Setting
Default Location for All Or Nothing
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Ranch is a part of 
All Or Nothing.
4 Characters Here
Kittrina Del [718] "A horse is poetry in motion."
Nikota D'Angelo [695] I have confidence, when my scars are covered.
Jessie Blackburn [653] Hate to break it to you sweetheart but i'm only going to break your heart.
Damien Fox [639] "I owe the D'Angelo's more than I could ever repay them."
Start Character Here »
Nikota was done, she wasnât sure how much more she could take. Everything had seemed to fall apart in the past 72 hours. She felt everything spinning out of control and if there was one thing Niki hated more than anything was feeling out of control.
She watched as Kat removed herself, the gun, and her shoes from the situation. Disappearing into her studio and Niki had a pretty good idea what sheâd be doing in there and she was half tempted to join her. Niki wasnât big on doing drugs like Jessie, but on occasion, at parties sheâd experiment a little.
She ignored Jamie and Damienâs conversation as she walked towards Jessie who still seemed to be in a daze. She stopped in front of him and he didnât seem to notice her.
âNext time you decide you want to turn into the Hulk an fuck every ones night upâŠdonât do it here.â She warned him âYouâre not a fuck up Jessie, you just really need to get your act together.â She said in an honest tone before continuing into the house.
Dustin sat in the Kitchen, Olive on his lap as the two of them made out, in a drunk daze. Niki scoffed she was fairly certain neither one knew who they were actually making out with. She rolled her eyes as she headed up stairs towards her room, she changed out of her dress, looking over herself in the mirror, this time looking past her scars to the bruises that covered her torso and back from falling off Macho earlier.
She tugged a plain black V-neck over her head and slipped on a pair of black yoga shorts. She made her way back down the stairs, and into the kitchen grabbing a bottle of rum and a glass.
âMake sure you use a condom.â She said plainly as she passed the two and headed into her motherâs studio, she didnât bother locking the door like she normally would. She sat down on the piano bench, the room feeling lonely now without Damien. She poured the rum into the cup taking a large drink wincing as it burned down her throat and warmed her insides.
Her hands began to dance across the keys like they had before only this time [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI-_EjA6RkQthe song[/url] was depressing, which in return only made her loneliness worse, she took another huge drink as she continued to play.
Jessie watched Kat go unable to stop her, why should he, if anything he needed to go lock himself in his room and off himself. He rubbed the back of his neck, dazed from everything that had just happened, still not sure if by some chance he was going to wake up from all of this and it was all just a bad dream. Hadnât everything been okay just a few hours ago how had it gone from okay to complete hell.
âNext time you decide you want to turn into the Hulk an fuck every ones night upâŠdonât do it here.â He heard Niki but he couldnât bring himself to look at her he just let her say what she wanted, hell if she would have hit him he would have stood there and let her without a single word. âYouâre not a fuck up Jessie, you just really need to get your act together.â her words caught him off guard and he just shook his head in disagreement.
He glanced to Katâs studio, where she had disappeared to. God only knows what she was doing in there and it was all his damn fault. Finally he willed his all of a sudden aching body to move towards the studio. All of the pain from the fight with Damien and the beating from his father rushed in and he felt as though heâd been hit by a train.
Not even half way to her studio, he could already hear her music blaring and he recognized it as the music the two of them use to listen to together when theyâd drop acid. He regretted introducing her to that drug now. He limped and held his ribs as he continued up to the door seeing it was creaked open. He knew going in there was against Kat law, even when theyâd been
serious before heâd left, she still didnât allow him in there, but this was different, he had to see her, he had to know she was okay and she hadnât finally decide to kill herself over what heâd done tonight.
He slowly pushed the door opened peaking inside before fully stepping in and closing the door behind him.
The music was slow and warped, making her head lighten, every negative emotion she'd felt creeping on her, lifting like a helium balloon. Kitty chuckled lightly, lifting her hand above her like she was releasing a string of a balloon before her hand thumped back down to the hardwood floor under her and she watched the ceiling as though watching it float off. As though watching her worries drift through the ceiling and into the stars.
A clicking noise made her turn her head, and she had to squint for a moment while her vision blurred, then focused on someone's legs and the door swinging closed.
Slowly, she raised her eyes to Jessie's face, and rolled her eyes, turning her head back towards the cieling and taking another drink from the bottle. The box was still laying open next to her and the pill bottle she'd used was spilled out on the floor, so, if the music wasn't enough of a clue, he'd know what she'd done.
She looked at the whiskey for a second before taking another quick drink, letting it burn her throat. She knew it was dangerous to drink alcohol with pills, but she couldn't bring herself to care.
Kitty looked up at Jessie again, not bothering to stand for fear that she might fall over. "What the fuck are you doing in here?" She hissed bitterly, eyes narrowing suspiciously.
He knew he wasn't supposed to be in her studio. It was one of her biggest rules, and he'd just broken it. The only reason she hadn't ripped his head off was because he was standing in the dance part of the studio, and she wasn't dancing, so he wasn't exactly invading her privacy. If he'd have gone upstairs, or she'd have been dancing, she probably would have blown a hole in him with the gun upstairs. Especially since she was all strung out now.
Still, it was her sanctuary, and she didn't like anyone in her sanctuary. "I'm mad at you Jessie." She moaned as though he didn't already know, dropping the bottle to grip her head tightly as a sharp pang of pain ripped through her skull.
It was over as quickly as it had come though, and she picked the bottle back up again, looking at him as her vision blackened a little around the edges, and she lifted a hand gently to her nose, feeling a warm liquid running over her fingers. She pulled her hand back to find that it was red and cursed. Her nose was bleeding. "Why don't you just leave?" She spat bitterly, knowing she was being harsh, but not caring. She didn't want him in her studio, sure, but it was more than that.
She didn't want him to see her like this. She'd given him so much shit about the drugs, and then, as soon as she'd stressed out, she'd ran into her studio and popped whatever pills she could find. What the hell was wrong with her? She was just as bad as he was. Kitty groaned, and blinked as she looked up at him and the song changed.
Damien watched as first, Kitty walked off, then Niki, and he groaned, hoping he wouldn't have to chase one of them out in the forest the next morning because they'd run off.
Jessie then followed Kitty, leaving Damien utterly alone with Jamie.
"Come one baby." She whispered, leading him gently towards the house.
He didn't fight her, just limped slowly there. She lead him into the kitchen where Dustin and Olive were making out. Damien laughed loudly. If those two would just hook up sober, that would solve a lot of the ranch's problems.
Unfortunately, they were both too hung on people they couldn't have.
Jamie gently sat him in one of the kitchen chairs and he kicked the leg of Dustin's chair out from under the two of them so they fell on the ground. Damien merely shrugged when they glared at him, but it had worked. They scampered off to find a new spot. Probably upstairs in Olive's room.
Damien watched Jamie as she buzzed around the kitchen, and disappeared down the hall towards the bathroom for a second.
He squinted when he heard music, tilting his head a little as though he thought he was hearing things, but no. There it was, piano music, the melody low and depressing. He knew it was Niki and he was about to stand and make his way downstairs to find her when Jamie came back and pushed him back into the chair.
In her hands, she had a first aid kit and a bag of ice. She handed him the ice to hold to his head while she worked on cleaning blood and dirt off him, applying antibacterial to his split lip, getting more ice for his other bruises, wrapping his split knuckles, and so on, doing her duty as a wife to fix him up.
He looked at her and smiled gently. "You should be a nurse." He said simply. She was gentle, and seemed to know what she was doing very well.
"I used to be." She said, smiling softly back at him.
The thought that he didn't know that about her depressed him. How much else did he not know about her? They'd married way too fast. She could be related to the Pope and he wouldn't know. "Well your better at this then cooking." He said with a light chuckle, earning a chuckle back from her.
"Can I tell you a secret?" She said with a small smile and he nodded. "I know my cooking sucks. I only took the job to be around the horses." She said with a shrug, and he laughed lightly.
Nikota could feel herself sinking lower and lower into depression. Everything from the past few days crashing in around her, she hadnât truly been alone, until now and now she felt it more than ever. Her whole mental breakdown, the nightmares coming back, the hook ups with Damien, and Jessieâs rampage tonight, she wished she could have done more to prevent all of it.
For the first time since the night of the accident she felt truly alone. They werenât prefect but Kat and Jessie had each other, Olive and Dustin found each other, Her father had Missy, and at the end of the Day no matter how bad Damien wanted to fight it he had Jamie, but Niki knew she had no one and sheâd been okay with that until now.
She wasnât event paying attention to what she was playing on the piano anymore, at this point she had disconnected her thoughts from her body and she was simply letting her mind control what her fingers did. She hated the fact sheâd started playing the piano again it meant that sheâd found her muse again and that was amazing, she just wished it hadnât been Damien.
She hadnât realized sheâd finished the whole bottle of Rum, she sighed, it had literally done nothing to numb her pain. She stood up and carefully made her way upstairs, she wanted something stronger. She felt sick to her stomach when she heard Damien and Jamie carrying on and laughing amongst each other. She ignored them as if they werenât there as she rummaged through the alcohol to find something stronger.
