Not Your Average Family

Dancing Around

Damon's POV:

Rhea pecks my cheek and that is it. The "party" resumes, everyone returning back to normal. Helen, however, keeps glancing over at me, hurt and anger visible in her eyes. I shouldn't've kissed her forehead. She might even be married to someone else, for all I know.

We caught each other's gaze several times but never long enough to gauge expressions. Thirteen years have done nothing but enhance her beauty, and I can only pray she's happy wherever she is and who ever she is with.

Sooner than I would've liked, the dinner ends and then we've all paid for our own stuff, making our way out. "Do you guys need a ride?"

Helen looks around. "It's up to you guys. I mean, it is a ten minute walk from here, so what do you guys want to do about it?"

"I could drop you off so I wouldn't have trouble picking you kids up tomorrow," I explain. Helen considers it before nodding and looking around.

"I think that should be fine, Mr. Greenwood," she says, looking straight at me, never breaking eye contact. The kids all agree a few seconds later and pile into the large SUV, all eight of us fitting in comfortably. Since none of the kids are legally allowed to sit in the front, Helen ends up sitting up front with me, which might be a good idea, considering she's the one giving me directions.

As I pull up, I feel Helen stiffen beside me. I get out of the car and open up the trunk to let the kids take their bags, waiting until they've all claimed their own stuff. Helen hands Hector the keys and tells them all to go up.

"I'll be up in a bit, just want to discuss tomorrow's plans," she says, before coming to the back of the car where I'm leaning against the closed trunk. "Hi."

"Helen," I nod without meeting her gaze. I feel her settle beside me, leaning back against the car. "Thank you. For the help in the store," I say, keeping my head down. She just nods, and I know this because I move my head to look at hear really, which, in turn, makes me forget that I am now a divorced, 35-year old man with 2 kids, looking at his ex-wife. I forget about everything that happened in the past 20 years, just going back in time.

Flashback~

"I'm going out for a walk, don't bother waiting up for me. I'll come back home soon," I shout, grabbing my coat from the coatrack by the door. Slipping on some thick boots, I make my way out slowly, trying to clear my head of the day's events.

History had been a shit-show. "That man hates me from the depths of his heart," I mumbled to myself as he hopped onto the pathway. Maths was free, which meant I had time to work on that band logo, kind of a good thing. Chemistry had literally blown up in my face and I was lucky to have gotten away with just a few scrapes to the face. PE was the hardest though. We were playing dodgeball and I had taken a hard one right to the stomach that had left me gasping for air. It was my second time walking into the Nurse's Office that day, something I didn't know if I wanted to be proud of or ashamed of.

Walking down the sidewalk, kicking bits of rubble along the way was when I heard grunting from somewhere a bit ahead of me, off to the side, based on the muffled nature. I slow down and tread lightly, not wanting to get myself into trouble, and peer around the wall of the building to see two dark figures wrestling. I could see long hair, so a girl was definitely involved. "Hey, leave her alone!"

"Stay away, don't come closer, I've got this," a female voice answers. Nevertheless, I take a few steps closer, treading lightly and alert enough to turn myself around if the need arises.

By the time I reach the place, though, the girl starts to rise slowly, lifting her hand to her face and wiping off something. "I told you I got it covered."