Steal My Soul

20 | darius

Darius

My whole body aches with excruciating pain that twists and warps itself through every limb of my body.

When I open my eyes my arm is wrapped around Asia Vesper's small body as she is curled up in my bed. Her small cute nose and the way her mouth hangs slightly open as she sleeps makes up for the pain. After her party a few days ago, Asia has been at my place ever since.

I was nervous to show her my cabin. My arms and hands were shaking as I pulled out my keys. I dropped them on the floor twice.

Asia didn't seem to mind. She thought it was funny, giggling as she bent down to grab them for me. When our hands touched, it sent an electric shock through my fingertips.

I had never felt this way about anyone before. It was frightening and exciting at the same time. When I had finally put the key through the lock, I froze, realizing that my small place was nothing like her luxurious mansion.

I scratched the top of my head. "So my place isn't fancy or anything like that," I  had said.

Then she just smiled at me and kissed me on the cheek. "Come on Darius," she whined. "It's cold outside,"

I opened the door and she went quickly inside, her eyes wide with awe as she took the place in. She immediately sat by the stone fireplace, putting her hands against the flames to keep warm.

I curse, looking down at my feet. "I would offer you a blanket but I don't have any,"

She stares at me, her eyes soft. "That's okay, you can be my blanket,"

The flickering flames cast a warm glow over her face and as she sat there all I could think about was how could she look even more beautiful than she did when I first met her?

I smiled in response. My cheeks were burning and I was sure they were fiery red. After that, we crawled into my old rickety bed and went to sleep.

She yawned, stretching her arm and then she scooted closer to me, burying her face into my chest. I kissed her on the top of her head. Asia stirred, kissing me gently on the lips.

She looked good in my T-shirt. It was the only clothing with good fabric that I owned. I liked getting used to the idea of Asia Vesper wearing my clothes and sleeping in my bed.

She gets up, placing her hand on my chest and purring in my ears. It's enough to make my stomach flip and send a buzzing all over my skin. She had me wrapped around her finger and anything she wanted, I would give her.

She blinks, squishing my face. "I liked spending all this time with you but if I eat any more canned food I'm going to puke all over your floor," she says.

"What's wrong with baked beans?" I asked her, biting my lip.

My fear spiked, dread twisting in my gut. I knew eventually I would have to take her out but I had no money and I didn't like showing my face around town. If I wanted to be with her I was going to have to change some of my lifestyle habits.

She laughs, drawing circles on my chest. Suddenly it was hard to breathe or even think. Asia takes my hand and kisses the top of it.

"I just wanted to have a fresh breakfast, that's all. And to spend some time with you outside these walls. We can't stay in here forever," She says, poking me in the chest. "Eventually we'll have to face people and we still have school tomorrow,"

"Maybe you can go without me," I muttered.

She grabs onto my hands pouting. "No! I want to go with you. I'll pay. I don't mind, if you were anyone else no way but it's you,"

If you were anyone else. There it is again. That separation, the difference. I was already not like any of the guys she dated. I know she wasn't trying to hurt me but that was a sting to my ego.

I groan. "Fine, but I'm wearing sunglasses and a hat,"

She squeals, jumping on top of the bed and kissing me on the lips. The bed creaks, breaking from the force. She gives me a sheepish grin and flicks her hand in the air.

"You were due for a new one anyways," she says.

-•-

When we arrive at the cafe, it's packed to the brim with people. A steady throbbing in the middle of my temple has already started piercing my skull. My eyes have already scanned all the exits and potential people who might be disguised as assassins or hitmen assigned to kill me.

The owner waves us down, giving us an empty table. Asia walks past the line and I slightly thank her. I don't think I would have been able to stand people near me and hear their breathing, talking, and the possibility of one of them touching me.

As soon as we sit down Asia orders eggs, bacon, and an orange juice while I order an omelet. Asia raises an eyebrow at me asking the waiter to leave a menu.

"You don't want to order more food? You can get anything you want," she asks.

I shrugged. "I'm not that hungry and I would feel bad taking your money," I say.

She laughs, motioning for the waiter to come back and orders everything on the menu. "You're not taking anything from me. And I offered. It's my treat. I promise I'm not going to hold this over you or anything,"

I sucked in my teeth. "Are you sure?"

She nods. "I would have just spent my money on clothes and shoes anyway,"

I wrestled with my fingers underneath the table, picking at my nails. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Her eyes soften and she takes my hand. "I'm buying you food because it will make you happy and because it makes me happy. All my life I have not truly known what suffering was until my parents died. If I could ease your mind even for thirty minutes today even if that means just buying you food, I'm going to buy you food,"

"So you're buying me food because you like me?" I said slowly.

She nods. "Yes,"

Just when I was about to say something else, fresh hot food was placed in front of us. There were plates filled with sausage, bacon, ham, chicken, French toast, breakfast sandwiches, breakfast wraps, avocado toast, waffles, and pancakes. My mouth watered just looking at it all.

This was more food than I had seen in a lifetime. My stomach churned, gurgling in response. Asia laughs, motioning me to eat.

The waiter places a hot cup of dark liquid and I take a sip, trying to figure out the acquired taste. I raised an eyebrow at Asia, frowning. "What is this?"

She laughs. "You've never heard of coffee?"

I shrink in my chair, my cheeks burning up. "I've heard of it but have never had it,"

She takes my hand and squeezes it. "You don't have to drink it if you don't want to. You just looked so tired and thought you could use an energy boost,"

I squeeze her hand back. "Thank you, this is the best day of my life,"

She grins and I could see her getting teary eyed. After that, it was pretty quiet and I appreciated that as I used two forks to eat all the food that was in front of me. I could feel my stomach filling up but I didn't care.

I could almost enjoy the moment if I hadn't noticed the crabbed long haired man standing in the window that scrawled too hastily when he noticed that I had spotted him.

I stab my fork into my eggs, gripping the metal with a vengeance.