Chapter 15: Chapter 15

I made it to school and smiled. You know how some kids dread the idea of school? I reveled in it; it was my time to get away from home. No questions asked.

I was walking to my third class when I heard a commotion. Kids started to rush toward the cafeteria and I followed. A crowd was formed and as I neared I heard a familiar voice yelling.

"You think this shit is funny?!" Daimen bellowed and I gulped as Rick's voice echoed in my head. I had to stop him.

"It ain't even like that!" Another voice said and I pushed through the people to the two boys. Daimen had this jock pinned to some lockers and both looked pissed, but the jock looked a bit scared.

"Daimen." I said softly and he ignored me and when the jock tried to move he just pushed him harder into the lockers.

"Slay." I snapped sternly and he looked over at me in shock.

"Stop it." I said and he looked at me then back at the jock. Then Daimen swung and his fist hit the locker as he pushed the jock to the ground. He punched the locker again and everyone flinched. Then he gave me a look and backed away from the guy. I gulped as Daimen walked over to me and everyone started whispering as he stopped right in front of me and leaned down to me.

"Next time let me handle it River." He growled in my ear and I nodded softly he looked at me and sighed, "I'll see you later. I have to leave." He added. He ruffled my hair in a brotherly way, which scared me at first, and then walked off.

Everyone was staring, but by now no one had the words to speak. So we all just stared at the large dent left on the locker.

The rest of the school day was annoying mainly because I kept getting asked about Daimen.

Is he your boyfriend? Y'all two fuck? Is he your baby daddy? He's your cousin right? Are y'all related? How is he in bed? You're going out with Daimen?! Omg you have to give details, how's he like? Are you pregnant? Blah blah blah. The nerve of people.

I made it home and was sitting in my room when I heard my uncle come in. It was late around ten something and I froze when I heard another voice. One that was not my uncle's. It spoke before I heard his voice.

"So what do you want to do?" I heard his voice and curiosity got the better of me. I crept out of my room and peeked around the corner into the living room to see my uncle fondling a very skimpy looking woman on our couch.

Gross, what the hell?

After inwardly gagging I went back to my room, but after just mere seconds of hearing moans I was done for. I had to get out of here.

I looked over to my window and opened it then hopped out. No way was I hanging around.

My phone was in hand as I walked down the street. I looked down at my bunny pajamas and bare feet and sighed. Maybe I should've grabbed some shoes before bailing out.

I walked for a while before I started going toward Daimen's house.

I finally made it to his place and when I did I was shocked to find him sitting on his porch. I checked my phone, it was one o'clock in the morning. Why was he on his porch?

"River? What the hell are you doing out here?" He said loudly and I jumped a bit. I turned to him and he motioned for me to join him. I went inside his gate and walked up to the porch. His gorgeous face was illuminated by his phone and he shined it in my face.

"Yep it's you alright." He muttered to himself.

Rocky yipped beside him, scaring me half to death because I hadn't noticed him, and licked at my legs. I frowned and shooed him off.

Daimen looked me over and frowned, "What the hell are you wearing? Where are your shoes?" I glanced down and let out a breath.

"I got locked out and no one's home." I lied and Daimen sighed.

"Okay... Umm? You can stay here tonight if you want. I got extra rooms." He said motioning inside. When I just looked at him he grabbed my arm and led me inside. He shut the door softly and let me go. I eyed him suspiciously and he walked ahead of me.

"Follow me." He said gruffly and I followed him as we walked throughout the house. Rocky huffed and laid down beside the kitchen with a yawn.

We passed numerous doors before he paused at a large white door. He opened the door and I was greeted to a lovely light blue painted room with a large gray covered bed. It had a homey vibe to it and I instantly felt relaxed. Daimen walked into the room and showed me to a door on the side which he opened to reveal a bare walk in closet. It was huge and I couldn't help gasping at all of this impressiveness.

"You can sleep here okay?" Daimen said and I nodded. He clasped his hands behind his back and nodded curtly.

