Chapter 2 - Diane
She was calling him before she even knew what she was doing.
"Hello?" His groggy reply came.
Diane hadn't even thought to check the time before calling him. All she knew was she was up and she wanted to go home. She hadn't thought of the possible repercussions of seeing her best friend so soon after last night. After getting so close to-
"Diane? Everything alright? Are you okay?" His voice became clearer and clearer with his each passing word. She was worrying him.
She didn't deserve his concern. She shouldn't have called him.
"Yeah, everythings fine. I'm alright, Harlequin," she bit her lip. A feeling she hadn't felt before nagging the back of her mind. Shame? Uneasiness? Guilt? She pushed them aside. She'd never had those feelings before. Maybe she was just hungover. "Can you, um… come get me?"
"Of course." She could already hear him shuffling out of bed. Throwing pants on, maybe? She wondered as she heard what she thought was a buckle being fastened. "Text me the address, or just drop a pin, alright?"
"Roger." Diane responded without thinking. She practically groaned at how lame that sounded.
King snorted on the other end but made no comment on her awkward reply. She could imagine the familiar quirk of his lips clearly, as if he was standing right in front of her, looking at her with amusement at her word choice. "I'll be there as soon as I can. Heading out now."
"Thanks, Harlequin," a soft smile set on her lips. She pulled her phone away for a few seconds to send her location to him. "Just sent it over. I'll be waiting for you outside." She's just about to hang up when she heard him almost yelling. "Shhh," she quickly hissed into the phone, turning back to look at the pile of blankets in the other room. "What?"
"Don't wait outside idiot!" He scolded her and she could hear the frown in his voice. "It's like thirty degrees out and I know you didn't bring a proper coat and that dress you wore last night can't possibly offer you any warmth with how short and thin it -" he stopped himself mid sentence and she thought she heard him gulp. "I'll be there in ten."
And then he hung up.
Diane made a face at her phone. "What the hell was that about..?" She grumbled.
"Leaving already?" Arms wrapped around her waist unexpectedly.
She screamed in surprised. The brunette twisted as much as she could to smack the arm of her attacker.
"Damnit Howser! You scared me." She scowled up at the tall man over her shoulder. He had dark blonde hair and purple eyes. Definitely one of her especially hot pick ups. Looking just as good in the morning as he did the night before.
And good in bed to boot.
Diane couldn't remember a time when she had got off so fast. Though, that may have been because of certain ginger getting me all riled up before hand… She stuffed the thought down. Thinking of her best friend like that was a big no, no.
"Sorry," he chuckled rubbing his nose against her neck as he hugged her from behind. "You don't have to leave already. It's barely seven."
Seven? No wonder Harlequin sounded so tired.
"I have stuff I need to do today," she lied. Really all she was going to do was shower, sleep and probably do it all over again. He placed kisses along her throat and she hummed her appreciation. She guided his lips to hers and kissed him deeply. "We have ten minutes. If you think you're up for another round," she teased with a sly smirk.
Howser grinned, picking her up easily and carrying her back to bed. Diane had only bothered with one of his shirts she found lying on the floor before she called King, leaving her completely bare underneath. The blonde ran his hands below her borrowed clothing and up along her sides as he kissed her neck.
It didn't feel as good as it did the night before, with alcohol coating her system and her best friend on her mind. She recalled when King had started so agonizingly slow with a single kiss to her jaw. Diane couldn't help but offer more of the skin to him. The brunette hadn't even thought of the many reasons why he shouldn't have been kissing her like that. Why she shouldn't have let him. She had actually moaned when King had nipped at the sensitive spot at the base of her throat, called out his name even.
Her thoughts jumped to King's hands running up and down her sides before firmly gripping her hips as she grinded her ass against him.
King's lips pressed to her ear as he told her how all he did to pick up women was just be a decent guy. How hot she felt when she realized it worked on her.
King's suggestion of taking her -
Wait a fucking minute. Harlequin?! Why am I thinking of Harlequin right now? It finally dawned on her what she was doing.
"Fuck, Diane," Howser groaned. "You really liked that huh? You're so fucking wet."
