Secrets of His World - Chapter 8

The picture on the side is of the prom dress Damien gave her. I found it and thought it was pretty enough to be my characters prom dress. Lol. Anyway, I would like to dedicate this chapter to Lindsey Rose, for being kind enough to read my story after being emailed about it :) Thank you. And thank you guys who comment my story, as well. I love all of the comments, they make me want to write a lot more lol. And if you guys want you can comment just to critique my writing, or give me some ideas of what I could have done to make it better. :)
Thanks again, and I hope you guys really enjoy this chapter!
~Ginger

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Four days went by faster than Emily had expected. It was now the day of prom. She still didn’t have a dress. It didn’t matter, though. She’d wear one of Jess’s dresses if she had to.

Emily sat up bed and yawned. It was Saturday morning. The prom didn’t start until 7 o’clock that night. She still had ten hours to get ready. She got out of bed and headed for the shower.

The whole time all she was thinking about was what Damien had promised her four nights ago. That he would save the last dance for her. And Damien always kept his promises.

When the shower was over Emily pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. She didn’t need to start getting ready for prom just yet. She ran downstairs to eat breakfast before her day started.

"Hey there kid," Jess said as Emily entered the kitchen.

Jess was standing in front of the stove cooking. It smelled delicious, and Jess was usually a good cook. She would cook for Emily when their mom had to work of a morning when they were younger. It smelled like she was cooking bacon, eggs, and gravy.

Emily took a deep breath through her nose and then sighed happily. Breakfast was always good.

"Smells delicious, Jess," Emily told her with a smile.

"Thanks."

Jess returned the smile. Emily sat at the counter and pulled one of the plates Jess had out on the counter to herself. There was a lot more than just two plates, though, and no one else was there at their house.

"Who all’s eating with us?" Emily asked suspiciously.

"Uh… Erin, Beth, Clare, and Damien?"

"Oh, god. Did Erin and Beth ever make up after I kind of… broke them up?"

"Yes. And I’ve invited them here so that we could talk about the baby. Their engagement is back on, and did you know that Beth can’t have kids? I‘m going to tell them that, if they want, then I‘ll sign the baby over to them when it‘s born. After all, Erin is the father and Beth wants kids but can‘t have them. My one condition is that I get to see the baby when I want to. And he or she is to know that I‘m their real mother."

"Oh. Wow," was all Emily replied.

"Yup. And Clare is with Beth right now. Beth said she wouldn’t come unless Clare went and Clare wouldn’t come unless Damien did, so they’re all coming," Jess concluded.

"Oh. Well, that’s nice. Is that why you’re cooking?" Emily joked.

Jess may have cooked when they were younger but she hadn’t cooked for Emily in a long time.

"Yes, it is. I figured since they were all coming over - they should be here anytime now, actually - that I would cook for everyone. Make it more comfortable for everyone, you know?" she said nervously.

"You’re fidgeting."

"No I’m not."

"Yes you are," Emily said, laughing.

Jess through the dish rag on the counter. She had twisted it into a tight ball. She always fidgets when she’s nervous.

"God, you’re right. I’m a nervous wreck. This food probably won’t even turn out right. Aaah!"

The doorbell rung and Emily jumped.

"I’m going to go get that," Emily muttered.

She jogged to the door, hoping it would be Damien. It wasn’t. Instead, no one was there. Only a big black bag hanging from the roof of the porch. It was a dress bag.

Emily smiled and pulled it off the nail it hung on. She carried it to the kitchen and hung it on the back of her chair. Slowly, she unzipped the bag to look inside.

She gasped with amazement. The dress was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

"What?" Jess asked curiously.

Emily pulled the dress out of the bag and showed Jess. Jess’s eyes popped wide open and her mouth dropped a bit.

The dress was long and white with a slit down the middle that was red. The sleeves were made to wrap around the upper part of your arm and then it comes to the front and twists in. It was really the most beautiful dress Emily had ever seen.

There was a note that fell out of the bag when she pulled the dress out. Emily reached down and picked it up. It was in Damien’s handwriting. It read:

"Dear Em,
Sorry I gave Clare your dress. It was a mistake, really. Anyway, I had someone to make you a dress. Beautiful, isn’t it? (: It’s for you to wear tonight at prom. And remember, I’m saving the last dance for you.
I love you, Em, always.
- xoxo Damien."

Emily wiped the tear rolling down her cheek away. Damien was such a sweetheart. She was happy to have him as her best friend. She just wished he was more.

Emily went back upstairs, taking the dress, to get ready for the day. She ate breakfast while Jess was still cooking and before anyone got there, then she left. She had set a date with Jason today.

As she arrived at the mall and entered she spotted Jason. He was standing by the pizza place waiting for her. Over the past four days they had talked a lot and decided to officially be named boyfriend and girlfriend, which was more than okay with Emily.

"Hey Jason," Emily greeted him, smiling.

"Hey Em," he replied, not returning her smile.

"What’s wrong?"

"I have some news about the prom tonight…"

"Oh. And?" Emily asked cautiously.

"Well, the other day when my mom got rushed to the hospital she never came home and tonight she has to have surgery. She wanted me to be there, and I kind of want to be there in case anything was to go wrong, you know."

"Oh, well that’s okay, Jason. I don’t mind. I can go to prom by myself," she assured him.

"You sure?" he asked hesitantly.

"Yes. You should be with your mom, anyway. Family comes before friends and silly dances."

Jason sighed happily. "Thank you, Emily, for understanding."

Emily smiled and opened her arms for him. He bent down a little to give her a hug and a small kiss on the forehead. Jason had been so sweet to Emily for the past couple of days.

