Phenomenal

22 ~ Someone Out There

                  

Damien just looked at her.

For a long time.

Clarissa watched him process what she'd just said.

He opened his mouth, closed it again, opened it, frowned.

"Huh?"

"My parents approve of him," she repeated and the confusion returned.

"You're dating him... because your parents approve..."

"People do generally want their parents to approve of their partners."

"But you put up with his... attitude... because they approve... why do they approve?"

Clarissa pushed away from him, leaning back against the armrest and stretching out her legs – Damien automatically lifting his arms out of the way as she settled her feet on his lap, still looking at her.

"Because he's Brett Cole," she said.

"I don't understand."

"He's rich, he's handsome, he's smart, he's set to inherit the entire family fortune because his father disowned Brett's younger brother and we make an attractive power couple."

Damien just stared at her. "Don't you love him?" he asked and the question actually surprised Clarissa – she'd never expect a guy like Damien to ask such a... chick-flick style question and yet, judging by his expression, he really wanted to know.

Clarissa opened her mouth... and it was her turn to not know quite what to say. Damien raised an eyebrow and she looked away, frowning, thinking.

"Well... we've only been dating around a year."

"People fall in love much quicker then that."

She pursed her lips, thinking as she watched Deacon pad into the second bedroom.

"I know I used to," she eventually said and her voice came out much lower and quieter then she'd expected, one would think she was trying to hide the answer from him. She didn't look at him. She didn't want to see his expression. She felt that he'd be... disappointed in her reply. "I'm sure I still do, I guess I just don't notice anymore, you know?"

"So, your parents approve because he can financially support you?" Damien said and Clarissa looked up in surprise.

His expression was neutral. If he had disapproved, she couldn't see it. He was just continuing on the conversation. When she didn't answer, he tilted his head and she blinked.

"Oh, no, no" she said quickly, "No, I don't need finical security from a partner. It's... we look good together?"

"Are you asking me?" Damien asked, raising an eyebrow at her tone, "Because frankly, I'd say—... hmmm." He seemed to catch himself and stopped.

"What?" Clarissa asked.

"Doesn't matter."

"Go on, tell me, you think we don't look good together?" she asked, pulling her feet back from his lap and turning onto her hands and knees, eyeing him, leaning forwards.

"I didn't say anything," he said, leaning away.

"You don't think we look go together, you all but said it," Clarissa said. Damien edged back into the corner of the sofa and Clarissa planted her hands on the sofa around him – one hand on the back, one on the armrest and it was a surprising stretch to work around his broad shoulders and still manage to bear down on him. "You can't deny we at least make an attractive couple in appearance, right?" she said, all but looming over him as he stared up at her.