Burned

Chapter Twenty-Four

A week had passed since Daniel and I talked at The Docks. I told him I would try to forgive him, that I just needed time. I wasn't sure how much time, but apparently a week was enough -- according to everyone else. Was it enough time? I couldn't tell -- yet.

I got up, trying to get ready for school.

I reached for my phone by habit, unlocked it and went straight to my messages. I had this urge to call someone, but who? Who did my mind go straight to? I closed my eyes and what filled my head was dark curly brown hair and those chocolate eyes. I wanted to call Daniel.

"Hello? Corn? Is that you?" I stared at my hand, which apparently had dialed Daniel's number. I panicked and almost hung up on him.

"Uh, yeah it is," I bit my lip.

"What's up?" He made it seem so casual. As if, it were totally normal for me to call him. It had been normal. We were broken up -- it had almost been two weeks. Part of me thought it was silly to still be broken up, but the other part was unsure. I guess that was the part of me that hadn't forgiven Daniel.

At The Docks, he had made some really valid points. I would never know what it was like being Daniel and being Cursed. Was it fair to judge him on his past if I knew nothing about it? He had lied, but how many times had I lied to him? There were many things I still hadn't told him. He didn't know Mir and I bound Scarlett's powers. He didn't know that Erik and I had made out -- naked in a shower.

Shit, I sighed. My head hurt, which had been consistent when I thought about Daniel and Erik in the same sentence.

I had dug myself a hole.

Daniel wanted me to forgive him.

I wanted to, but--

Then, there was Erik.

Erik, who had moved on and was sticking by Sage's side.

"Um, not much," another lie I told to Daniel.

Okay, so it wasn't fair for me to be mad about him biting (and killing) people or that the lied to me. What was left to be upset about? I thought through it and came up with nothing. That was my answer then, right?

"Are you sure? You sound stressed." He observed.

He knew me so well.

He knew me.

This was Daniel.

It was always Daniel.

"I-I just--

I paused. Why was I fighting my feelings? If I wanted to forgive Daniel, then I should. There was no point in doing anything else. It was just hurting me and Daniel and that had never been my intention.

"Yeah?" Daniel sounded eager.

"Can you take me to school?" I found myself asking. It was a baby step -- one of many I had taken on my path to forgiving Daniel. There were obviously more steps I needed to take, but I hope by taking this one, it helps. I think I really wanted to forgive Daniel, but maybe I needed more time.

"Of course!" He exclaimed. "I'll be right there!" He added. In the background, I heard movement.

"Okay, thank you," I muttered. Then, I hung up. I still needed to finish getting ready. I worked in a haze, drying my hair and finishing my make up. I wasn't wearing much, just a touch of foundation, mascara, and gold eyeshadow. I liked the way the shimmers looked on my eyes, especially since it brought out the yellow in my eyes.

My phone buzzed, but I ignored it. I shut my bedroom door behind me. At the same time, I saw Dara head for the stairs. She stopped when she heard me and turned around. She was wearing a white t-shirt that had been faded and ripped in the wash. Her jeans were new and the color of alabaster.