“A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: 
Its loveliness increases; it will never 
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep 
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep 
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.” 

 
                                                 ― John Keats

Damon's P.O.V

"How was the day, Damon?", My mother asked as we sat together sipping on our drinks, on the porch after returning from work.

I was hardly in the mood to discuss pleasantries about. I didn't want mom to know what was on my mind so I shrugged away my moodiness as much as I could and replied, "Quiet good, Mom. You must be knowing about the meeting and the presentation I gave today." I know dad calls her whenever he can and they talk and discuss about everything. My parents' shares a great deal of friendship in their relationship that made them bonding so amazing.

"Of course, Sal told me. We're glad you're making us proud." She said proudly and then added, "Ric is really impressed with you"

"I'm glad he is and I love to keep both you and dad proud, Mom. You know, I always aim to do that.'

"I know, but lately I can't help wondering what's bothering you. Your expressions say a lot you know" Mom inquired, concern in her voice.

This was not something I wanted to discuss right now because my mind is already too full with those bothering thoughts and I don't want Mom and Dad judges Elena on the basis of my experience with her or what I feel about things. It's a puzzle for me and I need to come to a conclusion before speaking about it with anyone.

"I don't want to talk about it, Mom. I hope you understand"

"Oh, Okay" She said as she considered something in her mind, from what I read in her face and then continued saying, "I wouldn't push you but you know it always helps to talk."

I was beginning to feel a sudden irritation in me. Maybe it was that bothering thoughts or the fact that I'm tired and needed to rest, I controlled my irritation becoming obvious as I spoke,"I will, if I see the need to."

"I understand. But, I still suggest whatever it is. Deal with it calmly. You may try to hide, but I can notice your frustrations lately" Mom, being my mom, she always read and observe people like I do. Maybe, I inherited this trait from her. I gave a slow smile and rose from the chair I was sitting upon as I said."Thanks Mom. I'll keep that in mind." Then gave her a quick kiss on her forehead and left her knitting whatever she was making with those wools hanging on the portable trolley, standing beside her chair.

Walking straight toward my room to relax myself by getting a bath and push away these bothering thoughts which was affecting my mind after I heard Elena's and Bonnie's conversation about her soulmate named Cal.

I have no thought why this news even matters to me, but for some strange reason it was bearing upon my peace. Mom was right, I am beginning to act like a frustrating teenage boy. Gosh Elena... What are you doing to me?

Few Hours Later... (After dinner)

I was blanky looking at the screen of the laptop. It mirrored my mind. Everything is so confusing here, with Elena. One moment it looks like she is normal and I'm able to understand her, but the very next moment she appears like an unsolved mystery which is intriguing me deeply.

"Who is this Cal? If she has a soul mate in her life and she is happy then what is the reason behind her aloofness. Shouldn't she be more upbeat and happy?" I asked myself as I shot at my laptop and shut it down. I really don't feel like working on the report.

I departed for home after an hour, Elena left office. All the time, my head was whirling over the conversation between Elena and Bonnie, which I overheard while stepping out of the way which I took for my cabin. My mind was full with questions about Elena. Presently the thought that was playing riot on my brain was this Cal, who, according to Bonnie was Elena's soul mate. Who is he really? Her boyfriend?

I couldn't help but marvel that if she is so much in love, then why she is always so aloof and indifferent towards everything, as this is what I observed of her for the past few days that I know her from. As far as I know, people in love are mostly happy and upbeat.

That thought struck another one in my head. Is she facing some issues with this mysterious Cal? Is her supposedly boyfriend making things hard for her? I recognize around these sorts who are in a relationship, but doesn't know how to treat them. But, from what I visualized and picked up from the conversation, it didn't seem so.

I see myself drifting over this again, as I shut down my laptop and set away the files I was operating on. The image of Elena, the last look she gave me earlier she ran inside the elevator flashed in my head. She looks annoyed.

This was unasked for. Only a few hours before that conversation happened, she was being civil and friendly, thanking him for his assistance and calling for a truce between them for whatever little had been pronounced at the walk along the beach a day ago.

She promised they would play as a team and will be co-operative, of course I do earn that one with limitations, but it nevertheless was in effect that she finally talked with him and was willing to go with him as a squad. But, precisely because he mistakenly overheard a voice of her talk, her attitude towards him changed? That's just ridiculous. Something is definitely there for this contrasting things about her.

Or is it just me who thinks so? What was it about her that touching him so much? I asked myself, maybe my mind could bring up answers which I cannot see. But none came.

I shrugged as Irritably let a hand run across my hairs. It seems like she purposely intends to sustain herself as a mystery for him and what annoys him more is he doesn't realize why it touches him. But, it does. It's stupid, unreasonable, maddening, I know, but still somehow it touches me and I'm not able to jerk these thoughts aside. Even my mom is beginning to see this change in me.

I brought my hands on my face, feeling helpless as I again moved them from my face to my hairs, right to the back of my neck.

I paced through the passageway like a confused love sick teenager. Mom saw me, as she came out of her room.

"What happened Damon? Still not on bed?" She gave a curious expression as she said that.

I told my parents that I'm tired and I will probably sleep soon, but that was an alibi. I didn't desire to sit with them after dinner and have them, observing and commenting on my temper.

 I presented a sorry-I-couldn't-sleep look as I said to her the same words to which she replied that she came out to switch off the lights of the hall before going to sleep. I assured her that I am fine and she should not worry. She departed for her room and I set out of the household to hold a nighttime walk, trusting it will steady my head.

