8 Dates
"Don't you think so too Dan?"
"Hmn?" Dan was distracted, so distracted.
His eyes were trained on her—her lips to be exact.
'They were so full and—'
"Dan?"
His eyes shot up to her forest-green ones.
'How can one human be this beautiful?'
His heart probably needed to take a break, so it wouldn't overwork itself from how fast it was beating in his chest.
"Are you okay? You seem out of it, " Lily reached for his hand across the table where the four of them sat.
'Yup.'
'They were four.'
Philip, like the eternally annoying piece of work he was, decided to tag along, not alone mind you, but he'd decided to bring along one of his many 'girlfriends'.
Dan had downright refused but he'd threatened him.
Philip had threatened to tell Lily about his addiction.
That had shut him up, and he'd had no choice but to accept—much to his regret.
"Yeah man, what're you thinking about?" Philip remarked right beside him.
Dan groaned inwardly.
'A million curses upon you Philip, a million curses.'
Dan managed a smile and turned to Philip.
"I'm good, thanks, " he said.
"You sure man, I mean Lily's pretty worried about you, " Philip retorted.
The waitress walked to their table dressed in a short mint blue cheongsam dress with black prints. Her beautiful dark hair was styled in a bun.
They were in a Chinese restaurant. It seemed Lily had a fetish for fortune cookies.
Dan, on the other hand, the smell of noodles was making his stomach uneasy.
They all gave their order and the waitress left, but not before Philip winked at her—which made her blush furiously.
'Figures,'
'Dudes weren't loyal,'
'But he was.'
Dan smiled at the thought.
He faced Lily and smiled at her.
She looked down and blushed furiously.
'Gosh, she was so cute.'
Dan looked around at the large, but cosy restaurant. He guessed he could see why Lily liked it.
It was warm—like her.
He loved the sky lanterns scattered beautifully around the restaurant and it gave the interior a soothing ambience.
And even though he wasn't really a fan of Chinese food, he liked the place, it was okay.
And he was glad he was there.
"Hey, Lily, " Philip said.
'Not again,'
"Philip, stop stressi—"
Philip cut him off.
"Do you know your boyfriend here is a poet?" Philip said.
Dan turned slowly to Philip, eyes wide.
'Dude!'
"No, I didn't, really?" Dan could hear the excitement in her voice.
'No.'
Dan was trying to make Philip look his side by stepping on his foot, but Philip deliberately ignored him, stepping on his own foot.
"Ow!" Dan bit out.
He glared at Philip.
'If looks could kill.'
"Dan?" Lily called softly.
He turned to her immediately.
She looked excited.
"Is it true?"
He didn't want to disappoint her, but he said the truth nonetheless.
Dan let out a breath and gave Philip a subtle side glare before turning back to face her.
Her eyes were enchanting—the feelings those eyes erupted in him, he just couldn't explain.
Even if they grew old and she passed, he never wanted to forget the emotions she provoked within him.
"Yes, it's true, but I'm still kind of an amateur, " Dan responded.
He saw a soft, mischievous glint in her eyes and it excited him.
"Would you write one for me?" she asked in a cute, persuasive voice.
Philip burst out laughing.
Dan swallowed.
He'd written countless poems about her.
It was creepy, he knew.
But he didn't care.
"Oh Lily, he's already written—"
Dan locked Philip in a chokehold before he could complete the statement.
Philip tapped out on the table, giving up before Dan released him.
"Woah Dan, have you been working out on off days?" Philip managed to get out while nursing his assaulted throat.
Dan sighed.
"I don't know Lily, I wouldn't want to disappoint you, " Dan tried saying.
Lily grinned at him, excited.
"It doesn't matter, it'll be good, as long as it comes from the heart, " she said softly, looking into his beautiful hazel eyes.
At that moment, as he stared back into her eyes, Dan wanted to kiss her senseless.
Instead, he broke eye contact biting his lip.
'What was wrong with him?'
He needed to get his head out of the clouds. He needed to get his shit together.
"Thanks, Lily, " he said instead.
Soon enough, their order of Peking Roasted Duck and Chow Mein arrived.
Dan didn't talk much after that, he only stared at his meal, not knowing which to eat first.
