"You're infertile." That was what the doctor told them after running a series of tests on Destiny that took hours. The couple were devastated. Damian hadn't let his hopes get too high, even with Destiny's newfound regenerative abilities, he didn't let his hopes get high. So when he heard those words, though it still hurt to hear, he only fell so far. Destiny, on the other hand, had gotten so excited that her hopes were on a record high. She'd let the fact that she now had powers get her expectations up. On the way to the doctor's office she was practically coming up with baby names.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1EIlF4Lcr
"You're infertile." It had been like a bullet into her heart. "You're infertile," In her mind translated to, 'you're defective,' or 'there's something wrong with you.' Her powers hadn't raised her chances of carrying a baby, it had completely stripped her of it. These powers that she thought would be a new beginning, was a nail in the coffin for her hopes of starting a family. "You're infertile." Destiny's hopes had been so high that when she fell, it shattered her. Damian saw something die in her eyes the moment the doctor said those words. Something that wouldn't be healed with time. Something that she would never gain back.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMjFqSClbQ
The car ride home was silent. They didn't say anything or even look at each other. When they got home, Destiny went inside and Damian sat in the car. He needed to get a grip on his own emotions before he could comfort her. He gripped the steering wheel tightly. His breaths hitched in his throat as they left his chest. He couldn't let this news get to him, because if he did, he knew it would make Destiny feel worse. He had to suck it up, go in there, and be there for her. He inhaled, held it... Then exhaled.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AZ2NsGCcn
He got out of the car and walked into the house. Their home felt like a shell, it wasn't welcoming, it wasn't familiar, it wasn't where the heart was. It was cold, quiet, and empty. Everything that had made this house a home had died with their hopes of starting a family.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9GeeFTpVU
He didn't find Destiny in the living room, kitchen, or nursery. He knew where she was. He opened the door to their bedroom and found her laying on the bed, on her side, curled up into a ball. He heard the sounds of low sniffles coming from her. Damian climbed into the bed and laid beside her. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to his chest. Neither of them said anything, they just sat there in each other's presence. They were there for quite some time before Destiny spoke up and broke the silence.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoYk1Po70I
"I'm sorry." Her voice trembled, her vocal chords were swollen with emotions.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bCtTl6HC7
"Sorry for what?" Damian looked at the back of her head.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XKzhWZVID
"For not being good enough to give you that son you always wanted. I don't understand why, this wasn't supposed to happen."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hLNQGuOSN
"Don't say that. This isn't your fault, and it's not because you aren't good enough, you hear me? Sometimes things just don't play out the way we want them to, and it's no fault of our own."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfm2TNJP9F
He sat up and looked over so that he could see her face, but the moment their eyes met, she turned her head towards her pillow. She didn't want him to look at her. She felt ashamed. Damian sighed, he didn't want her to fall into despair like she had before.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSiGAITGSo
"Do you know why I asked you to marry me?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNyMwRghV0
She didn't answer, but he continued on anyways,
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14N8WRkkDP
"It wasn't because I thought you would be the perfect specimen to give me children. I asked you to marry me because I love you. All of you. I love the way you look at me, like I'm the best thing you've ever seen. I love the way you touch me, it feels so intimate, even when you're just holding my hand. I love the way you smile, the way you laugh, hell, even the way you cry. Everything about who you are, I love. That's why I married you."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrExfCQkk0T
His sentiment didn't go unnoticed, but unfortunately his words fell on deaf ears. Destiny's mind was too focused on her own thoughts to pay any heed to his. Maybe his words didn't get through to her now, but he hoped they would eventually. After that, the two of them sat in silence until they both fell asleep.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKxWOSm5oh
In the morning, Damian got ready for work. He hadn't been in a while so he figured he'd show up. He checked to make sure Destiny would be alright with him gone, but she didn't answer him. He was prepared to call off going to work, but then got the idea to ask Mrs. Schultz to check on Destiny, and to call him if she left the house. The woman agreed, and Damian set off for work.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRI67nU8dR4
