Judged By You (Judge Me Series) (11 page)

“Oh
perfect babe, you know,” Was the reply I got. “Have you found another job yet gorgeous?” Angel asked, chewing loudly on her meat.

“Not yet
.” I replied. I had looked at a few websites for work, but nothing caught my eye.

“What happened to your job?
” Damon asked, curious.

“The owners sold the cafe, and we all got let go.
” I said

“What k
ind of work are you looking for?” He said putting his fork and knife down on his plate.

“Something appealing.
I was thinking about applying for an internship.” I replied.

Damon just nodded and picked up his utensils again. Nicole excused herself from the table and walked rather quickly towards the downstairs bathroom. Morning sickness is not what they say. I have seen it morning, afternoon and night. Last night I was holding her hair whil
e she puked in the garden bed. Maybe those flowers might finally bloom now. I excused myself a few minutes later and went to check on Nicole.

“You okay sugar?”

She looked awful. She was sitting on the floor with her head up against the wall. She was pale and sickly looking.

“I don’t think I can handle this constant spewing let alone anything else
.” Nicole said while wiping the excess fluid from around her mouth.

“You don’t have to worry about that diet
now.” It was a joke, but Nicole didn’t see the funny side. She shot me a look that scared me.

“
You coming back out?” I said getting up of the cold floor.

“Yeah give me a minute.
” Nicole said in return.

I walked out and started to clear the table. Derek was asking Damon about his “wheels”. I wondered if Derek would
ever give up street talk. The kitchen wasn’t as clean as it was to start with, so I started to stack the dishwasher and wash the items that wouldn’t fit.

“I have a feeling your friend is sussing me out
.” Damon said putting his arms around my waist. He kissed my hair.

“I’ve known him for years, so yeah…
he will do that.” I said laughing. It was good to have him touch me; I had missed that for the past four days. I wondered what he had been doing. Work must be busy for him.

“Hey I want to talk to you about your internship
.” He said turning me around.

“It was just a thought
, and I have to find one first.” I said drying my hands.

“Well, that’s the thing. You might not have to.
” He said with a smile.

“What do you mean?
”

“Well, you can
come work at my company. We have an internship program and it will be a thrilling experience. You can work and learn. Less time at college.” I couldn’t believe what he was saying.

“I… umm… thanks
, but I don’t know.” I didn’t even know what we were. Whether we were dating, friends with benefits or kissing benefits. I was confused.

“Don’t
answer just yet, think about it.” He said kissing my forehead and walking to the fridge to get three beers out for the remainder of them at the table.

Nicole entered the kitchen and went straight for the coffee machine. If there was one thing she was craving right now, it was coffee. I couldn’t function without coffee and Nicole was worse than that. I swear her heart wouldn’t beat without it. I grabbed two cups out of the cupboard and placed them on the counter. I asked the others if they would like coffee
, but they all held up their beers to show “no, we are alcoholics.”

Dessert was to die for.
Chocolate and pecan pie, homemade. With homemade ice-cream and white chocolate sauce.

“Y
ou’re the best fucking cook Nic.” Derek said rubbing his belly.

“Very
enjoyable Nicole. You will make someone extremely happy one day.” Damon said wiping his mouth with a napkin.

Nicole just shot me a look
, and I shrugged. I could see the pain in her eyes, but only she could help herself truly. Angel stood and pulled down her “not covering too much” dress and went outside.

Derek leaned over and whisp
ered “I’m worried about Stephen.”

“What! You only tell me this n
ow.” I all but yelled at him.

“Hey, I didn’t want to ruin our evening
,” he said looking around. And then nodding towards Damon sitting staring at me. “He’s in trouble inside I think.”

“What kind of trouble
Derek.” I knew it. He had got a hold of something inside.

“I’ll find out okay, just
…. Keep your hair on.” He said rubbing my shoulder.

I immediately shrugged it away. I couldn’t believe this. Stephen always talks to Derek but never me. I was just as much there if not more than Derek was. Why he didn’t trust me was something I would never know.

“You’re unbelievable Derek. You better hurry in figuring it out.” I whispered harshly.

I made sure to get right in his face. He knew better than to piss me off. He just nodded and took another swig of his beer. I excused myself and starting stacking the empty bowls. I walked to the kitchen bench and
intrinsically threw them in the sink. “Fuck” escaped my mouth.

“Is there something I can do Savannah?” Damon said from behind me.

“No, everything’s… wonderful.” I put all my enthusiasm into “wonderful” when I said it.

“Everything
’s not wonderful. And if I can help, I will. You just have to tell me what to do.” He sounded sincere when he spoke to me.

