This chapter kind of explains some of the scarlet's feelings towards Damon and some of Damon's thoughts on their relationship.

Chapter 21 : Love Is a Strong Word

Damon's Pov

"Bro, why do you keep zoning out?" a voice said and I snapped out of my thoughts. I turn around to the guys, thinking someone had been talking to me but I was wrong. Thank god no one saw me zoned out because I knew scarlet would argue me down until I told her what was on my mind.

"Out of all people, you ask me? Every guy in here is zoned out." Brent; one of Harley and I's friends who are also on the basketball team, said glancing at Harley before looking at the other guys who are also on the team.

"What is up with you freaks?" Asked Harley, staring at the team curiously. Brent looked at Harley and smirked, "Your sister looks hot," He nodded his head in a direction across the room. I snap my eyes to look at him and glared.

"Dude! Not cool. I will break your legs in half and stick them up your ass," Harley punched him in the arm making Brent wince. He shook his arm while staring at Harley in shock.

"Damn are you sure you don't want to join the wrestling team?"

"And goes for all you dumbasses!" He glared at the team and cracked his knuckles. "First my mom and now my sister? I will literally flip your body parts around," The guys immediately snapped their gazes from her direction and started distracting themselves by talking about basketball.

"What's wrong with a few guys drooling over Hermione? I and harmony spent a lot of time making her even more beautiful than she already is. Of course, guys are gonna drool over her," Scarlet said as she wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed my cheek.

The thought of other guys looking at her just makes me feel— all weird inside. Mad maybe? But I can't be upset. I mean, Hermione wouldn't even know when a guy is interested in her because she doesn't pay attention. It makes me feel slightly happy that she doesn't acknowledge the guys who'd eye her like she was a piece of candy, but I could tell it made her feel weird when I'd notice it.

"There's no way I'd let any of these assholes date my sister," He scoffed.

"Well, it might be too late for that," said scarlet as she stared across the room. She had a smile of approval on her face.

Turning in the same direction, I clenched my jaw and tighten my fist. Hermione stood across the room, dancing with... what's his face? But as I stared at them, I couldn't help but admire Hermione. It's like there was a spotlight on her and some type of magical wind blew threw her hair in slow, and she was the only person in the room.

I continued to glare into 'what's his face' soul. But my face soon softened once Hermione noticed me staring. Her eyes met mine and the anger I felt towards 'what's his face' vanished. She looked like she was talking to someone in her head. Hermione then snapped her gaze away from me.

"That guy just doesn't get it, does he?" Harley cracked his knuckles and stood up. As he was about to make his way across the room, scarlet gripped his tie and pulled him back down, glaring at him.

"Oh no. You will not ruin my best friends chances of being happy. He likes her and I can tell she likes him."

Likes him? Likes her?

"I doubt it. He isn't even her type," I snorted.

"Oh, and you do?" Scarlet walked in front of me and folded her arms across her chest. "Wait, since when do you care about her type?" Asked Harley, catching me off guard.

"I don't care. We may not get along but I've watched her grow up," I shrugged my shoulders. I was kind of proud of my excuse, although, some of it may have been slightly true.

"I have a feeling those two will date," Scarlet grinned at her best friend before walking off towards the snack area.

I highly doubt that will happen.

* * * * * *

The night continued to go on. Everyone still danced, drank, and laugh. While I, on the other hand, couldn't take my eyes off of Hermione and 'what's his face'.

He kept triggering me as he kept on grabbing her hands, waist, touching her face, smiling at her, whispering things in her, and making her smile. It all just triggers me. I mean, it shouldn't right?

I tried everything to take my mind off of them. I tried walking around, talking to people and even danced with scarlet for while until she figured out I wasn't really in the dancing mood. I could tell she was slightly upset but she would never tell me. Scarlet will argue anyone down but with me, it's like she holds her feelings back.

"Damon?" Her sweet and soft voice broke me from my thoughts. I turned my gaze from Hermione to meet scarlets eyes.

"Hm?" I tilted my head to the side some, completely lost in between my thoughts and reality.

