13

Nyx had finally told me the reason for her loneliness a few days before. I couldn't bring myself to believe what had occurred. The mystery surrounding that night was simply too much for me to comprehend. Knowing you are the cause of so many people's deaths and then having no one listen to you because...because they all blamed you. Nothing could have been worse for someone to lose everything in a matter of hours...your parents, your friends that you consider as sisters, all those people, but most importantly...knowing those friends who should have been your only support had abandoned you.

"Damon! "When will it be finished?" Valentino yelled from the lounge, where he was waiting for his meal.

"I'm sorry, mate. Just a few more minutes!" I yelled back, shaking the pan of sausages. I withdrew the sizzling sausages from the pan after lazily staring at them.

"Is the table all set?" I asked as I entered the lounge.

"No need for that." Landon replied as he took the plate and sat on the couch with the rest of us watching him and doing the same.

"Any plans for today, Landon?" I questioned as I took a bite of my sausage and immediately dropped it, heavily exhaling the hot air.

"Hey, drink this." Dominique said as he handed me a drink of water.

"We have a photo shoot to attend to." It won't take long - simply a couple of hours. And then you have the rest of the day to yourself." I'm not sure why, but Landon sounded disturbed to me, like if something was wrong.

As we finished our meal, Landon joined me in the kitchen, and I asked him, "What's up, mate?" You appear to be tense.

"Nothing major... It was just Leah, she called this morning." He began to ramble.

"I could care to listen to know what the matter is if it's not too personal?" I foolishly inquired.

"Nothing is personal with you boys!" I grabbed the dishes from him after he smiled and tapped my shoulder.

"She called and said she'd be in London late this afternoon." And she didn't sound pleased, saying there was something important to discuss. I just hope it's not what I fear it might be, Damon, because I-I think I see it coming. Damon, I-I don't want it to." At this point, I noticed how he was trembling and gasping for air.

"Landon, shhh! "Just sit here," I said as I guided him onto the bar stool.

"It's not what you think." Don't rush to judgement! "Please have a drink." I stroked his back and brought him a glass of water.

"I really hope it's not." He said this while shaking his head. It hurt me to see him in this state.

"Landon, it will be all fi-"

"BOYS! "We're running late!" Lawrence's voice interrupted me before I could finish.

"Coming." Landon muttered.

•••••••

The shoot went off without a hitch. Landon eventually calmed down and went to meet Leah. Lawrence and Dominique set out to meet Elena and Alexa.

Being the two lonely buddies that we were, Valentino and I decided to go somewhere together and keep each other company.

Valentino seemed to be up to something throughout the car ride. He would chuckle at me from time to time. It irritated me greatly when I eventually asked, elbowing him, "what is it?" "Get it out, boy!"

"Wait, what?" Nothing.. He attempted but failed terribly to conceal it.

"Val, what's the matter with you? What are our plans?"

"Damon! Don't get in my way, I'm driving!" He put on a worried expression.

"But where exactly are we going?"

"Um... Here we are!" He said this as we turned right into the small cafe's parking lot, and I immediately recognised it as the cafe where I met the girl named Nyx.

The word'met' would not be appropriate in such context.

"What brought us here?" Couldn't we have gone to Starbucks?" Following his movements of stepping out of the car, I questioned.

"It's not always about the coffee." He murmured as I attempted to keep up with him; I could tell he was thrilled, but why?

My phone rang as I tried to keep up with him, and I paused to answer it, allowing Valentino to do whatever he wanted.

"Hello," I answered the phone.

"He-hey." Her weak breath responded.

My body was flushed with a mixture of happiness, worry, sympathy, and melancholy.

"Uh-hi.. Hi Nyx. "How are you doing?" I was at a loss for words. I was at a loss for words. Goddamnit.

I must confess that the last time we spoke, I was in tears.

"I should have asked that." After.. After the last time.. I did-" I cut her off before she could say anything else to blame herself.

"It's fine, Nyx. I understand how difficult it was for you to share. It was difficult for me to take it all in." I said as I walked towards the cafe. Multiple voices could be heard in the background.

"Are you very busy?" I asked as I entered the store.

"Yeah.. I am, in fact. Can I call you later?

Sorry." She sounded unsure.

"Sure, sure. You can call whenever you want." By this time, I had made my way over to Valentino, who was conversing with the familiar girl behind the counter.

"No, I'm perfectly fine without one."

I could hear her response to Val, but he tried again.

"Only one coffee!" I vow not to be cheeky! C'mon. "Me, you, and him," he added, indicating me. Her gaze was drawn to mine, and I found it difficult to look away.

Her hazel grey eyes appeared colourless, as if someone had stolen their beauty. I nearly felt a connection with her.

As if...as if I knew who she was.more than I did in fact.

"Ugh... Okay... When and where?" She finally gave in and broke eye contact.

"Here! "Right now, right here!" Valentino appeared to want to win this girl over, but she didn't appear to be someone special to him.

"What? No, I cannot! "I'm at work!" She said this while still attempting to decline the offer.

"All right, Nyx. I'm right here to handle it!" Paige, the girl I recognised, walked in and smiled.

"Okey. Whatever...just...five minutes..."

"VAL!" I exclaimed as I drew him to the corner.

"Yeah?"

"I thought we were all done with this!"

"Done with what?" He was playing silly.

