(Eva)
Finally seeing Damon Pierce in person had made me lose my breath. He was even more striking than in the pictures. He was staring at me intensely and I could feel my cheeks flushing. It should be a sin for someone to exist that was that good looking. Suddenly, I looked away. Damon Pierce would not be good for me. All my life I had been used and abused by both men and women. Someone like Damon was bound to hurt me more than all the others because I could tell I would care more. I needed to stay as far away from him as possible. I turned back around to face Eric and allowed him to help me stand up. The crowd was still gathered around me and I immediately felt embarrassed to have fallen to the ground in front of them when I noticed how large it had gotten. Eric smoothed my hair behind my ear.
“Are you okay? I don’t know how I lost control of the ball like that,” he said worriedly.
“I’m fine,” I replied with a small smile. “I just wasn’t paying attention.”
I could feel Damon’s piercing stare on my back. Eric looked up at something over my shoulder, and then put his arm possessively around me.
“Let’s get out of here,” he said. “Why don’t I take you to the movies?”
I really didn’t want to go to the movies with Eric, but I hadn’t actually ever been to the theatres, and I wanted to get away from the intensity of Damon so I agreed to go.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” said the same smooth and deep voice I had heard earlier. Eric looked annoyed.
“Of course,” he said reluctantly. “Eva, this is Damon, our team captain. Damon, this is Eva.”
I hesitantly turned around. He had reached out a hand to me. I held out my hand.
“It’s nice to meet you.” I said. Like Eric had done, Damon brought my hand to his mouth and kissed it softly. But while Eric’s touch had made me uncomfortable, Damon’s touch had the opposite effect. I felt actual sparks go up my arm from where he had kissed me. I looked at Damon surprised and wondering if he had felt anything. His eyes had gotten wider, but other than that he showed no sign that he was affected.
“It’s a pleasure Eva,” he replied. “I’m sorry that this idiot decided he couldn’t throw the ball today. But I’m not sorry that it led me to meeting you,” he said with a wink.
I slowly pulled my hand away and backed up a step towards Eric. I smiled and turned to go. Once again he stopped me from leaving by speaking once again.
“What movie are you going to?” Eric stopped walking and turned around.
“Not sure yet but we have to go if we are going to fit it in before practice,” he said, sounding annoyed.
“Why don’t the rest of us come along?” Damon asked, looking amused.
He obviously could tell that the last thing Eric would want was for him to come along with us. The group of guys who had been crowded around where I fell, looked liked they also played some kind of sport as they were all huge and looked to be in good shape, all came closer, looking like they wanted to come with us. Eric had no choice but to agree. He kept his arm around me possessively as we walked and I had to gently pry myself away from him. Although I wanted Damon to stay away from me, I didn’t want to give the impression to anyone that I was anything other than friends with Eric.
Even though I felt self conscious being surrounded by the enormous men around me, I couldn’t help but be eager when we got to the theatre. The air smelled like butter and I headed to the counter to get some popcorn while the others decided what movie we were going to. They had tried to ask my opinion, but I had told them that I would be happy to see anything. I didn’t explain that I had never been to the theater, or that I hadn’t seen a movie in several years. I felt socially awkward enough without pointing out things like that. I felt a tingling presence behind me in line and knew Damon had followed.
“What do you want to get?” he asked silkily.
“The biggest tub of popcorn they sell,” I replied with a laugh.
“A girl after my own heart,” he said smiling. “Do you want a soda too?” he asked, as we stepped up to the counter.
The poor employee at the concession counter didn’t know what had hit her. When Damon smiled at her she almost appeared to faint. I couldn’t blame her. Him smiling was like getting everything you had ever wished for in life. It turned his stunning face into something even more godlike. I felt myself swoon.
“Could we please have your XL tub of popcorn, extra butter, two cokes, and…What candy do you want?” he asked me.
“I can pay for myself,” I said shyly.
“What candy do you want?” he asked, ignoring my comment.
“Sour patch kids,” I said giggling. I had actually giggled. “Get a grip on yourself,“ I mentally chastised myself.
Once the concession girl had recovered enough to gather our food and ask for Damon’s autograph, the rest of the guys showed up. Eric looked angry.
“Eva, why didn’t you wait for me? I would have bought you whatever you wanted,” he said belligerently. Damon stepped protectively in front of me.
“Relax man, I paid for her,” he told Eric. Trying to defuse the tension, I stepped from around Damon.
“What movie did everyone pick?” I asked with a smile. Eric grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him.
