NATEHe says nothing.He does not turn to glare at me. Or to give me that look of his that makes me feel so pathetic inside.I just hear him inhale and exhale deeply."Sometimes, in fact, most times, parenting can be a pain in the ass. It is scary. Because kids are just so…. unpredictable." He sighs, still staring out at the atmosphere. "Just when you think you have everything all figured out and mapped clean, the loopholes and glitchy errors just come back to bite you in the ass."He pauses for a while.Okay…. I honestly do not know or understand where the hell this conversation is heading to. I have never heard or seen him talk like this before. Not to anyone.And definitely not to me. This is the first time I am witnessing this side of him. It looks too real to be true. But it is happening.Also, sitting this close to him, I can clearly see that Cathy was indeed right. He looks really pale."Cathy said you and mum had a really bad argument yesterday."It took everything in me to p
TASHADamn. Finally, it is winter formal.I check myself out again and again in front of my mirror, adjusting my hair and makeup once more. I am dressed in a midnight blue, long slitted dress that snags to my body curves perfectly. The deep chest V-line exposes enough skin for my silver necklace with a heart shaped pendant to nestle freely above the dip of my breasts.I smile to myself in approval as I access myself in the mirror again.I am Tasha Quinn. And I fucking love how I look tonight."You look so beautiful darling." My mum chuckles. I am on Facetime with her right now. She will be coming back from her trip next week. I miss her so much.Gosh. I wonder what will happen to me when the time comes for me to leave her for college.I sigh before turning around to my laptop on my reading table. "Should I change my earrings?" My fingers pick nervously at the crystals of the silver dangling earrings I am wearing. "Maybe I sh—""Babyyyy, you are perfect. I get that you want to look daz
TASHAI straighten up on my seat."Hello everyone!" Claire begins. Almost everyone claps. "First of all, Sam and I are so happy to be in this year's winter formal dance committee."Like they have always been every single year."Anyway," Samantha takes over from her sister. "In case you forgot to vote for our winter formal royalty, too late. The results are already here with me." She chuckles into the microphone, waving a black envelope in the air. They are announcing results already!? I think we came a littleeee late to this party."So, without further ado, tonight," she opens the envelope, "your winter formal king and winter formal queen are…." Her eyes shine in surprise, "Mira Lee and Nick Carson."A few seconds of silence settles across the room before it is erupted with shouts and loud claps.Mira and Nick!? Whoah. I stand up from my chair as I join everyone in clapping for them both. The lights shine on Mira and Nick as the both of them walk up to the stage, smiling at each othe
TASHADear God....As they drag the protesting Jason out, the entire students trudge behind, taking pictures with their phones, whispering and asking all sorts of questions. The school guards quickly move into action and crowd control, blocking the main entrance and allowing only the police officers and Jason to pass through.Principal Salazar appears from nowhere with a pair of other school guards that clear the way for her as she quickly rushes to the main entrance. She looks angry and utterly devastated as she follows the police officers out, dialing frantically on her phone."Okay everyone! Back inside please!" Vice Principal Martins's voice breaks into the air from the microphone, calling out to everybody. "DJ, start the music!"As the muttering loud crowd slowly begins to calm down and focus on the fast tempo music now playing, I remain glued to my spot. Trying to understand what the hell just happened a few minutes ago.I feel Nate's hand slip into mine, wrapping around my fing
FEW MONTHS LATERTASHAToday, Nate just got signed into one of the biggest professional fighting leagues. To say that I am super happy and proud of him will be an understatement compared to how thrilled I am right now.After everything, he finally made it. He is finally on the right track to pursue what he loves.And so am I.After overdoses of caffeine, my mum's prayers, Nate's endless support and encouragement and tons of my sleepless nights spent on panicking and drafting the best essay possible that I prayed to be my winning ticket into my dream university, I finally made it in.I got accepted into CalArts to study photography. I have always wanted to be a professional photographer. To see the beauty of the world through the lens and possibly have my own photo gallery and maybe even a bigger photo art museum someday in the future.Getting accepted into my dream school is my first valid, bold step towards achieving that dream.I am sure my dad is super proud of me."Here you go." N
1. Memories. DIANE ‘You must be new here.’ ‘Watch your back.’ ‘Stay away from me!’ 'Run!’ 'I will find you, no matter where you hide.’ 'Come out wherever you are.’ 'Keep quiet you bitch.’ 'Is he fucking dead?’ 'You killed my son!’ 'This is not over.’ ‘Diane–!’ My eyes tear open with the force of the scream that yelled my name in my nightmare. I gasp for air as I shoot up straight on the mattress. Beads of sweat trickle down the sides of my face and neck. My heart is pounding wildly as I struggle to calm down my heavy panting. "Dear God.” I mutter, scooting backwards to the headboard. I relax my shivering body on the cold porcelain wood and shut my eyes, exhaling heavily. Fuck. Despite my slightly blurred vision, I manage to open my eyes to check out the time on my bedside clock. 4:30am. I sigh and look away. Gently, I take in deep breaths, one after the other. A few seconds later, I feel the loud pounding of my heart subsiding, but I continue to inhale and exhale mo
DIANE Tasha got to discover my dumped, bedridden talent when she caught me struggling to draw a damn lizard during one of the days she visited me in rehab.She was shocked, because she knew how talented I was before the rift that later happened between us back then. When she started nudging me endlessly for answers, I had no other option than to open up and tell her everything that happened during that summer eve between me and my mother.From that day onward, Tasha swore never to leave me alone until I got my talent back on track.She never failed to give me drawing prompts on a regular basis. She would always visit me. A lot. And she never failed, not once, to bring sketch pads and art pencils for me.She even went as far as curating an intensive, well detailed list of popular comic character artists with their work portfolios that I could learn and get more inspiration from.Drawing classes were part of the extracurricular sessions in the rehab center that helped some of us in pra
DIANEAfter about an hour later, I return to my room to shower and pack up the rest of my stuff before Marissa’s chauffeur arrives to pick me up and drive me to my new apartment.I lock my door, get rid of my earphones and sweaty clothes, and then proceed to the bathroom to thoroughly wash the sweat off my body.Currently, I am staying in a hotel room not very far from the airport. I lodged in here when I flew into London two nights ago. I have no relatives here in London. No close friends too, which makes this place the perfect, riskiest escape hub for me.I finally step into the shower enclosure and press the ‘warm’ button. Water rushes out from the shower head in torrents and rains down on my hair and naked skin.It is both warm and slightly hot. Just the right blend that my muscles and joints need right now.Loving the warm relaxation it is giving me right now, I allow the water to stream down my body a couple more minutes.Marissa King is a darling. When I told her about my dire s
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