Sorry for any mistakes I may make in this chapter.
This is more of a Diana-Centric chapter.
Diana's anxiousness is practically eating her alive, she's nervous and so utterly lost. She hardly ever really thought about things like feelings and connections, she always felt that pouring any amount of time into subjects like those, would be time wasted, and she never wasted any time, she always made sure to invest her time in something certain. Something that would benefit her.
"So, where do we start?", came Andrew's voice, the Male sat in a seat across from her, two cups of what had to be hot chocolate were placed on the table.
Diana sucked in a breath, she couldn't believe she was honestly going to actually vent and talk to the Hanbridge boy, she was going to open herself up to him. "Uh...well…", Diana started off reluctant. Just a week ago she and the boy spoke just a bit over her current situation, their conversation cut short by Andrew's tight schedule, at least for that time being, and due to that conversation cut short, Andrew told her to meet up with him at a cafè in town sometime a week later.
And here they were, a week later. A day before she was supposed to return to school.
Diana averted eye contact.
Andrew sighed softly and sat straight in his seat, soft conversations going on around them. He crossed his arms over his chest, "So, what do you like about this mystery girl?", Andrew got straight to the point.
Diana's cheeks instantly flushed, she looked up to meet Andrew's stern gaze. "I...uh...wha- I…"
Andrew groaned in what had to be slight annoyance. "I thought we were passed the stuttering?"
Diana closed her eyes and recoiled slightly in her seat, she sucked in a shaky breath and opened her eyes to meet Andrew's unwavering gaze, "I...I just...Um, uh...H-How would I know if I like her...like 'that'. I mean…", Diana looked away, she was tense and uncomfortable.
The boy rose an eyebrow at this small admission. 'so that's what it is.', He shifted a bit in his chair, "Diana.", he spoke softly but loud enough to get Diana's attention.
The Cavendish turned back to the boy, "W-What?", she asked, her voice was just as soft as his had been.
Andrew smiled lightly, "How do you feel? What feelings do you feel around her?", the boy was trying to bring the girl out of denial. "It's okay. You can tell me, Diana. What you share with me, is just between us, don't close up on me.", he emphasized.
Diana sucked in a breath and nodded as she released it, "I...well. Everything was okay, I never felt like this before.", Diana rose a hand and place it over her chest as she began to confide.
"Well, what changed? What made you feel differently?". The boy grabbed his cup and brought it up to his lips, he took a few sips of the warm liquid before setting it back down in front of him.
The heiress swallowed thickly, "She confessed to me.", she sighed out.
"I see. And how did that make you feel?.", he asked, his eyes not leaving hers, his gaze was encouraging, he wanted her to just come out with it, he wanted her to accept her situation.
"I…", she started and quickly trailed off to look away, she place both hands on the table in front of her. "...It made me feel scared…", Diana faltered slightly.
It was clear as day to Andrew, he knew Diana must have been terrified when she was met with something as unexpected as feelings towards another girl, and he knew right now Diana was still scared. He knew that Diana was trying to bury her feelings to avoid facing them.
"Why?", Andrew mused slightly.
"She's a fellow peer, a witch...a friend. And I'm…me, I'm a Cavendish.", Diana fretted. She shifted in her seat, she turned to meet Andrew's gaze again, almost as if hoping for the boy to react to what she was saying.
Almost as if Diana wanted Andrew to talk sense into her.
Andrew observed Diana, reading her expression, he wouldn't have ever thought that feelings made a person this transparent and easy to read, but it was happening, Mixed emotions wasn't Diana's best look. "Besides the feelings of fear, what else did you feel. No wait-" he rose a hand as he cut his sentence short, he cleared his throat and sighed softly. "-What do you feel, right now?".
Diana rose her eyebrows and half shrugged.
Andrew brought a hand to his face and pinched the bridge of his nose, he closed his eyes and then opened them as he spoke again, "Diana, you have to be honest with yourself.", he stated, "I get it, I do, having all these expectations thrust upon you, but...at what cost will you uphold them?"
The blonde's eyes began to tear up slightly.
Andrew figured he'd keep pushing. "This is your life, Diana, and I know you and me hardly have a bond, but if there's one thing I can do, it's be here for you.", the boy reassured. "You're scared, you feel ashamed, lost and alone. But I want you to know that it's okay, times have changed, you can love who you want, sure not everyone agrees, but that shouldn't matter, because this choice, is yours, you can't help how you feel, so stop fighting it.", the Hanbridge cajoled.
And with Andrew's statement, tears began to roll down Diana's pink cheeks.
