Damien Lewis's Story

Kate came up from the water surprised as she saw and heard Damien. She smiled softly as she heard him complement her swimming. "Thanks, I am certainly not swim team material...like you are." Kate complimented him truthfully. "I went to a couple of your swim meets and you were great."

"Compared to you what I do is merely recreation. Which I mean it is...I do enjoy swimming a lot, and I would join the team if I thought I could make the team." Katelynn said shrugging. "But dance is my passion. Everything else I am only decent at in comparison." Kate had participated in every school and private dance recital she had ever been invited to perform in, and always got amazing responses. Also when she went into a solo competition she came out with first place for her age group, the very thing that lead to her successful Julliard audition.

"Wish I could give my sister this kind of life, but she would probably be much like yourself. Never figured you for one to care about all the money, just as long as your heart is set free like a wild mere then you can be free to do what you want truly." Damien said sitting with one knee to the ground, the other bent at the knee with his right arm draped over the knee.

She smiled as she remembered the one time she had met his sister. It was after graduation and she saw his mother looking for him amongst the sea of red and white caps and gowns, when the little girl took it upon herself to say "hello" with the cutest smile, leaving his mother to introduce the two of them. "Yes your little sister. I met her when your mother came to graduation with her. She's adorable." She said with approval. "And seems quiet smart too."

Kate shook her head as she continued her with what was on her mind after hearing his statement. "You don't wish your sister had this kind of life. I wouldn't wish it on anyone." She said looking at him seriously. "Yes the nice things are there and the easy of having money....but there are so many people that just want to be friends with you let alone in the same area with you just because you have money." She said her voice taking on a disappointed tint. "Then add in the fact that you have to always look your best, be on your best behavior...be the best in general. There's a lot of pressure...so your right I do enjoy the time I get to just....be me. Not, Laura and Trevor Madison's daughter. Thanks for noticing" She said sincerely.

Katelynn smoothed her hair back. "But, if you really think she would enjoy all the things here. I think you should bring her up here for a day or so. Let her enjoy the house. It will be like a small fun adventure for her. I wouldn't mind at all, if she did." She said smiling at him. "I know when I was her age I pretended this place was my castle."

Just as she said that a wave of water hit her making her hair rush over her face. Kate moved it out of the way only to see Piper looking at her Alex and Damien apologetically as she got them wet. "It's no problem Piper really. Its just a little water." She said lifting her body out of the pool from the edge next to Damien and walked over to the table with fresh towels on it, next to Ray and Izzie, grabbing one.

"Rereading them again huh, Ray?" Kate said teasingly as she made her way over to Damien handing him a towel to dry himself if he wished because unlike everyone else he was on the edge of the pool. "Here you go." She's said giving him it before making a clean swan dive into the pool without splashing. Kate swam back up to the surface gracefully.

She turned to Phillip, glaring at him with a pursed lip. "Thanks for texting me back." She said looking at him. "And I ignored you because I told you that your girlfriend, is a jealous harpy so you shouldn't say stuff like that. I told you I didn't want to deal with that drama but, I let you invite her because your my best friend."

Tina, Phillip's current girlfriend hated the fact that Kate and Phillip had a close relationship from childhood. Tina also made it her point to inform Kate that he was hers and that Kate couldn't have him. Not that she ever thought of him that way, Kate would constantly say in denial of the feelings lingering it the back of her mind.

Kate turned back around smiling at Damien before she realized Tina wasn't here. "Where is Tina, anyway? Shouldn't you to have drove together?" She said without facing Phillip.

"Hey, listen, I saw you packing your thing and obviously you didn't carry them all the way from home -- May I check out your car, maybe figure out what broke down? Don't need anyone getting stranded," Damien said. Piper smiled at him. "Yeah, your right, my car did break down. And thanks," she added, climbing out of the pool. "Wait, I'll come with you, show you where it is. I'll be back in a minute," she said, jogging out of the room, grabbing a towel on the way out. She dried herself as she headed up the stairs. She slipped into a pair of shorts, and slipped a t-shirt over her swimsuit. Then she tied up her dripping wet hair, put on a light jumper and slipped into her converse. She grabbed the car keys and ran out the door.

"thanks again for doing this," she said, walking into the pool. "To be honest, I know nothing about cars, so...yeah." She grinned awkwardly.

((Sorry, shotrt post, I'm going swimming soon (: ))

"Just down there," Piper said, as the car came into view. Looking at her ancient, rusted up car, she could tell that it would probably be broken down for good. Still, maybe Damien could fix it up. He was supposed to be great at mechanics. Damien parked the car and hopped out, Piper following behind. She unlocked the door and slipped her keys into her pocket. She glanced over at Damien for a second, watching him as he studied the car.

"You probably won't be able to fix it, even with your high IQ," she smiled. "You can try as much as you like though. She's been to the Garage quite a lot recently. Maybe it's her time." She petted her car affectionately. "So good luck." She decided to shut up, all she was doing was repeating herself - that, and sounding like an idiot.

((Ugh, I think I have writers block, or maybe I'm just not in a creative mood. Another short post :/))

Ray looked over at Piper. Most of these people he did not know, but she was kinda cute, and he wanted to meet new people. Ray got up, and walked over to Piper, not in a cool way, but his normal nerdish way. He put his book down and came to Damien and looked at the car he was inspecting. "Need help?" He asked, looking at it. "I know a bit of cars and stuff."

Kate sighed Phillip walked away from her. "Better prepare myself for a night of glares." She muttered to herself. Last time she had tried to connect with Tina over a nice dinner, Tina glared at her every time Phillip made Kate laugh or vice versa. That wasn't to say they weren't keeping her included in the conversation but she just appeared to be against any other conversation occurring between Katelynn and Phillip.