When he arrived at the office, he noticed a strange feeling in the air. Something was off. It was the same feeling you get when you could smell rain in the air and were anticipating the first drop to hit you. Damian kept in his office most of the day, answering calls and doing paperwork, but he occasionally left to go to the bathroom or get a drink of water. He felt that feeling of impending anticipation all day, waiting for something to happen, though he wasn't sure what.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELlJ9ba4tq
He sat in his office on a call, looking out of the glass wall at people walking by. His eyes suddenly met a pair of green ones staring at him from behind big circular frames. As soon as the woman realized he had caught her staring, she looked away and pretended to be working. Damian knew who she was, it was Hannah Abrams, his boss' secretary. Her desk was right across from his office, but he didn't think he'd ever caught her looking his way before. He wrote it off as a coincidence and continued working.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZx0xs1cyx
Damian was busy doing some paper work when he felt that strange feeling again. He looked up from his work to see those green eyes staring at him again, but the moment he met Hannah's eyes, she looked away. He was quick to write it off as another coincidence.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZqYUx9WBb
Finding her staring at him once or twice, he could chalk up to them just so happening to look at one another at the same time. He could even say them locking eyes three or four times was pure luck of the draw; but when he looked over at her to catch her staring at him again, and again, and again, he started to get the feeling that she had something she wanted to say to him.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYwzLlAbUg
For about the tenth time in the hour, Damian looked to Hannah and caught her staring, so he decided to go and say hello to her. After they locked eyes, she dropped her head like she normally did to pretend she was working, only this time when she looked back up to stare, Damian was standing right in front of her desk. The woman jumped, nearly jumping up out of her chair, and let out a loud, eep.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnxpoqMPQR
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, I was just coming over to say hi."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZuBNVHVIW
Damian smiled when he saw that he'd spooked her so bad that her glasses were now lopsided on her face. His smile quickly faded when Hannah got out of her chair, backed away from him, clutched her cross necklace, and began to recite the twenty-third psalm as loudly as possible.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7tD8Cy3te
"THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD I SHALL NOT WANT. HE MAKETH ME TO LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES: HE LEADETH ME BESIDE THE STILL WATERS...."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPz8GDgMk4
He stood there, eyes wide, looking at her in awe as she continued on. What was she doing? He looked around to see that people were beginning to stop and stare at them. He could even see his boss, who was in the middle of a meeting, was looking towards them through the glass door to her office. He needed to get Hannah to stop before someone thought he had done something to her.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeQAvDL3wn
"Hey, uh, Hannah, do you think you could be a little quieter? People might think something is wrong."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YrlSHZvgu
"I WILL FEAR NO EVIL: FOR THOU ART WITH ME."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiai0dhA4xn
"Hannah, I think you should stop yelling."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoo82LOm2y
Damian moved to walk around the desk, thinking she might not be able to hear him over the sound of her own shouting, but this only made things worse. Hannah screamed at the top of her lungs, and Damian took several steps back.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixbrSPn2P0
"GET AWAY FROM ME. YOU HAVE LAIN WITH THE DEVIL. YOU HAVE SOLD YOUR SOUL TO SATAN, DAMIAN WARNER. YOU WILL BE DAMNED TO THE PITS OF HELL FOR YOUR SINS AND WILL BURN WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5kFw2k93e
Damian continued to back away until he backed into someone. He looked over his shoulder to see Daniella Cole, his boss. She must've come out of her office to see what all the noise was about. She looked up at Damian with a questionable gaze, but he could do no more than shrug. She turned her eyes to Hannah, who was citing more bible verses. She walked up to the frightened woman's desk, standing between Hannah's view of Damian.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGRoGxbofz
"Ms. Abrams, this is a workplace. I expect you to act professional at all times. This little episode needs to stop. Go to the bathroom, pull yourself together, come back, and work, alright?" Her voice was powerful enough to cut through Hannah's screaming without her having to yell.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixSpSKdg0e
Hannah immediately stopped talking once her boss began to address her. Though Daniella had thrown that question in at the end, she wasn't asking, she was telling.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxVQQ57gax
