As the door pushed open, the wind chime jingled. My nose was overwhelmed with the aroma of freshly ground coffee. At the sight of her, at the sight of Nyx, a smile crept across my lips. Her back was to me as she sat on a table, covering the person in front of her.
You've got this! I reassured myself as I stood for a second, my hands fumbling over how to take the first step in my friendship.
I smiled sheepishly as I took a few steps forward, running a rough hand through my hair. As the figure in front of her drew closer to my view, I kept my foot planted.
He was a young man, possibly my age.
His hands reached out and absorbed Nyx's small fingers, which she did not object to. My silly smile vanished as the guy appeared to be soothing her, which was something I wanted to do.
As she spoke to this boy, I noticed a smile on her face that I didn't recognise, a reluctant smile. I walked back to the door, nearly immediately reversing my actions of stepping forward. I grasped the chilly thin phone in my grip and drew it out, dialling the number I was all too familiar with. I noticed her gazing at her phone through the glass window and ignored the call. My heart clenched as I saw this, but was I overreacting?
I called once more. Ignore. Once again.
And respond.
"Hello, Nyx! Are you busy love?" I pretended to be cheerful.
"Yea- um. I am, in fact, working. Sorry.
Uh. It's a busy day today; may I call you later, please?" She scratched her brow, and the falsehood was obviously audible in her voice.
"Yes. Yes. You certainly can." I hung up the phone before she could respond. My face heated with rage as I dashed back to my car. Was I overreacting?
I began driving back home, always wondering about her and him, who was he?
My curiosity about who he was piqued, and before I knew it, I had turned my car from the next light back to the coffee shop path.
The wind chime jingled again, and the coffee smell flooded my nose, but this time it didn't make me happy.
The table was empty, another girl was serving at the counter, and Nyx and the guy were nowhere to be found.
There wasn't much left to the day, and I didn't notice as the sun began to set behind the orange and pink misty clouds.
The next two days flew by in the blink of an eye, with no contact from Nyx. I didn't know why, but I felt irritated at her for having her hands held by someone other than myself. She didn't consider me a friend, and I wanted to change that. I even found myself swinging between what I genuinely desired at times. Did I want her to fall for the Angel she called or the Damon she met? What was it that I desired? I hadn't considered a girl like this in a long time; Nyx was the first in many years, and I knew I had to make her mine; I simply didn't know how. Whether it was the travelling young Irish kid she wanted to call, or the Irish boy, 1/5 of the world famous businessman she cleaned the house for.
Today was Nyx's second day, and I had to make a decision for my friendship and our friendship.
The doorbell rang, and before I knew it, I was sprinting to the door and opening it. As I inhaled deeply, the scent of fresh berries crushed together with a tinge of vanilla tickled my nostrils.
"Hmmmmmm... Wow!" I took a deep breath and squeezed my eyes shut.
When my eyelids peeled open, I realised how weird I appeared. "Hello Nyx!" I said, quickly relaxing all my muscles. It's wonderful to see you again!"
"Hi! "Nice to see you as well," she said, adjusting her black and polka dot dress.
"Welcome in!"
She just stood there looking at me. My smile faded as I shrugged, wondering if she was coming inside or not.
"Well, if you could give me some room to walk in... I might be able to." She mumbled something.
"Oh! Oh! Yea-yeah. Sorry!" I carelessly stepped aside of the wooden and glass entrance, allowing her to enter.
"I'll...get started!" She said as she walked towards the laundry.
"No!" I yelled, making her jump slightly in fear.
"No I mean you can. But that'll come later. I mean, Valentino, Lawrence, Dominique, Landon, and I are heading to a nearby park to play football.
Elena and Alexa are en route to join us. So I was wondering if you'd want to come along and join us?" I offered, attempting to seem convincing.
"Wait, what?" Um. No, I'm sorry. "You can go, and by the time you get back, I'll be done," she added as she turned to walk away.
"No. "Please just join us, Nyx," I said as I approached her. It'll be.uhm...fun.." I was never very adept at persuading people.
"I apologise. But I'm paid for doing my work, not just hanging out. I am sorry.
I'd want to, but it's not the proper time." She was adept at reasoning, but I wasn't going down without a fight.
"No, don't be concerned. Take care of it, then! Just look at the house! It appears to be rather clean to me!" As I kicked a can under the sofa, I said.
"Yup! "Seems pretty clean to me!" Valentino walked into the living room, picking up his socks from the sofa.
"You're coming with us, and that's final!"
There were no more disagreements after that.
We drove to the park in quiet for five minutes. That, we felt, would have been a little refreshing for Landon as well.
Alexa and Elena came with us.
"Hello there, boys!" "Hello girls," each of them said as we approached the park.
"Nyx here, Alexa, Elena. Ar, Aria, this is Elena and this is Alexa." I introduced them to her.
"Ar, Nyx, this is Elena and this is Alexa."
"Hello Nyx! Alexa and I have heard a lot about you...!" Elena gave me a suspicious look and a sneer. "Uh-um," I cleared my throat.
