Page 62 of In This Iron Ground
“Not yet.”
“Let’s talk a little longer, yeah?”
“Okay,” Damien said.
Whoever Hakan was talking to said something else. “Alright, see you later,” Hakan said, before turning back to Damien.
“Who was that?”
“CJ. Remember I mentioned him? He lives in my hall.”
“Oh, yeah. You sure you don’t want to—”
“No. It’s cool. We don’t…we haven’t talked in a while. It’s nice.” Hakan shrugged. Damien couldn’t help but smile.
“Yeah. Um…what was I saying?”
“You got a book for your birthday?”
“Oh, yeah,” Damien said and picked the conversation back up.
**********
Damien and Koko obtained their driver’s licenses a little before Damien’s birthday. Damien struggled to accept the offer to use the old car Nadie and then Hakan used to drive, but eventually capitulated under the weight of Mia and Cameron’s exasperated and fond insistence.
Damien parked in the makeshift parking lot, making sure not to bump any of the other cars.
“That took you about ten years. Congrats,” Koko said sarcastically as they got out of the car.
“Shut up.”
“Wow, what a zinger.”
Damien tried to shove at Koko as they walked but she didn’t even budge.
“God, you guys suck.”
“Feel my mighty power, puny human,” Koko said, laughing. Damien tried to outpace her, but it only resulted in them racing to the ticket booths, Damien out of breath and Koko like she’d taken a leisurely stroll there.
“Nice stamina,” Olive said to Koko from where she had been waiting with Gonzalo.
“Damien…not so much,” Gonzalo said.
“I hate all of you,” he panted. He really needed to build up some strength if he wanted to compete with werewolves.
“Let’s get some tickets, losers,” Koko said, striding ahead.
Damien held his still aching side. “Ireallyhate you all,” he grunted.
Gonzalo slung an arm around Damien, pulling him close. “Surely not me.”
“Especiallyyou. Traitor.”
“The truth hurts, little man.”
“I’m not little.”
“Let go of the denial, Damien. Accept who you are,” he said in a pseudo-philosophical voice. Damien elbowed him in the side and was morbidly pleased at the pained grunt.