"But... Ms. Cole, h-he has the mark of the beast! You can't let him-" Hannah began to plead her case, but was cut off.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWASU6cdU1
"Go to the bathroom, pull yourself together, come back, and work." Daniella repeated.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHY7cdqZfvq
Hannah looked back and forth from Daniella to Damian, stuttering a bit, but reluctantly gave in. She went to the bathroom, walking quickly when she had to walk past Damian. After she had gone, Daniella turned to Damian.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YdNqte4gt
"I didn't do anything. I just-" He began to explain, but was cut off.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsebRuq5Ol
"We'll continue this conversation in my office, Mr. Warner."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfDpgRbmWy
Daniella sashayed into her office and motioned for him to follow. He sighed, he should've just let Hannah keep staring. He followed her into her office and took a seat in one of the small chairs in front of her big mahogany desk. She sat in her lavish chair and clasped her hands together, resting them on her lap.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQZAJSaHY2
"You've missed days of work without so much as a call, and your first day back you're causing problems, Dami. What's going on?" She asked with genuine sincerity.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGj0d97uzZe
She dropped the formalities of addressing him as, 'Mr. Warner,' when it was just the two of them. Damian and Daniella go way back, they had known each other since middle school, and she even bossed him around back then. Somethings just never changed.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbL4Chj161
He wished he could offer her an explanation about what had happened with Hannah, but truth be told, he wasn't sure. Nothing he could say about that would be satisfactory.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddpHyJwawJ
"I've been having some problems at home... Destiny isn't doing too good. She needed me to be with her... and Hannah... I was just saying hi and she lost it and accused me of being the Antichrist. I don't know why."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Lg8zABcuC
Daniella nodded, standing up and making her way around the desk to stand in front of him.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEFu45USk1
"Hannah has always been an odd ball since the day I hired her. How is Destiny handling things? I heard about what happened, I'm sorry for your loss."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58OO3GRm85
"Not well, she blames herself and I don't know how to get through to her. Everything I say, she ignores."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4jTeHmtzr
"Give her some time, she'll come around, she just needs to grieve her own way. The best thing you can do is to keep letting her know you're there for her." Daniella leaned over and reached out, grabbing Damian's tie and adjusting it for him, "And if you need a friend, you have my number, alright?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYShk6R5Hf
Damian looked up into her eyes and saw a twinkle of mischief. He flashed back to when they were in their high school cafeteria and she would tease him in a similar way before leaving him hanging and laughing about it with her friends. He cleared his throat, pulling his tie out of her hands, and stood up.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcbI3kqfp4
"Thanks, Daniella. I'll keep that in mind."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3DIchebVI
With that, he excused himself and walked out of her office. Hannah had returned now, and she refused to even look up at him. Good. That's what caused all that trouble to begin with. Damian went back to his office and stayed there for the rest of the day. He didn't care if people stared at him, he just kept to himself until it was time for him to go home.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpIfvQDyiR
Once at home, Damian made something to eat, enough for two, though he didn't expect Destiny to come out of the room to eat it. He ate by himself, watched some TV, and then joined her in bed. He sat there, unable to fall asleep. He rolled over to face his wife.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15gR3HdRN5
"Did you do anything today?" He asked.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxP1tKEzNex
No answer. He knew she wasn't sleep, it was only eight thirty.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaCbadngB1
"Did Mrs. Schultz come over?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhauqo9H7M3
No answer. Damian sighed, he might as well be married to a brick wall.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEkJGhURKr
"Hannah Abrams, the secretary that you met during the office New Years party, told me I've had sex with the devil or something. She just started screaming and yelling at me."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vLw3Yr8Wi
Damian tried to carry on a conversation even though Destiny showed no interest in engaging in one. All he could see of her was her silhouette in the darkness. He reached out and place his hand on her side. Even though she was here, she felt a thousand miles away.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3FHUm4Fci
"I miss you." He said.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBo3Vz0EuqV
