Chapter 31

Diana's P. O. V

My alarm went off five am, I groaned and reluctantly got out of bed. I had to get to school early to clean the chemistry lab. Last night drained me out, I stood in front of the mirror, feeling the emptiness of my right wrist.

I still hadn't found that bracelet and I had given up looking for it. It held meaning to me, and I was careless enough to let it go. I noticed the hoodie on the dresser, MIKE. 09.

Maybe his birthday was on the 9th, but what month? I picked up my phone and without thinking called Michael. And no, I wasn't going to ask about his birthday. I just wanted to wish him good luck on the game tonight.

The phone rang for a while, he didn't pick up I ended the call and tossed my phone on my bed.

"Did I do something wrong?"I thought aloud, I placed my hand on my chin suggestively, but nothing came to mind. My phone vibrated, it was a text. I hurried to pick it up, hoping it would be Michael but it was Pablo.

Pablo: Wanna ride with me to school?

Me: Sure, but I gotta get to school early.

Pablo: How come?.

Me: Punishment for showing up late to class.

Pablo: Alright senorita, give me an hour.

Me: Okay.

I thought about asking about his mother but my bedroom door flung open. My mum was already dressed and had her hair packed up in a neat bun.

"I thought this wouldn't happen till the day pigs fly"Mom said referring to me waking up so early. I sent her a sappy state and took out my uniform from my wardrobe. I picked up the hoodie and walked to the bathroom to get a bath.

"Thanks for dinner"she said, I nodded and started brushing my teeth. She stood against the door her hands folded across her chest.

"Are we okay?"she asked sounding very melodramatic, "yeah"I said and continued brushing my teeth. She walked to the sink and checked her reflection.

"Are you going to the football game tonight?"she asked. I didn't think she would know about that, she was too invested in her work to even notice I existed.

"Yeah"I said, "talk to me love, you're upset with me. I did something wrong again didn't I?"she asked looking like a sad puppy.

"No, you didn't."I managed to say and finished up with brushing my teeth. I stood at the entrance of the door, hinting for her to leave the room. She placed her hands on her hips and gave me a look.

"I need to bathe"I stressed, "so you're kicking me out?"she asked, "yeah pretty much"I sharply said. She walked up to me and planted a kiss on my forehead. "You really do need a bath you stink"she said in a mellow tone and walked out of the bathroom.

I didn't stink! I actually sniffed myself to make sure of that, I heard the front door open and close, she was out again.

"Where is he?"I thought to myself while waiting outside for Pablo, it was cold this morning and I didn't put on a sweater. I left the hoodie Michael gave me at home and I had no intention of wearing it untill tonight.

Pablo's truck pulling over snapped me out of my thoughts, I looked above to see him smiling at me.

I got in and his dog kicked me, "sorry"Pablo said, "it's alright. But why do you carry him in your car?"I asked. "He had an accident and finds it hard to walk. I rather drive him around than leave him limp in the house alone all day long"He said.

A thought peered into my mind, where did Lola spend her day?

Did she have a job? She has a drinking problem and a drug addiction, where exactly did she work. Or did she have a ton of money and didn't need to work.

"Am sorry"Pablo said, "what was that?"I asked, making sure I heard right. What on Earth could he be apologetic for now?

"I cannot imagine how much you have to go through and how much stress I put you through"Pablo said.

"It's fine really, you don't need to be sorry and I've okayed it"I said. "I know, it's just...with all the stuff happening if I was you, I'd be fucking mad at me"He said.

Stuff? What stuff was he referring to?.

"Yeah, but it's nothing serious that I can't handle"I said. I wanted to stylishly get him to say the stuff I was allegedly going through.

"Still, your mum lost her job and works as a P. A. to..."

"What did you just say? The hell! When did my mum loose her job?!"I asked. I don't Know how he got that information but I needed to confirm it.

The car stopped that moment, I kept my strict gaze on Pablo, he looked at me oddly and started to cuss under his breath.

"Tell me you knew senorita"he pleaded under his breath, but I just glared at him. "Pablo..."

The car grew very silent, I was about to open the door and get out but he held unto my hand.

"I don't know if you were meant to know about it, I shouldn't have said anything"He said.

"How... How did you find out?"I asked, maybe this was some prank, some very stupid prank. Am sure it was Michael's idea.

"She works for a rich man Diana. I saw her and asked my mum she was the one who confirmed it that Mia lost her job"Pablo said. I bit my lip, expecting tears to well up right about now, but they didn't come.

I spread my fingers across my forehead, the car became too silent again. Why did she not tell me? She could trust me! I would have understood!!!

Pablo started the car and drove us to school in silence, I looked down at my skirt the whole drive. My mind was in a trillion places and I knew I needed answers.

Michael's P. O. V

As soon as I was about to walk towards the car, I heard someone call out to me. I looked behind to see Mia standing behind me so innocently looking.

"A word?"she asked, I shrugged my shoulders and she walked towards me.

"You know that I only had your best interest In mind"she started off, "and I know it wasn't your fault that my father is so stuck up"I said unintrested in what she wanted to say.

"Your father is just being difficult, you need patience"she said, "sixteen years isn't enough?"I dryly asked. She kept quiet, "he cares a lot, he has high standards"Mia said in his defence.

"And I've been living up to those frickin standards all my life. He can't just wake up one day and decide to run my life Mia, he just does not have that right"I said.

Last night, the way he acted as if he was above Makela and I, as if he had the right.

"He can't do that to us, we have been fine without having him around so much Mia, don't bother trying to fix what's already beyond repair"I said, and bit my cheek.

She stared at me for some seconds stunned then with warmth, she let the edges of her mouth lift up into a smile.

"Friends and lovers pass away Mike, but Family is forever"she said and ruffled my hair. "You'd better go to school, and just know I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines!"Mia said.

She walked back inside, she was always warm and positive, I couldn't imagine her any other way.

Family is forever, those words resounded in my head during maths class, I was so distracted that I didn't hear the announcement for all the jocks to get on the field. Coach made it compulsory that we spent the half of the school day with him in the locker room. Discussing our weaknesses and our plays.

Today went by in a flash that I hadn't found time to speak to Diana yet. But I figured I'd have enough time to see her after the game anyways. I decided to focus on preparing my team and winning this match. I had to play exceptionally well, after all Mia would watch and I'd have to impress her.

Plus my girlfriend would be cheering me on from the field, I could even get another spicy dance number from her.