“We got tickets for Captain America,” another guy answered.
I once again pulled myself from Eric’s grip and walked towards the ticket stand. “How much do I owe you,” I asked. A chorus of voices answered that I didn’t owe anything. I tried to smile sweetly at them and walked into the theater.
Damon had managed to sit by me with Eric on my other side. Damon passed me the bucket of popcorn and I dug in. I was pretty sure that movie theater popcorn was my new favorite food. As the movie started I leaned forward excitedly. I could feel eyes on me but I didn’t care if I looked stupid. During the movie Eric had moved his hand right above my knee. I moved away uncomfortably. I really didn’t want him to try and make a move in the middle of the movie around so many other people, or to even make a move at all. He seemed to get the hint.
Damon was a sweetheart and made sure I had a steady supply of popcorn and my Sour Patch Kids throughout the movie. He whispered corny jokes to me about certain parts of the movie and laughed at all the same parts as I did. As we exited the theater after the show I was bouncing slightly. I had loved it. I overheard one of the other guys asking Damon what one of the actors was like in real life. Of course Damon would know the actors. I remember reading that he did Hollywood movies himself. He was of course way better looking than anyone that had been in the movie, and I was sure that his movies did well as I couldn’t imagine any girl or even guy not wanting to see him on a big screen.
Once we got back to campus everyone continued to hover around me chatting among themselves and asking me questions. After a while, Damon seemed to give them a look, and they reluctantly said goodbye and wandered off. All that was left was Damon and Eric. Both were glaring at each other and not budging. Not wanting to be alone with either of them, I said goodbye and attempted to hurry off. I heard Eric swear and then he hustled up to me.
“Can I see you for breakfast again tomorrow?” he asked.
I wasn’t ready to potentially lose my only friend on campus so I reluctantly agreed. He once again grabbed my hand but this time pulled me into a long hug, kissing the top of my head. I finally pulled away and began walking again to my dorm. I heard footsteps behind me and knew that Damon had followed us.
“Eva, wait,” he called out.
I stopped and reluctantly turned around to face him. He was just so beautiful. And it sucked that he had been so sweet and charming at the theater. It would be much better for me if he was a jerk.
“I would like to see you again, preferably as soon as possible,” he said smiling.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” I answered.
“Why?” he asked, puzzled.
“Well, you’re Damon Pierce,” I answered. “And I don’t think that you would be good for me.” He looked at me thoughtfully.
“You’re oblivious aren’t you?” he asked. “I should be thinking the same thing. I don’t think there’s a guy on this planet who would be good enough for you Eva Taylor.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. It had been ingrained in me that I was a horrible person, undeserving of being loved, and I didn’t see how I could compare in any way to him.
“Just give me a chance,” he asked softly.
Staring into his eyes I was tempted to give in. However, I mentally reminded myself of the need to stay away from guys like him and shook my head no. Without another word I ran into my dorm, leaving a shocked Damon Pierce standing behind me. I opened up my dorm door and locked it behind me. Leaning against it, I cursed my actions. I had to be the biggest idiot ever to have said no to him. Feeling depressed I got into bed and tried to fall asleep. I was restless. My mind churning with the events of the day. It was hours before I finally relaxed enough to fall asleep.
That night I dreamed. I was walking in a strange land, a land that fulfilled all definitions of what paradise would be like if it were real. A land that seemed strangely familiar to my heart. There were rolling green hills as far as the eye could see, dotted with an abundance of trees laden with various kinds of fruit and flowers. Gurgling streams flowed here and there, flowers in colors I couldn’t even describe blooming up all around me. Music was everywhere, tickling my senses and wrapping me up in its haunting melody. The air smelled sweet and fresh, untainted and so different from real life. I meandered slowly along one of the streams for awhile, admiring the colors and enjoying the warm breeze that teased my hair. I sat down underneath a tree, closing my eyes for a moment in relaxation. When I opened my eyes I gasped in shock. The landscape now resembled the pits of hell. The air was dark and foreboding, filled with the scent of sulfur and ash. I could taste the smoke in the air. Trees had been replaced by burning piles of rubble and my soul mourned the destruction of the paradise I had just now discovered. Instead of music, screams filled the air, sending shivers down my space. I heard something behind me, turned around…
I sat up in my bed, my body drenched in sweat, and a feeling of unease enveloping me. My dream stayed just out of my grasp, feeling both familiar and out of reach at the same time. Eventually any recollection of it disappeared for good. It was hours before I was able to fall asleep again.