Damaged

Chapter Five

“First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win.” 

― Mahatma Gandhi

 "Come on, Anna, you can't let them get to you like this." Dante's standing at my window outside while I’m flipping through a magazine on my bed. "You go if you want to, but I'm not. I'm not sitting round a table with people who wish I wasn't there."

"If you sit with Stuart and me they won’t bother you."

"Dante. I'm not going. Simple as that."

"Well I am."

"Good you go." He raises an eyebrow and folds his arms. I mirror his expression and he starts laughing. "Please come Anna, it won’t be the same without you." I fake a gasp. "Is that you paying me a compliment? Wow Dante I am flattered... But it's still a no." He groans and runs his hands over his face making my breath catch in my throat. "Please?" 

"No."

"Fine." He stalks off angrily and leaves me sitting on the bed feeling extremely guilty. 

A while later I hear the girls giggling and singing as they leave the caravan excitedly. I watch from behind the curtain as they walk past in their dresses and heels. They take the road leading to town and I figure they're planning on splashing the cash because it's Friday. I sigh remembering Dante's disappointed expression. What he said was true. I shouldn't let them dictate where I go, what I do and who I do it with. But he doesn't realise that I've caused enough trouble on this trip so far. I don't want to make it worse. But I shouldn't be hiding away just to please them. I'm sick of doing what they want. It's my holiday just as much as it is theirs. And as from now, I'm going to start acting like it. 

DANTE

"You okay?" Stuart asks. I raise an eyebrow. "Hmm?" 

"You look pissed?" He asks, briefly glancing to the girls at the end of our table. Normally we'd mingle but tonight there's a divide in the centre of the table. Bryan's sat beside her while Lee is beside Sophie on my right.  The seat across from me is empty and that empty chair bothers me more than it should. "I'm fine." I lie, moving my chin on my hand. "How is she?" Stuart asks conversationally. I open my mouth to answer but not before I'm distracted by a tall, slim, beautiful blonde walking inside the restaurant. Her long olive tone legs disappear under a black lace body-con dress, her shaped arms covered by the dress like they normally are. Her long blonde waves tumble to her waist, a contrast against the dark of her dress. She manages the stairs leading up to our table perfectly in her high black heels. The smile she flashes me under dark red lipstick is phenomenal. She's wearing makeup tonight. Not a lot. But enough to display how perfect she is. Her blue eyes are framed with black eyeliner and mascara, making them even more mysterious than they normally are. "Sorry I'm so late. Have I missed much?" She asks, taking the seat opposite me. "Uh..." This is almost as bad as what she wore on the beach that very first night. She looked so good. But tonight... She looks even better. "No," Stuart gives a short laugh beside me. "You haven't missed anything. We've just ordered." She smiles at him and flashes me an uncomfortable look through her long eyelashes. I'm aware I'm staring. But I can't help it. She's just too beautiful. 

"I'm going out for a smoke." Stuart says after we've eaten. "Okay." He rises and sweeps out of the restaurant. Anna kicks me under the table. "Ow," I hiss, rubbing my shin. "What was that for?"

"Why did you let him go?" She pushes back from the table. "What?" I'm so confused. "We're supposed to be looking out for him, remember?" I vaguely remember a promise like that. The pair of us rise at the same time, a few heads turning. Anna quite rightly ignores the heads and sits down her napkin, picking up her purse and turning to me with a small smile. I take pride in walking out of the restaurant with Anna, thrilling in what everyone is thinking. "Oh hey guys, what you out here for?" Stuart asks in surprise, puffing out his smoke. "Need a break from in there. Tense or what?" I laugh as Anna takes a cigarette from Stuart and leans close so he can help her light up. The first time she done that I was paralysed in shock. She doesn't come across as a smoker, but then she hides so much about herself it's difficult to primarily pick up on the real her. She has numerous different masks, and only once has she let the mask slide to reveal the true her. I'd give anything to see that side of her again.