TASHAThe rays of the afternoon sun slithers through the windows of the cafeteria, burning mildly on my skin as I take a chunk bite of my chicken burger. Nate steals one of my apples from my tray, and I smack his arm. He still has his apples, and yet, he is stealing mine.Marco and Jennie are seated on the two chairs opposite us on the table, their backs turned to the giant blue banner beside the door of the cafeteria displaying a reminder that the Winter Formal Dance is next week Friday.I do not like attending school dances. I get dragged into them. When Jason and I were dating in the past, he would sugar-force me into going to the school dances with him, and as his girlfriend, I mostly felt obligated to go with him to the dances, not because I REALLY wanted to go.Almost all the official school dances that happen here in Westville High are strictly ballroom themed. It is not that I do not love ballroom dances. I do. But I do not like Waltz. I love attending the dances from the pers
TASHAMore of her pictures pour in, including a video showing her head bent backwards, her eyes shut as she relishes in the esctasy of the whitish substance, some of which are coating her nostrils. The video is explicitly showing that she is getting high on drugs in a bright lavishly furnished room. I squint my eyes closer and notice that the outfit she is wearing in the video is the same bikini outfit she wore at Conrad's party last time. Loud music is also booming in the background of the video.If my guess is right, it means she was doing drugs at Conrad's party back then. But Diane. . . . .the Diane I know does not do drugs.In fact, I do not know anything anymore. And whoever took that video of her is really sneaky and cruel. Why did they even post it!?Fuck."What the hell?" Jennie tries muttering quietly, looking up from her phone and turning around, staring at Diane. "This is unbelievable."Loud waves of whispers fill the entire atmosphere. Shocked expressions from everyone pin
TASHAI wait for Diane by her locker after school dismissal, despite the tiny voice inside my head telling me to abandon talking to her and go home and just avoid her and her problems. She has her bitchy friends afterall.But I can't. I just. . . . .can't.I take a quick glance on my phone to check the time as I continue to wait. I hate her, but I want to know what really happened. I want to know how and when she started her new addiction. I want to know about her bruises. How she got them. And somehow, no matter how much I tried to deny it all day, a part of me wants to be there for her. To hold her, and maybe, hug her.Claire and Samantha avoided her like a dreadful plague all day after she came back from the Principal's office, looking so broken and torn. If there is still any tiny piece of the Diane I know still left in her, then I am sure she will need every glue she can get. The Diane I know cracks down under pressure. Pressure from her mother. Pressure from expectations. Pressu
TASHAAfter changing into some fresh bum shorts and a tank top, I make my way down to the kitchen to get some snacks and fruit juice for us. Coming out from the kitchen with the refreshments, I see that Nate has already made himself comfortable on the longest fluffy sofa in the sitting room, his shirt hanging on the armrest of the sofa. Some of his messy hair curls fall over his eyes, his fingers punching away at his phone screen. My pulse quickens as I just continue to watch him relaxing there on the sofa, half naked. Looking carefree and so fucking gorgeous. I snap back to my senses when I begin to feel the weight of the snacks and packs of fruit juice that I am carrying in my hands. I gently keep them down on the dining table behind me and slip out my phone from the pocket of my bum shorts. Without a flash, I take a couple unknown pictures of him sitting there, lost in his phone. He looks so effortlessly hot. He is my supermodel. I smile to myself as I tuck back my phone into my
TASHAWe continue kissing even when we get to my room. My legs are still wrapped around him as one of my hands leaves his shoulders to open the door. Once we get inside, he kicks the door closed behind him."Your room smells heavenly." He groans against my lips, his nose grazing along mine. I blush a smile against his mouth. "Thanks."He captures my mouth into another kiss, carrying me to my bed. He lays me down gently on the bed, his mouth still tangled with mine. The soft manner in which he cradles my body intensifies my love and lust for him, turning me on the more. Gosh, I fucking love him.His body hovers above me, settling between my thighs, his elbows angling him so he does not press down on me. I want to touch him everywhere. To feel him everywhere I can. My fingers roam across his broad shoulders, the thick muscles of his chest and stomach, wildly tracing through every curve and line and dip before sliding upwards to the back of his head and fisting into his hair, tugging a
TASHAHis naked body is settled between my thighs, his cock long and thick, pressed so close to my core entrance dripping with my wetness. I ache beneath him, my skin tingling everywhere. I want to feel him buried inside me. Fucking me. Claiming me. Pleasuring me.His mouth detangles from my lips, his face pulling away, his eyes fixed into mine. He looks a bit nervous. I am too.But we both definitely want this."I want to make love to you right now." he whispers to me. "Can I?"My insides melt at his words. "Yes." I murmur to him. Fuck yes I scream in my head. God fucking knows how bad I want him buried inside me right now.I watch him reach into the pocket of his jeans where I had tossed the clothing, pulling out a condom packet. My body writhes in burning anticipation as his teeth tear the foil sheet of the condom. His hand slips the condom onto his cock, the latex fitting around his thick, long member perfectly. My mouth waters just staring at the perfection, the wetness between m
