His Forbidden Mate

Atlas

DIANE

I haven’t spoken to my mom since I returned. I wasn’t in the mood to speak to her. I’ve been trying to put myself together and be positive after everything.

A lot has been going on in my mind. I cannot help but feel uncomfortable.

I’m back home but it doesn’t feel like home. I heard a knock on my door and I lifted my head from the desk I rested my head on.

“Hey honey,” it was my mom and she stood by the side of the door.

When I came back to my room, there is a bed and a desk but the room was still empty. I guess while I was away she brought them back.

I was still hurt by what she did. They couldn’t have waited for a while. How could they just give up? As much as I didn’t want it to hurt me, I couldn’t. It hurts so much.

“It’s time for dinner. Why don’t you come and have something to eat,” she said, walking closer to me.

My stomach rumbled at that moment. I was hungry and that’s the truth but I didn’t feel like eating. I was nervous about everything. Just how much changed? If my parents could move on in six weeks then I’m sure people I’m not related to moving on the next week after I was kidnapped.

I couldn’t help but think of Noah and if he had moved on too. It would kill me to know that he had moved on. If he could wait for years for us to get together, six more weeks shouldn’t be a problem, or should it?

“Please come and have something. Please my love,” she squats in front of me.

“Fine,” I replied, getting up from where I was seated.

It would take a while but I’d get over this. I told myself.

“I made your fav for dinner, just how you like it,” she tells me and I force a smile on my face before walking out of my room.

————————

“It’s going to be fine. It’s going to be fine. It’s going to be fine,” I told myself over and over again as I stood a foot away from the school premises.

It’s been over five days since I returned and today is my first day at school. Knowing that Linda saw me, she must have spread the news around for everyone and I’m sure she added a little bit of spice because that’s what she’s good at.

I took in a deep breath and exhaled once again before taking a step towards the school premises. Just as I got to the school Premises, a car drove by and I recognized the car.

Ashley Benson, the girl that competed with me for the cheerleading captain position and also my rival.

I turned the other way and began to work. I’d be lying if I wasn’t bothered. Dylan and Linda already saw me and Noah is best friends with Dylan so I’m sure Dylan already told him about me so why didn’t Noah come to see me?

As much as I tried to excuse it, I couldn’t help but feel that something was up. I couldn’t help but feel there was a lot that I didn’t know about and that happened in my absence it made me remember the words Linda was about to say to me but ended up not saying.

I wanted to ask my mother if Noah comes to see her or talks about me but I couldn’t because I didn’t want to hear anything that would further ruin my mood.

“Diane.”

I halted on my track when I heard someone call my name.

“It is you. The rumors are true.”

That voice belongs to Ashley and her voice still makes me cringe.

“It isn’t a rumor. Linda won’t say things that aren’t real. She’s back after disappearing. Someone said she appeared in front of Dylan’s car and disappeared shortly.” One of Ashley’s mu in chuckled and I clenched my fist.

What ridiculous rumors. Who told them of such? I couldn’t believe my ears but that’s something Linda could do.

I contemplated if I should turn and give them a befitting reply or if I should walk away but the Ashley came in front of me.

“It’s her. Hi Diane,” she waved at me, grinning wide and I felt the urge to remove that smile from her face.

“Wow. So you disappeared on your birthday and appeared back. Where did you go to and why did you come back? How could you just disappear on your birthday before even cutting the cake and making the guest worried? That’s bad of you. So where did you celebrate your eighteenth birthday?“ she questioned, folding her arms across her chest.

I glanced at her from head to toe. I refuse to answer any of her questions and I know what it is that she’s trying to do so I won’t give in.

I walked past her but suddenly felt someone grab my hair and pull my back. “I’m still talking to you so where the f**k are you going to?” She cursed and I wince in pain.

I removed her hold from my hair. “What is wrong with you!” I chided.

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing is wrong with me. I was speaking to you and you decided to walk away. What gives you the right to walk out of me? Have you gone mad?” She retorted.

Her minims all surrounded me. “I’m sure she doesn’t know what’s up yet. For almost two months while she was busy doing only Heaven knows what, a lot changed and we will just have to show her the hard way,” one of Ashley's minions said from behind me and I turned to look at her.

“And what are you guys talking about?” I questioned.

Ashley scoffed. “Don’t act stupid Diane. Things changed. While you were gone, I took over. I am the main person now and you are a nobody. Don’t come and act as if you had a position before because you have none and I am the one in authority, got that?” She pushed me.