She turned back around to seeing Damien gone calling out that he was going to fix Piper's car, which was nice of him. Just then she saw Alex coming over, as she was climbing out to sit on the edge drying her hair.

"Have to say, this is a really nice place," Alex spoke sincerely. "Thanks a lot for inviting me out here."

She shook her head. "Its no problem really. I much rather spend summer out here with friends than go on a 5th trip to Europe. Its getting kind of ridiculous." Kate said rolling her eyes. "So thank you for coming."

Looking at Alex I saw his eyes shifting back and forth to the chair where Izzie was. "You should come with me to the kitchen." She said standing up. "I need to figure out what we are eating and go shower, get changed." She said offering him a hand and helping him out of the water.

They both walked to the main kitchen where Izzie was at drinking her beer. Kate looked in the fridge seeing the fresh produce the help had put in there. "I guess...we could do the grilling out tonight." She said pulling out the Steaks, Burgers, Tofu Burgers and Hot Dogs. Turning to Alex she spoke again. "I should shower and go talk to the others about what they might want." She said purposefully leaving Izzie and him alone to solve the little tiff they had with one another. "Feel free to meet me out there guys. Also whenever Phillip and Tina make it down can you tell them or ask them what the want." She said not really wanting to deal with him at all

Kate went upstairs to her bedroom on the west wing of the house, quickly hoping into the shower to rise off the chlorine before getting out and putting on her summer dress . She walked downstairs to the entrance of the cabin, before walking down to the main road where Ray, Piper and Damien were with her car; enjoying her walk along the way.

Kate finally came upon where Pipers car hard stopped seeing Ray, Piper and Damien along with his Charger. "Wow...her car broke down far away." She said softly to herself. She saw Damien listen to Piper engine as she tried to turn on the car. Ray was over on the side working with some car part.

She walked over to Damien, smiling seeing him in his element. It was something she loved seeing with people...the intense concentration on their face when they were doing something they were talented and skilled in. Their eyes would light up with Joy or Passion but their face would be one of complete concentration. She imagined that's how she looked when she danced.

"Piper, you should have called me. Your car broke down pretty far away...I mean the walks not that far but with bags it must not have been pleasant. I would have came and picked you up in my car" Kate said feeling bad that she had to walk up to the house with her luggage. Kate walked around to the hood to see how Damien was doing.

"I walked down here to see if you guys were good with us grilling out for dinner tonight...but since I am here." She turned to Damien before glancing back under the hood briefly. "What's the prognosis?"

"Well, I am here to help." Ray said, with a smile, glancing at the tools. He did not use tools alot, but he did collect them. He loved wrenches, and hammers and every thing inbetween. "Uh, well, I am going inside for a beer, you want one while I am in there?" He asked just in general, looking at the sky. It was a nice summer day, and he loved the summer. He called this weather, a nerds best friend. He loved when people called him a nerd, but he hated when people picked on him for it. They were all dinks for that. But he started to like Damien. He just seemed like a rude guy at first, but then he turned out pretty nice.

"I need you to turn on the engine," Damien told Piper. She nodded,and turned the key in the ignition.
"Uh, well, I am going inside for a beer, you want one while I am in there?" Ray asked. "Yeah, sure, I'll take one," Damien replied, too engrossed in the car too look up. "Piper, you should have called me. Your car broke down pretty far away... I mean the walks not far but with ags it must not have been pleasant. I would have come and picked you up in my car," Piper looked over at Kate, who must have followed them down. Piper rolled her eyes. "It wasn't that far away," she responded. "Besides, I could use some exercise," she joked.

"I walked down here to see if you guys were good with us grilling out for dinner tonight... but since I am here," Kate continued, walking over to Damien. "What's the prognosis?" "It's the carb, the external linkages are sticky," Damien replied. " I'm about to take it apart and clean it. I just want to check and see if there is an internal problem. When I take the the air cleaner and let it run--I might have to have her rev the engine until she forces the choke plates shut until it almost stalls. If that's the case then I'll just have her idle and adjust the mixture screws." Piper sighed inwardly, realizing that she had no idea what he had just said.

Just then, Ray came outside again, carrying two beers in his hand. "Sorry, got lost there. Big house," Ray commented, handing a beer to Damien. He then whispered something to Damien, and Piper heard her name. She rolled down the window. "What about me?" she asked, her eyebrows raised.

Katelynn smiled as he quickly worked on putting the car part back together, she watched as he then brought the reconstructed parts back to the truck, placed them where they had fit prior, then he grabbed a gallon of gas from his trunk and filled her tank. Turning the ignition, the truck rumbled powerfully making Kate give him a small applause.

After closing the hood of Piper's and making his way to place the tools back in his car. She stood up straight about make her way back up to the house when she saw Damien's hand extending his long sinuous and muscular arm for her to take. "May I walk you to your door mademoiselle?"

Kate looked at him for a moment surprised before smiling and nodding her head. "I would love for you to." She said the second part to Piper and Ray aswell placing her hand in his as they made there way towards the house. Kate took to inconspicuously glancing at him in their comfortable silence taking in all of his features, his lean yet defined muscles, the scars on his arm, his deep brown eyes, even his smile which was a confident grin .

She decided to look away before it became oblivious to him that she was looking at him. Besides she was pretty sure he was just doing this because he was worried about her walking in the almost dark.