No answer. He sighed, rolling over and trying his best to fall asleep.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5Qn9g6LRQ
The next day, when Damian woke up to get ready for work, Destiny wasn't beside him. He rubbed his eyes, looking around the room. He hoped she hadn't disappeared again. He looked around and didn't find her anywhere in the house. He continued getting ready for work, figuring that she had just gone for a walk or something. He just hoped this walk wouldn't last days like it had before.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFM0EJcXc8
Damian left the house and got in the car, wondering if he should go to work or look for Destiny. She did have abilities that would ensure that she would be fine, but was that a good enough reason to not look for her? He noticed something in his peripheral and looked over to see Destiny in the neighbor's driveway. She was crouched down, talking to little Carrie, Alan's three year old daughter. Damian got out of the car and walked over to see if Destiny was alright. As he approached the two, he could hear what they were talking about. He stood behind Destiny and listened.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTu5CJ7Jjs
"Stay a kid as long as you can." Destiny said.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtciKPDiib6
"Why?" Young Carrie inquired, but she was far too absorbed in her chalk drawing to really care.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshXplwV5ey
"Because once you're an adult, things get tough. Soon enough you'll be nothing more than a housewife whose only purpose is to be screwed and carry babies, and if you fail at either of those you'll be a useless piece of shit."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSxm1ua2Fr
"Destiny!" Damian interjected.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSr9kze5xXU
He grabbed her by her arm and pulled her up and away from the child.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vv40VLpqn
"You can't talk like that to children." Damian said in a hushed voice so the little girl wouldn't hear them bickering.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMe6QjwfeV
"Why the fuck not?" Destiny pulled her arm free of his grasp,"She deserves to know the truth."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBGHcqCzyP
"That's not the truth, you're just upset right now. Come back in side."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGJejhWPhc
"Damn right I'm upset! And I have a right to be! I'm not going anywhere, I'm talking to Carrie."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlzR9IeX6k
Destiny tried to push past Damian but he put his arm out and caught her by her waist, pulling her back.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmJ0wXqamk
"I think you should say goodbye to Carrie and come back in the house."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzsG59vlbF
"Get off of me," Destiny spoke to him with a warning tone, "You'd like it if I went inside, wouldn't you? So I can be your good little fucking housewife. Well, I'm sick of it. All I do is sit at home and wait for you to come back and fuck me so you can roll over and go to sleep."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJQaSOg3ZA
Damian was taken aback by her attitude. She'd never spoken to him like this before, she'd never spoken to anyone like this before. He kept himself calm, knowing she was just lashing out because she was hurt.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbMU9ATTFF
"I don't want you to be a good housewife, you know I've never thought about you like that. We can talk about this inside, just calm down."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMquzSX22F
"Don't tell me to calm down, and I said get your hands off of me."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5M9uUJfwWf
Destiny grabbed his arm and pulled it off of her. Damian's face contorted in pain as her grip threatened to crush his arm. As they bickered, Alan walked up to see what the two were talking about seeing how they were in his driveway right beside his daughter.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4NlVb7Kvw
"Hey guys, what's up?" Alan asked, he didn't realize he'd caught them in the middle of something.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JlirbCUdV
Destiny let go of Damian's arm when the man walked up to them. She smiled at the neighbor as Damian rubbed his arm sorely.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NSoZPtax3
"We were just talking about how Damian wants me to go inside because he thinks I'm fucking crazy." Destiny said, in a cheerful voice that didn't match what she was saying.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBvaJKNOds
Alan's eyes widened, he wasn't expecting that at all. Damian quickly hooked his arm around Destiny and lifted her up onto his shoulder.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKKNb3Ns0C
"Sorry Alan, we'll talk to you later, alright?" Damian rushed an apology and goodbye before Destiny could get another word out, or overpower him and make him put her down.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQ2Comrjjt
He carried her back into the house, putting her down once they were inside and shut the door. He leaned against the door, looking at his wife with a puzzled expression. He understood that she was upset, and she had every right to be, but why was she acting like this?