NATEI blink awake to the crack lights of sunset oranges and purples trailing through the window blinds into Tasha's room, the rays washing over our barely covered bodies nestled halfway under the bedsheets. As I pull the sheets up, Tasha stirs beside me, still asleep, and all the memories flood back to me in a sweet, mind-blowing rush.I remember every single kiss, every single moan of my name on her lips, the warmth of her fingers tracing through my scar, the way her eyes locked into mine as I made love to her, the ecstasy that filled me when she unraveled before me, with her body wrapped perfectly around me, taking me down into the throes of pleasure with her. . . . . .I feel my cock twitch between my thighs, but I inhale a deep breath to calm myself.Fuck.She is my sweetest addiction.Tasha is lying on her side, her face turned to me, one side of her cheeks buried in the pillow. She is breathtakingly beautiful. Like a goddess. My goddess. The rays of the sunset sprinkle on her f
NATEWhen I arrive home, I park my motorcycle in the garage and begin to walk towards the house. The moment I step inside, the thick aroma of grilled steak fills my nostrils.I halt in my tracks, still sniffing the air. We seldom have steak dinner in this house, but there is only one gothic girl in the entire Adams family who is crazy in love and married to steak. There is no way—"And the rebel king is back!" A familiar chirpy voice shrieks behind me, and I jump back in shock just the same time I snap around to see my sister Cathy flicking her tongue over her teeth in that familiar smirky smile of hers that just fucking screams mischief. "Oh my God Cath!" I clutch my hand to my chest. "Were you trying to kill me?"She smirks harder. "You know I can't afford to be the only child dude."I drop my bag on the sofa near me. "When the hell did you get back?""This evening." She suddenly unfolds her arms from her chest and takes a step towards me, sniffing my clothes. "Something is off wit
Dearest Reader, My heart is full. Writing Diane and Leo’s story has been a beautiful unforgettable adventure, and I hope it brought you as much joy, tension, laughter, and definitely a few buckets of tears as it did to me. Diane and Leo are two characters I will never forget. Their journey from enemies to friends and finally to hardcore soulmates was crafted with the same ups and downs that make real life so beautifully complex. My baby girl Diane, most especially, gripped me by the throat throughout her journey in this book, and I cried several times whenever I found myself digging and exploring deeper and deeper into her mind and who she truly is. Leo King, well, he played with my heart as well. He made me believe he was some rich fucking brat who couldn't care less about anything, only to crash me with the truth of who he really is—a true lover king with so much indepth layers that had me lusting and thirsting for more. Thank you for staying with Diane and Leo through every twi
THREE YEARS LATER DIANE I wake up submerged in paralyzing pleasure that sends shivers sizzling down my spine. Warm lips, a hot tongue, and the unmistakable expert touch of the man I love. My body reacts instantly, stretching beneath him as I surrender to the bliss he is inflicting into every cell in my body. This is Leo’s favorite way of waking me up—and, if I am honest, mine too. I love our morning fun so damn much. “Leo…” I breathe out, my fingers threading through his dark strands, clutching tightly as he teases me, pushing me toward the edge of pleasure with every flick of his tongue, every stroke of his fingers. He knows every spot, every way to pull me apart and put me right back together again. I feel myself melting into the softness of the bed, barely able to keep my eyes open. Leo is there, between my legs, working his magic, his mouth and fingers moving with a determination that is both sweet and very sinful. I tangle my fingers in his hair, holding him to me like he
‘All I do is win.’— All I Do Is Win by DJ Khaled, Ludacris, Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg & T PainFOUR WEEKS LATER DIANEThe entire departmental auditorium is buzzing with energy, filled with students, distinguished professors, and families all seated in anticipation.It is the annual game competition event, and the tension in the air as everyone waits for the announcement of the winners is so thick that a knife can easily slice through it without stress.I am standing beside Crys amongst other competitors, our hands clasped tightly together as we look up at the stage. My heart pounds as I take in the scene before switching my attention to the rest of the audience, searching for the same familiar faces there that are present to cheer me today.My parents. Tasha and Nate. Marissa. Dante. Asher.And the king of all, my Leo King.He is seated beside Marissa, looking so dashing and magnificent in a dark blue tailored suit with a seductive smile added to his smexy appearance. Despite how far ap
