A Dance with Destiny

Chapter 10

The next day, Diana woke up feeling a mix of excitement and confusion, like she had just stepped out of a dream. The soft rays of the early morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over her room, but despite the quiet calm of the morning, her mind was buzzing with thoughts of last night.

She couldn't help but replay the conversation with Mattheo over and over in her head. His words, the way he'd looked at her, the way he made her feel seen—really seen. It was overwhelming, in the best way. But at the same time, a knot of uncertainty twisted in her stomach. Was she reading too much into it? What did it really mean, this connection between them? She had spent so long hiding in the shadows, just observing, never truly engaging.

But now, it felt like everything had shifted.

Diana rolled out of bed and wandered over to her window, pulling back the curtains slightly to take in the view of the garden below. The cool morning air felt refreshing on her skin, and the birds chirping outside made everything seem peaceful. But despite the serenity of the moment, her mind couldn't settle.

Her thoughts kept drifting back to Mattheo. She couldn't help but wonder if it had all been too much for him. The conversation, the way they had talked so easily about things that most people would never say out loud. It was different, in a way that made her both excited and nervous. Was he really interested, or had he just been caught up in the thrill of the night? Was it just another momentary connection in a world that was constantly shifting?

She sighed, running her fingers through her hair as she sat down at her desk. As much as she tried to focus on something else, it was impossible to shake the feeling that she was at a crossroads—one that could lead to something new, something real, or one that could leave her heart broken and confused.

"Maybe I'm overthinking this," she muttered to herself, standing up and grabbing her phone. She hesitated for a moment, looking at it like it might bite, before deciding to text her sisters, something she hadn't done in ages.

"Hey, you guys awake? I need advice."

She hit send and leaned back in her chair, fingers tapping nervously against the armrest. As she waited for their reply, she couldn't help but think of Mattheo's smile from last night, how it had made her feel warm inside, and how his eyes had lingered on her in a way that made everything else in the room disappear. It was as if he'd been waiting for her to see him, to not just look at him as the Slytherin king, but as a person, someone who needed to be understood, too.

The screen of her phone blinked, and she quickly opened the message from Daphne, her older sister, the more composed one out of all of them.

"What's going on? You sound serious."

Diana bit her lip and typed back quickly, her fingers hesitating as she tried to put her thoughts into words.

"I met someone last night at the party. Mattheo Riddle. You probably know who he is. But I'm not sure if I'm reading too much into it. I'm not sure if he's serious, or if he was just... messing around. We talked, and it felt different. But I don't know if I'm just being naïve."

She stared at the message for a moment before hitting send. It felt strange, telling her sister about it, but at the same time, she needed someone to talk to. She needed advice from someone who could tell her whether she was being foolish or if she was actually on the right track.

It didn't take long for Daphne to reply.

"Mattheo Riddle? The Slytherin king himself? I'm not surprised you two talked. He's always had a thing for the 'mysterious' types. But listen, Diana, be careful. He doesn't have the best reputation. He's the kind of guy who plays the game, and he's not always upfront about his intentions. Just... be cautious."

Diana read the message, and her stomach dropped a little. She had expected something like this. Of course, Daphne would be cautious. She had always been the one to warn her about everything, always playing it safe. But part of Diana couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Mattheo than the rumors suggested.

Before she could respond, she received another text—this one from Astoria.

"What's going on? You're asking about Mattheo Riddle? If you like him, just go for it. But don't let him get into your head. If you're confused, it's because you've been living in the shadows too long. Trust your instincts. And don't worry about what everyone thinks."

Diana stared at the message for a long time. Astoria's words were so direct, so different from Daphne's cautious advice. It was like Astoria was telling her to stop overthinking and just go for it, to trust her gut. Maybe it was time for Diana to step out of her sisters' shadows and make her own decisions, without letting their advice cloud her judgment.

She smiled a little, feeling a bit more confident in her own thoughts.

The message made her realize something important. She had always hidden behind the safety of her family's expectations, and her sisters' advice. But maybe—just maybe—it was time to step out into the unknown. To take a risk, and to stop letting fear hold her back. She must do something that makes her happy and not of what others think.

She took a deep breath and set her phone down, making a mental note to talk to Mattheo again, whenever the chance came. It wasn't going to be easy. There would be questions, doubts, and people who would think she was being foolish. But for the first time in a long while, Diana felt like she wanted to follow her own path.

And maybe that path was leading her straight back to him.

Just as she was about to stand up, her phone buzzed again, and this time it was a message from a number she didn't recognize. Diana hesitated for a moment, but then curiosity got the best of her. She opened it.

"Hey, it's Mattheo. I know this is random, but I was thinking about last night. Would you like to grab coffee sometime? We can talk more. I'm not going anywhere."

Diana's heart skipped a beat.