My heart began to pound faster when I realized, out of the corner of my eyes that he was watching me intently, his smoky gaze picking out every detail of my face. I suddenly felt so self-conscious and despite the laughter erupting all around me from the audience, his stare seemed to drown them all out. I didn't dare look at him, or even move. And unsurprisingly, Matt was too engrossed in the movie to notice.

My phone beeped with a new notification. I peered at the screen.

Are you practicing to be a stuck-up bodyguard? What's with the tight face and body?

I couldn't respond to the text for though Matt was focused on the movie, he held my right hand in his and would see the message if I tried to disentangle myself from him. I did, however, decide to give up my act and look over at Damien. The minute I did so, I regretted it. His dark unruly hair was pushed back into a ponytail, gelled and styled to perfection. He even appeared to be more dressed than usual in new denim jeans and a fancy black jacket that was just as dark as his eyes.

His lips curled into a rare, genuine smile that made me feel as if something was squeezing at my heart. I wished to capture that expression, that smile in a picture, but what I wanted more was to bottle up his chuckle and listen to it everytime he did something jerky. A little something to remind me that he wasn't as bad as he made himself to be. I laughed at the thought, shaking my head. He was right, I was acting ridiculous sitting stiff as a board when I should be enjoying the night.

Melody interrupted our little silent exchange when she slid past my legs and sat down, obstructing my view. She placed her head on Damien's chest and wrapped his left arm well around her shoulder. The squeezing at my heart intensified and that was my cue to stare back at the screen.
Life was a bitch.

I wanted to be the one with his arms around me.

It was a stupid thing to think about, but it was proof that desire and logic were two parallel lines that never met no matter what.

What if Melody tried to kiss him tonight? How would he respond? I couldn't deal with the jealousy already, and to think that nothing had happened yet. His dating girls from school and few weeks-lasting relationship with Giordan was something I'd forced myself to accept. I mean he was my stepbrother, probably hated me with a passion and might be moving back to Forks after graduation - everything depended on Terra's new husband. The reality was, even though something magically happened between us, it would only be for a super short spell and neither of us would be satisfied with that. But Melody was a very close friend of mine. She'd tell me everything down to their bedroom escapades and I could never live it down. It'd be like the Giordan-Damien saga all over again.

Somewhere in the midst of my mind rambling, the movie ended. Cassie and Maddy were fighting, so it hadn't been a happy ending.

Matt's hands wandered to my waist as we exited the theater. In the bright fluorescent lights litting up the carnival area, Damien looked even more handsome. Melody held onto his arm possessively. I wanted to pull her at her hair for it but it wasn't be fault after all. She had no clue about my feelings for Damien.

This situation was getting more intense than I thought it would. I needed some air away to breathe and gather my thoughts. “Hey guys, uhmm I'm gonna go look for somewhere to ease myself around here. I'll meet you at the food court. I'll be having anything you're having, Matt.”

I joined a group of passing teenagers, and hid behind some huge trailers parked a little further down from the crowded space. I rubbed my palms over a stone and sat upon it, taking deep breaths. I could see them from a distance, Melody throwing her head back in laughter to something Damien had whispered in her ear. Anger and frustration coursed through me as I thought about this fucked up date. Before I could think more about it, I swiped out my phone and texted Damien.

What's the point of leading Melody on when it's clear as hell that you don't even like her? Seriously, this is the same reason why Giordan is finding it hard to forget about you. You make them love you while you don't and leave them in the lurch.

I immediately regretted that impulsive move. My phone beeped.

Tim: What if I do like Melody? She's sweet, has great boobs and will ride my dick better than you ever would.

Wishing I'd never texted him at all, I tucked my phone back inside my pocket. Ugh, he was so annoying.

He texted again.

Damien: You're right. I'm only messing with Melody. Not my fault if she falls in love with me.

A strange feeling of relief flooded my being. It was refreshing.

Tim: Why don't you just tell her off? Wouldn't kill you to do so.

Damien: No. I'm using her to get a rise out of you. I love being the cause of your annoyance.

Tim: Why? Are you a psychopath?

Damien: Hardly. I just love it.

Tim: Why?

Damien: I can't answer that question any more than you can tell me why you look at me that way even though I treat you like shit. Even though I hate you.

Tim: My mother always taught me to kill my haters with kindness, not a knife or gun.

Damien: Pfft. Nice diversion, Randall.

Oh God, up until now I hadn't realised how obvious my feelings for him were. How stupid and utterly senseless I might have looked to him all these while.

