Amaranthine

Chapter Nineteen

 © Copyright 2011
All work is property of Leah Crichton, any duplication or reproduction of all or part of the work without explicit permission by the author is illegal.

Disparate: (dis-pie-rate)

fundamentally distinct, or different in kind

composed of dissimilar or opposing elements

I was face-down on my bed, soaking my pillows with salty tears—the ones that Snickers couldn’t manage to kiss away—when I heard the rocks against my window. I stood up, wiped my face with my sleeve, and walked over to it. Damien stood in the front yard below with a crooked smile on his face and his hand behind his back. I tried to open the window, but it stuck. Orion had done it a thousand times before now. It shouldn’t have been so difficult. Finally, after what seemed like forever, I was able to force it.

“Hi, sweetheart.”

“Hi.”

He withdrew his hand from its hiding spot, producing a bright red rose. “Are you busy?”

I smiled. His gesture, his presence was a welcome diversion. “Now?” It was a stupid question; of course he meant now. He was standing in my front yard tossing rocks at my window.

“Yes, right this very moment, love.”

 “I’ll be right out.” Grabbing my jacket from my desk chair, I threw it on and started climbing out the window. It wasn’t until I had one leg over the windowsill that I remembered I could have used the front door. This was more adventurous for sure, but a little dim-witted. I was stuck.

“Jump,” Damien said. “I won’t let you fall.”

I looked at him and considered my very limited options. I must have looked like a fool; what a show I was putting on, half in, half out the window. I was pretty sure I could hear Damien suppressing laughter. “Come on, just jump. I promise I won’t let you fall.”

“I have trust issues.” 

His smile grew wide as his shoulders shook with laughter. “You can trust me. I promise.” I didn’t have any choice at the moment, so I closed my eyes and jumped. True to his word, Damien caught me. “You sure know how to make an entrance.”

“I try to be unforgettable.”

“Ah yes, well, you are.” He placed me on my feet and wrapped his arm around my waist. “Shall we?”

I looked back at the house. My mom wasn’t home and Luke wouldn’t even notice I was gone since he wasn’t speaking to me. “Sure,” I agreed. “I'd love to.”

“Where could we go that would make you happy?”

“Anywhere but here.”

“That makes it easy,” he said. “Off to far, far away.”  

I got in the car and rolled down the window, not caring where we went. As long as he would take me away from this place and give me an escape, I was happy.

I eased into the seat and let him drive, winding through the streets of Vancouver until just after dark, he pulled into a crowded parkade. Damien tucked his keys in his pocket and opened my door.

He took my hand in his. “Hungry, love?” 

“Yeah, I could definitely eat.” I couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten. Maybe I didn’t eat at all.