Elementally challenged.

Chapter 10 < Darien >

Darien  sat in his seat eating his meal and he could feel Laila's presence next to him. She had this powerful energy to her, like she was holding a giant magnet that attracted you towards her. She smelled like lavender and plus, she was smoking hot.

He sneaked a look her way and caught her eye. She smiled sweetly and he flashed a smile back. He looked down at his plate and could'nt help grinning at his food.

He looked at Laila from the corner of his eye and she was studying his face. She smirked when she noticed him looking at her. He turned his head completely and gave her a one side grin. She laugh lightly. He winked, slightly tilting his head his head.

She bit her lip and looked back at her food. 

He lingered there, watching her push her food around her plate. He noticed her perfectly painted nails, her delicate hands and the way she tapped gently on the table with her left hand.

Then his eyes flickered to her face. Her soft lips still had leftover lipstick from the night before. Her lashes covered her chocolate brown eyes as she looked down. Then something caught his eye. A small pendant hung on her throat. I was a little gold heart with details that were so precise it must have taken the maker ages to finish.

"Darien, eyes on your food darling." his mother's voice interrupted his thoughts. He looked up and saw Nixie smiling at him evily. He flushed a light shade of red. He glared at his sister.

Nixie was such a pain in the ass. Every girl Darien showed the slightest interest in, Nyx was there to scare her off. Hopefully, she didn't do that with Laila. He, actually, really liked Laila. Even though they met about 10 hours ago. He would never admit it, but he felt something for her more than the other girls he had dated.

He stared at his sister, wishing he could shoot lazer beams through her head.

She stuck her tongue at him.

He ignored her and looked back at Laila who was blushing slightly.

"Well, I'm done." he stood up. "Laila, sh'all I bring you to your room?"

"For what?" Nixie teased, "A play date."

His face redenned and he lauched an icicle into her mouth.

"MMMMMMHMHHHHHHHMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Nixie scremed as best she could with a mouth full of frozen water.

Her struggle and shock were incredibly satisfying.

"DARIEN!" his mother glowered. "Get rid of that ice before she dies!"

He didn't move. Just stared.

"Come Laila." He helped her out of her chair. She stood up hesitantly and they walked out of the room. 

Halfway down the hall, Laila yanked his arm, "Why did you do that to her?"

     Because she embarrased me. -he thought.

"Because, Laila. That's what siblings do." he rolled his eyes. "Not that you'd know."

The hurt on her face placed itself instantly. 

"Why? Because I'm an orphan? Because I don't have siblings? Because I don't have a family?" her eyes watered. "Unlike you, your majesty?" She turned away.

He flinched. about to tell her not to call him that. But one look at her face and the guilt hit him like a bullet.

"Laila no, that's not what I meant!" He reached for her but she pushed his arms away. "I just- Nixie makes me so mad sometimes and things come out of my mouth that-"

"Stop." she mumbled. "Just stop. I don't need this right now."

She pushed passed him towards the imfirmary.

As Darien watched her go, the amount of guilt in him was overwhelming. 

      Why did I say that!? 

The first time he actually liked a girl, he screwed it up by letting Nyx get in the way. 

     Oh right! Nixie!

He turned his finger to unfreeze her irritating mouth and heard a gasp from the Dining Room.

Nixie's struggle would have made him laugh, but right now, he wanted to punch something.