Chapter 14

                                    

                                          
{Diannes POV} 
I woke up and checked the time, 3am. Great. Go back to sleep Di, you've got school tomorrow. I closed my eyes tight, desperately trying to drift back to sleep. 
3.25am. I give up. Instead of trying to go to sleep, I laid in the darkness staring up at my ceiling. An abundance of thoughts hit me all at once. Matthew. School. A Levels. Dance. Career. My brain was clouded by a sudden and overpowering feeling of stress. And with stress comes overthinking. I began to complicate everything in my head from what a certain dance step was and whether that could ruin my career to what Matthew would do when he next saw me. The silence grew deafening, the endless train of thoughts pressing on my mind. I reached across to the bedside table and grabbed my phone, immediately going onto snapchat and checking the maps. I scanned it looking for Joes bitmoji, finding it easily and pressing on it. Last seen: now. That meant he was awake. I pressed on his contact and began to message him. I deleted and retyped it several times before finally settling on something. 
D- Hiya, I can't sleep. Overthinking is a bitch. Message me when you are awake. 
J- I'm already awake. What's troubling you baby? 
D- It's a nice combination of dance, school, a levels and the imminent arrival of my career. 
J- Aw gorgeous, what's with school? 
D- Doesn't matter baby 
J- Is it Matthew? Tell me, he's bullying you.
D- Why are you awake anyway? 
J- I don't actually know, just not tired I guess. I'll FaceTime you while you go to sleep if that helps?
D- Please
Seconds later Joe rang. I answered immediately and propped my phone up against the wall, laying my head down on the pillows with my duvet up to my chin. We spoke quietly as both of our families were asleep. Eventually, I felt my eyes getting heavier and heavier. I let the tiredness take over me and relaxed into sleep, my boyfriend still on FaceTime. 
Beep. Beep. Beep. I jumped out of bed in shock, my phone had been right next to my head meaning my alarm had gone off right next to my ears. I turned it off quickly and put my phone back on charge whilst I got ready. Deciding I had time, I had a quick shower before changing into some plain black cigarette trousers and a loose, cropped jumper. Leaving my hair to flow down my back, I made my way downstairs and got some fruit from the fridge. I ate it slowly, watching the news. Once I had finished, I went back up stairs and checked my phone. Joe was going to be five minutes. I grabbed everything I would need and went to the front door, putting my shoes on when I got there. Minutes later, I saw Zoe pull up outside so I left the house, closing the door behind me and walked quickly to the car. I jumped in the back and leaned over to kiss Joes cheek. 
'Morning Zoe' 
'Morning Di, how are you?'
'Not too bad thanks, you?'
'I'm alright' 
Within ten minutes we had arrived at school. My breathing caught in my chest as I saw Matthew waiting by the gates, his hands tucked into his pockets with his brow furrowed menacingly. 
'Joe' I breathed, desperate for Matthew to not hear me, 'Can we go in the other way?' 
'Uhh Okay?...oh I get it' he said when he realised why I was so panicky. We walked along the front of school quickly and through the gate at the other end. 
                          
Lunch 
                          
'I'll be back in a minute, I'm just off to the toilet' I said to Amy, Chloe and Oti as I walked out of our study room and to the toilets in sixth form. I was finished quickly. When I left the bathroom, my way back to the room was blocked. I looked up into the persons face and instantly began to panic. 
'Break up with Joe, he doesn't want you anyway' he growled. I couldn't speak; I just stood rooted to the spot feeling Matthews eyes burning into the top of my head. 
'Did you hear me?' 
'Yes' I answered timidly. 
'Good. You don't deserve to be happy. Not after what you did to me!' 
'What?!' A sudden blaze of anger shot through me. What I did to him?? He's got to be joking me. I looked him straight in the eyes, my fists clenched behind my back. 
'You heard me red' he growled. 
'You did nothing but hurt me when we were together. I thought breaking up with you would stop you. Wasn't I wrong? You are an evil person Matthew, don't you dare accuse me of something we both know I didn't do. Stop spreading rumours about me. Leave me alone!' I hissed. Matthew didn't reply. He just stood there and stared at me in shock. In one swift motion, his hand collided with my cheek. He stormed off before anyone saw him. 
'Owww' I whined, running my hand over the spot where he hit me. Realising I had been gone a while, I made my way back to our study room. As I walked in the door, Joe looked over at me, smiling. His face suddenly dropped and I could feel him staring at my cheek. Without saying a word, he got up from the table he was sat at and walked over to me, taking me out of the room. 
'What happened?' he asked, stroking my cheek gently. 
'Oh it's nothing' I answered quickly. I didn't want Joe knowing; he would be livid. His eyes scanned over my face, a suspicious look on his. 
'Fine' I sighed, 'I stood up to Matthew so he slapped me'. There was no point lying. Joe didn't answer but pulled me into a hug. 
'Well done for standing up to him baby' he whispered into my ear. 
                          
{Joes POV} 
A mix of emotions flooded my thoughts. All week I had been hearing Matthews abuse towards Dianne. A small part of me couldn't help but feel guilty as though it was my fault. Time and time again, Matthew had told me to break up with her. He repeatedly told me lies about her from when they were together. Any message I had from him would be him telling me to dump Dianne or he'd get worse. A thought constantly dragged on the back of my mind. Maybe I should just end things here? Maybe he would actually stop bullying her? Maybe it is the right thing to do? But I couldn't bring myself to do it. I couldn't let the most important girl in my life go because of him. That was until today. When Dianne came back from the toilets and told me what had happened, my brain fizzled with hatred towards him. If I ended our relationship, it would stop him. Sure, I would hate myself for it and undoubtedly regret it everyday but if it meant Matthew stopped bullying her, it made it all seem slightly more worth it. Seeing the pain Matthew caused her pushed me to the edge. She would get over me. Matthew leaving her alone would help her no end. This was it. 
'Dianne, I love you but...' tears dropped from my eyes. 
'But what...Joe, you're scaring me' she laughed nervously. 
'It isn't working' 
'What isn't?' 
'Us'
                          
{Diannes POV} 
'Us?' I questioned. I was so confused. Why was Joe doing this? 
'Matthew hasn't left you alone for weeks. He tells me it's my fault and if we break up, he'll leave you alone' 
'Joe?' A tear rolled down my cheek. 
'I'm sorry Di, I love you so much but seeing the pain Matthew puts you in hurts me more. You'll forget about all of this soon enough' he pulled me in for a kiss. It was a loving and caring kiss yet it was filled with another emotion, despair. I could feel Joe and I's tears mixing together as our cheeks brushed against each other. Knowing this would be our last kiss in a while possibly forever, I didn't pull away - I let Joe do it. He moved backwards away from me. 
'I'm sorry Di but it's for the best'