DIVERSITY

DIVERSITY- Chapter 20

My legs moved automatically, as I ventured further down the corridor, lost in a trance. My head buzzed painfully, and I brought my hand up to my face to hold my temple, as If that would help. I did not know where I was going, only that I knew that I needed to do something to distract myself from thoughts of Damon. I staggered emotionlessly around a corner. I felt like I was swaying, unsure of what I would do next.

I stiffened as a pair of muscular arms encircled over my stomach. The stranger lurked behind me, enforcing their strength on me as they tugged me off of the ground. "Hey!" I thrashed, finally finding my voice, that turned out to be poisoned with raw emotion. As my body weight was shifted, I was thrown downwards, allowing for me to see the strangers shoes. At the end of both long, solid legs were War Squad soldier's boots. I stopped fighting immediately.

"You are not supposed to be out In this corridor!" The soldier's voice was gruff and sharp, like most of them were. He attempted to drag me down the hallway, but I proved to be heavier than I seemed. I did not bother to offer any excuses as I had none.

I suddenly sensed another presence behind us, charging on heavy footsteps. "It's alright." The person's voice mulled over in my mind, but I was too bothered by other things to recognise it. "It's alright." The person repeated. "She Is heading back to her cell with me now."

I winced as the soldier's arms slithered away from my body and clutched the gun pre-cautiously at his side. Reluctantly the soldier turned and marched away in the opposite direction. My eyes were glued to the tiles of the floor, never once looking up at the other person. I felt hands slide gently under my arms, resting against my back, as the person pulled me to my feet. My gaze never left the floor, my head too full of memories that I could never banish from my mind. I was pushed gently against the concrete wall behind me, the person's hands lowering from my back to rest warmly on my hips. I felt their breath tickle my chin, as they leaned forward. Snapping out of my daze, I glanced up into the person's face. My emotions kicked in and I recoiled In disgust pushing him off me. Damon stumbled back In confusion.

"What's wrong Aria?" Damon asked, the hurt evident in his eyes. I could still feel the presence of his hands on my waist, wishing that I could allow myself to feel affection.

"What's wrong?" I spat, the anger and jealousy sparking dangerously like fire inside of me. Surely he had hurt me enough to not make me pinpoint his own mistake for him. I decided on keeping quiet, and let him figure it out for himself.

"Aria, I don't understand. What have I done?"

I bit my lip to keep from speaking, staring at something in the distance to stop from looking into his emerald eyes, that reflected shades of love.

Silence fell between us for a measly few minutes, without Damon having the nerve to speak up. "Come on Aria, what Is this about?" Damon sighed.

I had tried so hard to resist the temptation of admitting his mistake for him, but I could not take this any longer. "You and Becca."

I watched as Damon rolled his eyes, then bury his head in the shadows of his hands. When he rose his head, a look of disbelief creamed over his features. Damon laughed pitifully, which made my anger for what he had done deepen. He thinks that this is funny? He thinks that it is funny that I am hurt?

"Aria, what you saw, was not how it seemed."

I scoffed. "Really? Then what was it exactly?"

"I was hugging Becca because we were talking and I asked about how her scratches from the simulation were. She said that they were very painful, and to make her feel better, I embraced her to let her know that I care," He breathed, massaging his temples, "That I care, as a friend."

Regret sneaked it's way into my mind. I sighed, closing my eyes and leaned my head back against the wall. How could I have been so naive?

"Well," I opened my eyes to stare at him a few moments later, "It doesn't matter. I mean, It's not as If we are together or anything. Did that 'almost-kiss' even mean anything to you?"

"Of course It did, I'm just waiting for the right time." He shifted his weight uncomfortably. "Aria, I have feelings for you, okay? It's pretty clear that I care about you. Can you please stop questioning that? If you want to be together, that Is what really matters to me."

My feelings, while insufferable as they were, told me to accept his offer. But as much as I wanted it, the timing was completely wrong. Besides, I was right about what I had said before, even If I was under the impression of Damon and Becca being together, I had to cut off all distractions.

"I'm sorry, Damon. I can't. I have other priorities."

He laughed, spreading out his arms as a gesture. "Like what? Like pretend to be someone who you're not, just to pass a test."

I shook my head, already half turning down the corridor. "No, Damon. Like saving my life."

"Please, Aria." Damon called, his arms falling limply at his sides In defeat. "I know that you have a lot to deal with right now, so do I. Just know that I care for you deeply. All I am asking Is for a chance to prove that we can be together."

I stopped walking away, Instead I gained speed and stood only a meter from him. I held his gaze, and pushed aside the regret that rose to my throat at the words I was about to speak. "Damon, don't you understand? I don't have feelings for you."

I summoned all of my strength to hold back the tears that gathered within my eyes. I forced the words to seem as truthful as possible, that even I was almost convinced it was the truth. Almost.

"That Is not true. You know It's not." Damon's eyes glistened with a layer of shine, as his eyes reflected heartbreak. I turned away from him, swallowing forcefully, before facing him again with a cold stare.

"I'm sorry. I was confused. I thought I had feelings for you, Damon, but I realised that I don't. I have to focus on my life from now on."

I was compelled to turn my back on him, as I witnessed a single tear of agony roll down Damon's cheek. He was convinced.

"Please, Aria, Just give me a chance."

Unable to look back at him, I whispered one last thing into the air around us. "Stay away from me."

Without another thought I continued on walking, pacing myself quickly to flee from the situation. When I was sure I was a fair distance away, I collapsed against the concrete wall, tears gushing from my eyes, as I held my stomach. I had done It to save him. I had saved him from the tragic ending I was condemned to, as my unique power was to be prosecuted. I saved him because I loved him.

I rose my hands to my face, smoothing over it, as If that would refreshen my shaky appearance. Letting out an ooze of air, I proceeded down the hallway where I eventually came to the floor of cells. Immediately, as I approached a nearby female soldier, who was patrolling the outside of the cells, lead my to my own empty prison. I stared at her tediously as she rattled the keys in the lock, trapping me In here for the remains of the night. My body ached, so I succumbed to sinking on the rough bench lined up against the wall. Although there were no windows to the outside world, the room temperature was very low and sent shivers throughout my body. I lay silently, curled Into a ball, on the stone bench, allowing my eyes to close temporarily and create a dream that served as a distraction for the cold night. I awoke, but made no move to stir, as I heard the sound of shuffling In the cell next to me. I knew that Damon was awake, but he made no attempt at contacting me through our gap in the wall. Right now, I think It's better If we didn't talk, because if we did, I wouldn't be able to help myself as I confessed my true feelings for him.

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