She honestly couldn't say what Howser had been doing. "Oh yeah," she answered instead, her cheeks flushing, giving the illusion of enjoyment. Which oddly enough was true. Her enjoyment just wasn't coming from him at the moment.
Diane didn't think any deeper on why she was picturing what King had done to her last night instead of focusing on the hunk of man above her. Screw it if it was suppose to be tabo. All she needed to know was fantasizing about her best friend was making her feel good. Just imagining his hands on her in place of Howser's was getting her just as hot as she was last night.
She gasped as Howser slipped right in.
Still she was thinking of King. Of his lips brushing her ear even as Howser rocked against her. King whispering in that same seductive tone he'd used last night when he told her she wouldn't be able to resist him. Diane moaned, hips circling on their own. He'd been right of course. King was always right.
She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from screaming Harlequin as she came.
"Wow," Howser collapsed next to her on the bed. "That was even better then last night.
"Yeah," Diane breathed truthfully. She pressed her thighs together, trying to ride out the intense sensation. "Way better." She reached for her phone, making sure they hadn't went over the ten minutes King had given her. Definitely cutting it close, she searched around for her things, throwing on the dress and shoving her intimates inside her purse.
"What's the hurry?" Howser asked as he watched her.
"My ride is gunna be here soon," she told him as she made for the bedroom door. "I don't want to make him wait." Diane said over her shoulder, catching Howser's sudden scowl.
She thought nothing of it, checking out the door and seeing King's old green grand prix pull up.
"That's who's picking you up?" She could hear the obvious displeasure in Howser's tone as he joined her by the door. A quick glance over her shoulder and she found him glaring at King. For his part, King wasn't looking at the house at all, probably texting her to let her know he was here.
"Yep," Diane replied simply. What did he care who her ride was? She reluctantly slipped her high heels on, silently cursing the adorable but tourtirish footwear, and put on her thin jacket. Throwing open the door she called a clipped, "bye," and made to leave.
"Wait!" Howser's hand wrapped around her wrist. "Can I get your number?"
Diane suppressed a sigh. This happened sometimes with the ones she had to talk with before leaving in the morning. She liked Howser, really she did. He was good looking, a good fuck, but she wasn't really interested in anything serious right now. Giving him her number would all but guarantee him wanting to go out on a date or getting together for something besides a hook up.
"No."
"No?"
Her eyes found King's in the car. A small frown was on his face as he waited for her. Diane hated making him wait. Despite the ginger's incredible amount of patience in these situations, it was cut down to a tenth when one of the men touched her as she tried to leave. He often let her deal with things on her own, knowing she could handle herself but a few years ago, one bad instance had King breaking a guy's nose.
Diane didn't feel like repeating that scenario.
"No," Diane repeated firmly, breaking her eye contact with King. She faced Howser, the man dropping her hand once he had her attention.
"Why not?" He honestly seemed confused.
"This was fun, Howser, really. But I don't plan on seeing you again. So, you don't need my number."
"We share a night like that and you don't wanna see me again?" He said in disbelief, eyes flickering to the car. "But you have that guy picking you up?"
"He's my friend." Diane frowned. Why did he have such a problem with King?
Howser snorted. "If that's how you treat your friends, I think you and I can be friends too, Diane."
"Excuse me?" She narrowed her eyes dangerously. "What did you just say?"
"I'm just saying I saw the two of you together last night. Friends don't generally look like they're about to fuck each other on the dancefloor like you two did."
Diane fought against the flare of heat she felt against her cheeks. The reminder of thinking of her best friends hands on her and not the man who was actually touching her as she came was still too fresh in her mind. Still confusing as fuck.
She poked him hard in the chest, catching the man completely of guard with her sudden venom. "He's my friend, my best friend. What we do or don't do is none of your damn business."
The man immediately turned apologetic. "Sorry I didn't-"
"Bye Howser," Diane spun around. If it wasn't so damn icy she would have stomped away.
When she looked up finally reaching her escape pod, her eyes met King's. He was standing outside his car now, by the passenger door. He wore a pair of dark wash jeans and his favorite oversized navy hoodie. His hands were tucked in the large pocket in the front of his shirt, likely to keep them out of the cold. His ginger hair was extra tousled this morning as he tilted his head to the side, taking her in.