Jessie was very familiar with the scene heâd walked into, with Kat sprawled out on the floor, the black box open next to her and the pill bottle beside her. She couldnât help but feel full responsible for this. He didnât say anything to her as she cussed him out over and over, telling him to leave and asking why he was there.
He simply lend against the wall and watched her, not wanting to bother her, but simply knowing that if something happened to her he was right there if she needed him. He saw the blood coming from her nose and he winced, making a small pained noise though it was lost in the loud, echo of music.
He knew that was a sign sheâd taken too much, though only enough that sheâd been in a lot of pain tomorrow and it wasnât enough to kill her. He stumbled over to her, ripping a piece of fabric from his flannel, placing it to her nose. Holding her gently so she wouldnât fall over, he knew sheâd push her off, but he didnât care.
He picked up one of the joints that laid outside the box, lighting it with the spar lighter and releasing the smoke into the air hopping maybe it would take some of the pain away.
âDamien wouldnât have been the first.â He said quietly as if finally willing to tell her all the things heâd been hiding from her for so long.
Despite her cruel words, Jessie said nothing, just stood and watched her, and Kitty sighed deeply, rolling her head to the side, away from him, eyes directed across the floor, towards the stairs, looking at nothing in particular.
She jumped a little when he lifted her, and pressed a piece of his shirt to her nose, holding her gently.
Kitty tried to push him away, but the movement only made her head pound, so she sighed and scooted closer, letting him hold her, watching as he reached into her box and pulled out a joint.
Kitty watched the smoke spiral, fascinated by the small spirals that spun above them, even though she'd seen them a thousand times, somehow, on the drugs, they seemed more enchanting.
âDamien wouldn't have been the first.â His voice was quiet, and it brought her thoughts back down to the earth and she turned her head to look at him, sighing deeply.
"The first what Jessie?" She asked softly as she moved away from him so that she was laying down again, not wanting to be touching him when he answered her, for she fears she already knew the answer. Damien wouldn't have been the first person he'd shot. Maybe even killed. The thought made her close her eyes tightly and swing her arm over them, not wanting to look at him.
"Who did you shoot?" She asked, voice shaky, unable to stop tears from pooling in her eyes, thankful that he couldn't see them.
Jamie finished with him just as Niki came up the stairs. She walked right past them and went for the cabinet he knew held liquor, digging around.
"You should come home with me and get some sleep." She whispered gently, causing Damien's thoughts, and eyes, to return to his wife. It took him a second to realize what she said, but once he did, he sighed deeply. He felt bad for what he was about to do to her again, but he just shook his head.
Niki may not feel any guilt, or, if she did, she hid it well, but Damien did. Jamie may not be the best person sometimes, and he may not love her, but that wasn't her fault. She was just the wrong girl, and she was still a person. One who'd placed her trust in him.
"I'm gonna hang out here for a bit." He said, gesturing towards the kitchen. "Maybe go out on the front patio and watch the driveway to make sure Jessie doesn't try to make another run for it tonight." He lied kissing her gently. "You go ahead and sleep though."
She listened, and he sighed, standing up with a painful groan, quickening his step to catch up with Niki. One hand held the ice pack to his head while the other reached out quickly and snagged her arm just before she disappeared down the stairs. "You look like you could use some company." He said softly as though he could sense how she was feeling.
Niki was buzzed, so her ears werenât exactly listening in on Damien and Jamieâs conversation. She grabbed a bottle of vodka tucking it under one arm and then grabbing another, a bottle of whiskey, it was going to be a long night and she wasnât going to sleep unless she took he pill which was out of the question or drank herself to the point of passing out which sounded like a pretty great plan to her.
She walked passed them again, watching both of them stand up out of the corner of her eye, figuring they were leaving together. She walked back down the hallway, opening the door to the studio. She felt someone grab her arm and it caught her off guard, she let out a small squeal and nearly dropped both bottles of alcohol.
She turned to see Damien looking even worse than before now that his wounds had time to settle in. "You look like you could use some company." she rolled her eyes pulling her arm from his grip.
âD, go home.â She said harsher than she meant to âReally, I just want to be alone. I canât take much more of anything including you.â She said a little lighter than before.
She was torn on one hand she felt bad for Jamie, the way Damien made excuses to not go home with her, but on the other hand she could care less about her. She turned away from Damien knowing all too well he follow her anyways. She carefully made her way back down the stairs, using the banister for support.
âLock the door on your way down.â She called up to him âAnd donât get use to this.â She smirked as she took a drink from the bottle of whiskey not bothering to poor it in a glass this time.
Jessie took another drag from the joint letting it feel his lungs, though the pain was still there, he tried his best to ignore it. He sighed as Kat scouted away until she was laying back on the floor again arms covering her face so he couldnât see her emotions, but her could hear it in her voice when she spoke.
The first what Jessie?" he knew she wasnât that stupid so he waited without replying "Who did you shoot?" there was the question, that she wanted the answer too.
Any other person may have flinched of felt some sort of guilt, but Jessie didnât. The world heâd lived in had brainwashed him to have no emotion, to be heartless, but even through all the things heâd seen that had made him hard and built his walls and the brainwashing. He still couldnât bring himself not to care about Kat, not to feel guilty about all the things heâd done to her, and more importantly heâd always love her.
âThree.â He said simply âtwo of them lived.â He continued âIt was a drive by. My initiation.â He said taking another drag, this time coughing hard from the smoke. He cleared his throat to continue. âBlood inâŠâ he hesitated as if not wanting to say the last part. âBlood out.â He finally whispered, regret stain every ounce of his voice.
He glanced to her seeing the tears run down her face and disappear into the puddle of dark hair that surrounded her face. He choose to stay silent though letting her speak next, though a little afraid of what she might say.
âThree.â He said simply, making her wince slightly. âTwo of them lived.â He continued she stayed quiet and didn't move while he spoke, listening. âIt was a drive by. My initiation.â She let out a deep sigh.
âBlood inâŠâ He said, hesitating. âBlood out.â The raw regret in his voice made her lower her arm and sit up slowly. She simply watched him for a moment, nothing but the music filling the silence, not knowing exactly what to say.
He was a criminal. A dangerous man. She should be afraid of him. She should want nothing to do with him. Yet, she was completely and totally in love with him. Even as he sat there, telling her he'd shot three people, she couldn't help but feel thrilled by it. He'd almost just shot a friend of hers, and yet she could feel her anger slipping slowly away, being replaced by a deep, dangerous excitement.
Finally, she sighed and pulled herself close to him, placing an arm lazily on his shoulder, his touch feeling twenty times better when she was on drugs. "You just told me you shot three people." She whispered, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "And I still can't stay mad at you." She shook her head kissed him lightly. "You broke into my studio, and I still can't stay mad at you."
Kitty fell silent again, her blue eyes on his, the music filling the room. The beat light, and the words slow. Managing to sound upbeat, and depressing at the same time.
Damien could tell she was out of it, by the way he'd startled her, almost making her drop her bottles as she looked at him.
âD, go home.â She said bitterly, but he refused. âReally, I just want to be alone. I canât take much more of anything including you.â He shook his head and stepped closer, insisting.
He could tell by the look on her face that she was torn between letting him down, and making him leave, and that was enough for him. Silently, he waited for her to choose, though honestly, he was going to follow her either way.
When she simply pulled away from him and headed down the stairs, he sighed. âLock the door on your way down.â She called up to him and he sighed, turning to lock the door. âAnd donât get use to this.â She said glancing back at him with a smirk, and he smirked back lightly, following after her.
Damien watched her take a drink straight from the bottle and sat on the end of her piano bench, watching her. "You okay Nik?" He asked, knowing it was a stupid question. "I mean..." He corrected himself before she could point it out. "Do you want to talk?"
He looked down at his hands briefly, the left one was wrapped tightly, for his knuckles had been bleeding, and the right one had bruises wrapping around his knuckles.
Then he looked back up at her, concern and understanding in his eyes, wanting her to know she could tell him anything, though kind of already knowing she wouldn't.
She didnât answer him when he asked what was wrong, she took another drink from the bottle as he continued. Then he glanced down to his hands and she knew he was finished it was a habit of his, at the end of a conversation his eyes always managed to find his hands as if he was hiding so much.
âOh where should I began.â She let out a short breath. âWith me breaking up your marriage or the fact that I almost just witnessed the person Iâm in love with get his brains blown out.â She hadnât exactly realized what she said about being in love with him, it had just slipped out, sheâd said it without thinking perusal.
âItâs wouldnât be the first time thoughâŠyou know.â She said softly, her voice creaking a bit. âI just want to be normal.â She admitted willingly.
She felt weird telling him all of this, letting down her wall she worked so hard to build up. In everyoneâs eyes including her fatherâs and step-mothers her and Kat were perfect and she was so afraid to let her father down, sheâd been playing the perfect daughter for so damn long that it felt good to lay all her imperfections out on the table.
âYou know everything was going pretty damn goodâŠtill you kissed me.â She smirked, not regretting it at all, teasing him more than anything as she took another drink from the bottle.
"You just told me you shot three people." he sighed, ashamed "And I still can't stay mad at you." he let out smile chuckle, as the pain slowly subsided in his body "You broke into my studio, and I still can't stay mad at you." he shrugged at this.