"I...I just...I'm scared, I think deep down, I always felt something...like I knew I was different.", Diana puled softly. She felt her face growing warmer and warmer. "What'll people say? What'll Hannah and Barbara think? What'll what's left of my family think?", she bowed her head, she took her hands off the table and wrapped her arms around herself, her shoulders tensed, she bit her bottom lip to stop herself from releasing a sob.
Andrew frowned heavily, his eyebrows furrowed at the scene unfolding before him, Diana had always seemed so put together, so cold and so… far away, she always looked so untouchable. He stood up from his seat and got to Diana's side, he closed in on her and pulled out the seat closest to the crying blonde, and he pulled her in for a stiff hug.
"What they think, won't nearly be as significant as your happiness. You need to be true to yourself, you only have one shot to truly be happy. I wouldn't want you to wake up 20 years from now and wonder what would have been.", The boy pulled away when he felt Diana relaxing. "These are the 'Good Times' and we should live in them before they go by."
Diana looked up to the boy, "I...I have a feeling this is going to be a significant moment.", her cheeks were still flushed.
Andrew smiled lightly, "Probably. Chances are I'm gonna probably be your best man at your wedding- Ack!"
Diana pulled away completely from the Male and punched his arm, she stood up, her face went from pink to red in seconds, "Andrew!", she yelled.
The heir to the Hanbridge name suddenly chortled. Yes, the usually stiff stern male who always appeared with blank expressions and stiff body language, chortled. Everything Diana thought was, was not.
Andrew never seemed like the type to ever support a subject like hers, she would have never expected things to turn out like this. But...she felt okay.
Andrew continued to laugh, his hand held the spot the angrily embarrassed blond punched out of a fit.
Diana suddenly couldn't help it. Her shoulders began to tremble, and before she knew it, their surroundings became less significant and everything around them just fell to silence In the background and melted away, a small giggle escaped passed her lips. Tears kept flowing down her cheeks, but she didn't feel so tense anymore, she didn't feel that anxiousness she felt earlier before meeting up with Andrew gnawing at her anymore. No. She felt at ease, she felt light and in more control of herself and feelings.
She needed to accept things as they were instead of hiding from them, she had to face it, not bury it.
Andrew's lips cracked into a grin. "So, let's try this again.", he spoke lightly, his tone of voice when he asked the question didn't cause Diana to panic this time.
Clearly the Hanbridge boy and the Cavendish Girl finally made a rapport with each other.
"What do you like about this mystery girl?", Andrew kept his smile, his eyes practically sparkled.
"Everything", Diana finally concluded, finally answering the question. Allowing herself to submit to the truth, admitting that she indeed held feelings towards the clumsy witch, feelings she tried to keep at bay.
The Hanbridge puffed out his chest and stood up from his chair. "Well, the first step is the most critical, and you've finally done it, admission.", his smile not leaving his face. "She likes you, Diana, there's nothing standing in your way of getting to her.", he put his hands on his hips, "You're the only thing that can get in your way."
Diana nodded and stood up as well, her gaze seemed to harden.
Andrew sighed softly, he could see determination in the blonde's gaze.
"Wait…", Diana started as she groaned in what had to annoyance. "I...I rejected her-"
"You can still get her, feelings don't disappear over the course of days or weeks. She'll be cautious around you, but you can win her over if you take careful steps. Give her space for now, wait a bit, and we can work something out, contact me on fridays.", the boy brought a hand and placed it over Diana's shoulder. "I know a guy that can pick up girls in a snap-", Andrew rose his other hand and snapped his fingers, "I'm sure I can get something useful out of him that can help us get your girl."
Diana nodded eagerly, she was going to do this, she was going to win Akko's affection on purpose, she was going to court another witch.
"Okay", Diana breathed out. She felt tired, sleepy, but also relieved.
"Great, this is just great, Diana, we can work through any other problems later, but right now, This girl is more important.".
The blonde nodded again, "Of course."
Both teens were going to work together. Andrew was certainly a great help already. Diana couldn't help but feel happy. The feeling eluded her for years after the death of her parents, she always figured that she'd never feel that feeling again, and so she closed herself off, submitting to those high expectations, studying hard and getting into one of the best witch schools, she wore a facade for so long, too long. But that would be behind her now, she was willing to put herself out there now, she was ready to accept herself and open herself up, no matter what anyone thought of her.
She was going to win Akko's heart on purpose and she was willing to get through whatever obstacles presented itself in her path. No one's words or thoughts would influence her decisions anymore, she was going to strive for self happiness, and currently, that happiness was with Akko.
This time, at the right time, she will be the one going to Akko and professing her feelings.
Hope it's been a good read so far.
Don't be afraid to drop comments/questions.
See y'all next week!