Destined

Twenty Three

The shoe bounced off his back and hit the ground. He stopped and slowly turned around to face me. He was wearing a black suit, a full suit with a vest too, and I'd be lying if I said that didn't make my insides rush into a frenzy. But I was hurt and angry and I was determined to hold onto those two emotions like a lifeline.

"I can pay for my own damn bid,"
"I'm not going to let you pay to go out with me, Krissy," he said. I was Krissy again.
"I'm paying to help rehabilitate the east wing, you're just a side deal, a distraction," I threw his words back at him.
He nodded, "You're a student, you don't need to waste money like that on a whim,"
"It's my money," I stated. "Who gave you the right to dictate how I spend it?"
"Have you considered that maybe I just don't want to go out with you?"
Yes that hurt, but I wasn't going to show it, "News flash, you volunteered, so you're supposed to gracefully treat whoever wins you. I think you should be grateful that I won anyway, there was a lot of cougars in that mix,"
"I don't need you to rescue me,"
"Oh, I forgot, you're the only one allowed to do that, right?"
"What do you want, Kristina?"

Yes, what do you want Kristina?

I didn't answer, instead rubbed my arms as they grew cold. He frowned, bent over to pick my shoe and stepped closer to me.

"I assume you want this back,"

He dropped to his knees and held out the shoe. I stuck my foot out, and he slipped it on, his fingers brushing my foot in the process. He lingered down there, his fingers closed gently around my ankle. It reminded me of him rubbing my feet when he brought me to his house and I fought back the tears that threatened to spill. Then he stood and shrugged off his jacket, draping it over my shoulders and immediately his scent wafted around me. He let his hands linger on my shoulders, as though he didn't want to let go.

He smiled suddenly, "That's a lovely dress, you look beautiful,"
"Thank you," I answered. "Where are you off to?" I asked before I could stop myself.
He cocked his head to one side, also surprised by my question, "It got a little too crowded for my liking,"
"Not a people person?"
"Not today," he put his hands into his pants pockets. "You should get back in there,"
"I have some time,"
"Your friend will be missing you," he said and I didn't miss the disdain in his voice.
"He's preoccupied anyway,"
"No man could be too preoccupied for you, Kristina,"
I smiled, "So you're just going to leave?"
"Are you going to stop me?"
"No, of course not," he seemed disappointed by my answer.
"Well then," he said. "Good night,"
"I'm going home tomorrow for the break, I expect to be dazzled on our date when I get back," I said and walked away before he could say anything else.

Back inside, I saw Damien with Maddie, probably wondering where I was. Quickly, I shrugged Vince's jacket off me and folded it over my arm. The last thing I needed was for him to see me wearing it. I plastered a smile on my face as I approached them and Damien smiled back.

"There you are, shall we?" He offerd his arm.

I nodded and waved at Maddie before stepping out with Damien.

In all honesty, I was starting to regret this date. Considering I'd just figured out I still had very strong feelings for Vince, it just didn't seem fair to be using Damien the way I believed I was. In his car though, I couldn't bring myself to say those words. He'd been nothing but a complete gentleman, fun, attentive and he'd helped me avoid Vince, in person and in thought, countless times in the last three days. I felt I at least owed it to him to see this night through.

I was glad when we ended up at the milkshake diner on campus. Leaving school would have taken longer and I wanted this night to come to an end already. We sat at a booth in a corner and our orders were taken. Strawberry milkshake for me and chocolate for him.