Chapter 34

Diana's P. O. V

Pablo drove back home after some minutes, I watched him drive away and my heart went out to him.

"Maybe there's more to Michael than meets the eye."I thought before walking to my front door and walking inside.

As expected my mum was sitting in a circle she drew with a black marker, she moved some furniture aside. I shrugged then sat inside of the circle as well.

"What we say in the circle..."she said and waited for me to finish her statement, I stared at her blankly, not in the mood to talk at all.

"Stays in the circle."I muttered  back to her, looking down at my crossed feet. "Starting with me."She said and gripped her shirt.

"I lost my job and started working as a PA, to Xander Tyler. A friend of Pablo's mother"She said. My heart sunk. Did she just say Xander... as in, Xander Tyler, cold, heartless, precise.

Who also, might I add happened to be Makela's father, which made him Michael's dad as well.

"I had to leave early to his house and stay till I was dismissed. "She said.

"Why did you agree to such terms? "I managed to ask, "I had no choice really. I have sent one or two job applications here and there, but...nothing yet."mum said.

She stopped talking and looked at me, for some reason I couldn't pin point. Was I supposed to say something back to her?

"Are you mad? "She asked killing the silence, was I mad at her? A little bit, but am disappointed more than mad. Am sad.

"No."I said, she looked relived, "but am disappointed."I said, a smile lit up her face. "Am the mom here, am usually the one left disappointed."she teased.

"Not this time, that was reckless and irresponsible, you can't just jump at the first opportunity that lands your way for Pete's sake! You don't know this man."I scolded.

"He's not a criminal or anything and he's a father of two kids, he's responsible, grouchy at some level, but internally, he's has a  cockroach phobia and an obsession with caffeine. He may be cold and hard headed, but he's a good human being who just needs proper guidance..."

"Hold up! Am I hearing wedding bells? "I teasingly asked, before remembering that he was Michael's father. I can't be the step sister to my pretend boyfriend now can I?.

"No! "Mom quickly said, and I could swear she blushed I saw it. "Am trying to look beneath the surface, and I know it's not my line of work, but am glad I didn't end up doing something really bad."she said.

"Why don't we make a pact."I said, she raised a brow, "no lies and no secrets. We will both tell each other the naked truth from now on."I proposed. She seemed taken by surprise, she stared at me, I stretched out my hand to shake on it.

"No Lies, no secrets."she said and returned the handshake, "you can't lie to me either okay? "She stated. Did that mean I had to come clean about the whole pretend girlfriend thing? She didn't ask right? So that technically isn't lying!

I stood up to go get some rest, my weekend was fully booked. Studying all throughout Saturday, then Sunday evening, Stephen and I would go have his makeover. He made me swear not to carry June along and I agreed to it. Just this once though.

This is going to be a very long weekend!.

********

That was the shortest weekend of my life! And one of the most hysterical. Who knew that Stephen was petrified of escalators! I had to drag him to get on, he insisted he usually shopped online.

We went to eight different stores trying to find him the perfect look, but all the clothes were either not his style or oversized.

Till we found a very convenient store that we got something! Stephen hates leather! And I made sure to slap enough leather on those thighs! We visited a baber shop and got him a new hairdo. We got rid of the awkward bang he carried around that didn't compliment his well clefted chin.

He looked like he would blow a fuse once the barber thought that him dyeing his hair white would look dope. We didn't though, but I would have liked to see that.

We shopped accessories, well I shopped, he busied himself on his phone the entire time, looking very uninterested.

Our last stop was at an eye clinic, he visited on Thursday and we were picking up his contact lens on Sunday. Green contacts.

We stopped by a movie theatre and watched an old horror movie, he seemed up for it and had the money to pay.

He seemed to have a lot of money come to think of it, he barely made a face when he saw the price tags. And the barber did call a handsome sum of money for his haircut. Not to talk of the accessories!

After the movie, I confirmed all my doubts, his driver picked him up, and might I add, in a luxurious convertible.

I waved at him and took the bus home, Michael hadn't texted me, and I didn't want to be the first person to text him.

Truth be told, am starting to feel like he needs his space and am just cramping his style.

Maybe I should text and just say stuff like, how was the game?.

No! Then he'd ask why I wasn't around for it, and I can't get into the details of that episode.

I could fake that I was sick, yeah, I'll tell him I fell sick on Friday and couldn't come to the game that night. But what sickness could I lie about? A cold? Flu? Chicken pox?

"Guess I'll just wait till Monday to see which lucky sickness I'll pick to have."I said while getting off the bus.

MONDAY MORNING.

Mom dropped me off at school today, I knew she did it to try lessen the pain she was feeling. She packed my lunch and saw me off at the gate, I weakly waved at her before walking into the school. This felt like deja vú.

I walked in the halls and headed to my locker.

"Hufflepuffs rock! "I said and my locker unlocked, and yes...that was my voice recognition code, deal with it!

I received some awkward stares, it's like people flushed out manners and just openly stare at everything they derive pleasure from.

Assholes!

Maybe it was because I was wearing Michael's sweater, what if they lost the game and I was wearing the sweater?! That would be so dumb, I ran off to first period once the bell sounded, and of course! It had to be History!.

I walked in and spotted an empty seat next to Michael, I quickly took the opportunity and sat beside him.

He was wearing my sweater, and my heart skipped a beat, he DID like it. That's a good sign, so now what do I say to him?.

He seemed to not notice my presence, he barely said anything mean or offensive towards me.

His face was in his book, I summoned courage and tapped him, he didn't even flinch at my touch. I furrowed my brows, and tapped him again.

Still no reaction. Something was definitely wrong now.

"Michael? Are you okay? "I asked, whispered rather, but it was as if no one was there.

"Hey...if it's about the game then I had a bad cough and was in bed..."

"Mr Theodore! Can I switch seats? Miss Netwood is not letting me focus."he said.

Immediately all eyes were fixed on me, I became immobile and forgot to breathe for a seconds.

"Is there a problem class rep? "Mr T asked, I bit my lip and switched seats with somebody else. I sat in front and buried my head in my book in shame.

Class ended!.

I wanted to be the last one to leave so I could talk to Michael properly. He was acting up weirdly and I knew something was wrong with him.

I caught him about to leave and stood up to go talk to him. But before I could make a move Samantha walked into the room and pulled him into a kiss!.

And to top things off, he kissed back!

A/N: Thanks for all the love darlings! See you all in the next chapter! Phew! I took a while to get this one up, was busy and couldn't find time to write. I might do the unthinkable and Triple update tomorrow!!!!!!!!

I know...I know...too many exclamation marks.

But seriously though, I may or may not triple update. I hope I do though.