Kate could tell that Damien had built a wall between the person he showed outwardly and the real him. She didn't know if that was because of whatever caused him to get the scars or something different entirely but she wanted to find out who the real Damien was. Kate didn't want him to feel he had to hid anything around her...and she didn't know why she wanted that.

"So your also good at fixing cars....football, and swimming." She listed shaking her head with a smile. " You're talented, handsome, confident and athletic...no wonder all the girls at Ridgewood loved you." She said remember several occasions when she would hear her 'friends' as they would call themselves raving about how great of a time they had with him.

It wasn't until later that year when she had a few classes with him that she started to realize that Damien didn't seem like the type to just sleep with any girl. Yes, he was confident but he wasn't cocky or flamboyant about his charms. He wasn't the type to just pick out the first thing with pretty eyes and legs.

Damien practically stared at Kate, and Piper didn't like it. Not that she liked Damien but - Why did everyone have to like Kate? All she was was kind, and pretty, and rich... Piper decided to stop thinking about that. All she was doing was making herself feel worse. I mean, after all, what was Piper? A quiet girl who tends to be holed up in her room and only sometimes jokes around, with a tendancy to ignore people. Wow, she must be annoying.

"Thanks!" she yelled to Damien, who probably wasn't listening, too busy paying attention to Katelynn. She rolled her eyes and started the car. "You know, I could have just given you a ride," she said, most likely not loud enough for them to hear, even if they were paying attention.

((Short Post AGAIN! I really have to get into a creative mood...))

Kate looked at Damien as he spoke about the very rumors she was remembering hearing. "Yeah,"He responded giving a slightly weakened smile. " It wasn't as glamorous as it was made out to be." He let it slip. "Girls would date me to elevate themselves, and I knew it."

"I carried on a tradition, that, was poisonous for any one. I didn't fight it because it would have carried drama with it and I have enough of that in my life." He truthfully answered.

Kate looked away as she thought about what he just told her, which further confirmed her thoughts that she was right in not believing a word that the girls had said to her throughout the school year. Personally she thought it was ridiculous and disgusting that people thought it was okay to befriend other people just to climb up the social ladder.

She could completely sympathize with him as she went through same the the same thing...on a day to day basis before she graduated from Ridgewood. "I never believed them really." She said firmly "I heard those rumors myself...the girls we're my 'friends' or so they called themselves" Kate said softly looking back at him. "They told me all about the dates that they had with you...and how great you were."

"I mean yes, at first I was kind of shocked but then when I found out I had a class with you I decided I would not judge you based off some rumor. That's what people did to me all the time...and I didn't like being the 'spoiled rich snooty girl', so I thought why would I do that to you?" She said a smile slowly forming on her face. "And once I got to know you a little bit ...you proved me right. That the rumors we're just that...lies by girls who were stupid and immature." She said simply, with a smile before turning back to face forward.

Walking in comfortable silence one agian until Damien spoke again, "I never got to say, you look truly beautiful in that dress." He commented, making Kate blush slightly which she rarely ever did.

"Thanks you." She said looking at him with a softy smile as she squeezed his hand gently in her own. She looked up at the stars, "You know when I was a little girl and my family regularly vacationed out here...I used to think everyone came from a star when they were born because everyone had a light in their eyes...that little twinkle you get when your happy." She said glancing at him.

"I used to say my star was a shooting star because they loved to dance across the sky, just like me..." She said looking up at the night heaven's.

She turned to face him. "I'll bet your star is probably one of the brightest...if you'd just let people see it. " Katelynn said with a smiled as they approached the house. Realizing she probably made no sense to him she laughed to herself... at herself. "You probably think that sounds silly huh?"


Meanwhile Kris pulled up to the side of the house wondering if Rosemary had gotten here yet.

Dehlilah wanted to give a quick hug to Phillip but his bitchy girlfriend was there so she just gave him a quick wink. Then she just dragged her bags to the stairs. She then ran outside and saw kate with some hot guy, Damien maybe?
" Kate" she said beaming, she and Kate had been best friends since elementary school. When Kate stuck up for her against a group of bullies. She always looked up to her, it was hard not to. She also saw Damien and paused then winked at Kate " conspicuously." She then saw Rosie "Rose!" she exclaimed "Oh my god. " Dehlilah smiled at her, beautiful rose, as she liked to call her. Rose was also her friend but rose could be manipulative and that scared her a bit. But how could you hate her with that accent.

Rosie raised an eyebrow in surprised. Hm, she managed to stop it, whaddaya know? She grinned and skipped away, as if nothing had happened, and she looked back over her shoulder. She had heard Izzie snort, and saw a few of them roll her eyes when she said fighting wasn't the way to handle things... if she had learned anything from the past ones she has been in, it was that... although her temper may get the best of her most the time, she tries to hold back. Rosie sighed and had ignored them, and then had headed back to her truck to receive her belongings.

One thing for certain, she was just glad Kris wasn't there. Seeing that, she would think that he would have made it worse. She didn't know how... it just seemed that one more guy injected into that situation would turn it into a blood bath. Rosie sighed and grunted as she lifted her stuff back up. dropping her book once more and she groaned loud. "Really?" she muttered to herself and slowly bent down once more, but this time more stuff fell out of the box. "Well phooey!" she squeaked. Rosemary never cursed, unless she was really ticked off.... which only happened once. She shuddered at the memory. So, she usually replaces the word with something weird. She never even said crap. That surprises most people. But Rosie just thinks its not nice.

Rosemary craned her neck around and saw Kris get out of his car. "Hey! Kris! Can you give me a hand?" she called over, struggling not to drop more stuff as she tried to pick the others up.