I watched as she glanced at Hermione before looking back at me. "Is everything ok?" She fidgets with her fingers and scooted her chair closer to mine.

"Yeah, everything is good. Why wouldn't it be?" I reached out to grab her hand but she pulled back slowly and cleared her throat.

"Can we talk, Privately?" She mumbled, almost inaudible. I grit my teeth some before smiling softly at her, nodding my head. Taking one last look at Hermione with 'what's his face', I ball my fist.

He's making her smile. I want to do that.

No, No! Don't think like that!

Scarlet leads us both into the empty barley illuminated hallway. We stood a few feet away from the gym where the dance is held at, Scarlet's back faced me for a couple of seconds before she turned around and met my eyes. They were full of worry and it kind of scared me.

"I love you, and I don't know if you feel the same way. But I just needed to get that off of my chest," Her words were rushed out, almost inaudible for me to hear. I stood there probably looking like a fool. She just told me she loved me, and I'm standing here like a dumbass.

"D-Do you love me?" She suddenly asked, her voice was cracking and coming out as a whisper.

Oh no, what do I say?! If I lie, then karma will kick my ass. And if I tell the truth, karma will most definitely kick my ass. Sometimes lying is better.

Love is a strong word.

Walking up to her slowly, I leaned in and moved my lips near her ear, "I love you, Scarlet Jones." I whispered, pulling away and softly kissing her on the lips. Scarlet returned the kiss immediately as if she was relieved and it made me feel like a bad person.

I honestly love scarlet, I do. It's just... maybe not in the way she'd hoped. Does that make me a horrible person for lying to her?

"Really?"

"Mhm," I mumbled with my lips still attached to her soft ones. "That makes me happy, really happy. But can I be honest with you, Damon?" Scarlet pulled away, our faces inches away and I grabbed both of her hands, nodding my head.

"It doesn't really seem like you do. Your mind is always somewhere else when we kiss, touch or sometimes even talk. It's like someone else is always on your mind," I could hear the hurt in her voice as tears began pricking from the corners of her eyes. She stared at me, completely in thought.

Damn, I'm such an idiot!

"Are you c-cheating on me?" She whispered, pulling her hands away, staring into my eyes searching for answers. I was taken aback by her question and frowned my face up.

"Hey, I am not cheating on you, you hear me? I would never," I stared at her truthfully. Bringing my hands up, I grabbed her face firmly, making her look at me. I began wiping her tears away with my thumbs.

Thinking back to the other day and today with Hermione, I couldn't help but think.

Does that count as cheating?

"You are beautiful and smart, Scarlet. I know you still think about my past and honestly, I do too. But
you have to leave the past in the past, okay?" I rubbed her cheeks softly and leaned my forehead against hers. Scarlet closed her eyes and shivered before taking a deep breath.

Scarlet is an amazing girl and yes, I love her. But I just don't think I love her in the way she does, but I can't hurt her. No, I don't want to hurt her.

I would hate for scarlet to never speak to me again, Hermione would hate me, and Harley would be pissed with me because Scarlet is basically like a little sister to him. He loves scarlet and tells me all the time.

Scarlet is Hermione's best friend! What was I thinking?! Honestly, it's like I lose myself when I'm alone with Hermione. Like I forget about everything else and all I can think about is touching all over her body I can't help but fantasize about all the time.

I know it's completely wrong, but I don't know how to make these weird feelings go away. Do I even want them to go away? I mean, watching Hermione grow up, has left me shocked. She looks like a full-on model, seriously.

And there I go again. I've got to stop thinking about her!

"Promise me, Damon. I-I need you," She finally spoke, opening her eyes to meet mine. Her brown eyes were filled with hope.

I really can't break her heart... I just can't do it.

Wow, I am such a softy.

But I guess that's what girls do to us guys, right?

"I promise," I sighed and leaned down, kissing her lips. She kissed back, suddenly lost into my touch and it made me genuinely smile against her mouth. As I pulled away, she finally came back into reality, her lips forming into a smile and she hugs me around the waist.

Sighing, I wrapped my arms around her neck, kissing her on the head a few times letting her know I'm here. I really am here, I'm just... confused with everything.

