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Damien ' POV

This takes place before he meets Ethan in the last chapter. In London.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

The bar hadn't changed at all. It was the same, even the neon light that flickered every now and then. I smiled as I adjusted my jacket and a small duffel bag over my shoulder. The door creaked when I opened it and the chime of the bell grabbed the attention of my friend, Mark who was busy settling bottles on the shelves.

" Damien! What a lovely suprise!" He shouted as he jumped and slid through the bar table and hugged the soul out of me making me chuckle loudly.

" Its nice to see you too." I replied as he took me inside the lounge section.

" Haven't seen you play a game nowadays, mate? You got fired or what?" he joked as he took out a bottle of brandy. I just smiled but I think I gave away the emotions as his faded away and sat beside me with a worried face.

" What happened, Dame?" he asked. I sighed and shook my head.

" Its just... nothing is going right,Mark." I replied with a sad smile. Mark patted my back and pushed a tumbler glass with brandy towards me.

" I am not gonna ask things if you don't wanna say, Dame. I trust you. Any decision you make in that problem, I know you will make the right choice. so..." he said with smile slapping my back, " It's time to forget those shits for now."

" Really." I asked smirking. Mark shrugged and gestured towards the club thumping upstairs. I chuckled.

" Come on. I don't wanna make you regret coming London for nothing." he said.

My head hurt as I shoved the girl grinding on my crotch. I groaned as I tried to find a seat near the bar. Joe, the bartender smiled teasingly.

" I thought you were just getting started." Joe said making a drink for another customer. I grunted as I massaged my temples. Even if I had taken two bottles of whiskey, I couldn't forget the person I wanted to forget.

Ethan. Fucking Ethan.

Even when my head wasn't working as it should and the walls of the club was swirling in front of my eyes, the brown eyes that kept me awake at night was in my mind. His smile which took my breath away and those remarks which he snapped at me whenever he was embarassed was always resonating in my ears. I was on the verge of breaking down. Is this how it feels to be heartbroken.

Mark shouted through the loud music, " Come on man, Let's get going. We've got all night." I shook my head and shooed him away making the bartender laugh.

The girls who were all over me tonight were squealing and pulling me to dance. Mark cheered them as they took my drunk ass to the dance floor. I didn't last long.

I ran towards the bathroom to puke my guts out.

I cursed God, I cursed my family, I cursed Ethan. Most of all Ethan. For leaving me like this.

I couldn't even look myself in the mirror. It made me rethink my decisions and life choices. It made me feel miserable to see how I ran away from my problems. When I should be pursuing towards what I want, I was scared of the consequences ahead. I washed my face with eyes closed.

" Yeah, I know it went shit but how could I know he lipsynced." said a voice in one of the stall.

I stared at the direction trying to figure out who was it. (I was still drunk)

" No, don't. Don't cancel anything. I will figure out something. John, it took us millions to open up and now we can't return the money just because the bastard turned fraud. I'll get someone. It's good producers don't know the singer so I can replace him." said the voice again.

" Yeah, I know simple as shit." he replied again. I chuckled.

The door opened and a familiar guy appeared from the stall looking at me.

" Excuse me, were you listening to my conversation?" he asked rather threatened. I just shrugged washing my hands.

" I know you." he said staring at me, " You are that American football player."

" Yeah, Yeah." I muttered trying to find something to clean my hands.

" Damien, Damien Steel." he cried laughing. I smirked.

" I hear, you have'n some trouble finding some singer."

" Something like that. The bugger turned out bloody fraud." he said with a frown." Now my ass is on line because of it."

" I can sing." I blurted.

" What?"

I laughed loudly.

" I know, Sounds shitty." I grumbled and went out without a word.

The music was louder than before and people were dancing like maniac. I sighed and went towards the bar looking for Mark.

When I reached bar and was going to poke Joe for another shot that a hand shot before me and ordered a drink for me. It was the same guy from the bathroom with a smile on his face..

" Drinks on me."

I shrugged. So be it, you son of a bitch.

After what felt like an eternity, I was so drunk, that I couldn't even stand up. Next thing I know,this guy, Garett Jacks was offering me a gig. I laughed so loud that he was stunned at my reaction. I said I wanna try and would talk about it sober and he immediately agreed.

The next morning was terrible. I had a shitty hangover and slept all day. I had forgetten about Garett Jacks and of course, Ethan. I slept like a baby. Or tried to.

Mark woke me up later that evening and told me I had a call. I immediately thought of Ethan and took it. Turned out it was Garett. He scheduled a meeting for me and producers who were excited at the news that a pro football player was willing to leave everything and release an album. They were making it a sob story. Which made me remind myself about the resignation that I was to hand over to the coach if I wnated to sing.

Did I?

Of course I fucking did.

Coach wasn't happy and called me back to States. I wasn't ready to go face reality so just told him it was passion to sing since the beginning. Coach sighed and agreed after three hours of call. But he still wanted to meet me.