(Short posts... sorry >.<)

When Kazuya saw Rosemary on top of the counter, all coherent thoughts left his mind. He found himself staring-no gaping, looking quite dumb, at the blond-haired girl. He promptly shut his mouth close and continued to silently study her, his face reddening when their eyes met. With her shirt hanging lazily off one shoulder and a smile pasted on her beautiful face, the black-haired Japanese boy couldn't help but be mesmerized by the girl.

"Did you need something Kazu or did you fry your brain with one of your inventions?"
He had been so entrance with Rosemary that Kris Sanders' statement totally surprised him. Quickly snapping his neck towards him, he found himself being directed with the baseball boy's narrowed eyes. "Because trust me when I tell you she's not interested in babbling moron." He then added sneering towards him.

Kazuya didn't honestly know what got to him. Aside from seldom crossing paths with each other, rarely in fact, on the school, he never really had a real conversation with him before. Kazu heard that he had a girlfriend, someone by the name of Rosemary but he knew full well that she wasn't the same Rosemary Dawn Montez. He didn't know what his problem was, but what the the baseball fanatic said was obviously crossing the lines.

Kazuya's aware that he did looked somewhat idiotic staring mutely at the petite girl, but it wasn't any of Kris' business to tell him on to it. If there is one thing he didn't like, it was those people who act all high and mighty as if they owned the whole universe. Those persons who seemed not being able to stop their mouth from opening and spewing out 'constructive criticisms' to those they don't like.

Narrowing his eyes despite his lackadaisical nature and general avoidance of argument or debates of the like, Kazuya opened his mouth, opting to answer him. But before he could feel his irritation increase and take over his passive attitude, Rosemary suddenly spoke out of the blue surprising him once again. "Hey, Kris! Hush! It honestly doesn't matter!" She said after pelting the other guy with some of the grapes that she got from a nearby bowl.

Looking astounded and a somewhat touched with her defense of him, Kazuya felt his ire waning. When he heard her giggle soon after, the black-haired man almost let out a chuckle as he saw her charming and childlike face.

He decided not to answer Kris' comment and instead focused to Rosemary. She had looked convincingly authoritative even in her small stature. He let out a small smile once their eyes met and turned to the fridge on the side. "Morning to you too, Montez." He said as a response then he looked around and finally noticed Alex inside the kitchen too. He faced him and gave him a nod of acknowledgement. Once he got over the pleasantries, about to approach the refrigerator and get his food, he was after all itching to leave for his room, the glass door of the kitchen was silently opened.

In came a stumbling Damien who acted drunk but actually looked like he'd been to hell and back-- with his pale skin, tired eyes and the beads of sweat dripping down his face. Kazu was about to ask for his well being as he had just noticed the other guy bracing himself a little conspicuously against the bar but quickly changed his mind once he saw him preparing a drink.

"This will a be long summer." He heard him say and Kazuya found himself lost for words as he just stared at him, wondering. He wasn't aware of what happened last night. After he realized how stupid he was asking both Izzie and Alex uncharacteristic questions, he immediately went to his room and slept early. Studying the drinking guy, he noted that Damien looked sicker than he did yesterday. 'Did he got himself drunk all night?' The black-haired asocial guy thought to himself, still looking at him quietly.

"Mornin'," Hearing Alex greet him, caused the black-haired man to turn to him. "Hello Webster", he greeted with an acknowledging nod, walking towards the refrigerator to retrieve food. "Sorry about yesterday", he started, stopping his words in the middle, seriously judging on how to resume his statement. He didn't think that Alex would like it if Kazu will broadcast the scene that he had unintentionally intruded to yesterday. He just hoped that the other guy had readily understood what he had been trying to say and left it at that. Else he may spout words that he shouldn't have, if he continue speaking.

Focusing on Kris' apology, he just shrugged to show that there is no problem between them. "It's OK." He simply answered, shrugging one more time, "No harm done, Sanders". He opened the fridge and took the first form of food that his eyes came across to, which is actually an apple. Not really caring what he will eat, he grabbed it and closed the door of the fridge.

It was during that time that he saw Rosemary playfully throwing grapes towards Kris. Feeling a sudden case of dislike at the baseball fanatic, Kazuya just settled himself with clenching the apple a little tighter than he intended to.

He knew he don't have a reason to dislike Kris. Nothing really. They are just schoolmates who don't have anything to do with each other if they can help it. Rosemary too, whatever she's doing, he actually don't have a problem with it. This sudden bout of ill feelings shouldn't have sprouted in the first place. The cheery girl had just been her normal playful self; and giving Kris' more attention than usual does not concern him. It wasn't as if he and Rosemary Dawn Montez were together in the first place.

He also unfortunately knew about the said girl's feelings towards the black-haired athlete. With the way that he's watching her, its bound by now that Kazuya learns some of the facts about her. Though it wasn't easy, trying to hide his feelings and urging himself not to care with Rosemary's obvious infatuation to Kris. There are times that he just wanted to corner her and confess; just to be able to let go of everything. The catch though, is that try as he could, he can't have the courage to say how he liked her in front of her.

He did try other methods before. Of course with the urging of his sister, he had undergone different ways in order to confess his feelings. Unfortunately none had been successful. He had once resorted into making letters, something the girls from Japan always did to their objects of affection but he wasn't able to push it through. Sure, he was able to write a decent 'love letter' but when he was about to put it inside her locker, he suddenly got the proverbial cold feet and found himself backing out.

After that, the other methods also greatly failed.

The little courage that he had slowly dwindled, until it only came to a time where he just wanted things to get over with. It doesn't help him on how adamant his sister had became just to make him confess. She used to tell him to let everything out so that he can finally move on from this standstill that he put himself into. It was also one of the reasons that she had tirelessly urged him to come into this vacation.

