Chapter 20 Episode Twenty

Chapter 20 Episode Twenty
Chapter Twenty 

Diana’s POV

I woke up early the next morning, slipping out of Calum’s bed before anyone could notice. He kissed me goodbye at his door, his hand lingering on my waist like he didn’t want to let me go

“See you in class,” he whispered against my hair

I nodded and hurried back to my room. My body still tingled from what we had done last night. Just thinking about his mouth on me made my face heat up

I got ready for the day and did my morning chores quickly. Madelyn barely looked at me when I passed her in the kitchen. Good. That meant she didn’t suspect anything

At campus, I kept my head down like always. The whispers followed me but they were quieter now. Maybe people were getting bored of talking about me

Or maybe they had new gossip to focus on

I went to my morning classes and tried to pay attention. But my mind kept drifting back to Calum. To the way he touched me, the way he looked at me

By lunchtime, I was walking across the quad when my phone buzzed

Unknown number: Meet me at the coffee shop off campus. I want to talk to you about something important. - Kieran

I stared at the text. How did he get my number? Then I remembered, I had given it to him yesterday

I texted back,  I have class this afternoon

Kieran: Skip it then, this is really important. Pretty Please?

I hesitated for a while, I shouldn’t skip class. But something about his message made me curious

So I texted back, Okay, Which coffee shop?

He sent me the address and I headed off campus. The coffee shop was only a ten minute walk away

When I got there, I saw Kieran sitting at a corner table. He waved when he saw me, it was until I waved back that I remembered Calum’s warning 

Well, Im here already…too late to abort now 

I walked over and sat down across from him

“Thanks for coming,” he said with a grin

“What’s so important?” I went straight to the point

“Do you want coffee first? My treat”

“I’m fine. Just tell me why I’m here”

He leaned back in his chair and studied me “You’re different from other girls here”

“Is that what you wanted to tell me? That I’m different?”

“No” He leaned forward “I wanted to tell you that I know what it’s like to be an outsider”

I frowned “You? An outsider? Everyone on campus loves you”

“They love my money, my family name….. They don’t actually know me” His expression turned serious “I transferred here last semester from another school. Back there, things were different”

“Different how?”

“I was the poor kid, the one everyone looked down on” He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes “My family made their money recently, but before that, we had nothing. So I know what it feels like to be judged. To be treated like you’re less than everyone else”

I didn’t know what to say to that

“That’s why I noticed you,” he continued “Because I see myself in you, the way you keep your head down. The way you take their shit but keep going….that takes strength”

“This is so funny, I dokt even know what I’m doing”

“Yes, you do” He reached across the table and took my hand “And I want you to know that you’re not alone. I’m here if you need someone”

I pulled my hand back gently “Kieran, I appreciate that. But I can’t…”

“Can’t what? Be friends?”

“It’s complicated”

“Because of Professor Blackwood”

My heart stopped “What?”

“Come on, Diana, I’m not blind” He said it gently, but that didnt ease the blow, so he too was judge…

“And I’m not judging, I’m just a good observer” he said, as though reading my thoughts 

“I see the way he looks at you and I see the way you look at him. Something’s going on there, doesn’t mean the sleeping with him for grades are true though” I couldn’t help but scoff

“There’s nothing going on”

“You’re lying” He leaned back “But that’s okay, your secrets are safe with me”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I want you to know that I’m not trying to cause problems for you” He smiled. “I like you, Diana. But if you’re involved with someone, I’ll respect that. I just want to be your friend”

I studied his face. He seemed genuine

“Okay,” I said slowly “Friends”

“Good” He stood up “Come on, let me buy you that coffee. And maybe a sandwich….you look like you haven’t eaten today”

He wasn’t wrong. I had skipped breakfast

We ordered food and sat back down. For the first time in forever, I felt comfortable talking to someone who wasn’t Calum

Kieran told me about his old school. About how hard it was to fit in. About how money changed everything but also nothing

I told him a little about myself, of course not everything, nothing  about Amaryllis or my mother….But enough

“You’re easy to talk to,” he said after a while

“So are you”

“We should do this more often, you know…just hang out and talk”

I hesitated “I don’t know if that’s a good idea”

“Why not?”

“Because Selene hates me and she seems to have a thing for you, so If she sees us together….”