I turned to face him. I took his head in my hands and pulled him down to me. I searched his eyes and saw those beautiful eyes and all that calm he played.

“Really it’s okay, but thanks.” I kissed his lips. He tasted bitter from the beer, but his mouth on mine felt so good I didn’t care. He put one of his hands around my back and the other at the base of my neck. His touch was intoxicating. It made me want to rip his clothes off right now.

“Excuse me gorgeous
,” Angel just had to ruin that moment. I broke away and looked at her. “Can we get a lift home babe?” Angel asked, batting her fake eye lashes at me.

“Oh, yeah I will take
you.” I said moving out of Damon’s hold.

“No, is okay. I will take
them. I have to go anyway.” Damon said grabbing my hand so I wouldn’t move to far away.

“Oh thanks sweetie
.” Angel said, with a smile I didn’t like at all.

She was flirting with Damon, just what I needed. Not…….

“You stay here, I will take them home. I will call you tomorrow.” Damon kissed me again. I really wanted to ask him what we were. But I had other shit to worry about right now. Nicole was back in the bathroom by the sounds of it, and Stephen was in front of my mind also.

“Thanks Nicole
.” Damon and Derek yelled to Nicole who was spewing her guts up… again.

“Thanks Sav
.” Derek said kissing my cheeks.

Angel said a little “see you
,” In a high pitched voice. She sounded I thought her pants were too tight.

“Thank you for the invite beautiful. Talk to you soon okay
.” He was so sweet even when he tasted bitter.

“
Your most welcome, thank you for coming.” I got on my tip toes and kissed him once more before he left.

I waved to them as they left and then shut the door.
I was so tired, I didn’t know how much longer I could stay awake for. I quickly cleaned up and went in search of Nicole. Poor girl was hung over the toilet bowel, again. I pulled two blankets from the linen cupboard and handed one to her. She looked at me and smiled. I sat beside her and held her hand. For now I wouldn’t lecture her, I needed to be her strength until she figured everything out.

“Stan rang
.” She said

“And
.” I searched her face for a sign of anything she was thinking. But come up with nothing.

“He said that we are going to his parents for two weeks instead of one. What am I going to do; I’m getting fat already. Look
,” She pulled up her shirt to reveal her flat stomach. “How am I supposed to wear a bikini like this”? She said with regard.

I laughed, I couldn’t do anything else but.

“Just tell him. Stop worrying so much and tell him the truth. And….. You’re not fat.” I said smacking her hand.

She just smiled and leaned her head back against the wall. For the rest of the night
, I held her hair back while she vomited. It came in intermittent intervals. When she wasn’t doing that we were sleeping on the tiles. I knew I would be sore by morning, but she needed me. And I needed to be there for her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I woke with a jolt. I said uprigh
t and rubbed my neck. “Holy shit, that hurts.” I said out loud. I was stiff and could barely move. I realised that the home phone was ringing. I got to my feet and raced to the kitchen.

“Hello
,”

“Good morning beautiful
.” Damon said

“What’s so good about
it.” I said rubbing my neck than stretching side to side.

“Rough night
?”

“You could say that. So what do I owe for the pleasure of your call?
” I was curious. I looked at the clock, and it was only eight forty five.

“Well, I wondered if I could cook you
dinner tonight. At my apartment.” He sounded as beautiful as he looked.

Right now I felt like sleep.
In a comfortable bed. Oh and coffee, I walked over to the coffee machine and turned it on.

“Ummm
.” I managed, the thought of being alone at his place made me antsy.

“Ummm yes or Ummm no
.” He said mockingly. He did owe me a date, and I needed to get out.

“Umm yes okay.
If you insist.” I said pulling cups out of the cupboard and putting them on the bench.

“I do insist
, I will pick you up at six?”

I could hear a knock at the door through the phone.

“Okay. See you then.” I hung up and turned to find Nicole dragging herself out of the bathroom. Her hair was all messy and in knots. She looked dreadful, and she smelt. I pinched my nose and pointed to the bathroom.

“Let’s go
, you’re having a shower.” I said half pushing her.

“Bitch
.” She said half laughing, half sobbing playfully.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After Nicole showered and I soaked my poor aching body in a hot bath, we decided to go shopping. I had been busy studying the past few days and needed to find something to wear to dinner tonight.

“So, tonight you’re going to his place hey.” Nicole said with a wink.

I didn’t know if jeans and a sweater would be appropriate
, so I decided I at least should dress up a little. We looked through various shops and everything we looked at was too much, or just not my style.

“You could always ask Angel for a loan.
” Nicole snickered.