"Hi Ray!" He heard the blond-haired girl with her 'adorable' accent greeting Ray when he entered . Kazuya resorted on giving the other guy an acknowledging nod. He don't have anything to say to him and being a guy of few words, he just decided to shut his mouth close.

Looking around the room, he then recalled how Damien Lewis appeared in this kitchen moments prior. He looked sick. Sicker than the normal type of illness perhaps, if he's not mistaken. With his brother being a renowned doctor, Kazuya have gotten some knowledge and tips or so, to be able to see at first glance if a person has a serious sickness or not.

The black-haired Japanese man had been thinking of calling his brother. Just in case Kazuhiko can find someway to help Damien and before he knew it, he had been staring quite long at the older guy. Inwardly groaning at his unthinking actions, he settled himself into abruptly casting his eyes into another direction. He didn't know what Damien felt about his inquiring gaze but he didn't worry himself into giving it much thought. He and Kris had been in a misunderstanding so early in the morning and he didn't want to add another person on the list.

Not long after, Damien had left the room. Presumably to make himself presentable which in turn caused Kazuya to momentarily forget his interest about contacting his brother.

He turned back to Rosemary, who was still sitting at the counter, looking comfortable to where she currently is. Hiding his smile by taking a bite out of the apple, he leaned towards the wall and tucked his other hand on one of the pockets of his pants.

Izzie entered the kitchen, talking with Alex once again which made Kazu think that whatever problem they had yesterday have been now resolved. Not knowing how to treat the girl, he just stayed quiet and continued to eat his apple in the corner.

He had been contemplating whether he should get a glass of coffee before retiring to his room. He had never let a day pass by without taking his coffee. Still not used to being with other people that much; he's a little antsy with his prolonged stay at the kitchen specially with Rosemary nearby. He knew that an apple is not enough to feed his hungry stomach but he's also reluctant to cook in front of them.

Sinking his right hand deeper into his pocket while still munching the red apple in the other one, he felt a piece of paper tucked inside. He took it out and immediately saw his sister's notes. "Kazu, remember to eat a decent breakfast! :)" It read, complete with the happy smiley post-scripted with his sister's signature at the end. Shaking his head in fondness, he then decided to toast some bread and prepare a coffee.

He was concentrating on searching the counters for a cup when he noticed his clothes. Suddenly, he remembered what he had discovered earlier this morning. He thought he had checked all that Kazumi packed for him, making sure that he is well-prepared for this summer vacation, but it turned out that he was wrong. Like what is usual, his sister failed in packing the correct things for a trip.

Yeah, she did prepared him clothes enough to last for his whole stay here at Katelynn's summer house, however what she did was pack a very few pieces of clean clothes and a lot of dirty pair of clothes. Unconsciously grimacing at the bleak thought of his clothing supply, he decided to push through his one and only choice. That is to go to a laundry service center and to shop for more clothes, soon as he could.

The worst thing though is he that didn't know the nearest shop here.

Kazuya is unfortunately born with having a bad sense for things that concerns geographical directions. He usually gets lost once or twice before he can perfectly memorize the way to a particular place. Even his travel here to Lake Kenforth had actually been quite an adventurous trip. His overly concerned sister had to drive him to this place more than twice in order for him to perfectly know the right roads to take from their home.

He was thinking of asking Katelynn to give him directions towards the shops or accompany him if she can, but he saw her leave together with Damien. He later got an idea though. An actually very apprehensive idea but his only last resort. He knew that it would take him lots of guts to continue this plan and he steeled his will.

Rosemary is the only person- aside from Katelynn that is, that he's familiar with right now among these group of people. She may say yes and may also reject him. He's not sure, but at least he tried to ask her. It would be actually weird for him to ask help from Alex, Izzie or Ray or worse, Kris. And because of that he gathered all the courage that he can find and faced the smiling girl.

"Mon-Rosemary, Are you busy later this afternoon?"

Dakota nodded without exception. " I like the little mermaids." Damien, he simply nodded calmly and then sat Annabell down in the chair softly and stepped out of the kitchen, into the living room and out the door.

Kate looked at the door as he exited worried that maybe she had over stepped her boundaries with Annabell. She knew Damien wasn't really comfortable with the fact that she had a lot of money.

Annabell hopped down and watched her brother close the door. She scurried through the living room and ran down the small hallway as Kate looked after her in confusion. She kept her eyes down the hallway that Dakota ran down for a few moments until the child ran back back and extended her hand up, picture in hand towards Katelynn, smiling with great enthusiasm.

" Cherished are the memories that,
brought us to this day.
For yesterday was a just a dream,
A wish to contemplate,
A fantasy where in my mind,
A fleeting glimpse I'd see
A vision of the true desires
I longed for endlessly.

And when I dreamed I did not know
The love I'd feel today
The height of my truest feelings
And the depths that they would portray."

Kate ran her fingers over the words back of the picture. She could remember that day exactly, Phillip had just told her that he didn't get accepted into his number one choice for school. Katelynn had tried to cheer him up but, he didn't want to hear it and went off with his girlfriend to give himself a 'distraction' after getting in an arrangement about his talent. Katelynn had decided to go to the dance studio in an attempt to cheer herself up. It was then that she decided she wasn't gonna live with any regrets and that she would try to get into Julliard despite her own self doubt. That she wasn't gonna give up on something that gave her so much joy.