"I'll be down the hall if you need me..." He said softly and walked out of the room. I watched him leave and shut the door behind him. Once alone I hopped onto the bed and sighed into it's plush, soft pillows. This was all so surreal.

I looked around the room and smiled softly. I pulled the covers up around me and couldn't help admiring the comforting feel. In moments I was pulled into a deep, grand sleep.

I don't know how long I slept but I woke up with a jolt at a loud noise. I froze and jumped as it rang out again and a scream escaped me. It sounded like a gun.

I heard a pounding and in seconds my door was flying open and a shirtless Daimen strode in. I took in his muscular arms and chest and tried to calm the beating of my heart in fear. I looked down and saw an object in his hand. A gun.

My breathing sped up as he shut the door and walked over to me. He placed the gun on a dresser by the bed and looked at me as he sat on the bed.

"Stop thinking whatever you're thinking about. Calm down." He said gruffly. I gulped and nodded softly as I got my breathing under control.

"What were you doing?" I breathed and he smiled softly.

"Just trying out my new gun. Sorry that I woke you." Daimen sighed. I sat up and he scooted over a bit to give me more space.

"You were shooting a gun?" I asked and he nodded pointing to the gun on the dresser.

"Yeah." He said nonchalantly and shrugged.

"Why?" I asked.

"Why not?" Daimen snapped back and I looked at my hands and closed my mouth. I shrugged and bit my lip softly.

"I didn't mean to snap..." Daimen sighed and reached out to take some of my hair in his hands. He twirled it a little then put his hand back at his side. It was such a small gesture, but it warmed my heart and calmed me instantly.

"It's okay." I breathed and Daimen nodded curtly.

"River... How many people have you been with? Just curious." Daimen said putting up his hands in surrender when I looked at him in shock.

"Like boyfriend wise or sex?" I asked. Daimen frowned a bit.

"Both." He said and eyed me intently.

"Umm boyfriends would be three: Ryan, Mike and..." my throat ran dry, "Christen. Sex? A fair amount of times." I said and looked away from him.

"Why'd you pause before Christen?" Daimen asked gruffly and I sighed.

"He was my boyfriend freshman and sophomore year in college, I was young and stupid; I thought he loved me, but one day he packs up all my things, I was living with him, and tells me to leave because his fiancée is coming to live with him. He was fucking engaged and never had told me... God, I felt like such a dumbass." I answered.

Daimen nodded softly and muttered, "Prick." I gave him a look and he looked back like he hadn't said anything.

"How many have you had?" I asked after a pause. Daimen sighed and looked out of the window.

"Girlfriends? Never really was my thing. Sex? I've done it too many times to count. Most of the time with a different girl. I don't have any STDs though which is a relief." He said casually and I gasped. I felt a spark of something, but I don't know what to call it.

"What?" Daimen said in a defensive tone.

"Nothing I just always expected that; no offense." I said and he chuckled.

"None taken." He said with a smirk.

"Why?" I asked. Daimen raised an eyebrow and cocked his head to the side.

"Why what?" He replied.

"Why each time with a different girl?" I pondered and he sighed and looked at the ground. Then he looked back at me with a stoic expression.

"It wasn't good. Don't get me wrong some girls really knew how to please a man..." He grunted and crossed his arms over his broad chest.

"Oh?" I breathed and he nodded. His expression fell briefly into that of turmoil.

"Yeah. It was never really good because I never wanted to be with them. I was always out of it; trying to get stuff off my mind. They offered a distraction." Daimen groaned and stood up abruptly. He was starting to walk out and before I knew what I was doing I reached out and grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"Let me go River." Daimen sighed and briefly closed his eyes and opened them again. I let go of his arm.

"Um... are you okay?" I asked and Daimen looked at me with a guarded expression.

"I'm fine... Want me to take you home, it's almost six o'clock?" He asked and I nodded after a pause.

"Come on then." Daimen said and I slid out of the bed. I stood and followed him down the halls. It was still dark out but my phone told me Daimen was right with the time.

Once outside Daimen got beside me as we walked toward my house. As we walked we came across a group of men and Daimen instantly threw his arm over my shoulder and pulled me closer. I looked at him in shock and he shot a glare at the group.

