Chapter 20
(Devin POV)
Devin seethed as he felt as he made his way back to the cave. He didn't have any clean, dry clothes but hiding out in the cave was an indefinitely better alternative than being in the public eye.
The image of Shandon laughing his little heart out along with everyone else from the Forbidden at his expense was burned in his mind. Thus, asking his oh, so caring friend for dry clothes was not a viable option.
Although he would not admit it, this wasn't the reason which had stirred his vicious mood nor was it the reason that he couldn't stand the jesting which would last for at least a fortnight, from Shandon anyway.
Instead, in the end it all resulted to his pride. He knew that he had behaved irrationally this morning. The fact was, he really didn't know what he was doing. It was like his body was moving of his own accord, had he really intended to kiss her?
Devin shook his head and continued to walk, randomly kicking the stones scattered on the ground. Mostly, his fury was towards his own actions, which he knew were somewhat childish and being drenched in water in front of Valerie did not make things any better.
He remembered clearly the expression of repressed mirth on her face. To him, it wasn't merely that he looked downright ridiculous; it was as if she were mocking him about what had happened earlier with her amber eyes.
Just thinking about it made his blood boil even more, and he angrily picked up a large rock from the ground and threw it into the bushes.
No sooner had he done so, when he heard a noise of disapproval and a rustling between the plant growths. Then a pair of long legs appeared. Legs which belonged to a certain somebody; somebody he was trying so hard to avoid.
"Oh, Devin. What happened?" Emma asked in a tone sugarcoated of false concern. "There isn't trouble in paradise I hope?"
Knowing she was being ignored, she tried another approach. "I saw that girl you brought here today. Mallory was that her name?"
"Valerie, her name is Valerie" he responded automatically and he hated himself for it.
"Valerie, Mallory, I don't care Devin. To me they're all the same. Can't you just recall that time when I told you that Ket had a crush on you and then Samantha lured her to the front of the waterfall where we were embracing?"
Devin didn't fight the urge to roll his eyes. "Firstly, I was thirteen years old at the time and I didn't know she had a crush on me. And lastly, all I remembered that day was you forcing your lips on me".
He watched in satisfaction as Emma's face turned sour and she placed her hands on her hips.
"Well, I remember differently. You can't honestly forget all the time we spent together. And like all those other girls you tried to forget me with, this will undoubtedly end the same. How many times must I remind you that in the end you always come back to me?"
Upon seeing the nonchalant expression she received, she remained insistent and tried once more.
"Whether you wish to admit so or not, you miss being with me Devin Thorne, I can see it so clearly in your eyes" and with this she smiled triumphantly, her lips curved into a cat-like smile.
He groaned knowing that she was right and wrong at the same time and lifted an eyebrow.
"Shouldn't you be with the others?"
"Why would I be there if you're not? You know its never any fun without you". The seductive glint was in her eye and he frowned when she eyed him up and down.
"It wasn't a question, it was a suggestion".
The girl smiled and moved closer to him and lifted her head to meet his eyes. "What kind of suggestion?" she whispered while licking her lips.
Devin fixed his gaze solely on her and leaned down and whispered back. "A suggestion…" he touched a strand of her brown hair, making her smile widen. "For you to go find a better interest than annoying the hell out of someone" and with that he let go of her hair, ensuring he had yanked it slightly as he did.
Turning around and continuing his walk, he found his smirk only grew as he heard the fading sounds of exasperating wails and something he discerned as "my hair!"
He knew he shouldn't have wasted all that time listening to the girl prattle on about "the past"; however, he hadn't been able resist making someone else share his anger.
And as much as he despised her, he knew some of the things she said were partly true. He didn't know what he felt for her, but there was still something there. Emma was like a burning ember which no matter how much you try to blow it out, it only becomes brighter.
Finally, he reached the cave and after awhile of lying on the ground where the sun filtered through, he decided he was much too impatient for this. There was so much he had wanted to do today, and he wasn't about to let an irritating thing like clothing prevent him from reliving much of the childhood he had lost. All the people he had ever learned to care for were here and wanted to make up stolen time with each and every one of them.
He scanned the room for any form of material that could be used to substitute the wet rag he was wearing that moment.
His eyes landed on something but he took a few seconds to comprehend whether he was willing to sink to this level of desperation.
He decided he was.
Devin was still fully concentrated on his task of finding something suitable and dry to wear and was completely oblivious when Valerie wondered into the room.
"Devin?" she said softly and hesitantly.
He looked up and his emerald eyes met her amber ones. The light was streaming in through the room from where she stood and in the light it made her features more delicate. She looked like a shy little angel and he couldn't help but feel his resentment simper away.
"Um…about this morning, we both acted whimsically and I'm sure it won't happen again" she twisted her fingers together nervously. "So, I was hoping you'd accommodate…" her eyes had wondered around the room and were now focused on what was on the ground.
It was a merely a few seconds before the high-pitched scream filled the room.
He raised his eyebrows at her rapid mood swing. And the next thing he saw was Valerie running towards him, fury evident in her eyes. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" she shrieked, losing all of her past calm demeanor.
"What do you mean?" he asked puzzled. Which he immediately regretted as Valerie's amber eyes grew darker and she shook with anger. She looked as if she was going to choke him or something equally horrible.