She looked at Anabell with a smile, "Your brother wrote this did he?" She said scooping her up, Kate sat Anabelle on on her lap so they were facing each other. "Your brother really likes me, doesn't he?" Kate watched as she nodded enthusiastically. "I like him too...but I want to make sure he has plenty of time to spend with you..because he loves you more than anything else."

Kate hadn't noticed that Damien walked back in. "He wants to make sure your happy and safe...and successful. I would like to be with your bother like a prince and princess...." she trailed off finishing the sentence in her head 'but if he's with me he won't have time to spend with you while he's here. Because I would want him with me more often then not and I can't do that to you.'

Looking up as she heard movement only to see Damien standing there. She smiled at him as Anabell ran over. "Hi..." She said softly.

Kris went upstairs grabbing his small back pack. He came back downstairs grabbing some water from the fridge. "Alright." He said pulling on a baseball cap. "Lets get this stuff rolling." He walked over to Rose wrapping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her back to the kitchen with the others. "Don't worry about Ray...Today's just not a good day for him...I think he just wants to stay in the house." He said not noticing the look Kazu was giving him.

He looked at Phillip. "So where are you taking all of us." He said with a grin grabbing an apple from the table. "Any places you and Kate think are really cool? I mean she told me you guys had been coming here for a while."

"Your brother really likes me, doesn't he?" Damien heard Katelynn as he stepped through the door, causing him to perk a brow in contest to the rhetorical question. He continued on further inside, turning the corner into the kitchen stopping after just entering."Your brother really likes me, doesn't he?" Katelynn asked Dakota, she would simply smile brightly and with a cute toothless gap. Damien simply leaned against the doorway, his head leaned as well against the wood frame. He hadn't yet seen the picture in her hand, but was simply content at the spectacle in front of him."I like him too...but I want to make sure he has plenty of time to spend with you..because he loves you more than anything else." She told his sister, he then nodded in quiet agreement--that for that last years since he had gotten out he had been working tirelessly for her future. He hadn't stopped to think about himself except in brief instances, instances that were perhaps immortalized in his thoughts, in his dreams.

"He wants to make sure your happy and safe...and successful." He heard Katelynn say, he couldn't help but step in. " That he does." He intruded causing both to turn their attention towards him. Katelynn looked perhaps surprised, possibly wondering if he had heard her entire conversation--in which he had but he kept that to himself. Dakota had leapt off of Katelynn's lap and took a running charge into Damien's knees. Damien chortled, giggling nearly as much as the young girl was as he took a couple steps back after having nearly stumbled. He leaned down and stroked Dakota's pretty platinum blond hair along her crown before planting a small kiss to the child's head.

Dakota grinned and cooed and clung to her brother's legs even as he stepped toward Katelynn."Hi..." He smiled with that tired expression he always had, but it would be like their exchange from earlier had never even happened when all he did was lean forwards, brush her bangs back and then place a soft, simple kiss to her forehead.His rich, chocolate eyes that held a smidgeon of red hue like dark red cherry wood, stared steadily into her eyes piercing their depths with a warmth as though she were basking in the sun.

"Hey there..." Damien smiled then looked down at the picture and chuckled his cheeks blossoming with new found color. "She show you that huh?" Yeah," He scratched the back of his head as though desperately looking for an answer for himself. "It's really nothing, just some thoughts I had..." He attempted to explain, his words faltering as they left him and filled the air. He suddenly felt a tug and he returned his attention to Dakota.

"I'm tired bubby." Dakota said, yawning. Damien smiled and looped an arm around her, positioning her against his body before he lifted her from the floor in one hand while. "Alright, Kate, we got a little one to put to bed. c'om on, this way." He nudged her with a slight nod in the direction he was headed. He carried Dakota and the guitar with bleeding knuckles and a swollen cheekbone through the living room down the long, narrow hall. The first door on the left was a one-half bath, it barely looked big enough for someone of Damien's size. The next room on the right was Dakota's room. It was small, quaint. But filled with dolls she played with so often. This would most likely make Katelynn stop to think--just how much blood, how many scrapes and bruises, how much pain had Damien sustained for each and every one of them. To make his sisters life carefree and somewhat "normal" he paid the price, one that left him limping, one that shortened his life expectancy.

Damien paused outside Dakota's room as he looked over at her propped up by one shoulder. "In here?" He asked as though this were a normal expectancy. Dakota firmly shook her head and he carried her onwards to his bedroom. The light was already on when they entered the room. The housekeeper/babysitter was straightening up the rather crowded conditions of the bedroom. Such were they that Damien's bed didn't even have a bed frame on which to sit. But it was a sizable queen mattress and box-spring sitting on the floor.

"Will you watch her for tonight, Katelynn invited her to come up tomorrow. I'll also have your money tomorrow." Damien told the housekeeper who nodded, she was an older woman of Latin decent. She had thick curly black hair and bronzed skin. When she nodded Damien just dropped Dakota on the bed watching as she screamed and giggled from the rush as she bounce off the cushiony mattress.

"Okay Dakota, what do we do first?" Damien questioned the three year old as though expectantly waiting a response, and rightfully so."We pray." She responded sitting on her hands and knees while tilting her head upside down. "Well," Damien motioned for her her to get to the side of the bed. Like it was memorized, the little girl hopped off the bed and spun 'round and fell to her knees clapping her hands together. Damien knelt down by her, keeping his hand on the acoustic guitar.