I kinda expected what he typed next, even though I loathed it.

Damien: You used to have some self-respect. Wondered what happened.

What. The. Fuck. Now he'd really pushed me to the wall.

Tim: Don't worry your pretty little head. I won't talk or look at you ever again.

He wasn't wrong to say that about me, but still it hurt. My eyes began to water but I was determined not to let a tear drop. Especially not in front of him. So it took a few minutes to get myself composed before I headed back out. As difficult as it was, I refused to look at him. Really tried not to.

“Hey man, you okay?” Matt asked, a look of concern on his face. I nodded.

“Yeah. Just needed a breather.”

“Understandable.”

Melody put her hand over my shoulder and led me a little before Matt and Damien. “You okay?”

“Yup. So thoughtful of you guys to wait for me. I never realized that there were more than one food court. Could've ended up searching for you guys.”

She laughed. “It's a fucking carnival. What did you expect?”

Avoiding Damien became a giant-sized problem when all four of us crowded into a small booth and he was sitting right in front of me. Still, I kept to my word. While Matt and Melody discussed, I focused on my phone, pretending to be immersed in a Candy Crush game while I was enjoying the smell of food and chatter all around us.

We ordered our food and ate in silence, and I avoided Damien's gaze like the plague. I could tell he was amused, like he normally was before he did something stupid. Or should I say, something extreme.

“So, Tim. Party at Greg Bentley's place this Friday night? It's no pressure, just want you to be there.”

“Sure. I'll think about it.”

“Perfect.” He leaned in and lightly kissed the side of my face. My skin crawled, but I managed to force a smile.

Damien was mindlessly drumming his fingers on the table. If I were Melody, I'd find it odd why my ‘date’ wasn't even trying to make light talk with me. But I had an inkling why she wasn't so bothered. I hadn't missed the sidelong glances she's been giving Matt all evening. And the fact that she had her left toe on Matt's crotch right this minute.

She did try to make conversation with Damien to look less suspicious, Matt massaging her leg subtly. “So, Damien. How has Boston been for you so far?”

“It's not so bad, though I can't wait to get out of here.”

“Oh.”

And that's where their whole exchange ended.

A few minutes later, my phone beeped.

Damien: I know you've been dying to look at me all evening. Come on now, you can take a peek at my awesome face.

I ignored him and didn't text back.

Damien: It's not good to pretend you know. If you don't want to look, I'll help you do so myself.

I'd barely looked up from my phone when I heard Damien say to Melody. “You've got honey on your lips, dear.”

“Where?”

“Right there.” he said before pulling her into him and shoving his tongue down her throat right in front of me. I watched in horror as he defiled her mouth the same way he'd done mine during our encounter at the café. I looked away eventually in blinding anger. Ughh.

“Damn, you two are quite a couple.” Matt commented. I didn't miss the edge in his voice though.

When Damien finally backed away, Melody fanned herself dramatically. “Wow...that was quite...intense.” She laughed.

I glared at Damien when he mouthed ‘I told you.’

“Excuse me,” I brushed past Matt, exiting the booth and promptly asking the waiter where I could find the nearest bathroom. I didn't care that Matt didn't come in after me. Mom's call came in the minute I stepped into a stall.

“Hey Tim. Where are you?”

“Hey Mom. Sorry I forgot to inform you that I'd be out on a late night date with Matt. Damien's here too and it's a mess.”

“Awwn baby, I'm sure he means no harm. You've got to stop antagonizing that boy, he's got some sweet underneath.”

Pfft. Maybe.

“Flynn's taking me out on a date as well. We're at La Casa Corazon and it's a blast. Whatever the situation, just ensure you make the most out of it.”

Sure. I could make out something from what wasn't even there at all. Matt was unto Melody, and from the looks of things, Damien was unto me too.

What a cruel twist of fate.

I didn't hear Mom when she said goodbye and hung up.

What I heard, though, was the crashing of plates against a wall. Followed by shouting.

I rushed out of the stall quickly, ducking when a glass cup flew over my head.

“What the fuck?!” Damien cussed, as he and Matt tried to separate the two fighting figures on the floor. His back was blocking my view so I had to navigate my way through the shambles to get a peek at who was fighting who.

Giordan's unmistakable form and brunnette hair was unmistakable as he clamped his hands around Melody's throat, choking her. “Stay away from him, he's mine! You fucking slut, I'm so gonna kill you!”

Oh my God.