The last class had finally ended. Anya had fallen asleep again, drooling over her maths book. She was a deep sleeper. Not even the bell ringing would wake her up.
"Anya, you should really start paying attention to the class," sighed Becky, comparing her note filled workbook to her blank empty pages.
"Did I do it again?" Came the muffled reply.
"Yeah."
"Why didn't you wake me up?"
"You shouldn't have fallen asleep in the first place, silly! Anyway, you can copy my notes on the car. We're going shopping today, remember?"
Becky grabbed their stuff and took Anya's hand and dragged her out of her seat. The pair stopped off at the locker room before heading out to the car. Anya tossed her books inside and slammed it shut, while Becky redid her pigtails using the mirror attatched to the inside of the locker door. She noticed someone's locker door open and walked over to it to close it. Just as she was about to close the door, a diary fell out and hit the floor with a loud slap. She reached down to pick it up, but noticed the name scribbled on the cover: Damian Desmond.
Becky's POV
'NO LOOKING'. It sounds like he wants people to read it. I mean, it wouldn't hurt to just take a peep, right? WAIT! What if it has all of his secrets? What if it has… his lov-
"Becky, whatcha got there?"
"Anya! You can't scare me like that! Oh this? Hah, it's nothing. Let's get going."
She almost caught me there! I don't want Anya to know I've got Damian's diary. She's going to bring it back to him and snitch on me, I know it! She's always been doing things for him and she wants to hang out with him. She says she wants to be his friend, but it seems like more than that! Just thinking about what could be inside is making my heart tingle! Oh, Anya!
Anya's POV
Becky is spying on Second Son? He wants to know about his love life? Silly Becky, I want to befriend Damian to get Papa's mission complete! More than a friend? Well, Damian is very smart and sometimes kind, like when he tackled me to the floor in dodgeball when a ball was coming at me, or when he and Becky gave me a bag of chocolates on that one February morning. He is still mean, like when I said sorry to him when I accidently broke his art project which made me cry, and then he turned as red as Mama's favourite cardigan and ran away. To me he is my best friend, even if he doesn't think so…
But what's more than a best friend? Is there something more than that?
Becky's POV
Martha's driving us to the mall in one of Dad's random Rolls-Royce cars again. I keep telling him I don't particularly like this one because the seats aren't the most comfortable. Well at least there's the radio, but I'd rather watch Berlint in Love than listen to it as if it were the news. Anya's sitting cross-legged next to me, copying my notes from the maths class. Now she's distracted, I can read what Damian's got in here! Let's see what you've got in here, Desmond…
… It's just his old maths book. The first pages are just algebra questions. Then why does it say 'NO LOOKING' in the front? I swear there has to be-
Wait… There's stuff at the back… That's definetly not Pythagoras' Theorum. It's a diary entry! What does this say?
'Entry 1:
It's the end of the holidays, which means school starts in two days. Not once have I seen father's face. I lied to Ewen and Emile, telling them I'd be spending time with my family, while I'm actually here in my room, stewing here, revising for God knows how long. I've always been seen as 'Demetrius' little brother'. Will I ever become anything more? Sure I was pretty much a celebrity in class, but that didn't matter to me. Father sees him. He's far away in Westalis, living happily with a successful business. He could even be married! Who knows what's happened to him? It's been five years since I've seen him. I'-
"Becky, hello? Did you hear me?"
My eyes swiftly tore from the page."S-sorry Anya, what was that?"
"There's gonna be a storm and we're held up in traffic, so Martha's dropping me off home instead."
"Oh, alright then. We can plan this another time." Shame. I was looking forward to getting the matching cardigan Anya has.
"I'm tired. I'm going to sleep."
"Alright, sweet dreams," I sigh, as I flip back to the page with my thumb on it, which I had used as a bookmark. Geez, I didn't know his life was that sad. It makes me feel a little bad.
'since I've seen him. I wasn't that close to him, but it still hurt knowing that my only brother was gone. Sure, I have Ewen and Emile, but his departure left a hole in my heart, and the hole he left can't be patched up. My friends probably spent their holidays with their families. Ewen and his cousins and Emile with his baby brother. If I keep writing, then I'll probably drench the book in my envious tears- that sounded kind of stupid.'
There are so many pages of Damian writing about his family issues, and it's probably a good idea if I don't look into it. Poor guy. What else does he-
'Anya'
AHA! I saw something! I knew it! He does write about her in here! Which page is it? Bingo!
'Entry 32:
I'm done with writing all of my sob stories in here. Nobody's ever going to look in here to read this, which is why I'm writing something new- I'M GOING TO REGRET THIS!
We were making haikus in English today. I'm in the top set, so nobody's going to see this. FUTURE DAMIAN, DON'T ASK! Wait if you want to know who it is, it's Anya.'
Who's 'she'?
'Her beam is a taze
'Mended with her charming gaze
It's not just a phase'
Wait… could this be..? Could he be talking about..?
'I with a broken heart
Find a light in her green pearls
Her smile sews it back'
'Ugh they sounded so stupid, but it really isn't a phase. Ewen knew this would happen. Emile knew this would happen. WHY CAN'T I GET HER OUR OF MY MIND?! Jeeves says I'm afraid to let it out. I'm scared to admit it. I really am just afraid. I turn away and reject the thought, so it comes back to haunt me time, and time again. What do I not understand? She wants to be my friend and, unlike the other girls, she's cute, funny and incredibly cute and her feelings are genuine, and she's not one of those who try to befriend me for popularity or stella. But for some reason, there's this thought that tells me it's something more… NO IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK! Me and this commoner? Never. But a small part of me wants it to be true. UGH THIS IS STUPID!
"OH MY GOSH!" I scream. Martha twists her head abruptly to look at me. "Sorry, Martha. It's nothing." I can't believe what I had just read. HE CALLED HER CUTE?! DAMIAN DESMOND CALLED ANYA FORGER CUTE?! Oh just confess already! The suspence! Don't keep me waiting!
Fifteen minutes later, we arrive at Anya's house and Mr and Mrs Forger welcome me in. This brings me to recall that stupid thing I had for Anya's father six years ago. I don't want to remember that. Mrs Forger takes my bag and hat and hangs it on a peg and walks over to the sofa to sit down. Mr Forger goes over from the kitchen to his wife to help her take a seat. She grimaces and grips his forearm tight and lowers down before releasing him and leaning back on a cushion with a sigh.
"Just two more months, Becky. I know you're excited!" She tells me with a glint in her eye. Oh yeah, right! They're expecting a baby boy soon. I'll soon see Anya and a little Loid running around the house. I do wish I had a younger sibling!
After a long chat with tea and biscuits, Martha and I take our leave. It's late, and I need my beauty rest. Damian and I are going to have a long chat tomorrow. Should I give him back his diary? Should I tell Anya? Ugh, I'm tired. That can wait until tomorrow.