The room growing silent, with only the music to keep them company as she pulled herself closer to him. Even with the pain in his body he pulled her closer, as she leaned into him he wrapped his arms around her. Kissing her check.
His body itched for another hit of something, he glanced to the coke and then the pills, but he ignored the urge, deciding it would be better if one of them was at least somewhat somber. At the rate Kat was going he knew sheâd pass out soon and heâd have to carry her inside.
âYour just as crazy as me Kitten.â He whispered âI have a theory, thatâs why were so sadistically attracted to each other, because you and I are the same kind of crazy.â He moved her hair to on side as he kissed her neck.
Kitty smiled as he wrapped his arms around her, reveling in the way it felt to just be held by him. He kissed her cheek and she sighed deeply, feeling a tingle of electricity shoot through her as he did.
âYou're just as crazy as me Kitten.â He whispered, and she smiled. She would have punched anyone else who called her crazy, but when Jessie said it, she kind of liked it. Because he knew what it felt like to be crazy. When people who were totally normal called her crazy, it pissed her off because they didn't understand. âI have a theory, thatâs why were so sadistically attracted to each other, because you and I are the same kind of crazy.â
Kitty laughed lightly as he moved her hair gently to the side and his lips came down on her skin, kissing her neck. The drugs in her system amplified everything, especially the feel of Jessie's lips on her so she moaned, stretching her neck for him.
"What kind of crazy is that?" She whispered with a small smirk, closing her eyes and leaning into him. "The kind of crazy that's attracted to what destroys us?" Her words were dark, but her tone was light.
She opened her eyes briefly, glancing at the stairs to her art studio, biting her lip, suddenly contemplating taking him up there and showing him her art. Something she'd never done with anybody. Not even her mother or Niki.
She sighed softly and grabbed a bottle of pills from her box, dumping one in her palm before returning the bottle to the box. She smiled and placed the pill in his hand. "It's nothing heavy." She assured him. "Just a pain pill. It won't really mess with your head unless you take a lot of them." She said with a shrug, knowing he was in pain.
Once she'd given it to him, she picked up the box in one hand, and in the other, she took his hand and walked backwards for a few steps, smiling, tugging him towards the stairs before turning and leading him up.
Upstairs, she flipped the light on and dropped his hand, walking over to the desk, she opened the drawer, cringing when she saw the gun there, and shoved the box all the way in the back again.
From under the desk, she grabbed a pillow and the blanket she used a lot when she wanted to lay on the ground and work, and spread them out in the middle of the room, taking a seat on it and looking up at him, a nervous look on her face. "I never show anyone this." She whispered, looking away. It was weird, letting someone into her studio to see her work.
It was like opening a door to her heart and letting him just walk in. It was showing him all the emotions she'd tried so hard to keep hidden by locking herself away in that room and putting them on paper and canvas that no one was ever going to see. It was a hard thing to do, and she knew she'd probably never have done it sober. Her anxiety wouldn't let her. However, the drugs had loosened her up just enough to want him to see it. In the silence, the music drifted up from downstairs, and she kept her eyes on the blanket, picking at a stray thread.
âOh where should I began.â She said sarcastically, and he looked at her. âWith me breaking up your marriage or the fact that I almost just witnessed the person Iâm in love with get his brains blown out.â He winced, but couldn't help but feel happy that she'd said she love him. However, he didn't like all the pressure he was putting on her. As horrible as he was feeling, she had to be feeling ten times worse, and that killed him.
âItâs wouldn't be the first time thoughâŠyou know.â She said softly, her voice cracking, making him want to hold her. She was talking about her mother. Who'd been just like a mother to him too. He hadn't seen it like she had, but he had to live with the guilt of knowing he could have been there to stop it. That seemed like the motto of his life: "I could of been there. Should have been there. But I wasn't." He was always leaving at the wrong time. Always there when you didn't need him, never there when you did.
âI just want to be normal.â She admitted, making his stomach flip. âYou know everything was going pretty damn goodâŠtill you kissed me.â She said with a smirk, letting him know she was teasing.
He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair before looking at her, honestly. "We all just want to be normal." He said. "But we all have our own shit to get through." He watched her carefully, as though she'd disappear with the wrong words. "You're not a freak." He said, wanting to let her know Dustin was wrong about her. "You're broken, sure." He said with a small shrug. "But some people like broken."
"We all just want to be normal." Nik shrugged in agreement "But we all have our own shit to get through." he continued "You're not a freak." he was trying t make up for what Dustin had said "You're broken, sure." she frowned gently at the thought of being broken "But some people like broken." she glanced up at him with a small smile when he said that.
âTrust me babe, Iâm a freakâ she sighed thinking about the fact that she could talk to her horses and understand them, that sounded so ridiculous to her. âSo tonight wasnât a total disaster.â she said setting the bottle on top the piano.
She stood up, walking over and kneeling in front of him, her eyes meeting his. She sighed softly at the bruise around his eye and his swollen lip. She kissed his lips as gently as possible, before placing her lips to the side of his eye, careful not to hurt him. Than finally she placed her lips where the gun was placed on his temple and gently kissed the spot. She knelt back down in front of him placing her arms around his neck and interlocking her fingers.
âIf I would have lost you tonightâŠâ she whispered âI would have pulled a classic Romeo and Juliet stunt, all though I donât know if it would have been as romantic.â She said kissing him again, before standing back up and walking to the small radio in the corner, flipping through the CD, before picking one and popping it in.
A soft song drifted through the small room. She walked back over in front of him. âThink you can dance?â she asked âPromise I wonât let you fall.â She said softly offering her hand.
Jessie smirked when she asked what kind of crazy they were, but he didnât reply. She handed him a pill which he took willingly and thanked her with another kiss on the cheek. He was slightly confused when she stood up and pulled him up with her.
He was a little hesitant when she started to lead him up the stairs, knowing full well she was hiding something up there, that no one had ever scene. It might as well have been her hear tin a jar the way she protected this place.
His eyes widened when they reached the top, it was probably the most amazing thing heâd ever seen, her work was amazing, just like her. He thought to himself. It was really breath taking, he looked around taking it all in, it was like seeing the most personal parts of someoneâs imagination.
He glanced down able to tell she was nervous about taking him up there. He walked over to the blanket that was laid out and sat next to her. âThere beautiful.â He whispered to her lifting her chin until their eyes met âJust like you babe.â He smiled kissing her lips softly before pulling away. âI canât believe youâve been hiding this.â He laughed looking around once again amazed by her work.
His eyes fell on a group of paintings against on wall, one of them resembled him and he smirked playfully. âWow, pretty spot on although, I think Iâm a bit more attractive.â He teased.
Kitty smiled, watching the way he took in her art before sitting next to her on the blanket. âThere beautiful.â He whispered, and lifted her chin gently, causing their eyes to meet and her heart to beat rapidly in her chest. âJust like you babe.â She smiled as he kissed her gently before pulling back. âI canât believe youâve been hiding this.â He said, looking around, amazed, and she smiled, watching as his eyes drifted over her paintings.
âWow, pretty spot on although, I think Iâm a bit more attractive.â He teased, looking at one of the ones she'd done of him.
Kitty laughed gently and nudged him playfully.
She looked at him and wrapped her arms around his neck, linking her fingers and pulling him to her, suddenly wanting his lips on hers. She kissed him roughly, but deeply and passionately, pulling herself gently into his lap so that she was kneeling, one knee on either side of him, kissing him.
Her lips traced his before moving along his jaw, and then coming back to his lips as her hands moved from around his neck, slowly down his chest.
"I love you J." She whispered with a smile, pulling back and pressing her forehead to his gently, still sitting in his lap.
âTrust me babe, Iâm a freak.â she sighed and so did he. âSo tonight wasnât a total disaster.â She said as she set the bottle down and walked over to him. He looked at her hopefully, hoping she meant that the night wasn't terrible. They'd had a pretty nice dance before all hell broke loose.
She knelt before him, and his brown eyes held hers while he placed his hand on her face, gently rubbing her cheek with his thumb before she plled away and kissed him. It was gentle, but that didn't matter. It was Nikota. She could have kissed him roughly, and he wouldn't have felt anything but happiness. She then placed a kiss by the bruise on his eye and one at his temple before pulling away, wrapping her arms around his neck.
He smiled and rubbed her arms gently, his eyes locked on hers. âIf I would have lost you tonightâŠâ She whispered âI would have pulled a classic Romeo and Juliet stunt, all though I donât know if it would have been as romantic.â She said kissing him again, before standing back up.
He watched as she moved away with a deep sigh, putting a CD in a little radio before coming back over to him. âThink you can dance?â She asked. âPromise I wonât let you fall.â
Damien rolled his eyes and stood, taking her hand and pulling her roughly to him, wrapping and arm around her waist. It hurt to pull her to his chest, but he was able to ignore it based on the sheer fact that it was Nikota. "I'd dance with you if my leg was broken babe." He said with a small laugh as they moved to the music.
She smirked when he pulled her to him roughly, she could feel his body pressed against hers and she could hear the steady beat of his heart as she lay against his chest. She couldnât help but grow a little jealous at the thought of Jamie laying on his chest every night and she wished it was her.
