One Last Chance

Chapter Six

Danielle's P.O.V

I woke up with arms wrapped around my waist. Except the arms belonged to a guy. Wait, what? I opened my eyes and sat up. Next to me was Eli. Oh my god! Eli is here!

"Eli Drake! I haven't seen you forever! Wake up! Idiot! Wake up!" I shoved him off the bed. I heard his body collide with the floor and winced. Ouch, that must've hurt.

"Gosh, nice way to wake me up, babe. I missed you too." He rubbed his head and grumbled. 

"Where have you been? I haven't seen you since I was 10 and you were 8. Have you talked to your parents yet? Or even your brother, Christian? What would he say? Where are you stayin-" I was cut off by his hands before I could even finish my sentence.

"Um, boarding school. No, no, he would yell at me for not calling, and I'm staying with him." He took his hands off my mouth and looked around the room when his eyes zeroed in on my ripped paintings.

"Seems like you needed to vent. What's that?" I gulped and looked down at my hands.

"It's a painting."

"Of what?" He raised an eyebrow at my earlier response.

"Of two people."

"Who are the two people?" 

"Me and....."

"And.....who?"

"My mate."

"You found your mate and you didn't tell me? Dude, why didn't you tell me? And where is he? Is he going to kill me for sleeping in the same bed as you? I should go." I grabbed his arm before he could make it to the door.

"He doesn't know and I'm gonna leave it that way." He looked at me with disbelief.

"He doesn't know? What do you mean? Males should always know first." I shook my head sadly and stiffled a sob.

"He's in love with someone else so I never told him. He deserves better than me. I'm not going to ruin his relationship. He shouldn't know, besides his girlfriend is someone that I could never compare to. Yeah, never compare to....I've gotta go get ready for school."

I got up to go to the shower then stripped of all clothes. The water rushed down on me as I silently cried. Why is it so hard to be in love with the person you're meant to be with? I hate love. Hate it. Hate.

************

I walked downstairs with slightly puffy eyes and a confused mind. The pieces of the painting were missing. When I got down there I saw Eli talking with Christian. Christian must've smelt me because he turned around and smiled.

"Hey, Dani. Did you know Eli came home yesterday? This stupid brother of mine didn't tell me." Chris laughed and hit Eli across the back of his head.

"Tsk, you're the stupid one. Why the hell are you still dating Monique? She's a slut and she cheats on you all the time." I was wondering the same thing, Eli. Wondering the same thing....

"She's, uh, hot? And a good kisser? I don't know. These last few years haven't felt right but we've been dating so long. I don't want to hurt her." Christian awkwardly scratched the back of his head and sighed. He glanced at me for a second then looked away.

"So, what if you meet your mate?" I couldn't stay to listen to the answer. I walked out of the room and just as I was out someone grabbed my hand. Sparks erupted. Gasping, I pulled my hand away and ran to my car. I looked back and saw Christian staring at me. I turned on the engine and backed out of the driveway. In the background I heard him say, "I'll give everything up for her."

************

 I walked into school nervously. He knows. Christian knows now. Will he really give everything up for me? Is he really to risk fighting Darren? I love Darren but Christian is my mate. I'd die for him. I was suddenly pulled into a warm embrace.

"I know you don't want me here but our parents want us together. Please don't act as though you don't know me. It hurts even more than if you hated me." Darren. He's attending my school now. Just great, Christian goes here. Speak of the devil. Christian goes up to us and puts an arm around me.

"Hey, dude-I-don't-know. Can I burrow this beautiful lady for a moment?" Christian squeezed my side and growled in my ear, "You have some explaining to do, mate."

"Uh, no. You're not taking my fiancee anywhere." Darren brought me closer to him and held me tight.

"What?!"

"We're engaged." The look on Christian's face was pure devastation. I felt his heart break into pieces. He looked at me and then walked away.