“Fuck Selene” He said it casually “that bitvh is all talk and no bite…She’s been obsessed with me since I got here and I’ve told her a hundred times I’m not interested but she doesn’t listen”

“Well, I cant ’fuck Selene’ because she’s dangerous”

“So am I” His expression turned serious “She doesn’t scare me, Diana. And she shouldn’t scare you either”

“Easy for you to say, at least she’s not trying to ruin your life”

“If she tries anything, just put a call across to me and let me know, I’ll handle the rest ”

“You can’t fight my battles for me”

“No, but I can stand beside you while you fight them” He smiled “That’s what friends do”

I felt something warm in my chest. Maybe having a friend wouldn’t be so bad

We talked for another hour before I realized what time it was

“I have to go,” I said, standing up “I’m going to be late for work”

“Can I drive you?”

“No, it’s okay, I can walk”

“Diana, I’m not taking no for an answer. Come on, we’re friends, remember?” I wanted to decline, but when I checked my wrist watch one more time…I think letting him give me a ride was the best option, else…Madelyn will lose her shit 

He drove me back to the mansion in his Range Rover. The ride was comfortable and I couldn’t help but admire and dream about ehen I can get mine 

Probably in 20 years to come, when I’m already forty and closer to death, sigh!

When we pulled up to the gates, he looked at the mansion with raised eyebrows

“You work here?”

“Yeah”

“This is the Blackwood estate”

My stomach dropped “You know this place?”

“Everyone knows this place” He looked at me “Professor Blackwood owns it”

I didn’t say anything

“So you work for him and he’s your professor” Kieran said slowly “That’s… interesting”

“It’s not what you think”

“I’m not thinking anything” He smiled “Your business is your business. I’m just saying, be careful. The closer you are to someone, the easier it is to get hurt”

“I know”

“Do you?” His expression turned serious “Because from where I’m sitting, you’re playing a fairly dangerous game”

“I can handle it”

“I hope so” He reached over and squeezed my hand. “But if you can’t, I’m here. Remember that”

I nodded and got out of the car

He drove away and I stood there for a moment. Thinking about what he said

He was right, I was playing a dangerous game 

But it was too late to stop now

I was already in too deep

When I walked into the mansion, Lily was in the hallway

“Hey Diana,” she said with a smile “Where were you? I saw you leave campus earlier”

“Just had to run an errand and you saw me? I didnt know you go there now” I said and she bumped my shoulders playfully 

“I have friends” she said and I nodded, already over it

“In a fancy car?” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes and I turned around “huh?”

“You were running errands in such a fancy car?”

“That was Kieran Cross, wasn’t it?”

How did she know who Kieran was?

“Yeah… — I answered unsure — He gave me a ride”

“Be careful with him” She said it sweetly but something felt off. “I’ve heard he’s trouble”

“He’s just a friend”

“If you say so” She walked past me. “Oh, and Sir Blackwood was looking for you earlier. He seemed upset that you weren’t here”

My heart sank. He knew I had skipped class

“Thanks for letting me know”

I went to my room and changed into my uniform. Then I took a deep breath and went to find Calum

He was in his study. When I knocked on the door, he called me in.

“Close the door,” he said without looking up from his papers

I closed the door and stood there. Waiting.

“Where were you this afternoon?” His voice was calm but I could hear the edge in it

“I had to run an errand”

“You skipped class”

“I know, I’m sorry”

He finally looked up at me. His eyes were dark. “Were you with him?”

“With who?”

“Don’t play dumb, Diana. Were you with Kieran?”

I didn’t answer

“I’ll take that as a yes” He stood up and walked around his desk “What did I tell you about other men?”

“He’s just a friend”

“And I told you thag men are never just friends, especially not with you”

“You’re being unreasonable”

“Am I?” He stepped closer. “He drove you home. I saw you get out of his car”

“He was just being nice”

“I don’t care” His hands came up to frame my face “I don’t want you around him”

“You can’t tell me who I can be friends with”

“Yes, I can” His eyes flashed “Because you’re mine”

“I’m not a possession”

“No, you’re my mate” He said it firmly. “And I won’t share you with anyone”

My breath caught. This was the first time he had said it so directly

“Calum…”

“Tell me you’re mine,” he demanded

“I…”

“Say it”

I looked into his eyes and saw the possessiveness there, the crazy beed and jealousy 

And I realized I liked it

“I’m yours,” I whispered

He crushed his mouth to mine in a bruising kiss. Claiming me and establishing dominance 

And I kissed him back just as hard

Because even though it was dangerous. Even though we were risking everything

I was his

Completely and utterly his