Chapter 24

DIAMOND
I’m fighting the urge not to plaster my hand on Jane’s pretty face. It wouldn’t be bad if I had it ruined before her friend’s birthday party, right?
 
“ Diamond?” I hear Sebastian’s stern voice, and chills go down my spine immediately, but I don’t turn to look at him because I’m not yet done with this traitor of a friend.
 
“Now, what do you want? Choke some alcohol down your fucking throat again, or what?” Jane curled her lips, obviously mocking me.
 
“You think you can actually repeat the nonsense you did back then? Fuck you if you think so, and I fucking dare you.” I’m almost done spilling the words out when she plasters a tight slap on my face.
 
Whoa.
The entire class turned to watch me, my hands on my cheek, and I didn’t wait a second before giving her back the ugly slap on her face.
 
“You should be out of your mind, Jane.” I spit out as I watch her eyes grow in anger. I want to give her another slap when Harper comes to pull me away as he wraps his hand around my waist.
 
“That’s enough, Diamond.” His face hardens, and I blink with anger. He shouldn’t be saying that to me, but to her. She’s the one who is messing with me, and she even dared to slap me.
 
“Why are you holding me?” I jerk him off, but he comes around to cage me with his arm.
 
“Because you are our little mouse, and I won’t stand anyone ruining your face while we are here.” He yells out with anger; his voice goes deeper in seconds, and then I realize he is about to lose it.
 
“And you, Jane, just know you shouldn’t have laid hers on her. What did we tell you the last time? That she is ours to deal with, and no one fucking dare touch her?” He walks away from me, heading to Jane as his aura becomes scary.
 
“We know what to do, little mouse.” Sebastian puts his hand on my shoulder, and I shove it away immediately. No one should fucking try to act nice to me, because no one is actually nice. They are fucking pretenders.
 
“I don’t fucking care what you want to do, but I’m not going to let this go.” I say it to Sebastian's face, and he hardens like a brick wall.
 
“And I don’t care what you fucking have in your mind; all I know is that you are going to listen to me.” He lashes out, and I tremble, narrowing my eyes at him.
 
“And what happens if I don’t?” I stare at him, holding his gaze with boldness that I don’t realize I possess.
 
“You won’t like to misbehave, little mouse. Otherwise, I will teach you how to.” He throws me my backpack. “Go home now; see you in the evening at the party.”
 
I hate that he commands me, and what I hate most is that I listen to what he says. I fucking do, and I don’t know why.
 
What if I want him to teach me how to behave? I want to know, so I reject his order. “What if I don’t want to?”
 
“Then watch me.”
I don’t expect the next thing; it’s as if the world spins off my feet. No, maybe I’m the one who spins off because I suddenly land on his shoulder, and he smacks my ass so loudly that the students gasp.
 
"What are you doing? Put me down!” I swing my hands at his back, and he is like a robot now because he doesn’t listen to me; instead, his hold on my legs tightens.
 
“Why the heck are you treating me like this? She’s the one who slapped me, and you are taking me away.” I yell, and my voice almost cracks. He ends up in his car, throws the door open, and tosses me into the back seat.
 
“What are you doing?”
He shuts the door and walks around the car.
 
“Just shut up, Diamond. What the fuck were you thinking back there? Let her ruin your face? Can’t you see that she hates you?” He shouts with pain in his voice, and I pause for a minute.
 
“I know she hates me. But I wasn’t going to watch her ruin my face.” My brow pulls together, he stops looking at me, and he ignites the engine of the car.
 
“Just shut up and sit tight while I take you back home.” He yells. Gosh, he is such an asshole; he is not even trying to listen to what I have to say.
 
What do I expect? with the fucking asshole genes he possesses.
 
I lean on the seat with my hands folded up across my chest; I don’t bother to look at the mirror in front of him. I stare at the window and adore the view as he drives away.
 
Soon after, he drives into my parking space, and I jump out of the car without giving him a second glance until I disappear into the apartment.
 
I don’t look at him as he drives off; I only hear the sound of the vehicle. And I’m met with Amanda waiting for me in the sitting room.
 
“You look a lot better lately. Are you having some fun, Diamond?” She smiles. I like the smile on her face; it makes her eyes shine brightly.
 
“ Fun?” I almost threw up at the word. I’m being bullied and messed up, not having some fun. I’m only adjusting to the pain because it’s not getting any better.
 
“I’m just trying to be strong for myself. I’m trying to do life without dad.” I bite my lower lips as I look up at her, staring at me with empathy.
 
“Come on, don’t give me that look, Amanda. I’m good. Trust me, I’m getting better.” I wink at her pretentiously.
 
“Do you want me to believe that?” She walks closer to me.
 
“No, I want you to help me arrange a dress for me tonight. I have a birthday party to attend, and I need to have a killer look tonight.” I tell her and take my leave, heading to the staircase.
 
“You’ve never been the type to attend parties, Diamond.”
 
“Well, now I do. So please get my dress ready; I need to take my bath. I will be with you in an hour.”