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Vn4lSUa5u
"What's gotten into you?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeTpnde0Te
He reached out to her, and she smacked his hands away.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0Ro1RSinr
"What's gotten into me?" She sneered at him, "Not a goddamn thing. Why don't you just go to work, you're going to be late." She turned away from him and began to walk away.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhkSWmXE1j
Damian reached out and grabbed her wrist. She twisted around, snatched her hand away from him, grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, and shoved him back against the door.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQ6bVL4Z1a
"Don't you touch me again. I'm sick and tired of you grabbing me and pulling me around." Destiny spit the words in his face like venom.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNeBqnPqrh
Damian blinked in astonishment as he was slammed into the door. He didn't know what to say. She was acting like a raging bull. He looked into her eyes and briefly saw the brown in her irises flicker to red. She let him go and turned away from him, kicking the couch as she walked by. The couch skirted across the floor, flipped over the coffee table, and hit the TV, knocking it over. She disappeared into their room, slamming the door with a thud.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNIAUgWlsK
Damian continued to lean against the door, looking at the state of their living room. He remembered what Hannah Abrams had said about him laying with the devil, and for a second, he thought it true. He walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of water. He looked down into the glass and saw the surface of the water rocking like an ocean in a storm. He couldn't keep his hand steady. He took a sip of water, and sat on the floor.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPZ7ikQ2CQ
Damian ended up going to work, against his better judgement. He felt that he should've stayed home and kept an eye on his wife, but after their argument he wasn't sure if she really wanted him there at the moment, so he left. All throughout the day he was distracted by thoughts of Destiny even though he wanted nothing more than to put her out of his mind for five minutes. Every time he thought about his wife, he was no longer reminded of her beautiful smile or contagious laugh; he was reminded of the red in her eyes and Hannah Abrams shouting about demons.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mEAlXpyL8
He had been so engrossed in his thoughts that he failed to notice that the office was being locked up and everyone had headed out. Daniella was walking out of her office to go home when she saw Damian still in his office. He was just sitting there, hunched over his desk, lost in thought. She walked into his office and stood there for a minute waiting for him to notice her. When he didn't, she cleared her throat and made her presence known. Damian sat up and lifted his head to see who was there.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfB43uy0bWU
"Closing time, Warner." Daniella pointed to the clock on his desk, walking over to him, "You trying to make overtime or something?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm82kBOiiwn
He looked out at the office to see it had become a desolate wasteland. She looked at the papers on his desk to see that they were all filled out. He obviously wasn't working, so there was something else on his mind.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kIrV92jGE
"What's got you all stressed out? Things okay with Destiny?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhax16xc0qa
He leaned back in his chair with a sigh at the mention of his darling wife. He didn't even know what to tell her.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyF7ujqZ2q
"Not well." He kept his answer short.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡme3ieltBex
It didn't take a rocket scientist to see that she had struck a chord when she brought up Destiny. She lifted herself up and sat on his desk.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3Gq43eK3U
"Wanna talk about it?" She said, meaning well.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TzOqdgfoC
"No."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡps2dbhE4tJ
He didn't want to talk about it, think about it, or go home to her.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4Fs4WguC0
"Mind if I stick in the office a little longer? I don't feel like going home right now."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtuexuBiwY
"No can do, but, if you don't wanna go home, let me buy you a drink."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0IY5hyafl
He looked at her and arched his brow. She could already tell what he was thinking.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtqD2RAPRU
"Relax. It's a harmless, no strings attached offer to help a friend in need."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2alP8FlCS
"I don't drink." An obvious lie, and Daniella knew it, but she wouldn't force him if he didn't want to.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAGQvs9Hf4
"Alright, well, I do drink, so I'll see you tomorrow. Tell the misses I said hi."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs59PLdJ91W
He mulled over her offer as he watched her get off his desk and head for the door. He really could use a drink right about now, and he was sure Destiny wouldn't miss him if he was late in getting home.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSLOhLJc5F
"Wait, I'll come." He called to her, getting up and catching up.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaVwjEHwyF
She smiled at him, "Figured you'd want to."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX67KhC1Bm8
