Chapter One - Whom Do You Love The Most?

School was already over, and Damian gladly wanted to leave for home. He didn't get to interact to Angela much during the lunch break as Xavion started bombarding him with questions regarding his injuries. Angela was always with Helena, much to his dislike, and he had to stay away because of his best friend. Xavion avoided Helena since she nurtured a crush on him and he didn't like her at all.

Damian hurried out to his bike. He wouldn't let this opportunity go. He wanted Angela to come over to his house and teach him. His heart started racing at the thought! Why? He had no idea. He had always liked Angela, and recently his heart started doing strange flips at the sight of her.

However, before he could grab his bike, he stopped short and stared at the scene before him. Freddie and his gang were surrounding Angela and Helena. They seemed to be busy discussing something. In fact, Angela looked so interested in what was going on that she was oblivious to his presence. Blood boiled in his veins reaching a furious intensity, and he strode towards them with purpose. He wanted to punch Freddie and wipe the victorious smirk off his face as he stared back at him.

"Angel, come here," he growled as he strode furiously towards her. How could she talk to Freddie after he had warned her against it just this morning? Freddie liked Angela and had just challenged him in the morning. What ensued was a big fight between the two of them. His friends had joined in to give him support and Damian had to fight four boys single-handedly. Damian's eyes held Freddie's challenging gaze without flinching even for a second.

Angela turned around and saw Damian's clenched fists and furious gaze, and she rushed over to him. She held his arm and started pulling him to the other side, away from Freddie. Freddie's face fell, and he rolled his eyes and looked away. Damian turned and followed her without a word. At the parking lot, he caught her arm and whirled her around to face him.

"What were you doing with Freddie, Angel?" he gritted out, losing his temper.

"You're hurting me, Damian," said Angela, looking down to inspect her arm. "I didn't talk to any of them. Brian wanted to talk to Helena, so she pulled me along," said Angela. Damian's grip loosened, and he released her abruptly.

Angela inspected her arm again. There was a bruise forming. She rolled her eyes and stomped off to her bike while Damian followed her.

"You're coming home with me now, " he stated as he mounted his bike to go home.

"Don't order me about. I'm not your girlfriend," she said, displeased with his growing possessiveness. He was overdoing it lately, and it bothered her a lot.

"Oh yes, you are," said Damian, pleased that he could confess his wish.

"No, I'm not. We're only friends. Get it? We are F.r.i.e.n.d.s," she spelled it out for him. She felt annoyed with him these days. He seemed as stubborn as a mule and kept harping on the same thing nearly every day, but he was her childhood friend and she valued his friendship a lot.

"You are a girl and you're my friend. So you're my girlfriend. Simple," he said cheekily, saving the situation. Damian purposely didn't press any further. He didn't want to upset her when he wished to spend time with him at his house.

"Cheer up, Angel. Won't you teach me proverbs?" he pleaded, riding his bike alongside.

"I'm going home. Come over in the evening, " she said, riding all the way to her own home. Damian felt frustrated. Why couldn't she teach him now when no one's at home? In the evening, he would have to face her whole family and he didn't want to.

"Please teach me now. It won't take much time. In the evening, Xavion will come over to stay the night," he informed. He and Xavion were attached to the hip. Angela felt uncomfortable with their jokes and topics of discussion and therefore avoided staying when Xavion came over.

Angela sighed. "Alright, let's go," she agreed, and Damian suppressed the happiness that was bubbling inside him. They went up to his house and parked their bikes in his garage. Damian unlocked his door and led her inside.

"You can go up to my room. I'll get us something to eat," he said with a smile. Angela nodded and went up to his room. She'd been here since the day she was born. Damian was three months older than her and they had grown up together. She went to his room, freshened up in his en-suite and sat down on the loveseat in his room, waiting for him. It was the most comfortable thing in the world, and she had fallen asleep upon it many times in the past.

He came up with two bowls of delicious looking pasta carbonara that his cook, Cindy, had made.

"This looks delicious. Thanks," she said, tucking into the delightful food. Damian sat down beside her to eat, his arm and thighs brushing with hers. It was as if he was glued to her.

"Damian, shift. You're crushing me, you mammoth, " mumbled Angela, but Damian just grinned and kept eating. He loved to be near her, tease her, touch her, and to watch her. In fact, he loved everything to do with her. He didn't understand this crazy feeling, but it gave him happiness, so why not?

Angela rolled her eyes and kept on eating. He was impossible. He would never listen. "Angel, who do you love the most in the entire world?" he asked, just like everyday he did whenever he met her.

Angela smiled. "You," she said truthfully. She didn't get bored with this question, although he asked her every day. The answer came straight from her heart. She knew Damian was lonely, and he didn't receive the love he deserved from his parents. She loved him unconditionally since the day she was born.