"I'd dance with you if my leg was broken babe." She looked up at him, her blue eyes meeting his brown ones.
With her arms around his neck she gently pulled his lips to hers. She kissed him deeply, like she hadnât seen him in years and she never wanted it to end. It was perfect, he was perfect. She pulled away laying her head back on his chest.
âWell, guess this will make the qualifiers interesting.â She smirked âJamie freeâŠDustin Free, now if we could only convince my dad to stay home.â She smirked. âI mean think about it.â She started âJessie will want to go with Kat, of course once they get everything ironed out and you know daddy, heâll let him go.â She said already hatching the idea âYou and Jessie can stay in a room together and Kat and I can have a second room, Jessie will beg you to switch with me, and I mean itâs not that big of a deal in the first placeâ she said stepping back as the song ended.
She grabbed the whisky, pouring it in to the cup and handing it to him before taking a drink herself. âI mean before momâŠâ she paused âAnyways, me and you use to share a room anyways and Mom and Dad hand a separate room.â She smirked. âJessie switches with me, you and I end up in the room all alone together,, no one thinks anything of it.â She said waiting for his reply.
Qualifiers for Nationals was always a week after the big party and the Dâ Angelo team normally consisted of Kat and Niki of course, Mr. Dâ Angelo, Mrs. Dâ Angelo, and Damien. Mr. D' Angelo didn't like extra tag along that had little experience with the competitions, therefore Dustin, Jamie, and Olive had to stay home
Kat kissed Jessie passionately though rough and he smiled against her lips kissing her back just as rough and passionate. She moved closer until she was in his lap one leg on each side straddling him. She began to kiss is jawline and he closed his eyes taking in every single sensation as her lips touched his skin. He just couldnât explain it the way she touched him, no other girl heâd ever been with could make him feel the way she did.
Her lips moved back to his and he tipped his head to the side just slightly to get a better angle. Her placed his arm around her waist pulling her in closer.
She pulled away from him and he wished she hadnât, he never wanted their kisses to end. âI Love you Jay.â She whispered to him.
He didnât reply right away he kissed her again, it was deep and passionate, and possibly even apologetic for everything that happened tonight. He pulled away his thumb rubbing her cheek gently as if she was breakable.
âI love you too Kitten.â He whispered back âEven when Iâm not myself, just know I still love you.â He smiled placing his lips to her again. âWhat do you say we spend the night together.â He said pulling away again. âUp here in your studio.â He offered.
Kitty grinned against his lips when he didn't answer her right away, kissed her. A warm fire rose in her stomach, warming her body, making her feel light. Like a helium balloon. Like if he wasn't holding her tightly, she'd float away. No one else could make her feel so light headed, and it was thrilling to actually feel weaker for once.
When she was with other guys, she always felt superior. More experienced. Confident.
When she was with Jessie, her knees were weak, and she had butterflies in her stomach.
Before meeting Jessie, she thought all that cheesy stuff they said you felt when you were in love was nothing but a myth, but with him, she felt it all. No one else could make her so angry, so happy, and so sad all in one day.
He pulled away from her and rubbed her cheek gently. âI love you too Kitten.â He whispered and she smiled, closing her eyes. She loved when he told her that. He almost never said sorry, but a single I love you took the place of a thousand sorry's. âEven when Iâm not myself, just know I still love you.â
Kitty opened her eyes again and looked at him. It was sad that he had to tell her that, but it made her so happy that he did. She knew he loved her, but sometimes, when he was acting like an asshole, she really doubted it, and doubting him hurt worse then his words when he was like that.
He put his lips back to hers and she smiled against his. He always knew exactly what to say to her. âWhat do you say we spend the night together?â He said pulling away again. âUp here in your studio.â
Kitty grinned wickedly, a mischievous glint in her eye. "My parents would kill us." She said with a smirk, her hands gripping his shirt. "But I think that sounds perfect."
Her lips came back to his, as the song changed again and her tongue slipped between his lips, deepening the kiss and pulling him closer, the drugs and the alcohol making her whole body tingle.
Damien smiled against her lips when she kissed him before placing her head back on his chest again.
"Well, guess this will make the qualifiers interesting.â She smirked and he chuckled lightly, listening as she voiced her thoughts. âJamie freeâŠDustin Free, now if we could only convince my dad to stay home.â She smirked. âI mean think about it.â She started, and he could tell an idea was forming. âJessie will want to go with Kat, of course once they get everything ironed out and you know daddy, heâll let him go.â Damien placed his chin on her head, saying "mhm" to let her know he was listening as she went on. âYou and Jessie can stay in a room together and Kat and I can have a second room, Jessie will beg you to switch with me, and I mean itâs not that big of a deal in the first place.â She said and stepped back as the song ended.
He watched her as she poured him a glass of the whiskey and he took it, taking a drink as she took another drink from the bottle. âI mean before momâŠâ She paused. âAnyways, me and you use to share a room anyways and Mom and Dad had a separate room.â She smirked. âJessie switches with me, you and I end up in the room all alone together, no one thinks anything of it.â She said, watching him.
Damien smiled over the rim of his glass and took a drink, laughing. "You're an evil genius." He said with a chuckle, leaning against the piano and pulling her tightly to him. "Can't wait." He said, kissing her forehead gently.
He was excited about the idea of sharing a room with her every night and no one thinking anything of it. It would be nice to be able to be alone with her everynight and not have a time limit or be worrying about Jamie worrying about him. Obviously, they'd have to keep quiet and act professional in public, but behind closed doors, they could do whatever they wanted.
He laughed lightly and kissed her nose gently. "We get the room farthest away from your parents." He said with a chuckle.
The CD in the stereo was of course one of Nikiâs famous burned CDs, with an endless amount of slow songs, it was nearly the only thing she listened. She smiled as the next song came on. Of course knowing every damn song slow song known to man.
"You're an evil genius." he smiled over the rim of his glass and she smirked.
âOh stop, your making me blush.â She teased.
"Can't wait." he said pulling her to him and she didnât fight it.
"We get the room farthest away from your parents." She rolled her eyes at this.
âI swear, sometimes itâs like you donât know me at all DJ.â She fake pouted, biting her lip.
âDonât worry about, my little plan.â She winked kissing his neck. âAll you need to worry about is making sure me and Kat are read for next Saturday.â She said in an honest tone. âIâm mean I know Katâs ready, her posture is flawless. But I may need a little extra help from my ridiculously attractive trainer.â She said playfully, pulling his lips to her, biting his bottom lip playfully.
"My parents would kill us." She smirked, grabbing on to his shirt and he offered a cocky smirk in return "But I think that sounds perfect." he chuckled.
âNah, donât worry about your parents, Iâll make sure and sneak out before anyone wakes up. Trust me, everyoneâs going to sleep in until at least noon tomorrow.â He said as she kissed him again.
Her tongue slipping past his lips, he trembled a lightly as he his tongue played with hers. Turning his head to the side kissing her even deeper he stood up on his knees placing his hand behind her head as he laid her down, holding himself over her with what strength he had left in the aching body.
He kissed down her neck slowly, making sure to let each one sink in before moving to the next one. Moving from her jawline to her collarbone, before bringing his lips back to hers. He pulled away, from her kissing her forehead, before laying down next to her on the blanket.
âGod damn Kat, I really, really want to have some fantastic make up sex right now.â He laughed âBut, I canât do that to you, at least not tonight, not after everything I put you through.â He said pulling her to him and maneuvering her so she was laying on top of him before he pulled the remainder of the blanket over the top of them and wrapped both arms around her.
âYou mean more to me than that.â He whisper kissing the top of her head.
Kitty grinned, feeling him tremble as he turned his head to the side. He stood on his knees and laid her down under him, making her shiver lightly as he held himself over her, her hand's running up and down his chest.
His lips moved down her neck so slowly, and she turned her head to the side, allowing him more room, loving the way he let each kiss linger there, letting the sparks they send flare out across her skin completely before moving on a little and placing another one.
She moaned lightly, looping her fingers in his belt loops, arching her back to bring her body to his briefly before dropping back down again.
His lips came back to hers and she wrapped her arms around his neck, twining her fingers in his hair with a smile. He placed one more kiss on her forehead before rolling off her, laying next to her.
âGod damn Kat, I really, really want to have some fantastic make up sex right now.â He said with a laugh. âBut, I canât do that to you, at least not tonight, not after everything I put you through.â He said sweetly as he pulled her on top of him and wrapped the blanket around them, holding her in his arms. âYou mean more to me than that.â He whispered as he placed a kiss on her head.
She smiled. "Oh but the make up sex is the best part of fighting." She said with a teasing chuckle, before placing her head on his chest, her eyes closing as she took in the moment. It was too perfect. "I'd actually rather lay here and let you hold me anyway." She breathed, as the song on her CD switched one more time and Kitty knew it was the last one she'd hear that night.
Not just because it was the last one on the CD, but also because the drugs were starting to make her sleepy, and Jessie was warm under her. Kitty yawned, singing lightly to the song, her eyelids drooping until she was completely asleep.
âI swear, sometimes itâs like you donât know me at all DJ.â She teased and he laughed lightly at her pouting.
