Decadence

Fateful Encounter

Nicholas's P.O.V

"I always wondered why the hell you enjoyed being cooped up in this dusty old library," Damian stated callously, bringing his hand firmly down on a book he saw I was about to read.

"It's simple," I caustically countered, "Books don't talk back or do stupid things like so many people I seem to know lately."

I looked up to make eye contact with the blonde teen, only seeing then that he had been avoiding my gaze since the conversation started. His expression was distant and unemotional. I sighed softly as I looked at his face, which was partly obstructed by his flowing golden locks which covered his cheek bones.

Eventually, I also went back to staring at his hand which rested firmly on a large, hardback historical text that I had recently discovered. When I nudged his hand to move, he swatted it away and opened his mouth to speak again.

"You're such a nerd," he shot back insincerely, without a hint of friendliness.

I reached out for another book that lay on the table in front of me, agreeing, "Maybe I am. Does that make you one of those jock type guys then?"

It was a rather dreary Saturday afternoon today. Damian hadn't bothered to speak or even look at me since that first Monday when school started. This was something that he had been doing a lot lately though ever since Aden was injured.

Aden, now released from the hospital for "at home care" also was out from school due to the continued severe exhaustion and soreness after his match, which allotted me no socialization of any kind at school being that they were typically the only two people whom I talked to. It wasn't as if I could simply stroll up to Severin and comment on the weather or some such either.

It didn't matter whether it was going to school together or sharing the same room; Damian remained silent and completely ignored me, as if digressing to when we were ten years old. It was discomforting, considering that I was not trying to upset him, but in some way managed to do just that.

I wondered still as he stood in my way if I should try to appease him or wait for him to tire of his temper. Knowing Damian however, ignoring the issue might actually be the best course of action. If he wanted to say something to me he would eventually.

By now I knew that even if we aren't getting along, it's unnecessary to openly show it. Neither Damian nor I were the type to speak our minds about trivial matters, especially to each other and were usually good with putting up a front in public. It was funny though how that was the only thing we had in common. Besides that, he could probably be considered more cocky and egotistical than anyone else our age.

"Do you want me for something?" I asked while flipping through the pages of the book I had reached for, "Otherwise I think it would like to continue reading in peace without the fear that I might be disturbed by you for the fun of it."

"Yeah," he quickly acknowledged, snatching the book from my grasp and throwing it to the floor uncaringly, "We're going to the training ground in fact. It's been a while since you even attempted to get off your ass and do it right?"

"We?" I questioned, a confused expression falling over my face.

"My cousins Eileen, Connor, you, and me I mean. Is that clear enough for you?" he listed frankly and without restraint.

I frowned at the mention of the names of his two older cousins. They also resided within the main house, unlike Aden, who is considered to a branch member. I knew that Eileen and Connor were older than we were, but because some Alloyds had an increasingly long lifespan and often were found to live for an extended amount of time, I was not sure just how old they were; only knowing that their appearance was an unreliable determinant of their age.