"Everything, alright?" His concern gnawed at her. He'd likely gotten out of the car as soon as she turned around to tell Howser to mind his own business. King had always looked out for her like that. Always tried to take care of her when he could.
The weird feeling from earlier resurfaced. She didn't like it. Diane attempted to cover it up with an overly bright smile. "Yep! Guy just wanted my number is all." Technically not a lie, just half of the truth.
A small frown appeared on his face as he mumbled, "oh, okay." He opened her door for her, ever the gentleman. Even if she wasn't really deserving of it.
"I didn't give it to him," she felt the need to clarify. She wanted him to know that she hadn't. She couldn't put her finger on why and as King raised a questioning brow at her, she wished she hadn't said anything at all.
Why am I acting so weird today? She wanted to pull her hair out. Diane took a few more steps towards the car and almost fell. King's arm wrapped around her waist, keeping her upright.
"I'll never understand why you wear those damn things. Especially this time of year," he shook his head at her. "You're basically asking to slip and fall on your ass."
"It's a good thing you're around to catch me then," Diane teased as she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "Thanks for coming to get me," she whispered resting her head against his chest.
Hugs from King were one of her favorite things in the world. She'd gotten shit from their friends on more than one occasion, saying that they were too touchy. She would promptly tell them to, go fuck themselves. Diane wasn't much of a fan of people questioning her relationship with King. He was her best friend and what they did was nobody else's damn business.
His other arm wrapped around her. "Always, Diane." They stayed like that for awhile, until an extra chilly breeze had her shivering. "Let's get you in the car," King said unwrapping one arm to hold the car door open against the wind as he helped lower her in. "Your clothing isn't really made for winter either."
She giggled, staring up at him. "My outfits make me look good!"
King rolled his eyes, leaning in to say, "you look beautiful in those horrendous old sweat pants with the holes and one of my t-shirts you like to steal. The dress and shoes make no difference." He smiled softly at her before shutting the door.
He always said stuff like that. She should be use to it. But Diane was thankful for the small amount of time it took King to walk around the car. Her cheeks felt warm at his words. It made her think too much of what he had said last night. You look sexy as hell tonight, Diane. By far the most beautiful woman here. She busied herself with the seatbelt as he climbed in the driver's side.
"Did you want some breakfast before I drop you off at home?" King asked as he put the car into drive.
Why doesn't he feel as awkward as I do? Or maybe he does and he's just better at not showing it? Maybe last night was all just part of the game?
"No way! I'm not going anywhere dressed like this!" She overreacted, using it as a coverup for her dumb thoughts.
"It's just the drive through," he grumbled as he shook his head. "I have some sweatpants and a sweatshirt in the back if you wanna throw them on over your dress." King poked his thumb over his shoulder calmly, keeping his eyes on the road. He was used to her sometimes over the top personality by this point. Had been for almost ten years she was sure. "If I don't feed you now, you may sleep all day and forget to eat."
"You're more likely to do that then me," she huffed, crossing her arms.
King gave her an amused glance before looking back to the road. "True."
She undid her seatbelt and leaned over the center council to get the offered clothing. Her breast grazed King's arm and she was suddenly very aware that she wasn't wearing a bra as he stiffened. Her thoughts flew back to what happened some twenty minutes ago and of her time last night with her best friend. Heat pooled both on her cheeks and in between her thighs. She bite the inside of her cheek and quickly grabbed the pile of clothes.
"So," Diane stated awkwardly into the silence as she pulled on his sweatpants, making sure her they went over her dress. She needed a distraction. "Did you have company last night?"
King shot her a look as she unzipped her jacket, something she couldn't catch before he mumbled a, "yeah."
"Oh," the answer didn't surprise her. But it made her upset for some stupid reason. "She still there then. Or he?" Teasing, light teasing, back to routines. She could do this. She pulled his sweatshirt over her head and sighed as his comforting smell engulfed her.
"She," King stressed, "left when I did this morning."
Diane buckled her seatbelt. "Who was she?"
"No idea. Didn't catch her name," he answered, his tone a bit off. He pulled into a drive through of a fast food restaurant not far from her house. Ordering her favorite without even asking.
They made it through the drive through, back to her place a few blocks away before a thought struck her. "Wait, did you kick her out because of me?"