I was to go to Australia, Belgium and of course, L.A to get ready for the songs. I was esctatic. Garett was saved and even much more happier when he realised I had good voice. He promised to make me reach the top ten charts.

I didn't care about that. All I cared about was to tell my good news to the one person who truly cared about it but was he willing to.

Eventually during my 8th day of stay in London, I met Gloria,my ex from college. She was the only person besides Ethan who I actually cared about. I wouldn't say love but I adored her. But we let shit get the best of us breaking us apart. We decided to remain good friends and good friends we were.

She had opened up her own cafe with her wife, shocking the hell out of me. She was happy with Florence who was of London while Gloria was of florida, a surfer girl now with a cafe to run.

"Rumors were true that you were in town." she said placing a cup of coffee and a basket full of berry muffins in front of me.

" You do know british people drink tea." I commented taking in the aroma of the freshly grounded beans.

" Typical of you but I am gonna ignore that." she muttered sipping the coffee. " I shifted in london. Not converted into tea drinking idiots and FYI you aren't British."

I rolled my eyes.

" Married and settled. Doesn't seem like you Gloria." I said.

" Yeah but Love happened and here am I laying down my life for her." she said chuckling. I smiled.

" And romantic too."

She laughed.

" So you wanna remain bachelor till you turn 30 or what?" she asked.

" Maybe."

" From my experience, Damien." she said staring at me, " Sometimes you gotta let go. You know let the feelings run you over, it may make you feel vulnerable and shit but once someone grabs on to that feeling, the whole world becomes beautiful. Flowers and chocolates, Small things that you find adorable, shifting to a whole another country."

" I hope you aren't complaining." said Florence walking towards us. She was a beautiful creature and Gloria was lucky to have her.

" Far from it." Gloria said kissing her cheeks.

" Nice to meet you." I said shaking hands.

" I have heard about you." she said smiling, " Through TV and Gloria's non stop chatter about how her ex is now a celebrity."

Gloria rolled her eyes.

" I hope good ones though." I said with a laugh.

" Of course, you idiot." Gloria muttered gulping down her coffee.

They insisted to stay for dinner and I did. They talked about their lives and how they were planning on surrogate baby. They both were planning to go by turns and it seems Gloria wanted to go first.

" I am so excited about the baby but we are gonna take it slowly. You know not hurry anything." Florence said serving us a cup of tea." I mean, one step at a time but we are ready."

" That's great." I said. " Hope to be an uncle anytime."

It was time to go. Gloria stood in front of me as she watched me get inside the car and start the engine.

" You know, I mean it." she said staring at me.

" About?"

" About love."

" I know but I don't think I am ready."

Not for another heart ache.

" So you are just gonna let that person go." she asked.

" I think we both need time." I said trying to end the conversation.

" That's bullshit."

" Look, what do you want me to do?" I snapped finally, " He is the most stubborn ass I have ever seen and takes everything as an offence. I try all the time to make him happy but nothing is enough for him."

" Is he enough for you?" she asked.

" Everything I have asked for." I mumbled sighing.

" Then go." she said, " From the time I have met you today, you've seem down and slouched back is seriously making you look like a sore loser."

I glared at her.

" Look, I know how you feel and I am not saying it just like that. I nearly lost Florence once because both of us couldn't handle it like an adult... and I lost you." she said sighing.

" Gloria.."

" Just saying...." She grumbled.

" But I think we both need some time away. He's hurt. much more than me. Humiliated by my dad and sister. Confused as hell. His graduation is next week and I think he will go far away for college."

" Pedo." Gloria mumbled making me glare at her.

" He's 18. He's legal." I snapped none too kindly.

" Look the thing is sometimes in a relationship one of the two should act more mature and lovingly before both the parties regret it." she said folding her arms, " And in my case, I proposed."

" Wow."

" Yeah, I was too scared to lose her." she said eyeing the door. " And now I can't even imagine my life without her."

I smiled.

" I don't know but after all this, I know I shouldn't give up on him." I grumbled. She shrugged.

After a long pause she muttered under her breath.

" Didn't take you for a queer."

" Shut up you dipshit."

" Be the matured one."

" You know she will kill you if she hears this conversation." I reminded her making laugh.

" Nah, she loves me too much."

" Mature huh."

" Who said I was the one?"

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

Whatever she said took a toll on me. Gloria said the truth.

Giving up on Ethan would be a regret.

A huge regret.

After what seemed like infinity in the jewellery store, I finally picked up the emerald ring staring back at me.

" Shall I pack it?" the salesgirl asked me.

" Uh, yeah sure."

" She's a lucky girl." said the girl taking the ring out of the glass.

" It works both ways."

She giggled.

" Best of luck, sir." she said after the transaction. I waved her off.

I hope I was.

After his graduation, I will say what I have to say and ask him The question whatever the consequence.

But the chills running down my spine wasn't helping at all.

Gloria I will punch you if he says no was the last thing on my mind before I broaded the plane.

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Shitty ending but it's for the good to come in the future.

Thank you for reading and please be waiting for the Book 2. :))

Ciao!

THE END OF BOOK 1.

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