"Hi," she said, shaking their hands, which the girls turned into a warm hug.
"Alright! So the teams consist of myself Ar-"
"Damon, Lawrence and Dominique! And me and the lovely ladies!" Valentino cut me off before I could choose my teams.
He looked at me and gave me a victory glare, to which I responded by squinting my nose and lips together and giving him a death glare.
You're a jerk.
"But none of us girls want one of you!" We're just fine as three! Right, ladies!" Alexa contended.
"Right!" Elena was with her.
Ha! Take that Val!
"Valentino!How dare you underestimate our strong ladies!" Dominique said sarcastically, opening his mouth and shaking his head in disbelief.
"Exactly- hold on! DOM! Was that a sarcastic remark?!" Alexa's eyes shot open.
"Nope, not at all!" He tried to hold back his laughs.
"It's best not to!" Elena directed her finger at him.
Nyc remained silent throughout.
"Alright! So, Lawrence, where's the ball?" I inquired, returning my attention to the game.
'Ball? "Which ball?" He inquired.
"Right! I gave you the ball this morning." I handed it up to Val!" He grinned at Valentino who was also empty-handed.
"Me? No! "You gave it to Dominique!"
"Me? No! "What exactly are you on about?"
"Lawrence! I GAVE IT TO YOU!
"No! YO-"
"The ball is here!" "HEY!" said Alexa and Elena as they rushed off with it, booting it into the goal. That is unethical!" Lawrence yelled as he and the rest of us went after them.
"Nyx! Will you be there or not? Please help me!"
Alexa yelled between Dominique's tackling arms.
"No, I'll just stay here and...watch the goal." She walked clumsily towards the goalpost.
And thus the game began.
The game finished with 7 on 7 goals.
I now hung on to our boys' pride because it was the call off and I had the ball.
"GO, DAMONNNNNN!" I could almost hear the crowd cheering for me in slow motion.
"NYX, STOPP HIM!" The females yelled.
Nyx looked at me, perplexed as to what she should do. I slid the ball to the right side with my left foot, trying to confuse her as much as possible. I rushed across the pitch, gliding the ball from side to side. She approached me slowly but attentively.
As I licked my bottom lip, a little smirk formed on my lips. I made the final sprint as beads of sweat dripped down my brow.
And then BAM! I crashed into something or someone as I looked down at the ball to kick it, preventing me from kicking any further. My body gave way as my hazel eyes clashed with Nyx's hazel gaze. My body collided with hers, and we both fell to the ground, my hands on either side of her. Her chilly breath flushed my face, and I blinked to be sure it wasn't a dream.
My eyes finally closed as my head tilted and my face leaned forward unconsciously. I tasted the cherry lip gloss on her lips as her frigid lips brushed against mine. I didn't respond for a few seconds, then I felt her give in as she eased with the kiss. Her hands wrapped around my sweaty face, and I kept mine as a brace to keep my body upright. This was a great moment, a messed-up but still perfect kiss. There seemed to be no one else but us. Myself and she.
But this only lasted about 10 seconds when she abruptly stopped and pressed her hands against my chest, forcing me to jump. I was met with astonishment.
"I-I am so-"
"I gotta go," she exclaimed as she dashed over the pitch and out the door.
"Wait! Nyx! "Wait a minute!" I chased her down.
But first, I noticed the five astonished and confused expressions.
"Damon....what was that.."
"Yeah.? "What was it?"
I chased after Nyx instead of answering the questions.
"Nyx, please wait," I said quietly, resting my hand on her shoulder. I smiled shyly.
I had been anticipating this moment, and while I did not anticipate it to arrive so quickly, it did. And I got butterflies in my tummy like a young high school girl. This was a sensation I hadn't felt in a long time. So I had no choice but to inform her. "I had to- I, the kiss, it felt-" the words that came out of her mouth cut deep through my words like kives, leaving my heart aching.
"It was a mistake, Damon, and it was wrong. It wasn't supposed to happen. I apologise." She took a deep breath.
"Huh? I'm sorry, wha-?" I said, wishing she was lying.
"You heard me.." With that, she walked away, and I made no move to stop her. My gaze followed her as she vanished into the streets.
My hand, which had been raised to halt her, gradually fell by my side.
Five pairs of legs followed my foot steps.
"Aw, Damon" Elena said as she hugged me.
"What exactly did she say?" Dominique inquired, his eyes bright.
"It was a mistake, it was wrong, and it wasn't supposed to happen."
"What.." Valentino mumbled.
"She stated. It was wrong. "I made a mistake..."
I lowered my head and headed towards the car.
Yes. It was a blunder. MY Mistake! My hormones couldn't be stopped from acting.
I couldn't keep myself in check. I went too far. She did, however, answer. Does that suggest she only had feelings for me for a fleeting second? Anything? Is there any emotion?
I sat in the car, my head in my hands, and opened the door. My ringtone rang, and the familiar name displayed on the screen. I debated whether or not to respond. But, if she called, she needed to speak with the only person she felt comfortable speaking with was Angel.
"Hello?" I said, trying to keep my emotions in check.