Damian smiled with satisfaction. This answer reminded him that there was one person in the world who loved him. He wanted to hear it every day. It had become a necessity for him. Xavion was his best friend, and they loved each other immensely, but it was Angela who made him face every day with a smile, and hope for a better tomorrow. Her love was precious to him and he needed it just like the parched earth needed rain, just like his body needed oxygen.

He knew he would die the day Angela didn't love him!

They finished their food and Angela taught him a little grammar so that he didn't face Ms. Knightley's wrath the next day. Damian didn't want her to leave. He would be lonely after she left, but he couldn't stop her and have her to himself 24/7. Maybe one day he would, but not today. They were just thirteen.

Angela rushed home before her dad returned from his university. Her brothers would also return home soon. She changed and completed her homework. She did the day's laundry and checked the refrigerator for ingredients to cook dinner. They usually took turns with the cooking, although mostly she helped everyone. Her dad was a clumsy cook, and so was Arnold. Alex was very good, although not as good as her. And Adam was a hopeless cook. Her mom always came late from hospital duty and hated cooking.

Angela found that there was nothing in the refrigerator. She had completely forgotten they had to get the grocery from the local departmental store.

Her dad walked into the house, looking exhausted. "Hey, princess, what are you doing in front of the refrigerator?" he asked, taking out a tetra pack of orange juice for himself.

"Checking dad. I need to get groceries. There's nothing at home to cook," she sighed.

"Alright, give me a minute, we'll go together," offered her dad, going to the washroom to freshen up. After five minutes, they drove over to the store.

They started loading the stuff that they needed onto their trolley. Angela loved shopping with her dad. He never bickered about the bills. He let her splurge to her heart's content. They were almost done when she bumped into Damian. He had a pack of ready to eat meal boxes in his hand.

"Hello, son, what are you doing here?" asked Angela's dad. He liked Damian a lot and always took an interest in him.

"Buying dinner, uncle Gerry," answered Damian with a bright smile.

"Why do you need to? Hasn't Cindy made dinner for you guys today?" asked Angela's dad.

"She called to say that she wouldn't be able to come over to make dinner," answered Damian. "Dad's staying the night at his hospital. He has an emergency operation and mom has a charity ball. She would return late too. Xavion cancelled our sleep over at the last minute," he informed them with a shrug.

"Why can't you come home for dinner, son? Princess and I are cooking tonight, " he informed Damian. Angela smiled at their interaction. It was she who would have to cook while her dad would just hover around, tasting the food.

Damian grinned. "Uncle Gerry, let Angel cook, please. Only then I'll agree to accept your invitation to dinner, " he said and Angela's dad laughed.

"You really love your sister, don't you?" said Angela's dad. Angela rolled her eyes. There he went again. She couldn't understand why he always insisted upon calling Damian her brother.

"She's my friend, not sister, uncle Gerry, " answered a bored Damian. He was tired of informing Angela's dad every time they met.

"Yes, dad. I already have three brothers. I don't need another. I just need a friend," stated Angela.

Her dad sighed and went off to the counter to pay. Angela and Damian shared a look and followed him. They all went home and Angela started preparing dinner.

Alex and Adam had returned home, too. Alex helped her while they all chatted like a big family. Her mom never called to inform when she would arrive. Angela left food for her, which she warmed and ate whenever she returned home. They were used to this arrangement. On Sundays, their mom slept until late and caught up with her pending paperwork and reports. It was as if she was never at home.

The boys played with cards as they waited for dinner. Damian, too, came to check what she was making. "Mmm, smells delicious, Angel. Just like you do," he said casually. Angela glared at him.

"What do you mean? I smell like chicken?" she asked, looking horrified while Damian laughed.

"Of course not. You know what I meant. You smell delicious," he explained, leaning closer and peering into the pan.

"Damian, stop. You'll drown in the pan," laughed Adam, as he walked up to them. Damian and Angela chuckled.

"I wish I could eat here every day. Cindy's cooking is getting worse day by day," complained Damian.

"What rubbish! I had her pasta today. It was delicious, " said Angela. Damian stuck out his tongue at her. She had to put her foot in! He was arranging for an opportunity to come over and spend more time with her every evening!

"You know you're always welcome to eat with us, son," said Angela's dad. Damian grinned happily.

"Thanks uncle Gerry. I'd love to, but only on the days when it's Angel's turn to cook," he shrugged. They laughed.

"Dam, why don't you sleep with me tonight? We can check out my new PlayStation," said Adam, and Damian's eyes sparkled. His heart beats sped up with excitement at the invitation. He would be a dead guy if he declined.

"Sure," he grinned. He loved staying over at Angela's house. It meant he could be near her more, he could see her more. He looked forward to tonight.