They left the office and agreed to meet each other at the bar closest to them. Once there, he followed her inside, and was immediately hit by the accute smell of alcohol and dust. This place looked like it was on its last leg. The ceiling fan was squeaking, the floor boards whined and creaked, there was enough dust in the air to threaten to make him sneeze, the bar was covered in rings from glasses sitting without coasters, the leather on the seats of all the chairs were peeling, and the TV above the bar played nothing but static. The place was pratically empty except for a man sitting at the end of the bar, a couple of men playing cards in a booth, and a woman, who looked like she was going to be sick, leaning against the jukebox which was playing old crooner songs.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CZefSTCHY
Damian was tempted to go and find someplace else to drink, but Daniella took his hand and led him up to the bar. They sat down, and Daniella waved down the bartender. The bartender was a gruff, scary looking man. His face was wrinkled and creased, his beard made him look like a disgruntled santa, and he had a glass eye that made him seem cockeyed.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOUO6gezWP
"What'll ya'll have?" His voice was rough and course like grainy sand.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpCvwqV85T
"I'll just have a beer." Damian said.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IM0bndTHk
"What? No, I'm buying you a real drink." Daniella scoffed at his choice.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UrBAaiuyP
"I need to be able to drive home. Beer is fine." Damian rolled his eyes, he really wasn't looking to get wasted tonight.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwGQqbefFN
"Ah, you pussy. Alright, two beers, maybe four." Daniella liked to get drunk so she really didn't find a problem with it.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiJxh4Y9vb
"Two."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYSzexSEbQ
"Three?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvMD8lT6lH
"Two." Damian said firmly.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGmXQdPaWL
The bartender nodded, grabbed two mugs and poured them two beers. Daniella hummed thoughtfully, she was gonna find a way to get him to drink if it was the last thing she did. She eyed the pool table.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bLYCqbgee
"I'll tell you what. Play me in a game of pool. I win, you gotta drink as much of whatever I drink. You win, we'll have two beers and call it quits."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKubKtU6f3
"Absolutely not."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESZR7FsSma
"C'mon, why not? I'm paying." Daniella whined.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8T8AjkKkv
"Because if I go home drunk, Destiny is going to lose her shit."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTlpfTUcDY
Daniella lifted her mug to her lips, a smile spreading across her face.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AqhOdzE1g
"Oh, I get it. Scared of your wife. You need to loosen up."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBfMKuwMkr
"I'm not scared of her, I just know how I am when I'm drunk, and she's been in a pissy mood so I don't wanna push it."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyGLV3uXG2
Daniella sipped her drink,"I don't know what you're like drunk."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeggDvEDUGA
"And if I can help it, you never will." He chuckled, taking a swig of his drink.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJz4iLPltq
"No fair, you know what I'm like when I'm drunk." Daniella pouted.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95BtJQTaFP
"After what you did at the New Years party, the whole office knows what you're like when you're drunk."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MBAvE8x8l
"Take me up on my deal and I'll give you a raise."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcd0MjzN19
"Yeah right. Empty promises."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gNpKpi50i
"I give you my word, I will give you a raise, and if I don't, shoot me."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwJZbx4zuf
"How big of a raise?" He eyed her suspiciously.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡie1f3dZCx9
"Three percent."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Tu65TGiBv
"Make it five and you've got yourself a deal."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYd0GoSYcGv
"Four.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1PJL3Jzx7
"Five."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOeTRAaxz0
"You are good at negotiating. Alright, five it is." Daniella was simply happy that she now had a shot at getting him drunk.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsewOMLPbC
"I'm not, you just cave easily."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2szAw30b30
They picked up their beer mugs and walked over to the pool table. Damian got their cues and Daniella set it up.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uBIDqsTnm
"You go first. This will be the only turn you get." Daniella said teasingly, taking a cue from him.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbNsnOTNMe
"I doubt you're that good." He chalked up the end of his cue.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFG4ueYiHa
"I am the hype, baby." She leaned against her cue like it was a staff.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wQMr5yqbc
Damian was determined not to lose this. He didn't need his boss seeing how much of a fool he was when he got drunk. He played, then she played, and they went back and forth like this for awhile. Damian ended up being solids, and Daniella was stripes. The whole time, Daniella didn't hesitate to talk shit. 'You suck, ' 'Yawn,' 'How could you miss that easy shot?' and things of the sort. Truth be told, Damian wasn't good at pool, the only reason he took the bet was because he wanted that raise. Daniella on the other hand, was very good at pool. Pretty soon Damian had four of his balls scattered about the table, and Daniella only had to sink the eight ball.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRa8rFhHwG4