"Along with her!" "Does she mean anything to you?"

"To me? "Wait a minute, what?" He sounded surprised.

"Shhhh"

"No! No, she means nothing to me. But she's definitely something to you!" He smirked once more.

"What. Do. You. Mean." I spoke with clenched teeth.

"Wait a minute! Goodness damon! Oh hi! We've arrived!" Harry gave her a friendly wave.

"Hey! So, please allow me to introduce myself appropriately; my name is Nyx." She extended her hand to no one in particular.

My and Harry's hands rose up against one of hers. When she arose her second hand, shaking hands with both of us at the same time, we all laughed.

"Have a seat!" She made the offer.

"No, ladies go first!" As I drew the chair for her, I grinned. There weren't many people at the cafe today, so it was rather quiet.

I noticed a female approaching our table and Valentino and I exchanged smiles as we assumed she would ask for a photo or autograph, and I smiled at the prospect.

Nyx's face fell as she approached our table.

She came to a halt in front of us and asked, "Nyx?"

I was surprised that she chose her over me and Val.

"Hi.. Sara..," she exhaled heavily. "I.. Uh. I had no idea you were in town."

"I didn't expect to see you, either." Is that too harsh? Ouch.

"How's..How is Sapphira doing?" I recognised that name right away and snapped my head up at her across the small table, "Well... Obviously she's still having trouble picking herself up. After-"

"Is she still in town?" Nyx cut her off, keeping her from saying something she didn't want to say.

"She is, indeed. But, as far as I know, she has no intention of meeting you.." Sara stated with obvious sarcasm.

Her attention was finally drawn to us, and she recognised us.

"Oh, so you've finally found some company?" Wow! And Damon and Valentino as well?" Her overly sweet tone made it clear she wasn't saying it in a kind way.

"All right, boys! I understand why she would crave attention. So, how about you? "What are you doing with her?" Wow.. This must be quite difficult for Nyx.

"There's no need to respond," Sara murmured.

Valentino asked her as she was ready to depart, "hey, don't you want an autograph or anything?"

"No, I'd rather save a piece of paper from getting useless ink on it." My jaw dropped as my gaze followed her out the door and till she vanished.

"Who was this woman?! Valentino inquired, perplexed. I noticed Nyx struggling to blink the tears away from her eyes.

"Uh... Please excuse me for a minute," she excused herself, but before she could, Paige appeared with a tray of food and coffees and served us.

"Thank you," Valentino said with a genuine smile.

"Would you mind telling me who she was?" I knew I shouldn't have asked, but I was intrigued.

"Someone...I know.." There is far too much information! She scratched her brow and averted her gaze.

"Uh-um.." "So... Nyx, who do you live with?" Valentino asked, clearing his throat.

"What?" she coughed on her coffee.

"Are you all right?" I inquired, bringing her a glass of water.

"Yeah, I'm OK. "What do you mean 'who do I live with'?"

"That was a really dumb question, Val." I spoke to him in hushed tones.

"Nyx.. Have I met you before?

"Like before we ever met?" Oh my goodness, Val, that pick-up queue is so outdated!

'VAL!" I nudged him.

"Is that supposed to be a pick-up line?"Because if it is, it isn't working.' She responded.

"No.. Like in.. the.. news?" He stood up for himself.

"Yeah.. I guess you have.." I saw the abrupt shift in colour on her face as it became paler and paler. She mumbled something.

"I don't remember?" Valentino continued to provoke her.

"Valentino, why are we bringing this up now?" She inquired, clearly offended.

"No, I'm sorry... I was just trying to recall..."

"I was in the news a few weeks ago, but that has since died down." But not for those who know who I am. And I assume you wouldn't know because you were busy travelling across the world.' She was perplexed. It was almost as if she was hesitant to inform us.

'Would you like to know?" Valentino must stop!

"Okey! We're done, Valentino! Let's get the hell out of here!" I stood up since his provocation was making Nyx very uncomfortable.

"No, Damon... It's all right. Please do not leave in this manner. "Can you just stay?" The final two words she said in a trembling voice sounded quite familiar, and I immediately obeyed.

"That female who showed up. Is the younger sister of one of my dearest friends. Do you remember anything about the explosion that happened at a party approximately a month ago?" I knew precisely what she was talking about, and perhaps even what was going to happen. As I told the boys about that night, we both nodded.

"Yeah, I am that girl." The reasoning behind what individuals say." As my pulse rate fell and I took a deep breath, I felt the sip of my coffee freeze inside my tongue, resulting in choking over the coffee.

"Oh, Damon, are you all right?" She inquired as she approached me. I rose up quickly, causing the table to shake and my hands to cover my mouth.

"I really need to go!" As I pushed through the tables, my foot became hooked in one of the chairs, causing it to fall...with me.

"Hello, Damon!" What exactly are you doing? "Are you all right?" Valentino said as he approached me.

"She!" I coughed incessantly, primarily because I was still trying to take it all in. I rested my hands on the table, trusting it with my whole weight, but it flipped over as the cherry on top.

"OMG! Damon are you okey?" When I heard Nyx's voice this time, I instantly backed up. Valentino was laughing as if he knew about this, I noticed out of the corner of my eye. 

She tried to approach me, but I rushed out of the store and to my car, Valentino close behind.

This cannot be happening. She can't be her! Can she?