"Kick out is a bit strong…" He muttered, not looking at her.
"Harlequin! Did you or did you not kick that woman out?"
King parked the car, staring her dead in the eye. His expression was completely serious and while she was no stranger to his sometime no nonsense attitude, it was causing her stomach to do flips. He leaned in, making sure she was listening. His captivating amber eyes swirled and she couldn't tear her gaze away.
"Diane, if I have to chose between you and some one night stand. You win. Every. Fucking. Time." There was a heavy honesty to his words.
It was crushing.
She had to get out.
Diane threw the car door open, grabbing her forgotten breakfast and shoving into her purse. For King's part, his expression didn't change at her obvious distress. Still watching her with those careful eyes. The amber as close to home as she had ever been. Her dad walking out on her and her mom had caused her to be overly attached to King. He knew her better than anyone. He'd been through many of her extreme mood swings and knew that him, just being calm in face of her distress was always what she needed.
Even when he probably realized he was the cause of it.
She paused in gathering her things to stare back at him. He was always there for her, without fail. From being a shoulder to cry on when her dad left, to helping her pick up men. Never once had he complained on anything. Except her impractical choices in clothing and footwear, but even that was him looking out for her.
Her traitorous mind wandered back to last night. His hands on her as they did their act, how it all quickly became something more then that when she asked him to hit on her. How good he was at it and how she had wanted-.
"Diane?"
"...yeah?"
"If you wanna stay in here, shut the door maybe? It's cold outside." That small familiar uptick to his lips was distracting. He said the simple statement to bring her back to earth. To sidetrack her from a possible freakout. He probably didn't realize that little smile was plenty interruption enough.
Diane found she did want to stay. Wanted to explore more of her best friend in a way that she had never really thought of before last night. Her eyes widened. Oh my god, Diane internally panicked as the full force of everything that happened in the past twelve hours hit her. I came thinking of Harlequin this morning while fucking another guy. What the fuck?!
"Uh, no that's fine," she rattled off. She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, not missing the surprise on his features. Mentally, Diane cursed herself for her lack of forethought as she hopped out of the car. "I'll see ya later today."
She waved goodbye to King, already digging her phone out of her purse as she practically ran through the apartment complex. She didn't chance a glance back.
"Pick up, pick up," she mumbled as she unlocked her door, thankful she was on the first floor for once.
"Hello?"
"Elizabeth!" Diane shouted, shutting the door of her apartment rather loudly behind her. She tore off her shoes and padded into her living room, thankful for the warmth of her borrowed clothes. "I think I did something stupid last night."
"Good morning to you too Diane…" The silverette mumbled back. There was a shifting and she figured Elizabeth was probably still in bed. She only felt a little bad about waking up the obviously sleeping woman. "Now, what did you do? Pick up another stalkery guy?"
"What? No, uh, well, maybe," she thought back to Howser's odd reaction to King. "But that's not the point! I-I…. Oh god Elizabeth. I made King hit on me last night!" She groaned, effortlessly using the alias all their friends did for the ginger. She only ever used Harlequin, King's real name, when it was just the two of them. A hand dragged down her heated face after dropping her purse on the counter.
"... you what?"
Diane wasn't in the mood to try and decipher the tone coming from her friend. After King, she had to say Elizabeth was her closest friend. Someone she talked girl issues with that she just couldn't take to the ginger. Like her current dilemma centering around his newly discovered sexy side. And her immense attraction to him.
"Uh, well, you know how King and I are when we go out -"
"Practically hanging on each other until the night ends and you leave with different people? Yes. I know." Diane's eyes widened for a split second at the irritation coming from the other woman. She ignored it.
"Yeah, so, I was thinking of what Meliodas, Ban and Helbram are always saying, about King picking up women and taking them home," she opened her fridge, looking for a bottle of water. "And King was touching me more than usual-"
"How is that even possible?" The silverette interrupted her, irritation gone, now replaced by honest curiosity.
"Elizabeth! Let me finish my story dammit!"
"Sorry."