√√√
"Thank you, Dan. I had fun today, " Lily said softly leaning on Dan's shoulder.
She sighed softly, it was one of pure content.
They were by the old park—the park he always went to clear his head, to be alone.
It was the second time he was bringing her there.
Philip and his date had left, gone back to his place no doubt.
He looked down at Lily leaning against him.
She smelt so nice, he couldn't pinpoint the exact scent.
But he liked it.
The evening air blew softly against them and they both relaxed in each others company.
"Dan?" Lily whispered after a few moments of peaceful silence.
"Yeah?" Dan said in a whisper, not wanting to break the tranquillity of the moment.
He ran his hand gently through her soft auburn hair.
She removed her head from his shoulder and turned to face him.
She stared deeply into his eyes and her heart skipped a beat at what she saw in them.
"Are you okay?"
It was so soft he'd barely heard it.
Dan searched her eyes looking for one thing that could make him doubt her—but he found none.
"Do you want the truth? Or the lie I sell myself every day?" he asked quietly, his eyes never straying from hers.
"The truth, " she said after a moment.
He took in a deep breath and then he exhaled.
"No, " Dan let out in a sigh.
"I'm not okay, I haven't been in a while, " he said quietly.
Lily smiled a little but Dan could see the worry in her eyes.
She placed a comforting hand on his cheek.
Her hand was incredibly soft. He looked into her eyes.
"It'll be okay, you have to believe it, " she said in a whisper.
"You'll be fine, we both will, " Lily smiled at him softly and then she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Do you trust me?"
She leaned back a little to look into his beautiful hazel eyes.
Dan searched hers for what seemed like an eternity.
He didn't trust easily, it was better that way.
But looking into those innocent forest-green eyes, he knew he had to pull his wall down.
"I'm willing to learn, " he said quietly.
Lily smiled at him. That was one of the things she loved about him—his honesty.
"That's enough for me, " she whispered leaning against his shoulder again.
Dan looked down at her, the smile was still on her lips and her eyes were closed.
She looked peaceful.
He was falling for her—hard, and apparently, he didn't need anyone catching him.
He would gladly fall.
She was his warmth in this cold, hard world—his breath of fresh air.
'His sanity.'
His eyes caught the small wooden cross worn around her neck.
'Yeah...she's a Christian,'
He'd almost forgotten.
He let out a breath, closing his eyes.
He hated church, or rather, the idea of it.
It nauseated him.
He'd been the son of a woman who'd thought him possessed.
He would never forget it, he could never forget it.The inhumane treatments he'd been subjected to, the alienation, the isolation. The lack of warmth and love.
He could barely remember her, but he could never forget the trauma, the emotions he'd felt, the abuse she caused him.
He looked down at Lily.
The 'sentinels'—that was what he'd decided to call the personalities that claimed to reside inside of him—they'd told him he suffered from a mental illness.
He felt fine, although it was true some memories were missing and there were pieces of his past he still couldn't remember.
Like detailed information about what happened in the year of the plague—the year 2024.
They were now in the year 2025 and the world was barely functioning—literarily.
Everything had gone to shit. There was a new world order anyway.
He felt normal, he didn't feel like there was anything wrong with him.
'You're not human Dan.'
For a second, he'd felt special.
'You're the devil's spawn.'
And then he'd heard that.
'Was it in a literal sense or figuratively?'
'You are our Master,' the eyeless demon had said.
'You have to eat her to reach your full potential,'
Both the demon and the Sentinels had said the same thing.
Eat, devour.
Yes, he wanted to devour her, more like sexually.
Not in any demonic or cannibalistic way.
He ran his hand through her silky soft hair.
"Dan?" he heard her say.
"Yeah?"
"I think we should go, it's getting late, " she said, removing her head from his shoulder.
He faced her and smiled.
He nodded and held her hand as they both stood.
He shrugged off his jean jacket and wrapped it around her, she looked down embarrassed and a blush dusted her cheeks.
"Y-You didn't have to do that, " she said quietly looking up into his eyes.
He smiled.
"Chivalry isn't dead yet, " he said.
"Let's go"
Dan held her close to him as they walked side by side, out of the old park.
√√√
Two months had passed, two months since Dan and Lily had been together.