Emily and Jason ate lunch together at the pizza place and then parted. Jason was off to the hospital and Emily was off to get ready for prom. Even if Jason wasn’t going to be there Emily had still planned to have a good time.

Emily spent the rest of the day getting ready and making sure everything was perfect. She let Jess do her hair, while she did her own makeup. When they were finally finished it was 6:28 p.m. The prom started at 7.

She slipped the dress from Damien on. It fit her perfectly. It clung to her around the breast and waist areas, and flared out just above the thigh. It was the absolute perfect dress.

Emily looked at herself in the mirror. She looked beautiful. Her makeup was light, so that you could hardly tell she had any on. Her hair had been straightened completely by Jess, except for a few strands that were pinned back in a barrette, which were naturally curled. With her hair straightened it hung down to the middle of her back, sweeping silkily across her shoulders.

She walked downstairs, hugged her mom and Jess, and then left for prom.
*
Damien’s P.O.V.

Damien was at the prom with Clarissa. Although, he wished it were Emily. Now he wished he would have turned Clare down. Emily would be coming with Jason, which hit Damien hard every time he thought about it.

He didn’t want Emily to dance with Jason. He didn’t even want them two to be dating. He sighed mentally and took Clare by the hand for another dance while he waited for Emily’s arrival.

Damien made sure that each turn on the dance floor with Clare was big enough to put him facing the entrance again. It was 7:15 p.m., which means prom started fifteen minutes ago and Emily still wasn’t there.

He was about to give up and call her. The anticipation of seeing her in that beautiful dress he had made her - even though he told her he had gotten someone else to make it - was killing him. He wanted to see if he had gotten everything right.

Damien sighed aloud and gave up watching for her at 7:30, which was a mistake. He started to twirl Clare around when something caught his eye. He froze and looked to the entrance. Emily was standing at the table getting checked off and giving the ticket to the admission.

She was absolutely beautiful. Damien got chills and his heart seemed to be pumping in his throat. He swallowed hard and continued spinning Clare while he watched Emily. He noticed she was alone, which actually made him frown and smile at the same time.

"You have a funny look on your face, Damien," Clare whispered in his ear.

"I know," he replied in a strangled voice.

Clare pulled back to look at him more clearly. So, she had noticed the way he sounded. Damien was still looking at Emily, which made Clare follow his gaze to her.

"Go talk to her," Clare told him.

Damien didn’t say anything back to Clare. He let her go and strolled over to Emily, tripping over his own feet the whole time. He was never this clumsy, but then again, he had never been in love before. Or at least realized he was. And love makes people do crazy things, after all, right? Even if it’s just getting tongue tied and tripping over your own feet.

"Emily," he breathed to her.

She looked up and smiled at Damien, which made his pulse race even more. She was just so beautiful.

"Hi Damien," she said in her normal silky, beautiful voice.

"Where’s Jason?"

"He had to go to the hospital and stay with his mom. So, I’m here alone."

"Oh…" he trailed off.

"Yup," Emily said, awkwardly.

"Would you like to dance?"

"Um… What about Clare?"

Damien hadn’t even realized he’d ran off and left Clare alone on the dance floor, until now. He cursed under his breath and turned toward the dance floor. He looked for Clare and then spotted her dancing with some guy. He turned back to Emily, smiling.

"She’s out dancing with someone," he said.

"Then, I would love to dance," Emily told him.

Damien slid his hand in hers and led her to the dance floor. The song currently playing changed to a slow song. He pulled Emily close to him and placed his right hand on the small of her back. Then he pulled his left hand up, with hers still in it, and laid it over his heart.

Emily put her free hand on the upper part of his arm and laid her head on his shoulder. Damien was so full of joy that he almost forgot to breath.

He had to tell Emily tonight. He had to tell her he was in love with her, even if she didn’t feel the same. He would have to tell her! He couldn’t stand not telling her.

"Damien?" Emily said after a moment of dancing.

"Yeah?" he replied.

Emily pulled away from his shoulder to look him in the eye. He would probably have to tell her now. But she was about to say something. And she was doing is hesitantly, almost as if she were afraid and about to change her mind.

Damn it! Why couldn’t he read minds instead of seeing future events? And why couldn’t he see his future? Or better yet, why couldn’t he see Emily’s?

"You know, you can tell me anything Emily," Damien whispered.

Emily nodded her head at him. Damien felt her sigh.

"It can wait. Let’s just dance right now, okay?" she said.

She smiled at Damien, making him feel like exploding inside. He managed to smile back, though. She laid her head on his shoulder again and they continued to dance.

*
Emily’s P.O.V.

Emily had been about to tell Damien that she was in love with him. She had kept it a secret for years, and now she was going to have to tell him. He was acting so strange, though.

She had noticed when she got there. He had been looking at her, but hadn’t noticed until she gave her ticket to the admissions desk. Then he had, very clumsily, tripped his way to her. Now he was holding her and dancing as if he hadn’t seen her in forever.

It was breathtaking, literally. Damien was holding her so close she could hardly breath, but it was okay with her. She pulled her hand out of his and slid it up around his neck, causing him to lower his hand to her waist.

She smiled contently. She had to enjoy this moment and take it all in. After tonight when she told him she was in love with him, things would probably be awkward. And if he doesn’t feel the same way…

Emily tensed up. She had to keep dancing, though, even if it’s stiffly. Damien noticed because he stopped dancing. He pulled away from Emily a little and looked at her.

"What’s wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing. Just thinking about some things," she told him, shakily.

She was getting nervous. If she didn’t tell him soon, and calmly, she would explode the whole truth out in a rush. And she didn’t want that to happen.

Emily took a few deep breaths to calm herself. She pulled Damien back to her and started dancing again. She would tell him when the time was right. For now, she would just share this dance with him and try to relax.