Maybe in order to be there for scarlet and show her that I love her, I have to try and keep some distance between Hermione and me.

That'll be hard.

*    *    *    *    *    *

• Hermione's Pov •

"Then let's make him jealous," Brett's words continued to play in my head like an echo. Did I hear that right? I mean, seriously I must have heard him wrong because there is no way I would do that to my best friend. That seems so pointless when someone like Damon himself, would ever see me as attractive.

He even said it himself, That I am desperate. He even told me all his touchy-ness and his charming words that made me melt were a lie also. He made me think that all those times when he'd tease me or tell me I'm "always on his mind" we're real. Even though that couldn't have happened because scarlet loves him just like I do.

I wouldn't get in the way of my best friends relationship because if it were the other way around, I know scarlet would have done the same. Yes, it's all so very painful to watch my best friend love the same guy I've been in love with since like forever, but hey, I've dealt with it for a long time. There's no reason for it to still affect my lonely, empty and broken heart anymore, right?

"I'm sorry what?" I finally snap out of my thoughts before a tear could reach the brim of my eyes. Brett slightly chuckled, a smirk still plastered on his face.

"let's make him jealous, you know like you and I date." He motioned his finger between him and me, wiggling his eyebrows up and down. I stared at him like he had grown another head before licking my lips and clearing my throat.

"Ok, hold up. Do explain McCall," I arched my left eyebrow at him, crossing my right leg over the other than folding my hands together. "Proceed."

"You and I date, fake date to make Mr. Bad boy jealous," Another smirk appeared on his face as he bit his lip. I stared at his lips for a few seconds before meeting his eyes again and shaking my head.

"Yeah, no. Absolutely not!" I stared at him crazily.

Brett opened his arms before speaking, "What? Why not?" He pouted.

"Because there's no reason to do that. Damon is dating Scarlet, why would I do that?" I said as if stating the obvious, which I was. What kind of a person does that sort of thing? I mean, I may be in love with him but I'm not desperate.

Ok, maybe just a little... but I don't show it!

"Clearly you haven't fake dated before."

"More like actually dated before," I mumbled inaudibly for Brett to hear while rolling my eyes and folding my arms, leaning on my "thick thighs" as my mom and scarlet tell me I have. They say it's a good thing because it means you might have a "big butt" which I find weird. That conversation was seriously so awkward, well, for me.

"Think of it as a game. We are in a fake relationship to get peoples reaction, but not just anyone, Damon's. Think of it as a test to see what Damon does."

I just continued to stare at him for a minute before sighing, "I don't know.." I admitted, biting on my lip.

"Think about it, Minnie, k?" I nodded my head and added a sigh. Am I really thinking about it right now? It's wrong to even consider it because I love scarlet and would never do anything to hurt her.

Speaking of scarlet, I haven't really seen her since I saw her sitting with Damon, my brother, and the basketball team. Glancing over, Damon nor scarlet were nowhere to be seen. It made me bite down on my lip a little hard at the thought of them probably somewhere making out or something.

Suddenly something catches my eye, Damon, and scarlet. Both of them walked into the gym, holding hands and smiling at each other. My face frowned and I swore it felt like my heart was out of my chest for a second. Their happy, I thought.

Suddenly, Brett grabs ahold of my wrist, pulling me from my seat. I flinch at his touch and I hiss at the sudden pain, pulling away quickly.

"What just happened? Did I hurt you?" He started panicking, searching my eyes for an answer. I slightly smile and shake my head, biting down on my lip. I do that a lot don't I?

"I'm fine."

"Wait-" Brett grabbed my hand softly and turned my hand around. He looked at my wrist, before rubbing lightly causing the foundation that covered the bruise to smear off.

Damn it, I really hoped it would have last till the end of the night. It was just for a few more hours!

"What happened here?" He asked, examining my wrist and continued to rub the foundation off. Surprisingly he is really good with his hands because it didn't hurt one bit when he rubbed it.

"Did someone do this to you?" He questioned me again, sternly glaring at the bruise on my wrist.