I have never been one that they boss around. I have always been in charge and I won’t let someone make me feel less. I refuse to make her feel too comfortable and think she can easily ride me because I can and no one will.

“You don’t have to do all of this if you are indeed in authority as you claim. I mean, why are you so worried? I just came back. Or are you worried that I would take your spot? Are you worried that everything that is yours will be mine again?” I remarked, walking past her but making sure to bump into her.

If I hadn’t acted that way then I’d be giving her an edge over me.

I exhaled deeply. “That went well,” I muttered to myself.

———————-

It’s been two days and I haven’t seen Noah at school. Each time I got to where I thought I’d find him, he is either not around or he left and it made me worried.

I have not failed to notice the stares I got from everyone and each time they stared at me, they whispered amongst themselves and it made me worried. There were times I wanted to cry but I held myself.

Everything felt different. Everyone was acting differently towards me and the ones I called friends weren’t acting like one.

I blame Lucien for it. If only he had not kidnapped me. My eighteenth birthday was supposed to be the best but Lucien ruined it for me.

Everything felt different as if I was new here meanwhile I was gone for almost two months. Everyone spoke to me differently and everyone looked at me differently and each time I tried to blend in, I just couldn’t.

I came out of the restroom after crying. I rinsed my face and stared at myself in the mirror.

“It’s all fine Diane. You will do just fine. Just keep going and it will be well,” I told myself.

I walked out of the bathroom shortly and I bumped into two girls. “I’m so sorry,” I quickly apologized.

“It’s fine,” they said and I had not failed to notice he they stared at me before walking away.

“I saw Noah. He was with Ashley on the field. I wanted to speak to him but he seems busy so I didn’t bother,” I heard one of the girls I bumped into say, and I got alerted immediately.

Finally, I’d get to see Noah. I immediately walked towards the direction of the field hoping to see him. As excited as I was to see him, I was also nervous too.

Noah would be the only one that would make me feel at ease. He won’t make me feel like the rest of the others and I couldn’t wait to be in his arms again.

With a big smile on my face, I reached the field only to spot Noah and Ashley from afar. The smile on my face fell when I noticed that they weren’t just standing together but were locking their lips and worse making out in public.

I felt my heart sink and the knots in my stomach tighten.

This is not true. My eyes must be deceiving me. There is no way that is Noah and Ashley. I convinced myself as I made my way toward them. I felt my legs weak but I kept walking with my heart aching.

I had not realized I had begun to cry until I tasted the salty tears in my mouth.

It’s indeed Noah and Ashley and they seem to be happy with each other.

“No—ah,” I called, in a frantic state.

Noah pulled back from Ashley but his arms were still firmly on her waist.

“Diane,” he called.

He seemed shocked to see me as if he wasn’t expecting me.

“What’s… what’s going on here?“ I questioned.

A smirk formed on Ashley’s face.

“What do you think is going on?” She questioned, wounding her arms around Noah’s neck and he didn’t remove it.

I felt my already shattered heart, shatter again.

“Wh… you… how….”

“What is it? Why are you surprised? Noah and I are together. The whole school knows about it so why are you acting as if you didn’t hear about it?” He chided.

I glanced at Noah and then at Ashley and back at him. He exhaled. “Let’s talk Diane,” she said and I shook my head in disbelief.

“Let’s talk? Talk about what?” My voice almost failed me as it came out lower than I anticipated.

“Noah, what do you want to talk to her about? You can tell her here because I wouldn’t want you having conversations with her in private,” Ashley uttered.

“Is it true?” I asked him, locking eyes with him and hoping he tells me there is an explanation for all of this because there is absolutely no way Noah began to date someone in my absence. For how long have they been dating? I couldn’t help but think about all of it.

“Yes.” He replied and I felt my heart sink again.

“Wow,” I muttered in shock.

“We began to date, a week after you disappeared. Noah likes me and I feel the same and besides, there is…”

“Ashley, can you allow me?“ Noah cuts her off and she kept shut.

“Diane, let’s talk,” he said, removing his arms around Ashley’s waist to come closer to me and I shook my head.

I didn’t want to hear what he has to say. Everyone has failed me. The ones I considered my own to have failed me and it hurts.

“Don’t. Don’t…” I shook my head as I moved away from him. Shortly I ran away. I couldn’t stay there any longer or I’d break down.