"Wow, I am on fire tonight." Daniella gased herself up, amazed at her own skill.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNetLyCRsvj
"Stop talking." He acted as if he was annoyed of her and her boisterousness, but he was having fun.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0v75xQxDa
Daniella leaned down and softly blew in his ear when he took his shot. Her breath tickled his ear, sending a chill down his spine and making his body shiver, causing him to miss.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0hgaYmymn
"You cheater." Damian whiped his ear and grinned at her.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y4n8wdbk5
She bowed, taking pride in her underhanded tactics. When it was her turn to play, Damian tapped the end of her cue, causing her to miss her shot as well. Daniella looked back at him, narrowing her eyes. He smiled childishly.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnnyEB5Qs2
"Try all you want, I've already got this game in the bag." Daniella said.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvE0qG11TTB
He knew she was gonna win, but he tried anyways. He hit the ball and it just missed the pocket, then Daniella went and sunk the eight ball.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizNZISHdy9
"HA! I win! You lose!" She tossed her hands up and cheered herself and did a little dancey-dance.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkxHyRi5xO
"You look ridiculous." He rolled his eyes, walking away from her as she grooved.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9RaZUUOcy
"Y'know what that means! We're doing shots, baby."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWWXSyoJ90
He had been so caught up on getting a raise just for playing that he had forgotten about the deal part. He groaned, supposing it was too late to back out now. They sat back down at the bar, Daniella obviously more happy and bubbly then Damian was. He had not planned on getting drunk, but if he had to drink what she drank, and as much as she drank, he would be drunk in no time. Despite Daniella being smaller than him, she could definitely out drink him any day of the week.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXwGV5l37I
"Excuse me bartender, can we get twelve four horseman shots over here, thank you." She giggled, turning to Damian and started poking him, "This is going to be so much fun. I'm going to see your wild side, Dami."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBmdFU0tmR
"You need to calm down," Damian swatted her hands away.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DUobaP8Ww
"You need to liven up, this ain't a funeral, this is meant to be fun. We're detoxing our minds."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlYuMrVxEw
"Really? Is that what you call getting black out drunk?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpfApjEOqQ
"Yes, actually. It helps ease the problems out of your mind and gives you temporal bliss. The best therapy is at the bottom of a bottle, that's what my dad used to tell me."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb152fpgy3r
"You are a psychologist's dream. So much to unpack."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8omxZ1lOd
It was interesting seeing how Daniella was such a wild personality, yet she'd managed to be so professional in the workplace. Seeing her turn off work mode was refreshing, and honestly, her company was just the break he needed from the stress of his home life. He remembered how she was in high school. A popular girl, cheerleader, dating the quarterback, and president of the debate team. She wore dorky glasses that covered her high end make up that covered tons of bumps and blemishes, wore Invisalign, always had her black hair up in a high ponytail, was really into horses, and wore her older sister's trendy hand me downs. She was the perfect mix between a nerd and a cool kid. People didn't know if they wanted to shove her in a locker or join her clique. Now she wore her long hair in a bun, had contact lenses, toned down her make up for a more natural look, her dark honey brown skin was flawless, she still wore pretty fashion forward stuff, and Damian was willing to bet she still wore Invisalign. Daniella looked at him with an intrigued expression when she found him staring at her.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7nHiEegKf
"What? Do I have something on my face?" She put her purse on the bar and dug around to find her hand mirror.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNlAZ3jakC
"No, you're good." He chuckled at her.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACXF08SMOQ
"Oh, then, whatcha thinking about?" She put her purse on her lap.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYu2978jhJ
"How you used to name the horses on the front of your binders."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvj4o4DDIWH
She immediately turned red when he brought that up, "Ah, no no no. We don't talk about horse Daniella. She's dead. Gone. Lost and forgotten to time."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAefOm2ISW
"I remember her."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSryfIDildi
"You'd do well to forget."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqh2UfnJZO
The bartender put twelve shot glasses in front of the two of them. Daniella smiled, Damian frowned. He knew he was going to start feeling sick after a few of them. He hoped she would take it easy considering how he had told her he wasn't looking to get drunk, but when he looked over at her, she was taking it everyway except easy. She took a shot glass in each hand, and held them up to Damian.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1MynHvu1C
