Strangers | ✔️

four

thursday ☼

Damien texted me a goodnight at 12:32 a.m.

I didn't see it until 11:43 in the morning. I stared at it and wondered if I should reply.

Allie went to shower after she complained about her hungover, and Raegan was on the phone with her mother. We hadn't eaten anything yet, and it was already almost noon. I sat on my bed, stomach in knots.

"Mom, I'm fine, please stop worrying about me," Raegan lay backwards onto her bed, rolling her eyes. "Yes, the girls are here with me. No, we're not out. We're in our hotel room."

I smiled at her and she stuck her tongue out at me.

My phone suddenly buzzed in my hand. A text from Damien. Two texts from Damien.

morning

mind if i come over?

I glanced up at Raegan. Then at the bathroom door. With Raegan's mother on her phone and Allie's famously long hangover-aftermath-showers, both of my friends seemed like they wouldn't be free to do anything together anytime soon.

I turned on my phone and hovered my fingers over the keyboard.

My friends are still here

Want me to go to your room?

Not seconds later, Damien replied with a yeah sure and sent me his room number. Which, I, of course, already knew, considering that I basically sulked in front of his door last night.

Okay

See you in five :)

Suddenly, I was very glad that Raegan was stuck with her mother on the phone, and that Allie took ridiculously long showers. I could leave with no questions asked... but maybe not when I came back. I nibbled on my lip, dreading Raegan and Allie's paired curiosity. I would have to deal with that later. For now...

I strode over to my suitcase.

I should change into something presentable.

* * *

The rap of my knuckles against the wooden door was too loud, echoing in the empty hallway. Damien opened the door, looking down at me. His dimples appeared.

"Hi." I smiled, and he opened the door.

"Have you eaten yet? I ordered in-room dining; I hope you don't mind."

"Oh, it's no problem. I haven't eaten either."

He nodded. I gently clutched my phone, eyes roaming around the room, unsure of where to look.

"Do you like risotto?"

Trousers and sleeves peeked out from inside unzipped suitcases, probably proof of a half hearted attempt to tidy up.

"Yeah, risotto's fine."

"Good."

I pulled on the edge of my shirt.

"What happened to your friends?" I asked, nervously meeting his eyes, unsure of why he wanted to see me.

"Next door," He gestured to a connecting door to the next room. "They're next door."

"Oh. Did you... did you throw them out? Because of me?" The words sounded stupid as soon as they left my mouth. But Damien smiled faintly.

"Yes, and yes. But also because they were all playing eight ball on their phones really loudly."

I chuckled softly. Our conversation starters always seemed to revolve around his friends, and why he was not with them. Why he was with me, instead.

Sitting down on a bed slowly, I rubbed my sandals-clad feet on the carpeted floor.

"Oh, right. I'll... take my shoes off." I treaded over to the door, turning my phone in my hand. The sandals came off easily, and I nudged them against the wall.

The doorbell rang, followed by a muffled "Room service!".

"Oh, should I-"

Damien was behind me in mere seconds, before I could even finish my question. I startled, stumbling forward when his chest gently came in contact with my back. He steadied me, fingers resting on my shoulder.

"Easy." He whispered, reaching an arm around me. To twist the handle of the door, of course. My breath caught in my throat, and I stared at the wooden door, body tense and shaking at the same time. Damien gently pulled me back as the door opened. He answered the attendant, letting him push a metal trolley into the room. The door closed.

I could feel the heat radiating from Damien's body, smell the faint scent of the hotel shampoo coming from his hair, feel his breath on my hair as he conversed with the attendant. Feel my heart pounding a burning hole through my chest.

"One Truffle, parsnip and sausage risotto, and two Piña colada. Is that all?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"No problem. Have a good one, sir." The door clicked close behind him. We stood there for a few seconds before Damien broke the silence.

"Smells nice."

I started at his words. Smells nice? What's he... Does he... oh, he meant the risotto. Of course he meant the risotto. It smelt creamy, and, and thick, and, oh, gosh, what did I think he meant? Heat flushed my cheeks and I almost cried out in embarrassment.

My flushed cheeks seemed to go unnoticed as Damien pulled two chairs over, one on each side of the trolley-table. He sat down and I did the same. He passed cutlery to me, opening the lidded risotto. Steam rushed out and completely blocked out his face. When I could see him again, he was grinning at me.

"Bon appétit, stranger."

* * *

I was distracted for the rest of my day. Well, at least the parts spent with Allie and Raegan. Brunch with Damien (sounds like a brand, honestly) ended quite suddenly when the two girls called me, complaining about my absence and smothering me with questions. I couldn't exactly say no to their pleas of return; it was almost two o'clock, and the empty plates and glasses on the trolley supported no claim of unfinished food (nor unfinished date?).

I left Damien with a brief goodbye and no explanations because he had heard my loud friends over the phone. All he gave me was a smile.

His smiles were rare, anyway. Shouldn't complain.

Allie stuck her tongue out from across the shop at me. Raegan snorted. We were at a mall, and planned to hang out until dinner rolled around to find a few restaurants nearby the concierge recommended.

"You're super distracted today, you know," Raegan glanced at me, "And you still haven't said a word about where you were at lunch."

"I had brunch. That's it." I protested, again. Raegan pouted, glaring at me.

"Hm." She narrowed her eyes. "Whatever. I'll let you off the hook today. Only because I'm hungry." She strode over to Allie and dragged her over to where I was standing at the entrance.

"Let's go, we can come back later. The restaurants are going to get crowded after a while, and we need to decide on which one," Raegan glared at Allie. "And that'll probably take you a few hours."

"Rae–Raegan, no, lemme stay, I need a dress for tonight; we're still going to that bar, right? You can't let me go in the same dress, can yo–"

"No," Raegan shushed Allie, "I want dinner first." The shorter girl pouted, but turned silent, catching up to Raegan instead and taking her hand. I beamed at their interaction.

"Don't think you can avoid this." Raegan swung an arm around my shoulder to pull me towards her. "Come on, let's go. First stop, the sushi place."