deranged [sequel to unlovable]

part 5

[vanessa's pov]
"where are we going?" caleb asks from the passenger seat.
his life is about to get pretty exciting.. i think he can handle it. maybe he actually wants in on this?
"you remember how you wanted some answers on why i was shot?" i ask him.
he furrows his eyebrows, "yeah.."
"well, your wish is my command." i smile and pull into a big empty parking lot.
we're in chicago. snow coats the ground, this place has barely been touched.
i look over to caleb. he's highly confused.
he looks at me & i'm not quite sure what to say first, so i open my purse and grab my earpiece.
i slide it in my ear comfortably. caleb watches me.
i tap it twice, "hey, d. he's here."
"copy that." damien says into my earpiece.
i look over to caleb who looks so completely lost.
"listen to me. once you start, you can't exactly stop.. i need you to trust me & to have an open mind..." i open my car door, "your life is about to get a whole lot crazier."
i watch as the familiar black escalade pulls into this lot. damien steps out in his leather jacket, black jeans & black boots. it's his signature look.
his hair is slightly different today, he slicked it back this time.
he smiles, "hi, vanessa."
"hey, damien. this is caleb." i introduce him to my.. well, he's not my boyfriend.. but he's not my friend. so... i draw a blank on that one.
caleb takes a step forward and shakes damien's hand. there's some tension in the air, but it fades quickly.
"are you really ready for this?" i ask caleb who stares at damien.
damien turns & starts walking to the building at the end of the parking lot.
caleb simply nods his head and begins to walk beside me.
"vanessa?" caleb asks beside me.
i take a deep breathe, "yes?"
he leans close to my ear, "are you doing porn or something?"
i laugh out loud & slap his shoulder playfully.
"are you kidding? absolutely not!" i whisper-shout.
he grins and takes my hand in his.
things are so confusing between us sometimes.. one second we're so special & everything is amazing, and the next he can stop acknowledging my existence or treat me like someone he dislikes.. it's so weird. i'm still trying to deal with it all.
damien slides open one of the large steel doors & i let go of caleb's hand to open the other side.
"right this way." damien motions to caleb.
the room is similar to the one i woke up in. there's still a large metal table in the middle, but this time, there's mirrors & a light hanging from the ceiling.
caleb looks at me weird. i'm usually pretty good at reading him but i'm unsure as to what is running through his mind right now.
damien turns to him, "caleb.. are you in love with vanessa?"
my mood switches quickly.
"damien are you fucking serious? why is that relevant? find your goddamn chill." i say through my teeth.
damien backs away from caleb and pulls out a chair for him.
damien sighs, "listen, caleb. your little girlfriend here has been keeping something from you, but it's not her fault. she's under our rules. she decided to open you up to this operation we run here. she thinks you're a fitting candidate, although i would beg to differ."
i hit his shoulder, "would you shut the fuck up already & get to the point?"
he rolls his eyes and continues, "as i was saying.. you're under our confidentiality agreement if we let you join, too. are you willing to do this without knowing any information yet?"
caleb looks at me, but this time, it's not to tell me anything.. it's to search my eyes for something.
he bites his lip & looks at damien again, "yes."
well, looks like i have a new co-worker.
"great. let's go over the rules, shall we?" damien grins & pulls out a white packet.

----
[caleb's pov]
who would have thought that in one day you could go from being alone & watching netflix to fighting or killing people with your ex-girlfriend?
i step outside to process everything i've just learned. the door swings open after i exit. she followed me out here.
"caleb, are you okay?" she asks, resting a hand on my shoulder.
"i'm fine." i mutter, looking across the bright snow that covers the ground.
she leans on the wall, "i'm really sorry i had to keep this from you at the start.. i really thought you would be into this, so i suggested the idea to damien & my father."
father? what does she mean? i turn to face her.
"your dad is part of all of this?" i ask.
she shakes her head, "no.. my birthfather."
i walk up to her, "i thought your dad back home was your birth father..."
"yeah, me too.." she mumbles, taking my hands in hers. her fingers interlock with mine.
this feels right.. this feels good..
"you don't hate me?" she asks, staring at our hands.
i press my body against hers, "i could never hate you, vanessa."
she looks up into my eyes. her sparkling emerald eyes look into mine.
snow falls softly around us.
she has small snowflakes laying throughout her hair, which is pulled into a ponytail. her cheeks are flushed from the cold temperature & her lips are a light pink, she looks so kissable.
i lean in slowly. she immediately closes her eyes & i connect our lips. her lips are soft & i can taste her strawberry chapstick.
i disconnect our hands to place my hands around her waist. she leans into me even more & wraps her arms around my neck.
our pace quickens & i can feel her desire for me. it's electrifying.
"come on, you lovebirds." damien's voice echoes.
vanessa pulls away & rolls her eyes, "i fucking hate you, you know that, right?"
she sticks her tongue out at damien.
she wraps her arms around me & holds me tight.
"sorry." she giggles into my chest.
i smile, "we have plenty of time for this kind of stuff. you're my co-worker now, remember?"
she smiles big & everything becomes worth it.

---
[vanessa's pov]
"caleb, you're going with jack for instruction. vanessa, you're coming with me for training." damien orders.
i groan, "you're a twat."
he ignores my comment and pulls on my shirt.
i pull his hand off of me, "i'm coming you dick. you have no patience, i swear."
he scoffs and walks through the door to the gym room.
i turn to caleb who stands beside me & give him a quick kiss on the lips.
i smile, "good luck in there."
"thank you." he laughs.
i turn around & tighten my ponytail before walking into training.

---
by the time i'm finished, i'm completely out of breathe. damien worked me out hard today.
i re-tie my shoe on a bench while he watches me.
"vanessa.. please promise me something?" he asks.
i groan, "what now?"
"don't let him be a distraction to you."
"a distraction? really, damien?"
he starts to walk away, "i'm just saying, vanessa... love is weakness."
fuck that! fuck him. no. he will not get away with that this time.
i run up to him & spin him around, "are you serious? love is not weakness, that's some total bullshit right there. have you ever felt love? love is strength. love helps drive you, helps motivate you. love hurts, too.. yes. it makes you stronger, though. don't say that to me, damien."
his facial expressions softens at my words.
he licks his lips, "i'm sorry, vanessa. okay? you don't deserve to be hurt.. you deserve to feel happiness."
that's the thing though, i get hurt to get to the happiness. i deal with the pain to be truly happy. you can't just have one without the other in my life. they'll always mix.
"thank you." i tell him & walk to the locker room.

----
well well well. lol.

i'm seeing troye sivan again tonight(:

thank you for reading xo

- adrianna