"Salud!" She tossed her head back as she downed one, then again with the other shot, slammed the two glasses down on the counter and finished with a satisfying, Ah. "Your turn, buddy boy."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVU1GfLl8Q
Damian groaned as he picked up a shot glass. He lifted it up just as she had, and tossed his head back. His face scrunched up in disgust when he tasted the whiskey. Daniella laughed at his expression, reaching out and grabbing his face, cooing at him.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZ0lzige2x
"Look at your wittle face." She said, pinching his cheek.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWMhUyFWOP
"Hardy-har har." He dusted her hand away from him.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWYbALh61c
"Come on, big boy. You gotta keep up." Daniella said as she moved onto her third and forth shots.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXXpJ0jzH3
Damian looked at the five full shot glasses in front of him. He was not looking forward to when this was going to hit him. He grabbed the next one. They continued taking shot after shot, making idle conversation until they had taken all six. Damian was feeling it by shot three, and was feeling it heavily by shot six. He felt like he was going to puke. The world began to spin, he tried his best to hold still but he was swaying on the barstool. Daniella leaned against the bar, propping her head up with her hand. They tried to carry on a conversation, but all they could make out was unintelligible nonsense. They couldn't stop laughing and swaying, and at one point he thought Daniella had started crying. While they were talking, the bartender walked up to them.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXa2PMwFKrn
"Alright, you two gotta go, I gotta close. I'll call you a cab, neither of you are fit to drive." The gruff man said.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRkkq5yHQl
"Closed? I thought this was a late night bar?" Damian managed to mutter out with slurred speech.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTIz7oNVtU
"It is. It's two in the morning."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv25yNlBCel
"No, you're kidding me." Damian stared at the man in disbelief, then pulled his phone out to check the time. "Oh no." Destiny was going to kill him.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfqZrNetEK
Daniella sat up and stretched, "Alright, Mr. Tender, we'll get out of your hair." She rummaged through her bag and pulled out her credit card.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVUtbHT2en
They both stumbled out of the bar, leaning on each other for support, but that didn't work out well since neither of them had any sense of balance. The taxi pulled up, and they both piled into the back seat. Daniella rested her head on his shoulder, and Damian rested his head on top of hers. The ride back had way too many twist and turns for Damian's liking. He felt the drinks rise up to his throat a couple of times, but forced himself to swallow it.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCaMpYsnmj
"We should do this again tomorrow." Daniella said.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sBAW4tO1B
Damian groaned at the thought of drinking more, "No way."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtAcYhLH3r
"I had fun, didn't you?" Daniella sat up to look at him.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsNDDWeQBJ
After some careful consideration, he agreed, "Yeah, this was kinda fun."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVHcGIkOKn
He tried to resist the urge to smile, but found himself uncontrollably grinning. Daniella was smiling too. She put her head back on his shoulder.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsF2eEtKEFg
"For a lightweight, you could really keep up. I'm impressed."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgenfmTJlZ
"Barely. You drink it like it's water."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBPu0Fmh64
The taxi pulled up in front of Daniella's house first. She groaned knowing she had to get up now. She sat up slowly, opening her door, but turned back to Damian before getting out.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVGvGcAH9l
"Do you wanna come in?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcKbSC0hSd
He looked at her for a moment.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BMnl3RDAk
"I don't think that's a good idea." He rubbed the nape of his neck.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TcefdgyOv
"I was just offering you a place to rest your head for the night, nothing more."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXLwVGL9Xr
He did want to. He wanted the carefree fun they'd been having to last a little longer, but he has to get back to Destiny. Daniella leaned in until their faces were inches apart. He should move away, but he didn't want to. Since Damian didn't move, she leaned in some more and their lips brushed against each other. The feel of her smooth, soft lips felt so good against his own, but he knew this wasn't right.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDFWhdDhOK
"Daniella..." Damian began to tell her that they shouldn't do this.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KrTIZyFlf
He didn't have to say anything more, she got his message. She pulled away from him, putting her hand against his cheek.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1k2rVRh93l
"Goodnight, Dami. I'll see you tomorrow. Bright and early." She kissed his cheek and got out of the car. He watched as she stumbled her way to the door, her heels tripped her up, but she eventually made it, then the taxi pulled off and started towards Damian's house.
ns18.226.28.28da2
然後按「加至主畫面」