It was not a big guess that thoughts of Elena might again make way to my mind. She is all I had been thinking about lately. She confuses me even so I discover myself being consumed by her thoughts and drowning in whatever I feel for her. Though I really cannot picture things out completely around what I really feel for her. Is it a concern or Is it that her attitude and ignorance towards me has piqued my interest and my ego?

This isn't me, but then I never knew myself like how I've been lately.

 I do not know what again made her make me such cold looks, but I understand she must have accepted the incorrect opinion that I purposely had been hearing their conversations with Bonnie. Which isn't true and I will clear this air of misunderstanding if she confronts me on this, but I'm decidedly not passing to excuse myself if she doesn't. What I don't understand is why she is so quick to react and make assumptions without asking the people? This is so unfair and it doesn't suit the image and personality of hers.

Something's feels amiss, I considered deeply.

Her eyes.... they speak volumes. And I'm certain that the impression Elena shows of her is far from reality. But what made me go deeper into thinking was, knowing it might lead to trouble, Am I really interested in removing her mask and see the reality she is so keen to hide?

Walking down the Lane, as the night breeze touched my skin and I felt positive about what I was feeling as I mentally began analyzing the situations that might crop up if I initiate in discovering her. I had no idea from where to begin my research on her. It was then that my mind conjured up images of her in my mind, making me lost in her thoughts. The gestures she made as she was giving her presentation, looking at me once in a while. Her eyes smiling as her lips curved in an acknowledging smile, causing my heart sublime and the result still is on. The moment captured something inside me. It felt so dreamlike, yet was real. The real side of her, even though I'm unknown to it, I feel this was part of that real self she keeps hidden beneath her cold attitude, her mask of arrogance, indifference, boundaries and self-reservedness.

I kept walking on the road as I passed a few people, smiling at those who smiled at me. It's midnight, but few locals here do set out for night walks at this late hour if not sleepy. Unknowingly, I took the route to Elena's home as I kept thinking..."It's not unknown to me that she feels the same connection towards me as I feel for her, the way they look at each other. Being part of the conversation that his father had with him about her has worked its way inside his mind and heart forming a special place and a state of nothingness and care for her. If It happened to me then at least a few of the same must have happened to her too.

Dad did tell me her responses and they were pretty curious and of interests. The meeting of our eyes explains this, whenever we look at each other it feels like as if the entire universe has stopped and it's just the two of us in this whole world." I said it out loud, talking to myself in my wonderment and confusion.

The thought that I actually said this out so loud actually made me, shrugged as I realized the power Elena has upon me. "Yes, I had always felt drawn towards her, to know more about her whenever dad used to talk about her and meeting her made things more intense for me, but her confused behavior makes me feel like to put this feeling on guard and warns me against knowing more of her. But, something inside is devoted to her and overpowers all my reasonings." And then, I realized that walked too far and was not standing at the main road, facing the house of Elena.

The lights were off except in one of the rooms which was dimly lit. I wondered if it was Elena's room. I have no clue as I have never been to her house. Something made me feel like punching her number on my mobile and ask her to come to the window. The feeling of watching her face under moonlight shining across her face was a huge turn on for my heart but I realized that. I do not have her number yet. Thinking how silly I have been to not have her number by now, I laughed at my thoughts of the Romeo and Juliet scene I just saw myself and Elena performs in my mind.

I turned back and walked back towards my home as my legs began to hurt. It occurred to me that I was so driven by my feelings and thoughts that I didn't realized how long I came from. This incident had been an eye-opener for me. It made me understand few things about what I feel for Elena but I forcefully pushed them at the back of my mind, reminding myself that she already has a boyfriend and also that she would definitely not entertain this thought of me liking her. I do not want there to be more complications in our life because of this new change, so I made sure that I understand this completely and take no advancements in this case but I do need to know why she is the way she is.

"It's not my business I know, but I'm making it my business to find out her real self, for me. At least I deserve to know the truth about what I'm feeling, if not her" I assured myself convincingly and with determination as I walked inside my room and retired to my bed.

I tossed and turned on my bed for almost an hour, but I was facing the same disturbance on my mind as I felt when I found myself standing near her house. I was fighting back my own emotions, but I felt like I was a lost case where this is concerned. Elena seems to have some grip on me through thoughts and I cannot help but go with the flow and think more and more of her. My steely determination, I made a while ago, if not taking any advancements was already beginning to fall apart. There was a chaos in my mind as I struggled the war with her thoughts and myself. It made me feel that on, you with knowing more about her can I come to any conclusions and only then I can find my lost peace. It has become a prime thing for me to know about her; the real her.

I had actually decided what I'll do, but I reminded myself that I better do it smartly or if she knew, she is going to push me away and also the project will get affected. I definitely cannot risk that over my curiosity.

I told myself, "I have to start from somewhere though. The only one I know as her friend is Bonnie. Maybe she will help me." I planned how to approach Bonnie without making it obvious to her that I'm trying to remove the layers from her friend. Putting my mind to rest with the thought of taking Bonnie's help, I could gather some sleep finally.

Author's Note : I know this is coming too late. It's been almost 2 months since I last uploaded for this book But I participated for the JustWriteIt Wattpad Contest and had been working on that novel and is still on... so this got more delayed than I planned. But, this story is closest to my heart as it's my first ever novel and a fanfiction of artists and series , I adore. So, I just thought to go through it and well here is the outcome of it - a new chapter for you guys. I hope you all enjoy reading this. I'm not making any promises because with me, nothing works as planned but I do plan to work on it by mid january or so and complete it asap.

Feedbacks are so welcomed. Don't forget to vote and comment, if you liked reading. It motivates me soo much. :)

Apologies for the delay, Thank you's for the support and understanding and Best Wishes for A fresh new year to all my readers.