âDonât worry about, my little plan.â She winked and placed a kiss on his neck, making him shiver lightly. âAll you need to worry about is making sure me and Kat are read for next Saturday.â She said, sounding honest. âIâm mean I know Katâs ready, her posture is flawless. But I may need a little extra help from my ridiculously attractive trainer.â She teased as she kissed him and nipped at his bottom lip.
Damien grinned against her lips and pulled her so close there was literally no space left between them, kissing her back.
His lips trailed her neck, placing one hot kiss after another along her skin before he smiled his lips came back to hers as his hand wrapped around the back of her neck and he turned them so that she was against the piano and he was pinning her to it, though not too tightly.
He smiled and lifted her by the waist, setting her on the paino. She was a little high, but that didn't matter. His kissed trailed her neck again, following the line of her v-neck tee, all the way to it's lowest point while his hands slipped up under her shirt.
He stopped himself and pulled back, looking up at her. "I want to go further." He whispered, kissing her lips lightly with a deep sigh. "But I can't. I just can't do that, and then go back and lay in a bed with Jamie." He watched her carefully, hoping she'd understand. "Honestly, it wouldn't be fair to either of you." He said, helping her hop down from the piano.
"But hey." He whispered, kissing her with a mischievous grin. "If you still love me by then, we've only got to suffer through one week." He said with a slight chuckle.
Her breath was shallow as he kissed her, it was like electricity. Sheâd never been with someone dominate like Damien, she had a strong personality and guys tended to be submissive towards her. It excited her, the way Damien pinned her to the piano and she felt her whole body heat up. She wanted to be with him so badly. She smiled against his lips as he lifted her on to the piano and she wrapped her legs around his waist pulling him closer.
His lips trailed down to her neck, each one sending cold chills through her body. He continued to the lost point of the V-neck, she moaned softly. She felt his hands rough, warm hands slip up her shirt and she winced on the inside. He pulled away and she was almost positive it was because heâd felt her tense. She looked away, not wanting to meet his eyes.
"I want to go further." though his words forced her to meet his gaze "But I can't. I just can't do that, and then go back and lay in a bed with Jamie." she relaxed once she realized he hadnât pulled away because of her "Honestly, it wouldn't be fair to either of you." but because he couldnât stay afterwards if they went further and he could face Jamie.
She smiled as he helped her off the piano, still slightly shaken up about how steamy it had just been between them.
"But hey." she heard him whisper causing her to be brought from her thoughts "If you still love me by then, we've only got to suffer through one week." she rolled her eyes as he chuckled.
âOh Iâll be fine, Iâm not the one who has to go home to Holly Homemaker every night.â She smirked playfully kissing him âNow get out of here before we get caught.â She said pushing him towards the stairs before turning back to clean up a bit. She heard his footsteps as he made his way up the stairs.
âD.â she called after him though not waiting for him to reply before she continued âI love you.â She said softly, though just loud enough for him to hear.
___
Niki woke up with a terrible hangover, she fumbled to find the Tylenol, next to her bed finally able to pop a few. She laid their and groaned in pain, in fact her whole body was sore. She pulled herself out of bed, pulling her messy curls into a bun. Before lazily heading down stairs, she yawned stretching her arms. The clock in the kitchen reading ten.
âMorning Daddy.â She smiled throwing her arms around his neck kissing his check, before making her way into the kitchen, pouring herself a bowl of cereal.
âSo you started playing again?â her fatherâs question made her freeze âthe door to the studio was left open, last night.â He smiled to her âWhat did it?â he asked curiously
Niki simply shrugged âMy mental break down possible.â She laughed and her father let out a light chuckle.
âIâm just glad youâre playing again Nik. Your mother would be proud of you.â He said gently before going back to his paper.
âNikota, you and Kat have a lot of work to do this week to get ready for Qualifiers.â He said as if remembering.
âAlready on it dad, heading out after this to get started for the day.â She reassured him.
Just like heâd promised, Jessie woke up almost as if his internal alarm clock was on high alert. He smiled, Kat still laying on top of him, he gently lifted her off him and to the side. Covering her with the blanket, kissing her forehead, before heading down stairs, closing the door to her studio behind him.
He jogged towards the house ignoring the pain that surged through his body. The sun was barely creeping up, which mean it was barley six am. He opened the front door quietly, slipping through and shutting it behind him just as quietly. He was almost safe as soon as he made up the stairs heâd be home free.
âJessie.â He stomach tied in knots at the sound of Mr. Dâ Angeloâs thick Italian accent.
He was completely panicked on the inside, though he remained calm on the outside. âOh, Hey boss man.â He said walking into the kitchen nervously.
âI was young once too.â Mr. Dâ Angelo glanced over his newspaper, taking a sip of his coffee. âI wonât tell the misses.â He smirked âI donât mind that you spend the night together.â Mr. Dâ Angelo stated in a low voice âBut keep your hands to yourself or Iâll chop them off.â He said completely serious.
âYeâŠYes sir.â Jessie wasnât sure whether to be relieved or terrified. Jessie turned to make his way back up the stairs.
âOh and Jay, if Mrs. Dâ Angelo finds out about your little slumber party, sheâll kick your ass to the curb.â He said taking another sip of his coffee. âBracelet goes back on today and I donât ever want to see that friend of yours on my property again.â He called after Jessie and he rolled his eyes.
Mr. Dâ Angelo had eyes everywhere or at least it seemed like he did, it was hard to get anything past him.
âDonât worry after last night Iâm sure he wonât be back.â He informed him before closing the door to his room and collapsing onto his bed.
___
Jessie tossed and turned a bit before sitting up rubbing the sleep from his face glancing over to the clock on his night stand, heâd only gotten a few more hours of sleep and he mumbled under his breath irritated, before heading into the bathroom to shower.
For the first time in a long time, Kitty's drug-induced sleep was peaceful. No frightening dreams or nightmares. No looks into her past. Simply darkness. Simply rest.
She woke with a yawn, her arms stretching out above her as she sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes. Kitty smiled lazily and looked around at her studio, the night before slowly seeping back into her memory, though, strangely, the events didn't depress her. She was a little ashamed that she'd allowed herself to get so toasted in front of Jessie, but other than that, she didn't mind the way the night had turned out.
Kitty layed back down with a groan, noticing that Jessie was gone, but not letting it bother her because he'd told her he'd leave early so no one would catch them. With a sigh, she closed her eyes tightly as pain gripped her head, a sure sign that, whatever drug she'd taken the night before, she'd taken way too much and that this was only the beginning of the migraines she'd have the rest of the day.
She sat through the wave of pain for a moment until it subsided enough that she could function, and stood slowly. She was sore from head to toe, her hair was a mess of curls, her party dress was twisted, she had makeup all over her face, and she was barefoot. Silently, Kitty thanked the heavens that Jessie wasn't there to see her.
She yawned and folded up her blanket slowly, picking up the pillow, and placing them back in their place under the desk.
She stopped for a second, glancing at the drawer where she knew the gun and the drugs were before shaking off her itch to take more, and grabbing the sunglasses that sat on the desk and heading down the stairs. She moaned, leaning on the wall as another wave of pain gripped her before slowly easing up, letting her grab her heels, turn off her stereo, and leave, locking the doors behind her.
Outside, she blinked and raised her hand in front of her eyes to block the sun as it send painful shards of light into her eyes before realizing she was holding sunglasses and slipped them on, continuing towards the house.
In the house, her mother was sitting at the kitchen counter eating, and glanced up as she saw her. Kitty ducked her head and tried to past quickly as she could, but her mother's arm shot out so fast and snagged her wrist, stopping her, it made her head spin.
Her mother made her turn towards her, and looked her over, as though making sure she was all in one piece. "I haven't seen much of you these last few days." He mother said, looking down at where she was holding her around the wrist, seeing the bruises. Her eyes shot to the other wrist, and her eyebrows knitted in concern. "Jessie do that?" She asked, voice changing to one of motherly protection. "I told your father I didn't like the idea of having him around you..." She seemed to be contemplating throwing him out, so Kitty raised her hand to stop her, wanting nothing more than to be away from her mother and upstairs in her shower.
"First of all, last time I checked, he wasn't my father." She said, hating herself for how bitter her words sounded. He was more of a father to her than anyone had ever been. "Second of all, don't worry about me. I'm a big girl. I can handle Jessie."
Her mother looked unsure, suspicion in her eyes and Kitty didn't want her stepping any closer, for fear that she'd smell the alcohol or want to take off her sunglasses and see the red rings around her eyes, so she yanked her arm from her mother's grasp, maybe a little too roughly, and turned, heading up the stairs, hating herself for the look of hurt she'd seen in her mother's eyes. She was only worried, but that's what Kitty did. She pushed people away when they worried about her. She didn't need their concern.
With a sigh, she headed down the hall, towards her room, hesitating when she passed Jessie's room, hearing his shower running. It was beyond tempting to push open the door and join him, but she just shook it off and kept going to her room.
Kitty threw the door open and then slammed it closed, instantly regretting it, for it caused another wave of pain to come over her, and it didn't even close. Just bounced back open. She rolled her eyes and went into her closet, selecting a simple white v-neck and a pair of destroyed shorts.