"Anyway, King was more… bold with his touching and, well, I'm still not sure how the hell we got to the point but I suddenly found myself wondering why he never told me he picked up women. Or why he never asked me for help. He told me that he didn't really need help and…" she paused biting her bottom lip and fiddling to unscrew the cap of water. "It got me thinking… I wanted to know how good he was. It's not like there is much of a window from the time I leave to bar close for him to find someone. So, I told him to pick up a girl so I could watch…"
Elizabeth didn't hold back her groan from the other line. "Diane -"
"That's not even the worst part of the story. He refused, Elizabeth. King refused to hit on a girl while I was there. And that's when I told him to hit on me."
"And?" The other woman barely waited for her to catch her breath. "What happened next? That can't be the end."
"I half wish it was," Diane grumbled. "Elizabeth… he did flirt with me and… God, Elizabeth. He was good."
She hummed, "I bet he was."
"Elizabeth!" Diane gave a scandalized gasp. Her mouth was hanging open in a weird mixture of surprise and realization of a juicy bit of information from her more reserved friend.
"Oh don't give me that!" She could practically feel the heat coming from Elizabeth's face through the phone. "You've never seen King in action. If I wasn't with Meliodas I think I would want to sleep with him." There's an offended huff and Elizabeth talked to someone else. "I said if I wasn't with you. Don't be a baby."
Diane pushed aside the weird tinge of jealousy at hearing Elizabeth would sleep with King. It reminded her of their conversation in the car. That King had still managed to leave with someone last night after she left. Again. Instead, she decided to keep telling her story to Elizabeth.
"As soon as I told him to start putting the moves on me. It was like I flipped a fucking switch," Diane let out a shaky breath as she recalled the tone he'd used. "He told me he didn't think I could resist and fuck. Elizabeth he was right. I… he whispered in my ear telling me how sexy I was and that I was the most beautiful woman there. And then he... He. He kissed my neck Elizabeth and I liked it. I let him keep doing it! And oh my god, when he got to the base of my throat, you know that sensitive spot where it meets your shoulder. He bit it and-"
"I think Diane's cuming in her pants." A voice that wasn't Elizabeth's spoke quietly.
"Meliodas!?" Diane squealed, completely mortified.
"Yo," he responded and she just knew he was wearing a large cheeky grin. "Don't mind me, what happened next?"
"I'm not telling you!"
"Why not? Elizabeth will end up telling me anyway."
"Meliodas-" said girl objected.
"Well I don't care if you hear the story second hand," Diane huffed. She knew talking to Elizabeth would lead to Meliodas knowing. She told him everything, much like Diane told King everything. "Get off the phone asshole!"
"Fine," the blonde man sighed heavily.
Diane knew there was only about a fifty fifty chance he actually left. She continued her story anyway. "Okay so, King uh, bit that spot and I moaned. Like right there in the middle of the bar I moaned his damn name. Fuck, Elizabeth when he pulled back to look at me, I-I-I wanted to kiss him!" She recalled his expression and how badly she wished he'd kiss her.
"What?!" Elizabeth squealed. "Did you? Did he?! Oh my gosh, Diane!"
"I know, but no, we didn't kiss. He asked me if I wanted to dance before we got any farther. I said yes, thankful for a little bit of distance. To try and clear my head, ya know? Well, he completely surprised me by dancing like a gentleman. No hopping right to the grind like most guys do."
"He is quite the dancer, isn't he?"
"Yeah," a fond smile formed on her face. "He was, he was really good. It was so much fun. When I told him that wasn't what I was expecting, he told me that he liked to dance this way first. Let the girl make up her mind about him. Let them decide if they want to grind against him and…" Diane flushed remembering how her rubbing her ass against him was all her own doing. "Elizabeth, I totally did."
"Did what?" She teased, likely already knowing the answer.
"Ugh, grinded against him! All on my fucking own!" She tossed her free hand up in frustration. "The music changed so I just started moving my hips, thinking nothing of it and then, he whispered that I did what most of them do and oh my god. I was so fucking turned on Elizabeth, it was ridiculous."
Elizabeth giggled. "So what happened next?"
"We talked about him picking up girls and I told him how easy it must be for him and that if anyone ever did half of what he did to me that there was no way a girl could turn him down," Diane recalled the oddly intense conversation. How confident King had been. "He told me that no one has yet. And.. Elizabeth, I flirted with him. Like really fucking hard."