"Show Katelynn how we do it." Damien told Dakota, who immediately became bashful and tried to hide her face in his sleeve but he would have none of it. Damien 'bumped' his sister away as if to say 'you can do it'. Finally the girl got up the nerve to proceed. " Dear God, I thank you for my awesome brother, and for Katelynn and mommy." Damien nodded with his eyes shut. " Amen to that." He said before he scooped up in the manner of a swing before plopping Dakota in bed and tucking her in. The scene would be like something out of a movie. Damien then sat on the edge of the bed and picked up his guitar.

"Dakota, which song do you want me to sing? The one I sang to you in jail?" The girl got aglow on her face as bright as the sun while she nodded enthusiastically. " Okay then." Damien cleared his throat as Dakota looked up at him expectantly. He began strumming the guitar in a very rapid manner, producing a rhapsodic melody that sounded almost like country but with a hint of rock as his fingers thrashed the chords in a flamboyant manner while playing "Wait For Me" By Theory of a Deadman Stamping his left foot to keep his pace.

"You are not alone tonight, imagine me there by your side it's so hard to be here so far away from you...I'm counting the days till
I'm finally done, I'm counting them down, yeah, one by one it feels like forever till I return to you...But it helps me on those lonely nights, It's that one thing that keeps me alive..." Damien sung in his low baritone voice, causing the girl to perk up and smile. Suddenly,Katelynn could be transported back in time with the words of the song and his conviction in them--see him sitting on the phone in prison with only a few minutes a week--not using it to talk to a lawyer or trying to buy is way out but singing his little sister to sleep.

Damien's fingers quickly picked up the tempo of the song while he sang he held out the notes to the lyrics, swaying his head from side to side slowly. "Knowing that you wa-it for me ever so pati-ently."

"No one else knows the feeling inside, we hang up the phone without saying goodnight. Because it's the sound of your voice that brings me home. It's never been easy to say, but it's easier when I've gone away." Dakota began trying to sing along with her brother, although she was distinctive because she had no training so her light voice could be heard intermingling with Damien's.

"Knowing that you wait for me, ever so patiently." He sang, elongating the syllables the same way once again. But as he sang the second portion of the chorus, Damien turned toward Katelynn and sang to her as well. " Yeah, you're everything I've ever dreamed of having and it's everything I need from you just knowing, that you wa-it for m-e."

Turning back to Dakota Damien sang the bridge. Leaning in with each additional word causing Dakota to sink back into the blankets and giggle. " What I'd give, what I'd do knowing I'm not there for you;makes it so hard to leave. What I'd give, what I'd do anything to get me home to you, and this time I'll stay."

Damien strummed the guitar for a while longer before he paused and turned back to Katelynn. "And you wa-it f-o-r m-e, ever so pat-ient-ly. Yeah, you're everything I've ever dreamed of having and it's everything I need from you just knowing, that you wa-it f-o-r m-e..." Damien finished up the guitar solo and then turned back around kissing Dakota's forehead with a smile on his lips he whispered "Goodnight princess." He the got a peck on the lips and the little girl hunkered down in the mound of thick comforters. Damien turned to Katelynn still smiling. " We got two more stops to make and I'll have ya home safe and sound, promise."

"You know dispute the fact that you might not have as much as I do or you would like. Your home is still nice...because of that little girl in there. She makes it priceless." Katelyn had told him, but it was something he had already knew. There was literally no value you he could place on feeling at "home". To him that was neither a particular location nor event. "Home" was where he felt the most comfortable, that was hardly anywhere leaving him with a constant feeling like his skin was crawling because he was some where strange and unfamiliar. Like everyone else who could wake up in a sleazy motel, realizing too late of the choice they had made the night before. To Damien, wherever Katelynn and or Dakota was, was "home".

Katelynn had pulled his arm around her, His knuckles still showed the signs of the fights he had been in earlier. Abrasions, and contusions all along the backs of his hands from bare-knuckle striking, it was no wonder why his hands felt so calloused. The bridge of his eye socket just above his eye, and that of his cheek bone just below it were still bruised and swollen slightly, but it was like his body was so used to the intense violence, the swelling had drastically reduced in their time at his place. He enjoyed his arm being around her smaller frame, the niche of where his elbow bent found a place snugly against the small 'dip' in her lower back while his his hand rested casually on the outer side of her upper thigh and hip region.

"Yeah..." He began, " Wouldn't know what to do without my princess here to remind me..." He trailed of momentarily, before he looked over and down at Katelynn. "Wouldn't be here, like this that's for damn sure." His arm gave her just a light squeeze, signify his truer appreciation of Katelynn and his contentedness at her mere presence, yet being so close to her, being able to hold her like she wanted him to, that was perhaps among the greatest feelings he had to experience. Her body was as warm as he had imagined it would be when he held her hand that day, then she was an arms length away, a world away from where inside, he truly felt she she should be. This moment where she had draw herself so close to him, allowed one of his muscular limbs to cradle her, to allow herself to trust him nearly completely--it was everything he could have asked for and more.

"So where are we going next?" Well, you remember that misunderstanding you had about Isabelle? Well, I had told her that I would give her my Les Paul that was signed by the three band members of a music group we both enjoyed. Figured, when I go I can't take it with me so I mine as well give it to someone who can have more use for it than I. That's over at my moms trailer...I am honestly not looking towards seeing that woman." He sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck uneasily with his free hand while holding Katelynn's hip even tighter and more securely. "Then after that, I gotta turn seven grand into fourteen. Which brings me to my question." He stopped as they approached the front door. He then stood in front of her, his hands instinctively, reflexively placing them selves against her hips holding her in place but at the same time, his arms translated through physical laxness that he would give way to her movements rather towards or away from him. Nevertheless, his large palms fastened themselves against her hips, brushing her warm skin as her shirt lifted with her every movement just by increments, with his hotter skin still of his worn hands. "What I have to do, isn't strictly speaking, legal. Its not anything...major." He paused on the last word as if deciding if that were the right word but deciding it was the best word for that situation. "I'm not going to rob a bank or anything, but when we get there, if you want to stay in the crowd, I'll understand. You've got to protect your father's reputation and well, if you get caught or seen, it'll cause a bit of a buzz I'm guessing."

