struggling to put together the missing pieces.

"Maybe I really do need that drug test," I mutter dryly, slouching back into the seat. Damien shoots me a weird look before refocusing on the road with a shake of his head.

"I won't even ask," he sighs again, too exhausted to keep up with everything that is Yasmin Kidman's life.

As we reach the academy's entrance, Damien drops me off a few spaces away, knowing I prefer not to draw attention until the very last minute. "Good luck with the playoffs today," I say, offering a smile as I exit the car.