Daña

Chapter 9 - A Lack of Answers and a Lack of Trust

Previously on Daña:

I let out my own breath this time. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him. His eyes were so beautiful framed by his strong eyebrows and sharp cheekbones. I could stare at him until time ended, and in that moment I didn't care the Edith was in the room or that these feelings thrumming through my body were as sure and intense as the blood that was being pumped through my veins.

I just repeated Edith's words in my mind. I am not my depression. I am not my anxiety. And this man is not my father. I will not be consumed by my illnesses, not at the expense of him. I smiled. 

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I jumped at the shrill sound of a phone ringing and my gaze broke contact with Arthur's. Arthur's and my head snapped to my right toward Edith. She was frantically checking her pockets for her phone.

"Hell, I'm sorry guys." She pulled her phone out of her pants pocket and looked at the caller ID. She made eye contact with me. "I've got to take this." 

The corners of my mouth turned up and I nodded in understand. She turned and walked back up the stairs while mumbling quietly into the microphone on her phone. 

When she disappeared from my sight, I stuffed my hands into my pockets and turned to face Arthur again. He was already looking at me with a look on his face I couldn't decipher. 

Neither of us said a word. After a full minute, I looked away and shifted my weight back and forth on my toes. 

"How are you feeling?" Arthur's deep voice penetrated the silence at last. 

"I feel fine," I looked back up at him and smiled. He didn't reciprocate it. 

He sucked in a breath and started again. "What happened in the driveway..." He broke off. 

"What happened in the driveway was a mistake," I said casting my gaze down. "I didn't mean to worry you."

"Who said I was worried?"

"Edith said that-," my voice broke off. I shook my head - it was preposterous that he actually freaked out like Edith described. No one cared for me enough to act like that. Well, except for Edith. 

"What I felt was not worry." I felt a nudge under my chin. He tilted my face back up to look into his eyes. "You scared the crap out of me today."

I furrowed my eyebrows. How could such a powerful man be scared of anything? He looked like he could conquer the world. "How is that even possible?"

He didn't say a word. The front of his eyebrows scrunched together slightly like he was trying to make a decision. 

"Arthur, why do I feel the way I do when I'm with you?" I watched as my hand touched the skin on his muscled arm. Tingles erupted on my finger tips where they were touching him. "Why does it feel this way when I touch you?"

He stayed silent. Then, he sighed and looked down at his shoes.

"You have to trust me," he looked back up into my eyes. "I will tell you when you're ready."

When I'm ready?? 

I let out a loud frustrated sigh. "Why won't you tell me?"

He just stared at me. I sighed again. 

"Can you tell me something - anything?" I gripped his forearm that was between us. 

He moved his hand from under my chin and caressed my neck while his thumb stroked my cheek. This touch brought me comfort I didn't understand, but I wasn't going to fight it. 

"I can tell you that I care about you," he paused. "I care about you like I've never cared for anyone else before." He brought his other hand to rest on my waist. "And I can promise you that I will do everything in my power to protect you for the rest of my life." He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to mine. 

I closed my eyes and let his words sink in. I didn't know if I should believe him, but the little voice in the back of my head told me that he was telling the truth. What I did know was that being there with him in that moment felt wonderful and pure and I had never - ever - felt anything like this before.

Then I heard foot steps coming down the stairs. 

I jumped away from Arthur to face whoever ruined our moment. Edith stopped at the base of the stairs holding her phone in her hand. 

"So here's the thing," Edith started. "Those were the girls from tennis. They said they needed me to the Homecoming Parade like now. Are you ok if I leave you with Arthur? Cheffie will be here later for dinner." 

"I mean yeah, go. Do whatever you need to do. I'll be ok here," I smiled to reassure her. 

Her eyes shifted to Arthur waiting for his approval. I looked back at him too. 

He nodded his head. "I'll take care of her. Everything will be fine." He smiled down at me. 

I looked away, my cheeks getting hot. 

"Wonderful! I'm gonna go change, then I'll head out." She clapped her hands and started to turn around. "See ya later!"

Arthur and I mumbled goodbyes as she ran back upstairs to her room. 

There was a gap of silence. Arthur stared at the spot where Edith disappeared from our view.

"Arthur." I crossed my arms over my chest. 

He closed his eyes and took in a shallow breath before he opened them again, steeling himself. His eyes slowly moved across the room until they met mine, his fists clenched.

I wasn't prepared the intensity of his gaze. My arms dropped from my chest and covered my stomach instead. "Do...," I sucked in a breath, "did you mean what you said just then?" 

"With every fiber of my being." He stepped forward and gripped my upper arms. 

I let out my breath and thought about Edith's words for a moment. Then I thought about how I was going to say what I needed to say. I looked down at his hands on my arms and slowly shrugged them off of me. 

"I don't trust easily," I said. "An it's unfair of you to ask me for my trust when I've barely known you for a day. I hardly know anything about you."

His arms hung limply by his sides as I watched all kinds of emotions pass through his face. Confusion, distress, but also understanding were among them. 

He stared at me and began to nod slowly. "You're right. It's not fair." He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "How about instead of a movie, we can sit down here and we can talk. Isn't there a game that Americans use to get to know their partners? 20 questions, is it?"

"Yeah, 20 questions is what it's called."

He smiled at me and gestured to the couches and viewing chairs with a sweeping hand. "Shall we?" 

I didn't expect him to offer a solution so quickly; I hesitated. Though, I guess this is exactly what I wanted - to get to know him more. But what if he turned out just like the rest of them? Like my father and the other awful people out there to hurt me. 

For the last time, I thought about Edith's words again. There would be no way to know until I gave him the chance to expose himself, but I didn't want to bare myself to him either - not just yet. I think it's too late for that, I commented to myself.

Well, hell.

"Sure." 

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Hey! I hope you liked it! I know it's a little short, but it felt right to stop this one right here. Please vote and comment! If you have questions, comment, or concerns, totally comment or message me! :)

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