"This" she picked up one of her dresses "and this" she picked up another. And then gestured to all the other bits of clothing spread on the floor. "What are you doing looking through my clothes?" her eyes widened suddenly and a faint blush spread along her cheeks. "and my…my…"
"Undergarments?" Devin supplied trying hard to hide his grin.
Devin was on the verge of laughter but he knew if he laughed at this moment, Valerie would never forgive him and he would pay dearly in turn, but then again, he wouldn't have to pay dearly no matter how this situation ended.
"Um…it's not what it looks like?" he said, feeling a little ashamed. After all, he had been going through women's clothing.
Valerie had kneeled down and begun picking up all her scattered bits of clothing. He had tried to help her but she had snatched her clothes quickly from his grasp and glared daggers at him at the same time.
"You know, it is actually worse for me than it is for you. I mean, can you imagine how much crap I'm going to get from if the rest of The Forbidden if they found out about this?"
She turned towards him then and bit out three words. "Don't You Start"
Her words never had the effect that Valerie wanted. He wasn't remorseful and he certainly didn't listen to her. The anger from this morning mounted inside him once more and his emerald eyes became forest green in color, his mouth twisted into a sneer.
"It is your fault for bringing all these clothes. How many can you possibly need? I was looking for one plain white shirt or something similar to wear as I am still soaking wet but all I find are these dresses, petticoats, two corsets and pantaloons for Christ's sakes!"
He put his hand to his forehead and shook his head in indignation, his green eyes sparkling with liveliness as he continued his angry outburst. "What are you supposed to do with pantaloons here anyway? Oh, I forgot your majesty. Plain, peasant's clothing not good enough for you? Isn't…"
Whack.
Devin head was violently snapped sideways and the entire room filled with stunned silence as Valerie withdrew her hand from his stinging cheek.
She took her hand and cradled it using the other hand. Taken-aback at her actions she simply stared into her shaking hand which was slowly turning red from the impact and sheer force which was behind that much overdue slap.
He saw her swallow and her body heaved with distress, the anger had now disappeared and was replaced with a child-like expression that he recognized. It was of absolute disbelief and astonishment.
Even though it had been over 7 years ago he had remembered precisely how it felt. His eyes had widened in terror as he dropped the knife, not even hearing the loud clattering sound it had made on the pavement. He had looked down at his hands to see the red liquid shining in crimson in the moonlight. There was so much blood…how could there be so much of it?
Devin blinked in time to see Valerie now hastily taking in deep breaths, and then she turned her head downwards, attempting to hide away. To hide what she was feeing.
But he saw it and it twisted his heart and filled it with guilt to see such a sight. It rendered him completely speechless to see a side of Valerie that he had never even known before, because the sight he beheld was of the high and mighty princess falling from her tower.
The lone tear slid its way slowly down her cheek.
And for the first time in his life, all the great injustices he had been through. The pain and suffering which made him be so cold and snide in his comments and actions; all of it came in flashes in his mind. But nothing…nothing could make him feel as overwhelmed with guilt as he was now.
She hastily and irritably wiped the tear away. Still trying to be that strong emotionless princess
He deserved that slap, he deserved the years he spent in jail and he deserved this unbearable pain that was shooting through his heart as if she had taken that knife he had dropped that dark night. It felt as if she had plunged and twisted it into his heart.
Somehow, he managed to take a hold of her, holding onto her fists and enveloping her into an embrace he knew they both needed. "Let it out, I won't tell anyone" he whispered. Valerie muttered curses into his shoulder and struggled a little, but after awhile he felt the wetness soaking his slowly drying shirt.
Devin felt her bury her head deeper into his shoulder and her body wracked with sobs and in turn he held her closer, stroking and tangling his fingers gently in her long auburn hair. He nuzzled her neck and he smiled softly when he felt her arms wrapping around his neck.
Time slipped away from them and he didn't know nor care how long they stayed like that. All he wanted was to hold her like this forever.
Valerie's sobs died away after awhile and then she pulled away. Alarm and concern filled his green eyes as he looked at her biting her lower lip, a nervous habit he was all too familiar with.
"Um…Devin?" she asked anxiously.
"Yes?"
"Your shirt is still wet and it was soaking into my clothes so…"
The whole situation was really very amusing and he couldn't stop the smirk which appeared on his face.
"So are you trying to suggest that I take my shirt off?" he winked.
The scowl which appeared on her face was indication enough that things were back to normal.
At least for the time being.
A/N: Arrrgh, sorry for the lack of updates and for so long. I am so sincerely sorry, this is my final year of highschool and I am striving, well, mostly struggling. But thank you to everyone who read you make this possible and I AM going to finish it. Don't worry!!!! :o)
Thanks to all you lovelies: Aly-Larki, Juniper Nights, Mini May, animemistress419, gonnabefamous, so-dead-smiles, HadToBeMe, marina eyes, Cannon, Iced-Fairie, forevereternity, monkeygirl300016, timpanigirl, Chloe Phantom, Someday-I-will-understand and Nicolaides for editing Luv u all!
And if I don't update for a long time and I do and you forget what's going on in the story, please leave me your email and I will send you a summary of the previous chapter. Thanks all. :o)