"Keep looking straight. Don't talk to them. Don't look at them just keep walking." Daimen growled to me and I did as told. Fear sparked in me but I was comforted by his arm holding me to him.

I leaned closer to him and he hugged me tighter as we walked away. Only when we were far away did he loosen his grip and I let out a sigh. He didn't let me go all the way and I was fine with that.

"So this Christen guy... what was his last name?" Daimen asked as we walked down the street.

I bit back the pain and managed to say, "Gordon. Christen Gordon." I cleared my throat.

"Oh," for awhile Daimen was quiet and I glanced at him to see a surprised look on his face.

"What?" I asked and he glanced at me with a soft smirk. He gave a shake of his head and chuckled softly.

"You know he's single again?" He asked and I frowned.

"Really? I thought he was going to marry...?" I trailed off as Daimen nodded, plus I didn't know the woman's name.

"Kitana. Yeah, they married." Daimen said and a knowing look danced in his eyes. I stopped walking and the man did as well. I looked up at him in confusion.

"What happened?" I questioned and he tilted his head with a smirk.

"Divorce. I fucked her. She was a whore always trying to go at me every time she saw me. So we had our days every week or two for three months. It ended when Christen walked in on me banging her in their bedroom." Daimen paused to chuckle.

"You should've seen the look on his face; it was priceless. I mean, everyone knew she was a whore, so he didn't have to react in the way he did; crying and shit. It was pathetic." Daimen huffed. I stood there gaping too shocked to say anything.

"You ruined a marriage?" I gasped. The man gave me a fuck-no look.

"No; that slut had six guys, that I know of, before me. There was no marriage to ruin. Ha. What marriage?" Daimen said shaking his head and shoving a hand in his pocket. I shook my head as well and we started back toward my house. After awhile his arm laid over my shoulder again and he pulled me closer so I was pressed against him as we walked.

"I know you're still hurting about it... That was a fucked up thing he did to you and I'm glad that I made him break." Daimen whispered and I leaned against him feeling my heart start to hurt again.

"I'm okay now." I breathed and the man by my side tightened his grip on me slightly and sighed.

"You and I both know you're not." Princeston said softly, but nothing else came from his mouth and he didn't pester me any further. I looked at the neighborhood stretched out in font of us and blinked away the tears that had started to well in my eyes.

I swallowed my heartache and walked alongside the man who had my body hugged to him. We both remained silent as we went down the sidewalk.

When we arrived at my house the woman-slut maybe-was just leaving. The woman drove away as Daimen and I started walking toward my front door; we both pulled up short of the porch when the door swung open. My uncle was standing in the doorway and when he saw me and Daimen he went ballistic.

"River? What the hell are you doing out here?! Who is this? What did I tell you about boys? Now I guess you're just going to be a little-" My uncle started ranting. His face turned red and veins bulged as he yelled.

"It's not what it looks like. I was just going out for a walk and ran into-" I started, but he wasn't hearing it.

"Whore. No niece of mine is going to behave like some nasty slut! Do I make myself clear?!" My uncle yelled at me and I gasped. Pain pierced my heart and a lump formed in my throat. Whore? Slut? How could he say that about me? Beside me Daimen sucked in a breath and made a growling noise. His grip on me loosened and he let me go and stood in front of me blocking me from the view of my uncle with his clenched fists at his side.

"Quiet you..." Daimen said real slowly past gritted teeth. My uncle seemed unfazed by Daimen's hostility before becoming more enraged.

"Oh so you're the lil bastard who's screwing my hoe of a niece? She's been sneaking to your house I guess... She must be a really good fuck if you're putting up with her prostituting ass. So go fuck her all you want! Stupid-" My uncle exploded at us and my heart twisted. Tears ran down my cheeks and I whimpered. Daimen glanced at me and I saw rage in his eyes.

"That's it." He spat and turned back to my uncle. I watched through blurry tearful eyes as Daimen flung himself at my relative cutting off his rant.