Bella's POV
I may look calm from the surface, but I wasn't. I missed him even though I shouldn't. Damien is a great guy, and he has been doing everything right in terms of dating, but being with him didn't feel like anything special. He felt more like a good friend to me. An amazing friend, really.
Things would've been a lot different if I could get Aaron out of my heart. I thought, maybe if I try to be with someone else, my feelings will eventually fade away, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
Sure, I could give in and go out with Aaron, but he really pissed me off that day. He tried to bring out his tough guy act and force me to be with him, but I will not just fall into his lap.
My mood turned even sourer when I saw Aaron with that Meghan girl. He was serious when he said he had moved on. That piece of shit jerkface! Okay, I am being unfair. He had every right to move on. But how can he just move on after telling me he likes me now! I guess I am moving on too. Fuck him!
"Are you okay?" Damien asked me. "I had been watching you for a while now, and you look...angry."
"I am fine!" I snapped.
"Jeez! Who peed on your cereal this morning?" Damien rolled his eyes.
I saw Aaron move a strand of her from her face and leaned closer to her as if he was about to kiss her.
I don't like this, I thought to myself. I don't like this one bit.
"Bella," I almost dropped my drink as Jane spoke close to my ear. "Can I talk to you for a moment? Alone?" she asked.
"Sure," I excused myself and went to the kitchen with her.
"You two are the most ridiculous almost couple I've ever seen," Jane said. She sounded annoyed.
"Me and Damien?" I looked at her with confusion.
"I am talking about you and the green-eyed knucklehead over there," Jane said.
"Aaron? We aren't even a couple. I am with Damien, and he is with that girl," I said.
"He barely knows that girl, and I know for a fact he likes you. And I thought you were all into him. So what are you doing with Damien? Don't you think you are deceiving him?" Jane said with a tight jaw.
"I like Damien," I said lamely.
"Liar! You like him as a friend. You'd rather have Aaron, so just go and snatch him away from Meghan!" Jane exclaimed.
"You are wrong. Meghan can have him. I don't want him," I said stubbornly.
"Ugh! You guys are infuriating. I need a drink," Jane declared and went to pour herself a glass of liquid courage. Why does she care anyway?
Few minutes before midnight, we all gathered in the living room to drink and to wait for the countdown to begin. There were few others in the room, along with Macie and her new boyfriend.
"Wanna dance?" Damien asked me when the music started to play.
I looked around. Jane had her face buried on Jake's shoulder as they slow danced. Aaron was busy flirting with Meghan. He seemed perfectly happy with her, just as I should be with Damien. I need to stop being a bitch and have a good time with Damien, I thought.
I danced with Damien, but my eyes kept wandering toward Aaron. This is wrong, I thought. Jane was right, I was deceiving Damien.
"Alright, everyone! The countdown is just about to begin. Hold up your champagne glasses!" Jake announced excitedly.
I looked at Aaron, and our eyes met. His heated eyes were fixated on me as the countdown started on TV and everyone started to recite it. Finally, the clock struck midnight, and it was time for the midnight kiss. Damien leaned in for a kiss.
"Wait!" I said in a hoarse whisper.
"What is it?" Damien looked like he was taken aback. "You don't want to kiss me on New Year's eve? He had a hurt look on his face, but I needed to start off this year by being honest with him and myself.
"I am sorry, Damien, but I can't kiss you because..."
"Because you are in love with Aaron," Damien said dismissively.
Shit, am I that obvious?
"That's not..."
"Don't deny it, Bella. Your eyes had been glued to him since we've arrived. You've been acting short and snappy because you saw that girl all over him," Damien hissed near my ears. His face was slightly red from a mixture of alcohol and anger. "I am not blind. You always talked about him when we were together. Also, you wouldn't let me touch you or do anything else to you besides kissing. But you'd let him touch you however he wanted." Damien paused and took a breath.
"Wha...what are you talking about?" my voice shook.
"I saw you guys together at Jake and Jane's party that night. Right after I asked you out. You aren't fooling anyone," he said. Sadness enveloped his face.
"I am really sorry, Damien. I don't know what's wrong with me. I just can't help it. I tried to move away from him. I really did!" I choked back tears. Hurting Damien was the last thing I wanted.
His eyes softened. "I am not angry at you, okay? I will be fine. But you need to either be with him or forget about him. Stop playing stupid games."
I knew he was right.
I made a decision.
"I am sorry for misleading you, but can we still be friends?" I asked quietly.
Damien smiled. "Of course. But I need more time to get over it, okay? So it would be best if we keep our distance."
"I understand," I whispered.