Chapter 16

                                    

                                          
The next day 
                          
{Diannes POV} 
The unpleasant sound of my alarm rang through the room. I groaned before sitting up and turning it off. Pulling the duvet aside, I shivered as the cold air hit my bare legs so I jumped up quickly, pulling a dressing gown tight around me. I went into my bathroom and caught a glimpse of my groggy and sleepy appearance. Sighing slightly, I brushed my teeth quickly and left the room. I got changed into my uniform as quick as I could, trying not to get too cold again. Once I had finished getting dressed, I sat down in front of my mirror and set about doing my makeup, nothing too heavy just a light layer to make me look more awake. Slipping my makeup bag into my school bag, I grabbed my phone from where it was on charge and made my way downstairs. 
'Morning Mum' I yawned, stepping into the kitchen and seeing her sat at the table. 
'Morning Dot, care to explain what happened yesterday?' She asked, deliberately keeping her gaze focused on her phone screen. 
'Uhh, what do you mean?' I replied hesitantly. Crap. I didn't tell Mum anything, it would have only upset her and I couldn't deal with the hassle. 
'Oh I think you know exactly what I'm talking about Dianne. What happened?' 
'N-n-nothing' I stuttered. How could she know?? 
'You might as well tell me because I'm coming into school either way' 
'Okay' I muttered quietly. It dawned on me. Joe must have told his mum. Joe doesn't know what happened when he wasn't there though so it's just Matthew and I. 
'Before you message Joe, he already knows I'm taking you. I messaged his mum this morning' 
'You know me so well' I laughed, trying to take her away from yesterday. 
'I do. So, what happened between you and Matthew. I know he did something, you read like a book'. 
'It's nothing, I promise' 
'From what I've heard, he's bullying you Dot. Why didn't you tell me?' 
'Uhhh because ummm well uh...I don't know. I guess I didn't want to worry you?' 
'I've been worried anyways, I could tell there was something wrong. I have done for a couple of weeks now'.  
'Mum, we need to leave' I burst out in an effort to distract her. It worked, slightly. She put her phone in her pocket and grabbed her keys from the hooks on the wall. We rushed outside and into the car. 
As we pulled up outside school, I saw Joe and his mum getting out of the car a few metres away. 
'Hiya Joey' I called, hurrying over to him and giving him a hug. 
'Hiya little Red' he whispered causing me to cringe. That's what Matthew would call me. 
'What's the matter?' Joe asked, noticing me shiver slightly. 
'Matthew used to call me little red, especially when he was trying to force me into things' I whispered, looking past Joe and into the distance. 
'Sorry Di, I didn't know' 
'It's fine' I smiled gently. 
'Dot, lets go!' I heard my mum call from behind me. I rolled my eyes at Joe before turning around to see both Tracey and my mum walking up the path to the school reception. 
'Come on' I sighed, slipping my hand into Joes, 'Let's go face the music'. 
'It'll be fine' he reassured me, squeezing my hand gently. 
'Mum wanted to know what happened yesterday, I didn't tell her so I don't know how she found out'. At my comment, Joes eyes started to focus on the floor. 
'I wonder who could have told her' I quipped sarcastically. 
'In my defence, I told my mum and she must have told yours' 
'But now she's going to kick up a fuss!' 
'A fuss needs to be kicked up Di. The only way to get Matthew away from you for good is for people to know what he's done. Byron told me what he did to you when you were dating and I reckon that's what happened in that bathroom. So you might as well just tell me. I won't be mad' 
'Uhh' I took a deep breath before continuing, 'He came onto me. He kissed me so desperately it started to hurt. I couldn't move away, his hands were pushed against my arse. You came at the perfect time really, who knows what he could have done'. 
'Thank you for telling me' Joe said, smiling at me and kissing my cheek. I sighed heavily as we reached the door, pushing it open and following our two mums in. They walked up to front desk straight away. 
'Wait, why did your mum come?' I whispered to Joe. 
'Mostly to give your mum moral support but she's got screenshots of messages I've been sent I think' 
'What messages?' I asked. Joe had never once mentioned anything about messages. 
'Oh uhh' I could sense Joe kicking himself mentally - he definitely hadn't meant to say that out loud. 
'I'm guessing they were from Matthew and about me?' 
'Hit the nail on the head'. 
'Can we go to form?' I asked as our parents came over to where we were stood by the wall opposite the desk. 
'Nope, you've both got to stay here. At least until we speak to a teacher' my mum answered. I sighed, leaning against the wall and crossing my arms over my chest. 
'It'll be okay' Joe whispered into my ear so quietly that only I heard. I nodded, a strange mix of feelings rising in my stomach. A confused mess of anxiety and confidence, sadness yet hope. My brain fighting against its self, I stared into space the whole time we were waiting, desperately wishing we wouldn't see Matthew; thankfully, we didn't. 
'Ahh, it's?' A teacher said happily, holding her hand out to Mum. 
'Rina Buswell' my mum replied with a smile, shaking the woman's hand. 
'And you?' she asked, facing Tracey and holding out her hand. 
'Tracey Sugg' she answered, shaking the teachers hand. 
'I'm Mrs Wilson, their head of house' she said, nodding towards Joe and I. 
'It's nice to meet you' my mum said before getting straight to the point. 
'I have concerns about Diannes well being at school' 
'Yes, could you all come into my office please'. Joe and I let our parents follow after the teacher first, us dragging behind a bit. 
'This isn't going to be easy' I breathed, reaching the teachers office. 
'Nope, but it will sort everything out. Come on' Joe said waiting until the adults had gone into the room, the door shutting behind them, 'you can do this baby' he whispered into my lips, finishing off with a kiss. 
Ten minutes later, our parents came out of the room and into the little corridor leading to the office. 
'Dianne, could you come in here please' Mrs Wilson commanded, standing in the door way. I allowed the flash of panic to cross my face, not even bothering to try and cover it up. 
'Joe' I said, the panic in me causing my voice to crack. 
'If you will tell me everything that has happened, Joe can come in to support you' 
'Okay' I answered, pulling on Joes arm leading him into the office. 
'So tell me everything'. 
                          
Meh. I don't like this but hey ho