A New Meaning to the Night

Chapter Ten: Love and Tragedy

The school year came and went far too quickly, and as the months went on, Damien found it impossible to maintain a distance between himself and Sam. Not long after that night at the club, he was surprised to find himself tangled into a relationship with no way out, not that he could honestly have said he'd have tried to get out if he could. William stayed well away, which was just as well because Cori wanted nothing more than to avoid him at all costs anyway.

Damien was sitting with Sam near the creek on an afternoon in July while she took her lunch break. He had long since given up on trying to stay away, so he contented himself with the simple pleasure of having her under his arm, resting her head on his shoulder.

"We've been dating for eight months today, you know," she informed him, a smile in her voice.

"Have we?" he feigned ignorance, but he knew how long they'd been together very well. It was the happiest time of his life, of course, he'd never tell her.

"Yes, and I think that constitutes a fancy dinner."

"You do?"

She pulled herself out from under his arm and stood up, gracing him with her usual knowing smile and a nod. "I do. And I've made reservations at a place near campus for tonight at 10 after I get off, alright? I know it's late, but I get off late tonight, and I'm sure you don't mind. I'll text you the name and you can just meet me there."

Unable to keep himself from smiling back, he nodded. "Alright, happy eight months to us. Do you want me to walk you back to work?"

"No, it's just across the street. I'll see you later tonight." She leaned in to kiss him, but then stayed planted in the same spot and stared at him.

Shifting uncomfortably on the bench, Damien caught his hand right before it started running through his hair. "What?"

Her smile widened, "I love you."

His entire body froze, and he gave her a look that could only convey terror. "Sam, I─"

Seeing the fear in his eyes dulled her joy significantly, but Sam was used to hiding her disappointment. Cutting him off with a wave of her hand, she shook her head as she started walking away with a pleasant smile. "Don't ruin my moment, Damien. I just thought you should know."

He watched her walk through the park and cross the street, trying in vain to swallow the fear closing in around his heart. Leave it to her to toss a wrench in his perfectly content life. "Well hell."

***

Cori got off late. It was nine-thirty by the time she started walking home with her bag thrown over her shoulder. For such a warm night, it was a wonder no people were walking around or taking a stroll, but she thought it was just as well since she wasn't really in the mood to make conversation. Stepping inside her house, she went to her room and dropped her stuff, with very little care, into the corner. Her day had been one bad thing after another. First Brandley Hudson had somehow managed to open and spill an entire five-gallon bucket of purple paint all over the front of the store, then Fiona Appleton had managed to cut herself on a key of all things, bleeding all over the place.

One disaster after another, as if she didn't have enough to deal with. Putting her hands on her hips, she stared up at the ceiling as if expecting it to come up with an easy solution to her bad mood. Deciding to take a page out of Sam's book, Cori changed out of her work clothes and pulled on some tennis shoes before walking back out of the house and going for a walk. She walked quickly, trying to burn off her frustrations with the day as she made her way to the park. When she turned onto the grass, she made a beeline for the bridge that led to the woods behind the park.