His body ached as the stinging in his facial features set in. This wasn’t Daniel’s first time being slapped… oh it was far from it. But it was one of the times that hurt the most. Because it was coming from Delilah Hawthorne. A girl who understood him in ways that no one else did. Because they were always one and the same; two people that would forever be connected through the personas they put on for other people. But not to each other. In an odd way; Daniel and Delilah knew each other better than they knew themselves. And so this - this very moment; Daniel Parker knew he had f*cked up. And what is the only thing a f!ck up can do? F!ck sh*t up more. Especially Daniel Parker; knowing what to do in these types of situations was never a strong suit and this meoment didn’t change that.
“You’re not sorry,”
… But I am. He wanted to say something along the lines that he was more sorry in this moment than he had ever been about anything in his life. That everything he had done in the past that labeled him as the bad guy he was known as didn’t compare to the guilt he felt now. But instead; Daniel’s face remained hardened. His emotions that were previously on full display started disappearing as he looked at her through darkened eyes. He didn’t say anything as she continued on her relentless path; cutting him down. Telling him that he couldn’t be sorry because he would never change who he was. Was she right? Maybe… maybe she was. Maybe Daniel Parker had always been a bad person and Delilah had finally realized that even she wasn’t immune to the self-destructive nature that Daniel was and that he caused to other people. Every word she said felt like a stab to his chest; an ache he wouldn’t be able to remove. One that was forever sealed in stone when she said “And how can I ever forgive you…” though he didn’t really liisten to the next part.
Instead; as Delilah Hawthrone begin talking about how he didn’t mean anything and he simply didn’t want to look like a bad guy - well, he did what she expected of him. He did what everyone f*cking expected of him because he was simply and would forever be Daniel Parker; ultimate screw up. So he scoffed, Rubbing his chin; he looked at her. Walking towards her once again as she backed up against the wall. She was scared of him. Everyone was. Daniel looked at her - a small piece of guilt bubbling to the surface but he pushed it back down. Instead; Daniel found his head going to her ear. If that’s what she thought of him; that he was capable of doing that. To purposefully hurting her of all people. Well. To hell with it. His ear on hers he sighed. “I suggest you don’t ever touch me again Hawthorne. You might end up regretting it in the future. And you’re right Delilah; I’m not capable of being sorry. Because I am who I have always been. Someone who only f!cking cares about myself. So go play pretend. Hide your tears. And let me embody that person you hate so damn much okay?” Daniel muttered, moving his lips away to face her in her eyes. “I never said I was a good person Delilah. I never made any promises to you that I would be. So stop acting like this is on me. You’re the one who got in bed with a piece of sh!t,” he stated; taking a few step backs with that one before turning around and leaving her in the dressing room.
Though once the door was closed; Dan could feel the guilt in what he said taking over. She wanted him to be bad guy. The guy who did all of this on purpose. Maybe… just maybe… he’d give it to her. Maybe that would give her the closure she needed because Daniel Parker couldn’t pretend to be any less f*cked up than he was. He could, however, hide the less f!cked up parts people couldn’t fathom that he had. All or nothing - and Daniel might as well give it his all.
With that in mind; Daniel walked back to his seat; his emotions unreadable. Partly because he didn’t even know what was happening. But he felt safe in this. This persona that people hated. It was a role that Daniel clearly played well. So hate him. Hate away - there was safety in doing something he knew. And being the all-hated Daniel Parker was something he knew well.
@novella - he’s gonna sooooo regret that later but yep.