They were at an outdoor table-tennis court.
And so far so good, Lily had been beating him non-stop.
It was frustrating.
"Time-out!" Lily said smiling, walking towards him.
She kinda looked hot in her tennis clothes.
'Dan, get your head out of the gutter,'
Lily leaned up and kissed his cheek.
Ever since they got together, things couldn't have been better.
The only thing was that her beliefs kept him from doing certain things.
Things he would have no qualms doing with her.
But he respected her decision.
For her, he would do anything.
"I'll go wash-up, " she said.
Dan nodded.
"I'll do the same, " he said kissing her on the forehead.
She left and he also went to take a shower.
Twenty-five minutes later, they were at an ice-cream shop.
Her favourite flavour was mint and his was chocolate.
The ice-cream shop was cosy.
He saw children playing outside and it warmed his heart.
He'd always liked kids.
He chanced a look at Lily.
'Did she like kids?'
He hoped so.
As he was about paying for their ice-cream, Lily offered to pay.
He protested, but she'd told him it was okay.
He sighed letting her.
"Thanks, " she said kissing his cheek.
He stuffed his hands in his pockets—they were trembling.
For two months, he still hadn't told her.
He hated not being honest with her, it literally suffocated him.
He'd been trying to lay off the smokes but it was very hard.
"Dan?" she called softly.
He looked at her, bringing himself out of his thoughts.
He looked into her eyes and he noticed they were a little apprehensive.
"Yeah?" he answered.
She looked down at her clasped hand on the table.
"Is there anything you want to tell me?" she started quietly looking back into his hazel eyes.
"Anything you're hiding from me?" she said softly.
Dan's eyes widened.
"What do you mean, Lily?" Dan said.
She let out a breath.
"I know everything Dan, I know about the addiction, "
For a few minutes, Dan just sat there and stared at her.
"What?" he breathed out finally.
"Philip told me, " she said quietly.
Dan closed his eyes and bit his lip.
He opened his eyes and Lily could see the pain hidden in them.
"What else did he tell you?" he asked quietly looking into her forest-green eyes.
"N-Nothing, "
Dan hit the table and Lily jumped a little.
"Lily."
She gasped softly.
"Please...tell me what he told you, " he said more calmly.
Her brows furrowed in concern.
"He told me about your family, but only because he cares about you, "
"He's worried about you, Dan."
Dan's head was lowered.
"He doesn't know anything about me and you don't too" he raised his voice a tone and Dan cursed himself when he saw the slight fear in her eyes.
"Do you think I'm damaged too?" he asked.
"I'm damaged goods aren't I?" he gave a burst of dry laughter.
"Dan, please, " she said softly placing a hand on his.
His breathing was ragged as he looked into her eyes.
"We're all damaged goods, " Dan felt a pang in his chest when he saw the tears in her eyes.
"But we can all be fixed, there's always a solution, " She said firmly.
Dan could see the conviction clearly in her eyes.
"Jesus makes it better Dan, he really does, " she whispered.
"Are you scared of me?" Dan asked quietly after a moment, his insecurities bursting out through the seams.
Lily wrapped her arms around him.
"Never, " she said quietly.
"I could never be scared of you, " she chuckled softly, leaning back.
"You're the cutest guy I know, " she smiled that earth-shattering smile.
As Dan stared at her, he couldn't help it, he kissed her.
Lily was surprised but Dan didn't stop. Soon, her eyes fluttered shut and Dan kissed her till all breath left her.
He pulled back slowly, breathing hard. He looked into her eyes, they were clouded.
"D-Dan I-I, " she managed to say out of breath.
She didn't want to get carried away, she needed to stay grounded, focused.
But Dan was very distracting.
"Dan, I think we should take things slow, " he looked into her eyes, his eyes dropped to her lips.
"I'm sorry, " he breathed out.
"No, don't, " she said quickly. Lily could see the want in his eyes.
"It's fine, I just."
"I understand, " he said softly, standing.
He stretched his hand out to her.
Her eyes widened.
He smirked at her.
"Let's get out of here, "
Lily stared at him, he was like a drug.
Lily knew there was something peculiar about him, she knew he was different.
'Lord help me, "
