Hunger (Damnation Book 1)

Chapter 26 - Keep Calm and Carry On

I dress with care for school today. Amon will be picking me up, so I wear the colossal diamond earrings he gave me the night before. It's been awhile since I've gotten gifts and I feel a little foolish wearing them. I head into the school and wait in the counselor's office. I get the work for my first few classes and head to the library. By lunch, I am through two weeks of work in my English class. Maybe this won't be so bad, though physics is going to suck balls. Hopefully, Damien won't freak out and let me do it on my own.

"You haven't been in class," Damien says cornering me in the hallway on my way to the cafeteria.

"I'm doing independent study so I can graduate on time," I admit, realizing I haven't told him my plan yet.

Damien goes from looking angry to looking really excited. "So, you will be graduating with us. Why didn't you call me last night?"

"I got busy. I'm not much of a talking on the phone type of person."

I know it's vague, but I'm scared to tell him. "Busy how?" he asks sensing I'm not quite telling him everything.

"Busy as in I'm entertaining a visiting Fallen while he's in town, but I have Saturday open still," I say quickly. I'm kind of hoping that if I tell him I'm still free for Saturday, he'll ignore the fact that I'm an escort now.

"You're entertaining someone. Entertaining how?" His voice is completely deadpan. I knew he wouldn't be happy, but I have to be honest. He would be even more upset if he found out from someone other than me.

I pull him out of the way of other students into an empty alcove. "Don't be mad. Its orders and so far it's nothing but dinner. I don't plan on doing anything sexual," I beg.

"I don't want you to be with other guys, Rosa. Just because you don't plan on it doesn't mean he won't demand it. I'm trying to be understanding, but I want you to myself. I don't want you to have to do this. You're better than this."

He has a point. I want to be his and only his. Having more than one guy is just a bad idea. Look at how the Chase and Michael thing worked out. "I know, but I can't walk away. This is who I am. This is my job." Are we always going to have this fight? Are we always going to argue about working for my dad? "Don't be mad at me," I whisper looking down.

Damien swears and pulls me close. "I have to figure out a way to get you away from your dad," he whispers into my hair.

"Why do you think I'm trying to graduate early? Maybe he will let me go," I say hopefully, even though hope is very dangerous.

He pulls back and looks at me. "So, you're mine?" he asks searching my eyes.

"I want to be, even though we haven't even gone on a proper date," I say trying to lighten the mood.

"Just wait, you may want to dump me after it."

"Nah," I say shaking my head. "But we can't tell anyone, Damien. I could get in trouble."

"I'd never get you in trouble, Rosa," he promises. He kisses my forehead and walks me to lunch.

By the end of the day, I hate the study hall. It's so boring and quiet. I'm going to have to bring my headphones tomorrow. Walking out of the building, I see Amon standing outside his car. Leaning on the passenger door, he is talking to Sasha. What a traitorous bitch. The way she turned on me the minute Randall beckoned her doesn't sit well with me. I may not like Amon, but I love the fact I'm going to get to rub her nose in the idea I'm leaving with him after she latched on to Randall the second he got what he wanted from me. I look over to the school doors and see Damien standing there. His mouth is set in an unreadable line. If any of my brothers were watching, it would like he didn't like having a Fallen so close. It wouldn't look like the anger I know it to be even though he isn't projecting it. He has that unreadable wall up, blocking his emotions again. I shrug at him in an apologetic manner and walk over.