"No one. I accidentally banged it on the door, that's all." I just lied straight through my teeth. Wow, I lie a lot. But I couldn't tell him the truth, it would cause drama and I've already had a ton of drama happen in my life.

Honestly, all I ever wanted to be was happy. Weird, I can't remember the last time I was actually really happy. Probably when our father still had love for us.

I hate thinking about him...

"You're lying to me, " Brett said after a few seconds of him staring at me and he raised his eyebrow. Is it that obvious? I thought I had gotten pretty good at lying over my years of successfully doing it.

Maybe I'm not the only one who's lied to Brett before, that's why he knew I wasn't telling the truth.

"Can you leave it alone, Brett? I'm fine really," He stared at me in disbelief before coming to his senses.

"Fine, " He groaned and I widened my eyes at his sudden use of tone. Jeez, mad much?

* * * * * *

The night went on, which felt like hours honestly. Brett, Scarlet and I danced the night away. It surprised me. I actually kind of had fun without thinking about what a complete idiot I must have looked. I didn't care? Wow, I didn't care what anyone thought...

A smile appeared across my face as I thought about the confidence I found in myself tonight. I'm glad I at least had fun for one night knowing by tomorrow, I'll be back to my same old plain self. Although it was kinda hard most of the night because of the intense stares Damon kept giving me.

I'd catch him staring at my body from head to toe slowly. His eyes would darken, he balled his fist and he'd clench his jaw every time our eyes met. It was like he was trying to control himself from doing something he might regret.

Was he thinking of hurting me again?

No, why would I think that? He made a mistake. A mistake that still really freaks me out, but will I ever get past it though? He didn't mean it, right?

I've also managed to avoid Joslin and her friends all night. All of them stayed on the opposite side of the room, making out with the football players. I've held back on throwing up at the sight because it was not pretty. It was like a snake trying to swallow a dog.

Ew.

Onto the funny part of the night, Harley has been hoeing all night. He insisted on going back and forth with three different girls but ended up getting caught by two of them, after catching him make out with Casey Andrews; a cheerleader.

All three girls slapped and kicked him where the sun does not shine. In the end, my brother became dateless and had a sore area for the rest of the night. Pretty sure he can't have kids.

After the night was completely over, harmony helped me take off all my makeup then I undid my hair and wrapped into one of my famous messy buns, or as I like to call it, lazy buns.

Harley is currently passed out on his bed, scarlet was going to stay the night but she wanted to spend the rest of the night with her mom and talk about the dance, which I found really cute. Damon finally went to his own house which surprised me because he rarely goes there.

Once I showered and changed into a pair tights and a plain black t-shirt, I put my wet hair back into my famous lazy bun before flopping onto my bed and staring at the ceiling.

Welp, now I'm bored.

Sighing, I decided to go see what my mom was doing. She's either, A.) sleep. B.) working on some papers from the hospital or C.) waiting on her bed patiently excited for me to come in at any moment so I can gossip with her about tonight.

It's a tough answer, so I'll have to go with either A.) or C.). No, wait, I'm gonna go with a strong A.) because she's had a rough couple of days at work.

As I walked down the hallway to moms room about to knock, I saw a sight I didn't want to see and thought I would never ever see again. I walked further into her room and sighed deeply.

She was passed out on her bed, surrounded by photos of dad and us when we were a family. She had a half-empty bottle of alcohol on her nightstand.

"Why mom?" I whispered, feeling my voice crack. Deciding to let her sleep it off, I started to clean up the pictures when I came across one in particular.

It was a picture of mom laying on her hospital bed with dad next to her as she held me in her arms. The smile on her face and spark in her eye was there.

Not anymore though. Dad took that way from her.

A tear slid from my the corner of my eye, landing onto the photo. Quickly, I come back to my senses and wipe the fallen tears away and get up, putting the photos back in its place which is the closet.

Walking over to mom, I began wrapping her hair into a messy bun to get it out of her face. Then I grabbed a blanket, laying it over top of her body. Next, I go into the bathroom to grab some Advil and a glass of water for her hangover she'll most definitely have in the morning.

Sitting it on her nightstand, I give her a light kiss the forehead then, I grab the half-empty bottle of alcohol