"That is true... I mean everything I do is always under the scrutiny of the public. What are you goi-" He could tell by her expression he had just practically stepped on her toes and made her feel like a child being told "don't touch that". But it was his best and honest opinion. He knew of her father's legacy, he knew of her mother's reputation. He knew Katelynn herself was more than likely used to public opinions (Probably just as sick of them as anyone in the public eye could be), But still, damaging either their reputable services could spell potential disaster in their respective markets. Rather she would admit it or not, being caught in the same car with a convicted felon--violating many traffic laws, it was embarrassing.

On the other hand, this was HIS life. He wasn't justifying it.Yet, trying to live on seven thousand dollars in this economy, wasn't happening. Even if he won the race and earned the bonus, he was barely just breaking the poverty level at twenty-thousand dollars. With no such thing as stable insurance, and mounting doctors bills that could amount to ten thousand dollars depending on what device they used. He was essentially making 6.50 an hour for a year, all at once. He didn't like the fact he had to do it, but as with the fight club it was adapt or die and he didn't have a choice. It was him adapting to a situation where the means justified the ends. He wouldn't really accept help. He was already in debt, adding to that sense of repaying them, favors were used sparingly. He was a very proud man, it came from his fostering his sister like a daughter. To tell him that he could not repay his debt, it was probably as insulting as what he had just said to Katelynn which had her biting her lip holding herself back from him.

"Sorry..." He watched her quickly tap the small buttons on her phone, answering a message. All Damien did was nod and release her. He wasn't one to pry or snoop. He went even as far as stepping back a foot or so she would have the space between them where he couldn't see the screen and therefore, had no possibility of prying even by accident. "Sorry about that, Phillip was telling me he has my car. So I told him to be careful," Damien held up his hands to quickly pause her. " It's fine, you needn't explain yourself to me." He retorted with a smile, he abused them but even with his face bruised and sweaty, and pale though his eyes stood out in sharp contrast and were lit like fires. It made his smile seem special. Like whatever the trouble he may get you in, he'll always makes sure to get you out of it first. At the same time, he may have led the "bad boy" lifestyle to the extreme, and it showed.

You didn't have to be a plastic surgeon to see the signs and symptoms of formally broken bones that were just reset and left to heal without splints. It was subtle things. The slight deviation in a nearly perfect nose, the way his fingers seemed to almost 'curve' side ways from having been broken from sheer force. His knuckles were blatant. The last two on each hand were in his palms rather than aligned with the remainder of his hand. These were called Boxer Fractures. They were common especially with men who liked to fight--a lot. The more they fought the higher risk they were at for it. Men like Damien, who either had bad tempers, which he did, and a tendency towards the violent lifestyle suffered these injuries. The reason they were called Boxer Fractures was because it usually happened in a 'straight' punch. The impact of a clenched fist with a skull or a hard, immovable object, such as a wall. The knuckle of the index finger tends to lead the rest of the knuckles in a hard punch, and the knuckle compresses and snaps the neck of the metacarpal bone. That was why, if she had paid attention when she held his hand, she would have felt the fourth and fifth knuckles, as hardened lumps of course, in the middle of his hand. Whatever he had struck, was with enough force to rearrange the way his hand operated.

Aside from these mundane experiences, there was the elephant in the room. He had cancer. Which, obviously was killing him very slowly. Some would question his sanity when he would willingly put himself through more pain than the excruciating amount. The last doctor he had seen was beside himself when he learned that Damien fought on a near constant basis and not just for his health either. When all the studies on Damien's particular cancer said it usually metastasized to other areas of the body, especially when he had only one kidney and could tell he suffered repeated blows to his lone kidney yet the disease was taking its sweet ass time with him. But its effects were noticed in nearly everything he did. From breathing unusually heavy from constant pain that would have most men bed ridden, to coughing up blood as the disease ate away at his only functioning renal organ left--the bane of his existence. His body's internal thermometer had also taken a plunge. Bordering on flu like symptoms to where he could go from feeling hypothermic to scalding, ergo why he was usually sweating with even little to no physical exertion to begin with.

Still, he was stubborn. He liked to enjoy things like any man would.Drinking. Partying. Loving. Sex. To him, to give up on these was essentially quitting and he didn't have the patience nor the will. That's what this trip was for. He told her he was going to show her "something". Something important. In truth, he was showing her his true strength, why he did what he did, who he really was. To simply say it meant little, to actually allow her to live it, that was something completely different.

"So where are we going again? Or should I say how are you doubling your money?" She asked. Damien looked at her, not sternly or disapprovingly, or even with a look that even remotely attempted to deny her any further. In essence, his first quoting was more likened to a man much like her father. Wanting to protect her image, her herself most of all. However, the hint he would give her next, he'd let her decide to be apart of her own volition, her own accord. He'd let her decide as one adult to another, if she would become apart of his underground lifestyle. Still, it was just a hint. It didn't exactly divulge any great details, he was still offering her the chance to be ignorant if it should go down badly.

"Well, actually, it has a lot to do with MY car, and its kind of like a...race." He said the last syllables questioningly, hinting at the very real possibility of his actions being very illegal. But again, no real truth spilled and a last chance to keep her out of it if she really wanted to be.