LEOI swing the door open and step into Frosty's room.My eyes land on her and Tasha sitting together on the bed. They look so happy, with Frosty's face glowing so bright that the sight tugs at something deep within me, causing warmth and relief to settle right in the center of my chest.“Oh, hey, Leo,” Tasha says, spotting me with the small bag containing Frosty’s medications in my hand. Before I can even respond back, she turns swiftly to Frosty and taps Frosty's lap gently.“I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone," she teases, giving her lap a gentle squeeze before she stands up. “I’ll be back tomorrow morning.”“Wait I'll escort you to—”“Don't worry.” Tasha stops her from getting up from the bed. “Just lie back. Also remember to take your meds, alright?”Frosty nods, giving her a soft smile. “Thanks, Tash. For everything.”“You're welcome darling. Goodnight.”They both hug each other before Tasha moves past me, patting my shoulder on her way out.“Take care of her, Leo.”“I will.” T
DIANEI am alive.It has been a few days since the nightmare with Cole. The police officially informed my family that he is fucking dead.He is gone. And so is my nightmare too.Being back in the familiar warmth of my bedroom is pure heaven. I have never liked hospitals, but my stay there was worth it and wasn't boring for me. Crys and Dante always came to see me, Asher dropped by too with lots of dark chocolates. My parents were already with me the next day after I was brought to the hospital.And Tasha, well, she barged in a few hours after my parents first arrived and literally slept in the hospital with me and Leo throughout my entire stay there.The duration was short though, because I didn't sustain deep injuries and was just kept there for a few checkups and to stabilize my health.Now, I am back home, and thank God that I am propped up in my bed, with a cozy blanket draped over my body. Tasha’s boyfriend, Nate, couldn’t come, but he sent his love, as well as a giant, absurdly
LEOIt is fucking scary how the people we love can be ripped away from us so fast in the blink of an eye.A chilling wind whips through the abandoned warehouse district as I pull up to the location that bastard sent to me. Yesterday's passing has stretched my nerves to their breaking point, and every second I spend away from Frosty feels like an eternity of torture since I got that horrifying call.I step out of the car and close the door, my gaze set firmly on the cold bricked structure in the distance.Gripping the money bag tightly,—one million dollars in cash—I feel the leather biting into my skin. My heart pounds, fear clenching in my chest and making it difficult for me to breathe properly.But I can't let my fear and anxiety show. Not with Frosty’s life on the line. Not with that deranged bastard waiting to kill her if I slip up.Detective Kane stands a few blocks away, spying on the area with his team. I don't need to turn to check if he is in position because I know he alread
DIANEMy eyes flutter open, my vision still a little blurry as I survey my surroundings.The dimness of this dusty place looms around me, doing nothing to help stabilize my sight. My wrists ache, and I realize that I am tied to the back of a chair, with the cold metal digging into my skin.I struggle against the binding ropes, feeling bruises forming from each twist and pull as I yank forcefully.However, it is pointless.The ropes are too tight, and every time I shift, the chair groans, echoing ominously through the vacant space. Fuck.I can barely wrap my mind around the horror of what is happening to me. Today was supposed to be filled with good news. The new hopeful beginning I now have with my mum. The moment I have dreamed and waited my whole life for.The closure, the forgiveness…No evil omen should have happened today. But now, being here like this, I feel like my life is about to be taken away from me.This situation nauseates me, and my stomach churns at the thought with a
DIANE A WEEK LATER “Mum, I am only here because Dad convinced me so much to give you a chance. And because I want to. I'd hate if it all goes for nothing.”My voice is steady, although the emotions swirling within me now feels like a storm I am barely trying to prevent from crashing all over me.Sitting here with Kate Brandon feels almost like I am watching this moment from the outside of a charred plane of glass. She is settled across from me in the quiet corner booth of the diner I chose, the one where Dante, Crys, and I came to when she first moved into her new apartment.I chose this place because its familiarity feels like a shield of protection, not some alien restaurant that only brings me nausea and tension.My mother looks at me with softened eyes, nodding slowly. Her hands are clasped tightly around her mug of coffee as if it is her lifeline.A small frown is creased across her forehead as she speaks. “Thank you, Diane. I know I don’t deserve this. Not after everything. I.
DIANEI am lying on Leo’s bed, feeling the warmth of his skin pressed against mine as he stretches out beside me. We are freshly showered and now wrapped in each other's arms.His steady breaths match the rhythm of my own, and I am here with him, wearing one of his oversized shirts that does little to hide my ass. The cotton feels soft against my skin, and I'd be lying if I deny that I am not falling in love with him all over again because of how fucking good his familiar scent keeps intoxicating me.Gosh.We both have been quiet for a while, just enjoying the warmth of each other's skins and letting the morning light filter in through the blinds, casting its soft streaks across the room and over us.Leo is my safe haven. He makes baring out my mind and feelings to him so easy and without any fear of judgements.I know I have told him so many things about me, secrets that I don't share with just anyone. And that is because he earned my trust. He didn't take advantage of me when he cle