Her mother, step-father, Jamie, Damien, and even Niki would all expect her to practice like crazy, seeing as it was pretty much tradition that, the week after the party, they worked like crazy, but there was no way in hell she was working with her head like it was. She could keep herself on the horse. But that was probably about it. As soon as a wave hit her, she'd fall off and everyone would wonder what was wrong, and they'd probably take her to the hospital, and they'd find the drugs in her system, and she'd be in huge trouble, and, given her track record, everyone would mistake it as an attempt at another suicide, and it would all just be a big mess.
So she just went in the bathroom and started the shower, slipping out of her dress and taking off her sunglasses as she stared at herself in the mirror for a second, fingers running over her various tattoos, scars, and bruises, before stepping in the shower, letting the hot water wash her worries down the drain.
âOh Iâll be fine, Iâm not the one who has to go home to Holly Homemaker every night.â She smirked and he knew it was playful, but he couldn't help but wince at the truth in her statement. âNow get out of here before we get caught.â She said and shoved him towards the stairs.
Damien sighed and watched her a bit before heading up the stairs.
âD.â She called after him, and he simply stopped halfway up, waiting for her to go on. âI love you.â
He smiled, loving the way she said it. "I love you too, Kota." He said softly. "Goodnight."
He continued heading up the stairs, and closed the door behind him softly, heading out to his truck.
Back at his house, he repeated his routine of carrying Jamie back to bed and feeling like shit for doing the same thing to her every night before slipping out of his jeans and shirt and climbing in bed next to her, wrapping an arm around her to let her know he was there, figuring it was the least he could do.
_______________________________________
Damien blinked his eyes open slowly. "Hey sleepy." Jamies voice came from above him and he opened his eyes. She was sitting over him on her knees, a knee on either side of him, straddling him. He laughed lightly and gripped the back of her thighs lightly, flipping her onto her back in one swift motion, making her laugh and pull him in for a kiss.
He smiled and sighed, sitting up and stretching. "You're always waking me up." He said with a small smile, swinging his legs over the side of the bed, back turned to her. She laughed and scooted over, wrapping her arms around him and trailing kisses along his shoulder.
"That's because you always stay out so late." She whispered. Her words were playful, but they struck him. If she only knew what he was doing when he was out late.
Suddenly feeling guilty, he stood, putting distance between them, and grabbed a new pair of jeans and t-shirt, heading into the shower.
Once out, he rubbed his hair with a towel and walked around the corner, into the kitchen, finding her there, setting plates on the table for breakfast. He smiled and sat with her, looking over a paper and drinking some coffee while they ate and chatted casually.
When he was done eating, he set his paper down and looked at her. "So what's the agenda for the day?" He asked, and she smiled.
"Well the girls are going to have to practice, and we do have jobs you know." She said with a chuckle, reminding her that while he was a handy-man and she was a cook, they were still both trainers. "You take Kitty, I take Niki?" She asked, taking a sip of coffee and Damien shook his head.
"Not so sure that's a good idea babe." He winced. "Last time you had a conversation with Niki it didn't turn out so well, plus she's got that insane horse."
Jamie just shrugged and watched him, as though trying to figure something out. "So? Kitty's got Velvet. That horse is just as crazy."
Damien nodded, knowing she was right. "Still, you two don't seem to get along." He said simply. "I'll take Niki. You take Kitty." He shrugged and laughed lightly. "That is, if they're even functional. They might be too hungover from last night."
After they were done talking, they got in his truck and drove to the house, heading inside to find Mr. D on the couch. Damien sighed and flopped down next to him, kicking his feet up on the coffee table like he was right at home. "The girls functional?" He asked with a slight laugh.
Niki wrapped the towel around her body as she stepped out of the shower, her head starting to hurt again as the Tylenol wore off. She made her way from her bathroom to her bedroom slipping on her bra and under ware she had laying out on the bed.
She wrapped her hair up in the towel, before looking over the scars that covered her torso. Running her hands along then, stopping at the bullet wound that had faded with time. Her thoughts drifting back to last night when Damienâs hands had slipped under her shirt.
She hadnât thought of it until then if they did go further, she wasnât sure sheâd be able to let him go any further. She didnât want him to see that part of her, she didnât even like looking at herself. She sighed slipping into a simple light blue tank top and a pair of jean shorts. She pulled the towel off her head, before pulling her long blonde hair into a high ponytail.
She pulled a bottle of pain pills out of her dresser drawer, pooping two of them into her mouth, swallowing them dry. She hoped theyâd make her feel a little better, enough so she could focus on other things besides her pounding head. She headed down stairs seeing Damien and her father carrying on a conversation.
âSo DjâŠwhere were you hiding all last night?â she interrupted
âYeah I didnât see much of you.â Her father agreed âOr Jamie for that matter.â Her father chuckled lightly.
Niki looked at her father confused. Where had Jamie been? She could be an even bigger attention whore than Kat and Niki combined. For her father not to see a lot of her at the party was a bit odd, but it was a perfect out for her and Damien so she simply shrugged.
âOh thatâs where.â She teased, knowing full well where Damien had been most of the night.
âDustin tells me you two are back together.â Her father said glancing to Niki, before glancing back to Damien âHe also said you were harassing Nikota last night and when he confronted you about it you nailed him in the face.â Her father questioned, though there was suspicion as if he knew Dustinâs story had been a lie.
Niki scoffed âOh please, Damien harassing me, that would be one cold ass day in hell.â She smirked âAnd me and Dustin getting back together, Iâd rather willing drown myself in acid.â She said honestly âIf you want the truth about what happened, Dustin was drunk and told me I was a freak.â She stated, it had been the truth, sheâd just adjusted it. âSo Damien knocked him on his ass and told him to sober up.â Her father sighed.
âIl mio amore My loveâ her father started âYou really should think about giving Dustin another try. He can be a little...â Niki interrupted her father
âA little bit of a rich pompus prick.â She cut in and her father simply sighed
âBut, he really does care for you.â Niki rolled her eyes âThan you date him daddy.â She said harshly with a fake smile before disappearing into the kitchen.
She lend against the kitchen counter, wanting to scream. She couldn't understand why her father wanted her to be with Dustin so badly. She hated him, couldn't her father see that. She rubbed her fingers against her temples willing the fast approaching migraine to go away.
Jessie dried his hair with his towel, his body ached and he knew one of his ribs was fractured at the least, but he ignored the pain. Heâd be beaten up worse than last night and if there was one thing Jessie knew how to do, it was block out both physical and emotional pain. It had been the only way he lived without Kat for that whole year, heâd blocked out all the pain.
Jessie was once again craving drugs, anything that would give him that high, but he knew he needed to try and go without them at least today. He felt guilty for sleeping with Olive and that had been caused by the drugs, than everything heâd said to Niki that had been the drugs talking, then nearly killing Damien again the drugs; he wasnât completely sure heâd even be able to face him, and last but not least all the physical and mental bruises he given Kitty in the past few days, all the cause of him being strung out on drugs.
He pulled on a plain white shirt and a pair of worn out dark blue jeans, running a hand through his damp hair he slipped out of his room and headed downstairs. He sighed as he saw Damien and Mr. D on the couch, he figured his apology would come later, or else heâd have to explain to Mr. Dâ Angelo why he was complaining and then theyâd more than likely send him packing. He heard them mention something about Qualifiers and his ears perked up a bit, he was familiar with it only because heâd been around the Dâ Angeloâs long enough to pick up on all the horse lingo.
âOh, that reminds meâŠâ he started only just now having the thought come to mind âYou think Iâd be able to tag along to that thing.â He said trying to avoid eye contact with Damien. âItâd be cool to surprise Kat.â He surprisingly meant it. Jessie wasnât exactly a romantic person or the type to plan surprises, but this seemed like a good way to make it up to Kat.
Mr. Dâ Angelo was silent for a moment debating. âIf I let you goâŠâ he paused âYou have to be on your best behavior.â He said in a more serious tone âThis is not some kind of game for you to go play around and be free Jess, this is the girlsâ life, if you do anything to mess up Kattrinaâs confidents, your ass will be back in jail.â He threatened.
Jessie simply nodded in agreement, he wasnât exactly sure how he was going to behave, but he knew Mr. Dâ Angelo meant it, so heâd have to figure it out.
When Kitty was clean, she stepped out of the shower with a deep satisfied sigh and wrapped herself in a large white towel, taking another and using it to shake out her hair.
She bent over and flipped her hair a couple of times before rising back up with a smile, feeling fresh, and, now that she was clean, feeling a lot better. Her coordination was still a little off, and her head was still softly throbbing, but she no longer felt groggy and dragged down from sleep.
She dressed quickly and opened her mirror, displaying behind it, shelves and shelves of pills, selecting a bottle of mild pain killers for her head ache, and taking two before returning them to their place and leaving the bathroom.
In her room, she sighed deeply and looked around. It was a shame she didn't spend more time in her room, just being a teenager, painting her nails, or talking on the phone with friends. The walls weren't even painted. But then again, why paint your nails when you were just going to ruin them riding through dust and dirt on the back of a horse, and why call friends when you didn't have any real ones?
So Kitty just left the room and went down the stairs to find pretty much everyone in the living room, including Jessie. "Oh dear God." She said with a light smirk. "Please tell me this isn't an intervention. Because it will have to wait."