"Diane…" her friend said her name cautiously. "What did you do?"
She gulped, anxious about retelling this part of the story. "I told him to be careful as I ran my hand down his chest to the top of his, um, pants and said that I thought his head was getting to big." She threw a hand over her heated face as she collapsed on the couch. "And you know what he said back, Elizabeth?"
"What?" Her tone was a bit breathless, obviously getting into the story as much as Diane was.
"Told me, never found that to be a problem." She could practically hear Elizabeth gaping on the other end of the phone. "I told him I bet not as I-I messed with his belt and I- I almost kissed him Elizabeth! But, but the guy I was trying to pick up earlier showed up, asking me to go home with him…" This was where the night got even more confusing. Where the line between her request and genuine feelings were blurred. "I was on my way out when King pulled me back to him. And… oh god Elizabeth, King said I should let him take me home."
"What?" Diane swore Elizabeth had an echo there. She ignored it.
"King said, Let me take you home tonight. You don't need him."
"Holy fuck," that voice definitely wasn't Elizabeth. Diane rolled her eyes as Meliodas continued mumbling. "I can't believe he actually did it."
"... Diane?" Elizabeth calm voice interrupted anymore of Meliodas' grumbles. "Did you... Go home with King?"
She bit her lip, regret pooling in her stomach. "I… I didn't. I left with the other guy."
Two groans sounded off from the other line.
"But he was good!" She tried to justify. "I don't think I've ever cum so fast before."
Elizabeth was silent for awhile before she cautiously said, "don't you think that had more to do with… King then the other guy."
Now it was Diane's turn to groan. "I know it was. Fuck, Elizabeth. I did what I always did and called King for a ride this morning-" Meliodas mumbled something she couldn't hear. "- and Howser woke up and we went at it again and… Elizabeth. I couldn't stop thinking of King. Of his hands on my skin instead of Howser's and it felt so good thinking of him. The sex was even better then last night and I wasn't even paying attention to it."
There was quiet murmurings on the other line.
Diane let them do what they want. Her mind was a mess right now. She was attracted to King. She couldn't deny that with how turned on she was last night and her practically imagining having sex with him this morning. Her problem was, she didn't know what to do with these new feelings of attraction. King wasn't some random guy, he was her best friend. And while Diane knew she wasn't ever really shy with touching him, she didn't know if she could keep doing that without wanting to jump his bones. She wasn't very good at hiding her motives.
Last night kind of proved that.
"We're going out tonight."
"Huh?" Diane tried to come back down to earth. She wasn't even sure who said that, Elizabeth or Meliodas.
"We're going out tonight." Meliodas this time. There was an unusual seriousness in his voice. "Elizabeth will be by to pick you up at the normal time. Us guys will meet you at the club later."
And then he hung up.
Diane scowled at the phone. What was up with everyone hanging up on her today? She sighed heavily, finishing up her now cold breakfast sandwich and fiddling idly with the string of King's hoodie. She pulled the cloth up over her nose, inhaling before stripping down and walking to the bathroom. A shower and nap were much needed if she was going to function tonight.
Her mind lingered on how she was going to face a certain ginger.
A/N: Heya readers! Thank you so much for reading another chapter of Mattress! This chapter here was both fun and, well, a little tricky since we moved to Diane's head. I really believe that Diane wouldn't think anything of her relationship with King. She's known him forever so she's use to other people saying things about the two of them. But when King himself acts differently, that's what would cause her to think. Something that she doesn't do to terribly much of if we're honest ;) Not to say I don't love the girl, because I do. Diane just does what she wants and doesn't think of consequences really. That's why I think her and King are such an interesting match. King overthinks things WAY to much (been in love with Diane for years but done nothing until now) and Diane jumps the gun probably much too early (as you will probably agree in later chapters, but can probably already see here xD).
And you guys probably didn't read this A/N because it got a bit long. XD But honestly, explaining my thoughts on the characters and why they may do certain things is one of my favorite things to do on this site! Especially when other people give me their opinions as well :) I whole heartedly believe that it is my job as a writer to tell a story that you can find believable with how the characters are, even if it's not canon verse.
Thank you to everyone for reading! See you next chapter! :)
Luv~