She laughed lightly and went into the kitchen rummaging frantically for something to eat, her stomach suddenly feeling more empty than ever before, seeing Niki there, she smiled. "Hey Nik, you're missing out on the intervention." She said with a light laugh, settling for poptarts before heading back out to the living room and standing next to Jessie. "Alright, go." She teased, taking a bite of her poptart.
Damien sat back and watched as Niki and her father chatted, but frowned as the chat quickly turned into an argument and she walked off. Damien was about to stand and follow her when, at the same time, Kitty came down the stairs, and Jamie sat herself on his lap, as if holding him there.
He sighed and laughed lightly at Kitty's jokes before she came back in the room. "Just get your ass outside and practice." He said with a laugh, looking her over. She seemed alright, but you could never really tell with Kitty. Her eyes looked a little tired, but, on the outside, that was the only sign of a hangover.
"Can't." She smirked back at him. "Massive migraine and Killer body aches. I'll get on it tomorrow." She said with a shrug and he shrugged back, looking at Jamie.
"Looks like you're out of a job babe." He said with a laugh and stood gently pushing her off him. She took his seat in the chair and he followed Niki to where she'd disappeared into the kitchen.
"He's just looking out for you Nik." He smirked as he looked at her. She'd pretended to be cool, but Damien could tell just by looking at her that she was boiling. "He knows you're not going to get back with Dustin if you don't want to." He said with a shrug, opening the fridge and grabbing himself a water bottle before closing it again. "No one can make you do anything you don't want to." He teased lightly.
"So." He said, taking a drink and looking her over for signs of a hangover. "You good to practice, or you too dead today?"
"Hey Nik, you're missing out on the intervention." Katâs voice brought her from her thoughts.
âOh no trust me, Iâm not missing out.â She said still frustrated with her father, she watched as Kitty disappeared back into the living room.
"He's just looking out for you Nik." She glanced up to Damien watching him grab a water bottle from the fridge as he continued. "He knows you're not going to get back with Dustin if you don't want to." she rolled her eyes "No one can make you do anything you don't want to." she sighed.
âYeah maybe when your twenty seven.â She said a little harsher than she meant âLast time I checked your parents can make you do whatever they want until your eighteen.â She said letting a breath out.
"So." she knew what was coming next "You good to practice, or you too dead today?"
She didnât answer him right away as if debating whether or not sheâd be okay today.
âActually, I need you to take me into town.â She decided âYesterday, Macho and I had a little fall and he cut his leg open, nothing too bad, but were all out of antibiotics and Midnight needs new knee pads for Qualifiers.â She said stepping closer to him, snatching the water bottle from him playfully and taking a drink.
Jessie smirked as Kitty joked about it being an intervention. He watched her walk into the kitchen and he continued talking about their new little surprise for her.
âAlright, goâ she reappeared next to him, taking a bite of her poptart.
Jessieâs laughed âYou got it all wrong Kitty, no intervention, this is an exorcism.â He said snatching her poptart and shoving the rest of it into his mouth.
He knew sheâd be pissed about him stealing her food, so he dashed back up the stairs stopping half way and calling back to Mr. Dâ Angelo âNice talk today warden we should do it more often.â He said before quickly continuing up the stairs and closing the door behind him once he was in his room.
It was the perfect way to lure her up there, Kat was as addictive to him as his drugs and he was craving her lips against his, more so than heâd been craving the drugs this morning. He lend against the wall coolly as if nothing had happened, an arrogant smirked painted on his face as he lit a ciggerette taking a long drag off of it.
âYou got it all wrong Kitty, no intervention, this is an exorcism.â Jessie said next to her and she smirked, nudging him playfully for being such a smartass.
Then he ripped the poptart from her hands and ate the rest of it. She let her mouth hang open in shocked silence, as she took a second to realize what happened, and why her hand was suddenly empty. By the time she figured out what had happened, Jessie was halfway up the stairs already, calling back to her father before taking off again.
"Hey now!" She called after him, chasing after him with a slight laugh.
She burst into his room, causing the door to swing wide only to find him standing there casually against the wall smoking a cigarette. She rolled her eyes and whipped the cigarette from his fingers, ducking quickly across the room so he couldn't take it back.
She stood on the other side of the room and smirked lightly, taking a slow drag off his cigarette, eyes on him. "That'll teach you to steal other people's food you jerk." She teased playfully, taking another drag, blowing the smoke out slowly above her with a taunting smirk on her face as she watched him.
âYeah maybe when your twenty seven.â She said and he just shrugged. âLast time I checked your parents can make you do whatever they want until your eighteen.â .
Damien rolled his eyes with a smile, knowing no one was going to tell Niki what to do. Her father barely had control of her.
âActually, I need you to take me into town.â She said and he nodded, listening. âYesterday, Macho and I had a little fall and he cut his leg open, nothing too bad, but were all out of antibiotics and Midnight needs new knee pads for Qualifiers.â
She laughed as she swiped his water bottle from him, and he nodded. "Sure I'll take you." He said with a smirk, walking past her to the front door, swiping his bottle back from her as he passed her. "Seriously though Nik." He said with a short laugh. "We're not in the dark ages. It's not like your dad can tell you who to marry."
He teased and rolled his eyes, pushing the door open and heading outside. Jamie ran over, standing in the doorway. "Where ya' going' babe?" She called and he gestured to Niki.
"Gotta take the princess into town to get a few things." He smirked, nudging her before turning away and heading to his truck.
He climbed up into the drivers seat and turned to look at her, making sure she was in and the door was closed before starting the engine and rolling down the windows, backing out of the drive and onto the road.
Niki knew she was being a little dramatic about the whole situation, though she wouldnât admit it. "We're not in the dark ages. It's not like your dad can tell you who to marry." this made her rolled her eyes and she followed after him towards the front door.
"Where ya' going' babe?" Jamie asked, Niki opened her mouth to say something sarcastic, but Damien cut in before she could say anything.
"Gotta take the princess into town to get a few things." She scoffed, irritated with his nickname for her, sheâd heard Jessie call Kat that on several occasions and sheâd always hated it.
She climbed into the front seat of his lifted truck, clicking her seat belt into place. Digging through his glove box, knowing he kept cigarettes in there. She pulled out the half empty pack along with the black zippo lighter, she flipped open the lighter, placing one of the cigarettes in her mouth, lighting it and taking a long drag off of it.
Once they were down the road and away from the house she scouted closer to him kissing his cheek before moving to his jawline, placing a kiss next to his ear. He hand resting on his leg.
âTry not to get to distracted.â She whispered playfully before continuing down his neck.
She pulled away, placing the cigarette between his lips, before sitting back and lighting another for herself.
Jessie smirked as she came through the door, just as he knew she would. She snatched the cigarette from him, causing him to laugh. He watched her as she put distance between them and he rolled his eyes closing his bedroom door granting them privacy from the outside world.
"That'll teach you to steal other people's food you jerk." She teased.
âToo bad I donât learn my lessonâŠever.â He smirked
He made his way across the room closing the distance between them. Slowly backing her up into the wall, the room was quiet. He pinned her roughly against the wall, only this time it was playful and not rough enough to leave bruises, but just enough to get a rise out of her.
The corners of his lips, forming into a more wicked smile. He placed his lips to hers softly, passionately. His lips tingled and his body trembled, he continued to kiss her slowly moving from her lips to her neck, passing her jawline this time. Much like last night, he placed gentle linger kisses along her collar bone.
Her skin was warm under his lips and it made him smile against her skin. On hand still pinning her against the other, while the other one ran down the length of her arm, until it reached her hand, he quickly snatched the cigarette from her fingertips, stepping away from her with a victorious smile.
âAnd apparently neither do you.â He teased, knowing neither of them ever learned their lesson when it came to each other.
He took a drag from the cigarette, watching her.
âToo bad I donât learn my lessonâŠever.â He said, making her smirk and roll her eyes, as if to say that's and understatement.
The breath went out of her when he closed the space between them and pinned her roughly to the wall. She shivered lightly against him and grinned wickedly, the cigarette hanging loosely in her hand down by her side, suddenly forgotten. He grinned at her in a way that never failed to make her heart race, looking dangerous and mischievous as he placed his lips against hers.
Kitty kissed his back, leaning her body into his as his kiss moved lower, placing slow, calculated kisses along her skin. Trailing down her neck and along her collarbone, making her whole body shiver as she pressed herself to him and turned her head to the side, closing her eyes with a satisfied sigh.
Her skin tingled anywhere he touched her, and he sent chills along her arm as he gently ran his hand down it and took the cigarette.
She didn't even notice what had happened until he stepped away, and she saw him standing there, coolly holding the cigarette. âAnd apparently neither do you.â He teased, and she felt like an idiot, standing there all flushed while he stood there casually, so she shook it off and rolled her eyes.
"Don't be such a tease Jessie." She chuckled, grabbing his shirt to pull him back to her, placing a few kisses on his jaw before ripping the cigarette from his hand one last time, stamping it out on his bedside table with a smirk, leaning back from him. "I win." She laughed lightly.
Damien watched her out of the corner of his eye as she rummaged for his cigarettes and smiled as she lit one and took a drag.
She then leaned over and placed a hand on his leg, nearly making him swerve off the road, kissing him on the cheek, making his skin tingle and his body tense before moving her kisses lower, along his jaw.
âTry not to get too distracted.â She whispered as her kisses moved down his neck, making him groan lightly, but keeping his eyes focused on the road. It was torture not to turn and kiss her, and his muscles tensed, his fingers white on the steering wheel before she finally placed the cigarette between his lips and pulled away.
He smiled lightly, gripping the cigarette in his teeth to keep from dropping it as he transferred the steering wheel into one hand so he could smoke.
He looked at her briefly with a chuckle. "You nearly killed us." He said, rolling his eyes with a smile.
It was a little ways to town, but they finally got there, and Damien pulled into the parking lot of their favorite horse store, killing the engine before turning to her with a wicked grin. "My turn." He smirked, grabbing her and pulling her to him with an arm tightly around her waist so she couldn't get away, giving her a long passionate kiss on the lips before pulling back.
"Let's just hope no one in the shop saw." He said with a chuckle, knowing that everyone in the shop knew Mr. D very well.
He opened his door and hopped down, crossing around the front to open her's too. "After you." He said with a small grin, gesturing before him like a chauffeur.
"You nearly killed us." she smirked taking a drag of her cigarette.
Once they go to town, Damien pulled out front of the tack store. âMy turnâ he said grabbing hr wrist tightly so she couldnât get away. She smiled against his lips, kissing him back just as deeply, not caring if anyone saw them.
"Let's just hope no one in the shop saw." he said pulling away and she shrugged.
âEven if they didâŠit there word against ours.â She said confidently giving him another quick kiss before he got out of the truck. She waited for him to open her door âAfter you.â he gestured, she rolled her eyes hopping out of the truck.
Niki didnât bother to wait for Damien she simple blew him a kiss as she passed him heading into the store. She could hear Damien following her, in public Niki acted exactly the way everyone people believed she was. A spoiled rich girl, with daddyâs credit card, who gets whatever she wants, and does nothing for others. In reality that wasnât Niki at all, but she figured if thatâs what people wanted to stereotype her as before getting to know her, then thatâs what theyâd get.
âMiss Dâ Angelo, nice to see you.â The owner of the store smiled, he was an older man who was pretty close with her father. âMr. Fox, what brings you two. Must be close to qualifiersâ He chuckled lightly. Niki rarely ever came shopping for the horse that was Damienâs job more often than not.
Niki smirked âRight on the money Mr. Hammond.â Niki winked before heading to find what she needed.
He was thoroughly satisfied with his effect on her, he was feeling the same way. Out of breath, flushed, wanting more, but he hid it from her. He was good at hiding weakness, like Kat. He assumed thatâs why sheâd been safe for so long, because as far as everyone in Jessieâs world was concerned. Kat meant nothing more to him than sex and as long as he kept them believing that she was safe.
"Don't be such a tease Jessie." he smirked when she grabbed his shirt pulling him back, kissing him along his jawline and he trembled at the touch of her lips against his skin.
She grabbed the cigarette from him, causing him to let out a breath and roll his eyes, but he couldnât help but smile as she spoke "I win."
âI let you win.â He shrugged sitting down on the corner of his bed pulling her into his lap, wrapping an arm around her waist, holding her close to him. âSo you dad caught me sneaking in this morning.â He kissed her neck as if it was no big deal. âHe seemed pretty cool with it.â He laughed âHe did say though, if I become a distraction for you this week Iâm dead.â He rolled his eyes âWell something along those lines anyways.â
He placed his free hand on the back of her neck pulling her lips to his, kissing her rough, but deep and loving, before pulling away and looking into her blues eyes with his own. âBut, I donât know why heâs so worried seeing as your the one whoâs always distracting me.â he smirked
He gently lifted her from his lap the bed, so she was sitting next to him. He stood up offering his hand to her.
âWhat do you say we go find a place where I wonât be tempted by drugs and where that blonde bimbo canât find us.â His tone was honest âMaybe we can go a day without fighting seeing as Iâm somewhat sober.â He winked.
âI let you win.â He said and she rolled her eyes with a smile as he sat and pulled her to him, pulling her into his lap. Kitty grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck as he wrapped one of his around her waist and held her close.
âSo your dad caught me sneaking in this morning.â He said, making her cringe as he kissed her neck, but not saying anything figuring there was more. âHe seemed pretty cool with it.â He said with a laugh, allowing her to chuckle with him and kiss him lightly on the lips before he spoke again. âHe did say though, if I become a distraction for you this week Iâm dead.â
Kitty rolled her eyes and grinned. Of course all her step=father cared about was her riding. He was smarter than her mother. She was willing to bet he probably knew what her and Jessie did, but also knew it was useless to try an stop them. However, it also helped that she wasn't really his daughter. Sure, he cared about her, but she'd only just become part of his family within the last few years. He wasn't fiercely protective of her like most fathers because she hadn't been living with him most her life.
âWell something along those lines anyways.â He said, as he placed a hand on the back of her neck and pulled her into a rough kiss, making her arms tighten a little around his neck before he pulled back and looked at her. âBut, I donât know why heâs so worried seeing as your the one whoâs always distracting me.â Kitty laughed and rolled her eyes, about to ask him what on earth she was distracting him from when he gently pushed her out of his lap and stood up.
âWhat do you say we go find a place where I wonât be tempted by drugs and where that blonde bimbo canât find us.â He said honestly as he offered her his hand. She winced a little at the mention of Olive. The thought of them in bed together still hurt, but she shook it off and smiled. âMaybe we can go a day without fighting seeing as Iâm somewhat sober.â
Kitty stood, taking his hand. "I know my dad might have been cool with it." She said, her tone warning, "but keep an eye out for my mom." She said with a slight chuckle, rolling her eyes. "She's a little on the fence about you lately." Kitty smiled lightly, remembering her encounter with her mother that morning. Her mother always seemed to think she could protect Kitty from Jessie. She'd never exactly like him from the start, but Kitty didn't care. Her mother was so dense sometimes, she probably even thought Kitty was still a virgin.
"So." Kitty smiled. "Where are we going? Somewhere public?" She asked before grabbing his shirt and pulling him close, so they were mere inches apart. "Or somewhere private?" She whispered with a wicked grin before pulling back and looking at him, remembering something. "Can you even leave the property?" She asked, glancing at his ankle briefly before back up at him.
Damien laughed lightly when she flounced past him, blowing him a kiss before heading inside.
He rolled his eyes with a smile, closing the door to his truck and locking it before following her in. âMr. Fox, what brings you two. Must be close to qualifiersâ The store owner said and Damien just nodded.
âRight on the money Mr. Hammond.â Niki responded and Damien smiled lightly, looking at her and gesturing to the store, not remembering what it was she said she needed.
"I'm following you." He said with a chuckle, watching her.
The store was familiar to him, as he'd been in there a thousand times, but not usually with Niki.
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She smirked she Damien said he was following her, she always liked it when guys followed her like a puppy but at the end of the day she wanted a man that would put her in her place an that's exactly why she liked Damien. He was lovesick enough he do anything for her, but at the same time he wasn't intimidated by her and he'd put her in her place even if being mean was the only way.
She walked through the the store pick out exactly what she needed handing it to Damien as if he was a pack mule. She felt a little bit bad for how she was acting but at the same time Damien knew the two different sides of her the person se pretended to be an the person she was.
Once they were finished they headed up to the register, of course getting there usual discounts. Niki pulled out her credit card handing it to the man.
"If it isn't Phire showing her face outside the ring before qualifiers." She heard her nickname causing her to whip her head in the direction of the taunting voice. "Damien don't you ever get tired of the spoiled princess, you know my daddy would love to have you work for us, and he'd probably pay more." she said with a smirk turning her attention to Damien.
The girl was always coming in second to niki and she hated it and she's always had a thing for Damien, until now I'd never meant anything to Niki.
"Britney Baker, so nice to see you to." Niki started in a dark tone "You know if you keep bleaching your hair it's all going to fall out, then ill be beating you for best in show and best hair. " she said with a wicked smirk, before glancing to Damien "yeah I'm sure he gets real tired of me, always ordering him around." She glanced to Damien with a smirk "what do you say Damien, wanna go work for the Bakers?" She taunted.
Jessie smirked when she asked if they were going somewhere private or public, his smirk gassed when she asked if he could go anywhere as she glanced down at his ankle. Mr. D' Angelo had told him he had to put it back on today, but he hasn't gotten around to it yet.
He shrugged "we'll I still don't have it on, so we could go where ever you like." He smirked "of course will have to sneak out so big daddy doesn't find out." He teased
He kissed her roughly, almost dangerously, before pulling away from her and stepping closer to the window pushing it open before stepping out onto the roof, going her a reckless smile as he ran his finger through his messy dark brown hair.
"We'll come on princess we don't have all day." He said leaning back through the window and grabbing her wrist to help her out.
He guided her keeping his hands on her waist as they scaled the roof, before climbing down her mothers lattice until they reached the ground.
"Alright Kitten where to?" He asked, turning his full attain toon to her.